Cabelas Travel Rod/Reel Question

[surfdog]

Hello All,

 

I'm a northern fly fisherman looking to dip a line into the salt once a year on our family's annual trip to Florida. We either go to the panhandle (this year it's St. Andrews State Park in April) or the Fort Myers/Sannibel area where my inlaws live. I think it's finally time to take a spinning rod along and give it a go.

 

I have decided on the Cabelas Salt Striker line based on price, online reviews, and the fact that the rod comes with a tube and will fit in my luggage. I am not sure which setup to get, though. This would be for flipping from the beach for anything that bites, off jetties and piers, and occasionally off a boat or kayak in the mangroves for snook. Cabelas has a 7' three-piece travel rod in medium, medium-heavy, and heavy for $89. I want to pair one of these with a Salt Striker reel which are on sale right now for $39. I'm thinking the Medium-Heavy with the SS-50 reel loaded with 15#, but would this be too heavy? Would the Medium rod with the SS-40 and 12# be a better all-around travel outfit?

 

Any advice you can give a northerner would be appreciated. Thanks!

[DAQ]

Dog,

 

I picked up two of the Quantum Great White, medium heavy, travel rods for my father and they are pretty decent. They cost the same as the Cabelas Salt Strikers but they are finished a little nicer.

 

As for the reel, I have no hands on experience with them. But, judging by the specifications listed I think either the 40 or the 50 size will be OK.

 

D

[surfdog]

Thanks, D. I'll check out the Great Whites. I remember looking at their reels a while back, but I didn't know they made a travel rod. I'm leaning toward the SS50 reel since I can rig it with either #12 or #15.

 

SD

[fish'n yak]

For what it's worth I just picked up last years St. Croix tidemaster (they went to a different color blank, so they marked last years model down) for $100 with the tube. I chose to get the 7'6" 1/2 - 2oz casting for all of the scenarios that you described. Search around, this usually goes for $215. Don't remember did you specify casting or spin? Anyway, both are marked down, you just have to look. I also noticed that there was some diawa capricorns on sale for about $65. Good luck on your search and your trip