New guy needs advice on saltwater set-up.

[pcogs]

Purchased a Parker 21SE and got a G-loomis 9'-8wt rod with a System 2 89m reel? along with the boat as a throw in.
Never fly fished before, but tried it out and caught a few small blues and a couple of albacore at the end of last season and had a blast. However I'm pretty sure that I was under equipped. I would like to do more this year and want the right set-up.

I want to use this to fish Sandy Hook area for Stripers and Albacore in the fall. I will always be fishing from a boat. I really do not want to spend more than $450 for the rod and reel- $350 would be better. Like the guy in one of the other threads I tend to be rough on equipment, it is not uncommon for a reel to sit in the boat for a couple of days or not get rinsed off after a trip.

I am totally new to this so I stopped at the local shop for advice, this is what was suggested:
St. Croix Avid 9010 approx $209
paired with
Tioga Teton Std 10 -$165 or
#12 with LG arbor - $195

I would appreciate any comments or suggestions, I am open to buying a used set-up if there's one out there, and any thoughts on the prices are also welcomed.

I plan on getting casting lessons soon, so I would like to get this wrapped up by the end of March.

Thanks.

[dlangan]

You may not like this answer in that it means more work.... but cast before you buy the rod. There are different casting strokes out there and every great rod may not be "great" for you. Somebody who casts principally with his arm finds a medium action easier to load. Somebody who is adept at double hauling and putting his torso into the cast does well with a very fast rod. And then there are those who have to have rods of every flavor for reasons that are crystal clear (to them) :rolleyes: Of course, expected distance, flies, an wind are big factors. I am oversimplifying but you get my drift.

Also, ok you caught fish last year. Do you know what you don't like about your current setup? Why you think you were under equipped? If you're not certain, hold onto your money until you do.

As for reels I have a Teton Tioga that I (and my son) have caught lots of fish on and served me well. I have a Canyon I like better, but do I need it - doubt it. Is the combined weight of a candidate rod and reel comfortable?

Personally, I find the choices these days mind blowing. Lot's of good advice on the board including the rig you proposed. But there's nothing like casting before buying...

best of luck!
d

[gotcha]

Like dlangan said, cast before you buy. Try to go to a store with as many choices as possible. Go outside and cast them all side by side with the same reel/line. For the price, I like Temple Forks rods and Lamson Reels.

[pcogs]

As far as trying before buying goes, I know that's typically sound advice. But my problem is that I am too green to have an opinion. I don't know what I'm looking for and probably wouldn't know what it meant if I could tell the difference.

I really don't know how to cast, I went out there and did it, but I have no idea if I did it right.

I know this horse can be beat to death with a ton of opinions. I'm just looking to confirm that a 9' 10wt St. Croix rod, with the teton reel in the 12# is a decent set-up for the money I mentioned, or is the dealer steering me to where he makes the most$$$?

Does anyone know of a great deal out there that I can take advantage of?The guy in the store kind of bashed, Orvis, Bass Pro, or anything out of a chain store of any kind in the most polite way he could. I used to run a small chain of snowboard shops and sometimes the big chains just moved the same items cheap to get rid of them.

As long as I feel comfortable that I got a decent set-up for a decent price, then I'll go out, take some lessons and start to form some opinions of my own.

[dlangan]

I hear and share your frustration. The only difference is over the years I have bought decent setups several times only to learn what I liked and sell the outfit for a song. So, I am just trying to save you money I already lost (#$119)

The problem is confounded with there being many great choices out there and many of us, at least me, not having tried most of the rods/reels. Add different body types, casting proficiency, blah, blah

I know, doesn't help.

Does this help? Try taking the casting lessons first. Take them where you can try various rods in the process. Hopefully you'll avoid laying out money to learn what you want...

[teflon_jones]

The simple answer is that St Croix and Tioga make excellent products, and the particular ones you mentioned will serve you very well for what you want to do. The prices the dealer is asking are full retail, which is pretty standard.

How's that answer? ;)

[pcogs]

Dlangan & Teflon,

Both of your answers are good ones. I'm going to use the outfit I have for the lessons and see what I learn. I imagine that what I have is actually pretty good, it was just a little light for the fish I was getting. It should do fine for learning to cast and maybe I'll get an idea of what sensations I should be looking for when trying out a rod.

If full retail is standard then I'll pay it. I'm not a cheapskate, just not into spending more than the next guy.

I do appreciate the advice, I probably putting the horse before the cart. Can you blame me though, it's been a cold winter and I'm ready to get back out on the water! --127-3-

[Mark Cahill]

Want to look at the "similar threads" list below this post for even more info. Yes, you've got a fairly standard setup. But if you had asked the question a little differently, you'd have found the typical response here would involve a Temple Forks rod and a Teton Tioga reel. Durable, workable and cheap, and also not the only option, but a good one at the price point. Albright and several other companies (St. Croix among them) are now making some nice, affordable rods.

Remember, there is a benefit to buying from the local shop. The local dealer is a guy you're going to need help from occassionally.

[pcogs]

I did a search yesterday morning just like the "how to use this forum" directions said. I learned a lot and used that information when I went off to the local shop. Before yesterday I had no idea what length, what weight, how reel sizes related, what a "fast" rod was, etc. That's how green I am.

When it comes to a conventional rod and reel or some spinning gear I know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, this forum is great. I've spent all night lurking around and here I am again today checking every few mins. I'll check into the Temple Forks after I've taken a lesson or two.

Look foward to broadening my fishing experience and I'm sure I'll be reading for a long time to come. Maybe in a few years I'll be able to offer some advice.

pcogs

[Mark Cahill]

would be to contact Mark Sedotti about lessons. I know he fishes that are heavily and you'd do well to start off learning from the best. He posts here frequenty.

[Pauper Piscator]

#1...What is wrong with the 8 wt Loomis? Most guys can only flyfish with one rod at a time.

If you are looking for fun functional equipment that does not really mind sitting out and will not give you grey hairs, you don't needs St. Croix, Orvis, or Sage etc.

Start with low end to moderate stuff and upgrade as you become more and more sophisticated.

For flyrods - get an LL bean, Cabelas or similar COMBO. Complete set-up will run you @ $250 and the LL Bean is a LIFETIME guarantee. My little brother is the king of cooking a reel or breaking a rod, getting store credit and upgrading.

Lastly, for Christ sake, don't leave a $350 Flyrod sitting out in the salt air for a week. That is a crime.