Broke the Eagle GT pack rod I'd been using - didn't like it anyway, and been looking for an excuse to buy a new rod, though I'm broke.

Suggestions? I'm fishing the surf in SoCal, looking for a light rod, mostly perch and corbina - grubs and sand crabs - though I'd be open to anything else I can catch. (Anybody here caught a striper from the surf?) Rod ideas? Some web-site about it suggests a 9' steelhead rod.

What're you using? What do you like? I was considering, for example, a ML Fenwick HMG 9'.

Budget is $50-$80.

Thankya.

-j

http://fish.shimano.com/rods/convergence/convergence.html

http://fish.shimano.com/rods/stimula/stimula.html

I fish a Shakespeare Ugly Stik "Lite" sp1170-2m
It is about $40 new. It is 7 feet long and rated for 6-15lb test line. I like this rod even if it is a cheapie. It casts nice, and I have landed a couple legal halibuts on it too. And for $40 bucks you dont have to worry about breaking it or whatever.

I use an 8'6" Fenwick Steelhead rod. I love it. It would be at the end of your price range, but well worth it. The nice thing about Steelhead rods is that you can fish a wide variety of lines on them. I use mine for 6#, yet it's rated for 10-20#.

Soft tip, but lot's of backbone. It's the perfect perch jerkin' rod
HMX T86MH-2

Amish Ed
You Can't Catch it again if
it's Dead!

Amish Ed
You can't catch it again if it's dead!

Ed,

Is this the rod that I'm looking for? Looking for longer casts than I'm getting with my 7'6" Shimano V Rod. Looking forward to winter perchin and want a rod that will give me some good casting distance as well as sensativity. Price seems to good to be true. The HMX T86MH -2 looks like the one I'm looking for.

Say hello to Dad for me. Looking forward to casting a line with you guys another time!

Aztecwin

How are you with a baitcaster? I think it is a perfect light action surf rod, wether they make it in a spinning version I don't know.

Amish Ed
You Can't Catch it again if
it's Dead!

Amish Ed
You can't catch it again if it's dead!

I discovered today that Fenwick makes a Salmon/Steelhead Spinning Rod. The price is 89.95. The model # is HMXS86L-2

Overview

Line 4-15#

Length 8'6"

Action- Light

Lure Wt. (OZ) 3/16-1/2

PCS- 2

This is exactly what I'm looking for! I live in North San Diego County. Does anyone know where I can buy or order one locally? Thanks!

Aztecwin

I'm in L.A., but I saw one at the Sports Chalet here. Good shot they've got similar in S.D.'s SC.

-j

Thanks - this sounds about right.

Q - Fenwick makes, in spinning, a version labelled medium that's exactly like yours, and one labelled light. Do you find that yours is exactly right for fishing perch and corbina, or is it a little heavy on the action?

-j

Pulled the trigger and ordered a Fenwick HMXS86L-2. I will marry this sweet little Salmon/Steelhead Rod to my Shimano Stradic 4000FG. The price is $99.99. Ordered it through Boss Bait and Tackle in Vista.

Highlights for this weekend's surf action were a Huge Bat Ray that took me for one hell of a ride on 4# P-Line and a 14" corbina both caught on a 1.5# Motoroil Gold Flake Motoroil Grub Carolina Rigged. I felt like the Pied Piper with the Bat. A line of kids behind me like you wouldn't believe!

Weather was overcast,windy, and the surf was rough here in Oceanside. Yesterday the salad in the water was the worst that I've experienced in months. Almost every cast was a hassle. Today was a bit improved. Can't wait for my new stick. Should be here by this weekend.

Aztecwin

It's perfect. The thing with the steelhead rod is that they have light tips, but lot's of backbone. So, you can fish a wide range of line and lure weights. I would get one again without thinking if I ever lost mine.

Ed