Beaver Report 4-26-2012

[J-Doc]

I see you have a Calcutta B for your reel. Is a Shimano Cardiff "good enough"? It's half the price and all I can spend right now. I want it for A-rigs and occsional striper fishing.....just to give it a try now and then. I want something that's got a strong backbone and will hold up to braid for A-rigs and 12lb flouro with 20lb stipers attached to the other end.

[Feathers and Fins]

Doc the 40lb striper I caught earlier this year was on my Cardiff 400A. They have plenty of power to take on anything in freshwater, I have caught 150 tarpon on it and numerous sailfish and others. I suggest at minimum a 7'6'' Med/Heavy Rod with a Fast action 1/2 to 3oz rating. I use 12lb floro on all my baitcasters. I keep my drag set light and if need be chase them in the boat.

[J-Doc]

Is this "too much rod"? I bought an Eagle Claw big game rod (7' 1.5oz-2.5oz) but just noticed it's a 2-piece and with a rod that stout, a 2-piece seems like a bad idea to me.

How does this appeal to you?

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-Power-Plus-Trophy-Class-Trigger-Rods/product/20662/118932

[J-Doc]

I'm ordering a Cardiff today with Free Shipping at BPS! Whoo hoo!!

[Feathers and Fins]

I hate 2pc rods with a passion, they come apart on casting and I have seen them shatter at the connection when on a big fish. Im not sure where your budget sits on a rod but If it was me I would save up a few extra weeks and get a Good rod to match the reel. I suggest on the lower end Shimano West Coast Seris Teramar

( TMCX76MH ) or if you really want to wait get a St Croix ( TIC80MHF ) Tide Master. Either of those two rods will handle anything you can throw at them. Its my personal prefferance but matching a good rod and reel is a more pleasureful experiance.

[J-Doc]

My wife will.....well lets just say it won't be pretty and I would catch a lot of grief if I buy another rod. (haha!) I will stick with a cheap rod for now to get something that will work this season. I'll definately look at the Shimano for sure. Good suggestion.

I think I'm going to take the Eagle Claw rod back and exchange it for this one. This Ugly Stick is a 1-piece rod and not a 2-piece. I had looked at it also but decided to go with the Eagle Claw and didn't notice it was a 2-piece until I got it out of the truck or I wouldn't have got it.

http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_133389_-1?Ntt=ugly+stick+catfish+casting+rod&Ntk=All

This one looks pretty good for the price and will work for the few times I'll use it. It's definately a pool cue! haha! I ordered the Cardiff and with Johnny Morris's points system and a few birthday gift cards, I got a new Cardiff for about $30 with free shipping. THat's a deal!

[J-Doc]

So I won some money in a golf tournament and I'm in the market for a quality rod now. I'm thinking the St Croix Mojo Inshore MIC70HF because it's large enough for striper, versatile enough to use for large swimbaits, A-rigs, the occasional catfish trip, and just adequate enough for the occasional stiper outing. I'm mainly a bass guy but if I start having luck with stripers, I may look into getting a more specialized rod. Seems as if the Mojo could work for my bass fishing and cover a little of everything? Or should I just go with the St Croix Tide Master? I like a long handle on these heavy rods and the Tide Master seemed to be a bit short?

I just got the Cardiff in today and MAN O MAN! That is a hoss-daddy of a reel! LOVING it! I spooled it up, tied on a heavy plug to simulate an A-rig (slightly lighter than an a-rig) and I think it cast further than I have ever cast on any reel. It just kept singing as line flew off the spool and the plug was sailing like Tiger Woods hit a golf ball. This thing has a lot of power in it too. I'm ready for anything now. Thanks for the help! I'm liking this setup so far.

[J-Doc]

Oh, and this rod will also function as a potential redfish rod also. My buddy lives in the Lake Charles, LA area and fishes for redfish often. I hope to take a trip and visit and now I will have my own equipment I can bring with me. The Mojo has a 14-16" handle roughly yet its still light and has a strong backbone with a soft tip to feel the bite.

Does this sound like a really good all-around "heavy-gear" rod? I know that Cardiff is the equivalent of a Warn 8000lb winch! :-)

[Stump bumper]

Just wondering why you went for that over the Ambassador 5000 series? I have picked a couple of those on sale cheap and looks to be about the same reel. Because of the lack of brakes I never thought about using my round reels to throw an A-rig but will give it a try now. I have always used those reels for live bait and vertical jigging since it is easy to count out the line by watching the line guide but have not done very much real casting with one.

[Feathers and Fins]

I like the tidemasters I have two of them and they are great casting and fighting rods. Why I choose Shimano is simple, They work and they last! I have caught numerous Bill Fish, Tarpon, Redfish, Sharks and a host of others on them. They cast super smooth and the drag system is smooth as glass. I have seen Ambassodors break down and even impload on big fish. The best reel IMO ever made is a Jigmaster 500 but that reel is overkill in freshwater and the Shimano's are its equal. My Cardif has landed Sails and lots of them it was my go-to reel for surface feeders and never let me down.