Spinning Rod for Southern Islands Bottom Bashing

[Melvin_Ng]

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend a spinning rod that is suitable for heavy bottom at Southern Islands/Horsburg? Not too sure about poundage, but I am thinking of at least 20-50, coupling with a Penn Spinfisher 6500-9500. Intending to get one for my Dad.

Would love to consider building up a blank, but the trip is just 3 weeks away, so lead time is pretty short. In such an event, think a factory rod would plug the gap, while I get a blank built up for him.

Thanks for the recommendations!

[jason]

YO Melvin

U can consider the Tidewater series....

U can find them at Hock Heng...Cheap and good....


Cheers
Jason

[stickbom!]

For cranking sinkers... get the 9500SS. Trust me on this one. The 6500-8500 might give your dad a hard time.

[Makaira]

Hi Melvin,

Imho, no spinning reel is any good at cranking heavy sinkers; be it a super, super high end or a budget reel. A spinning reel is perfectly fine when you pump & wind in a biggie. However, in deep waters & a steady current when you end up needing to pump & wind the sinker in every time you want to change to check bait, it is just too tiring. You will end up not wanting to check at regular intervals because it is simply too tedious & end up catching less fish. Opinions differ of course.

For the application you are looking at, I suggest getting your Dad a Shimano Tekota -- essentially the cranking power of a Torium with a levelwind. Very decent drags too. Gave one recently to my buddy's boat captain & he is extremely happy with it. BTW, he is a handline convert & he has used the reel to pull up 5-6kg fishes in 150-200 feet of water using "TLP" sinkers with ease. Depending on the size, I think the Tekota goes for $300 or so.

Hopes this helps.

Best regards,
Makaira

[stickbom!]

I wanted to recommend an overhead but since he mentioned 6500-9500... might as well go for the strongest of the lot.

[Melvin_Ng]

Hi Melvin,

Imho, no spinning reel is any good at cranking heavy sinkers; be it a super, super high end or a budget reel. A spinning reel is perfectly fine when you pump & wind in a biggie. However, in deep waters & a steady current when you end up needing to pump & wind the sinker in every time you want to change to check bait, it is just too tiring. You will end up not wanting to check at regular intervals because it is simply too tedious & end up catching less fish. Opinions differ of course.

For the application you are looking at, I suggest getting your Dad a Shimano Tekota -- essentially the cranking power of a Torium with a levelwind. Very decent drags too. Gave one recently to my buddy's boat captain & he is extremely happy with it. BTW, he is a handline convert & he has used the reel to pull up 5-6kg fishes in 150-200 feet of water using "TLP" sinkers with ease. Depending on the size, I think the Tekota goes for $300 or so.

Hopes this helps.

Best regards,
Makaira

Hi KK,

Thanks for the pointers. I once tried to introduced my Dad to the wonders of multipliers, even to the extent of getting a left-hand model Abu for him to use on Changi Boat Trips. He did not warm to the idea, still prefer his spinners.

I think I'll bring along another 20-50 rod, coupled with a old 330GTI, just in case he got tired with the Spinning setup. Guess that this will be a good chance to 'convert' him. ;p.

Anyway, after playing around with a few rods at TTC the other day, bought a PE6 5'2ft Jigwrex for him. I tried cranking 'Tua LP' J18 sinkers with an Ultegra, damn siong ah! It was better with the Spinfisher, a 6500 model. But seriously, really hope to convert him. He seldoms fishes deep waters with me, only venturing out to Changi Waters or Tuas so far. Let's see how it goes. Once again, thanks Makaira!

For cranking sinkers... get the 9500SS. Trust me on this one. The 6500-8500 might give your dad a hard time.

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the pointers too. A buddy had a 6500 lying around, so it'll be used for this trip by my Dad. Still, hope to convert him soon. Cheers.

[stickbom!]

Hi Melvin, I just visited your homepage and had a nice time browsing through your photo galleries. Good to know you're bringing your dad fishing. Nothing like spending quality time with your ol man! Would be nice if we could go hunting for rays from shore together one day.

[Melvin_Ng]

Hi Melvin, I just visited your homepage and had a nice time browsing through your photo galleries. Good to know you're bringing your dad fishing. Nothing like spending quality time with your ol man! Would be nice if we could go hunting for rays from shore together one day.

Hi Mike,

Thanks for signing my guestbook. Got a few other catches not updated yet. Once of them was nice one, a 7kg Barramundi from "you know where". Too busy with work and any time available is spent with the family or fishing.

One thing though, my Dad is the kind of angler who likes to go for "chap hee", things like Rabbit Fish, Ang Cho Kee etc. Recently, on an Ah Bee trip, he outfished everyone!

We can always go ray hunting, IMHO, late Oct onwards till Dec would be quite favourable.

[wreckingblue2]

Nice fish....