Based on the calfishing rod article, posts, and immediate availability I have narrowed down my choice for a backup calico rod to the following alternatives. I prefer Calstar for a first rod, but which one of the following do you recommend as best for a second rod for Calico 555 reef type of fishing with 15 pound test and swimbaits on 1/2 - 1 1/2 oz. leadheads?

1. 12-25, 1/2 - 2, 8',heavy, fast, St. Croix TC80HF.

2. 10-20, 1/2 - 1, 7', medium heavy, fast, St. Croix TC70MHF.

3. 12-25, 3/8 - 1 1/2, 7', medium heavy, action-taper?, Fenwick GW70CMH.

4. 12-25, 3/8 - 1,7', medium heavy, action-taper?, Fenwick GTC70MHST.

5. 6 - 17, lure weights?, 8', action-taper?, Fenwick HMXT83ML-2.

Also, is the presence or absence of a trigger grip important for this application?

Thank you very much. I value your opinions.

Thanks Larry. Do you know where in the SB area or online that I can checkout the Allstar, Loomis, and Shimano Calcutta rods?

Bob

Hey Bob,Hook/line/sinker carries loomis rod, oshmans carries allstars,and as far as the calcutta rods are concerned Im not from S.B. so Im sure if anybody up there carries them, but you can see them on shimano.com, also there is a calcutta xfa812 and xfa15 on the allcoast sportfishing buy and sell board for sale...Larry

I don't think anybody up here has any Calcutta rods. Does Eric have some?
-Brian

i got a calcutta CT820XFA from insidesportfishing.com. it was supposedly back ordered for a month, but i got it in two weeks. very good service, even called me to tell me it was back ordered. highly recommend them.

o rite, no affiliation or wutever u want me to type here.
-leif-

>o rite, no affiliation or wutever u want me to type here.

whaddya think this is, allcoast? lmao

hay man had to cover my butt just incase hahaha.

Thanks to all for your recommendations. Based on immediate availability, I bought the St. Croix TC80XHXF. However, from what some of you are saying this choice for my 15 lb.calico rod is OK but I will need another calico rod for tossing on 12 lb.

Thanks again. I hope that we all learned something from each other's opinions.

Bob

Bob,

We need to meet sometime so I can check out your St. Croix. That is the next blank on my list for a 15 lb. stick and it would be nice to check it out before I order the blank. At the same time you could check out my Loomis HS932 which I feel is an excellent 12 lb. calico stick.

Pete

P.S. Where did you find it?

I found the St. Croix in the Offshore Angler catalog. This is a BassPro company, but this model is not one of the St. Croix rods in the Bass Pro catalog. The rod has not arrived yet.

Bob

Bob,

E-mail me again at leapinbass@yahoo.com. I deleted your last message before jotting down your e-mail address. When your St. Croix arrives I would like to check it out and if you're looking for a 12 lb. stick you should check out my HS932.

Pete