· #1 Posted January 26 (edited) I'm looking for the ultimate two-piece 7'6" spinning rod and reel combo for early back bay and estuary schoolies and white perch. Should easily throw 1/4-3/4 plastics and jigs. Many one piece rods are available but finding quality 2-piece rods in this class is a challenge. Reels I'm looking at are the usual top of the line suspects by Shimano and Van Stall in the 3000 size, weigh under 9 ounces with powerful drag and a metal body. The outfit should work in a kayak, boat, or bank fishing. Budget around 500-600, but will go higher for an exceptional outfit with a Van Staal vr50. Stella is also an option but she is an expensive date and and may be too pretty for sloppy sedge banks and mud flats. For a back bay outfit reels, I personally think the new Sustain makes more sense in this situation: upgraded Stradic with better salt water sealing. Rods: Bull Bay, Century, or any JDM that I may not have heard about. Thanks in advance for your input. Edited January 26 by petespeak grammer 0 Go to top Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
· #2 Posted January 26 All I can say is, “Good Luck with that search!” I’ve also been “Looking” for 2-piece Spin Rods - storage & transport issues mainly - but I insist on American Manufactured & Assembled. I’ve only come up with One “Likable” Manufacturer; St. Croix, and the only 2-piecers are Longer . . . I believe in the Legend Series, for Beach Surf work . . . 9-footers+ if my memory serves !?. I also like the prospects of the Avid 8-footers but for now only One piecers . . . Hope that changes soon, I emailed my request, ha. I’m no cona-shure (spell check won’t give me the correct spelling, but you get the idea, right?), however, perhaps a Custom Build wight be the way to go ??? Same for reels, but my preference, again, is USA . . . And I’ve narrowed that down to two manufacturers - IRT and Visser (so far). Contrary to popular opinion, IMO (ha) I “like the looks of” both these reels. I know, I know . . . Looks are like FARTS, some worse than others, but they all come from the same Place (USA, USA). What can I say I’m retired Navy . . . . . . . . ! Ps; “Ultimate” is a Tall Order to fill ! ? . GOOD WILL hunting (for it). 2 Go to top Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
· #3 Posted January 26 A Century Weapon Jr. 7'6" (and 50/50) coupled with a VR50 has worked well for me. 3 Go to top Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
· #4 Posted January 26 Legend and a V$; if your not experienced on a kayak, Ugly stik and any $100 spinner 0 Go to top Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
· #5 Posted January 26 Odm dna backbay 7’ 6” but unfortunately for you it’s a 1piece. Mine is paired with a vr50, best little light weight setup I’ve owned. It’s handled cow nose rays down to perch, and schoolie striper. 2 Go to top Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
· #6 Posted January 26 I like the Legend part . . . I being Not kayak experienced will, when the time comes, always have a well placed and secure tether on just about everything I don’t want to donate to King Neptune IF I should get capsized ! ? . I will also be “tethered” to a GOOD Inflatable vest . . . At “My Age” survival rates are Not what they used to be when I was active duty Navy, ha ha . . . ps; Like the quote, but it could also be : “Tis better to SPEAK and thought the fool, then remain silent and leave oneself with regret”. 0 Go to top Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
· #7 Posted January 26 Thanks so far for all the good suggestions; the ODM DNA is a great rod...I have the 8' two piece with VR50. This combo is my favorite all time "heavy" back bay set up: handles everything to my satisfaction except casting plastics and tiny mirro type peanut imitations for distance under 3/4 oz. Early last spring I had best luck with a borrowed Red Fish set up: Bull Bay 7'6" 3/8-3/4 with 8/17 line rating paired with an older 3000 Stradic. In fact I used all the same redfish flats lures (the smallest plastic shrimps were killer perch lures) and it matches NE estuary fishing nicely. To compliment my two piece 8' heavy back bay set up, I want to go one step lighter, 7'6" two pieces, with an upgraded reel, 3000 size, all steel or alloy etc. My eyes are also set on the Weapon Jr 2 pc as mentioned: never tried one but wonder how it handles the low end of its rated 1/4 ounce. 1 Go to top Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
· #8 Posted January 26 7 hours ago, petespeak said: I'm looking for the ultimate two-piece 7'6" spinning rod and reel combo for early back bay and estuary schoolies and white perch. Should easily throw 1/4-3/4 plastics and jigs. Many one piece rods are available but finding quality 2-piece rods in this class is a challenge. Reels I'm looking at are the usual top of the line suspects by Shimano and Van Stall in the 3000 size, weigh under 9 ounces with powerful drag and a metal body. The outfit should work in a kayak, boat, or bank fishing. Budget around 500-600, but will go higher for an exceptional outfit with a Van Staal vr50. Stella is also an option but she is an expensive date and and may be too pretty for sloppy sedge banks and mud flats. For a back bay outfit reels, I personally think the new Sustain makes more sense in this situation: upgraded Stradic with better salt water sealing. Rods: Bull Bay, Century, or any JDM that I may not have heard about. Thanks in advance for your input. Well, if you are fishing on a kayak, assume that the rod/reel WILL get dunked at some point. As such, I would only get a fully sealed reel such as a Van Staal... 0 Go to top Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
· #9 Posted January 27 (edited) Your title says ultimate so The 76 or 72 imho the ultimate 2 piece and maybe even 1 piece in this class i have mine paired with a Stella 4000 or if i want sealed VR 50 Edited January 27 by Joe Paranee 1 Go to top Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
· #10 Posted January 27 I use a 7'6" Duckett Surf Series DFSS76M-S 8 - 17 lb. 1/4 - 3/4 oz. paired with a Shimano 21 Twin Power XD C3000XG 1 Go to top Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
· #11 Posted January 27 (edited) My favorite backbay lighter setup is a 76MHF St. Croix LTI with a Stradic FL 4k. But it's 1 piece and only used for shore. I don't like taking rods over 7' in the kayak. The longer they are, the more cumbersome they get IMO. You especially won't want to use a surf style rod in the kayak, unless you plan on cutting a good amount off the butt. LTI - $350 or so FL - $230 or so $580 or so. Edited January 27 by Skunkoff 1 Go to top Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
· #12 Posted January 27 Not a 2pc but 7'6" Century Demon is the way to go imo As for a reel anything in the 2k-4k range would be ideal I have a VSX100 paired up with mine 0 Go to top Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
· #13 Posted January 27 (edited) The 7'6" Century Demon is a great rod...paired with the vr50: excellent pairing and is almost perfect rod for my intended uses: but 2-pc perfection is still elusive...custom maybe the best choice, but would rather do factory...the search goes on. Edited January 27 by petespeak reel correction: meant VS VR 50, not sx100. 0 Go to top Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
· #14 Posted January 27 Could always go the custom route since you're at the higher price point You can get exactly what you want and there's a lot of blanks out there 0 Go to top Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
· #15 Posted January 27 (edited) 21 hours ago, hhager23 said: A Century Weapon Jr. 7'6" (and 50/50) coupled with a VR50 has worked well for me. I have this setup, but with a visser #4. I love it. Century does the 2 piece in a very unique way, which is ugly to look at but ideal from an integrity perspective. (im referring to the connecting joint being ugly) Edited January 27 by Sherpah 1 Go to top Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
