Inshore spinning setups....

[Duffman]

First off thanks for all the info I’ve gotten here over the last year. A Maxel hybrid 20 and Diawa lexa are now in the aresenal and fished real well.

Want to put together a couple of spin outfits together. Throwing small epoxy jigs and deadly dicks etc. Kinda some Albie setups but plan on using them as general inshore stuff.

Was gonna try and put together 2 setups keeping it at $500-$600 for the pair.

Looked at the Tsunami carbon shield rods and Diawa BG reels. Can pair up both for about $230 per setup.

Appreciate input.

Happy New Years boys.

[Jigman13]

The BGs are decent but they wont hold up to drag ripping hardtails for very long. Nor will they last long in the salt. I'd look towards a 4000 size reel a step or two above the BG.

I've also heard the spheros 4000 inshore is a winner, esp with the fairly cheap bearing upgrade from the plastic bushings. They're somewhat sealed too.

[hammer4reel]

Check out the Penn battle 3 combos .

I have many set ups costing 3 times as much , but can’t stop fishing this rod with a 4000 reel .

No frill set up that’s reel is solid, and the rod has the sweetest action .
It has a soft parabolic back bone like old Lami , but crazy back bone .

Everyone who tried it on my boat bought 2 lol

[Skolmann]

I have 2 albie/bonito setups that I’ll use from a boat;

1-GLoomis E6X 843S MGM rated for 3/8-1.5 ounce lure weight. I use this for throwing epoxy jigs, deadly dicks,other various metals & a 1 ounce casting egg or hookless popper that has a 4’ flurocarbon leader trailer with a clouser minnow fly at the end.

2-GLoomis E6X 844S F rated for 1/4-3/4 ounce lure weight. I use this rod for throwing Tsunami Split Tails, Albie Snax and other soft plastic baits.

Both rods are 7’ and matched with a Diawa Saltist Back Bay 4000 spooled with #15 braid. I tie in a 3-5’ length of flurocarbon leader anywhere from #12-15. I upgraded the handle on both reels with a Gomex EVA know style handle.

Absolutely love both set ups. And believe or it not-the 844S has more ‘balls’ than the 843 MGM

[Skolmann]

The BGs are decent but they wont hold up to drag ripping hardtails for very long. Nor will they last long in the salt. I'd look towards a 4000 size reel a step or two above the BG.



I have several first generation BGs ranging from a BG 10, 13 & 15 that I bought way back in the mid to late 1980’s that I still use on occasion today. Originally they were used in freshwater but since the mid 1990’s, I’ve used them for snappers to winter flounder to fluke to cocktail bluefish and albies. They were built like tanks. Yes, the are on the heavy side but you can use and abuse them them and they’ll take it. They are not in my top rotation of reels these days but they are each fished at least twice a season. In years past, when I fished them more often I would have them cleaned/serviced at least every other year. Not saying the newer text generation of BGs are built to the same standards but as I said, the originals were just about bullet proof.

[Duffman]

What do you think of the casting egg Doc? Read about them for years how the surf guys use them but never did it myself.

Always thought about using some flies tied with fluro behind old school snapper poppers. Figure that’s kinda the same thing as a casting egg.

We have tried using fly gear on the boat but with 3 guys in the cockpit waving wands on a 22 footer it just doesn’t work!!!

[Skolmann]

What do you think of the casting egg Doc? Read about them for years how the surf guys use them but never did it myself.

!

I like them & they have produced for me both from a boat & the surf.

From a boat, I like tying on a closer fly, surf candy type teaser or sometimes just a jerk shad type soft plastic (anywhere from 3-5”s depending on what bait is around) to 3-5” flurocarbon leader tied behind a 1 ounce casting egg. After casting, I’ll allow it to settle for a few moments before starting a retrieve like I’m working a topwater popper. The casting egg creates a commotion to simulate feeding fish. The fish sees the fish/lure and BAM.

From the surf, I’ll use the same lures but also will use a #00, #0 and sometimes a #1 Clark spoon. The spoons are deadly when spanish mackerel are in the surf. Also use this set up fishing the jetty/wall at Manasquan Inlet.

On occasion I’ll swap out the casting egg for a dehooked popping plug and tie the fluroleader to the rear eye.

[Skolmann]

Always thought about using some flies tied with fluro behind old school snapper poppers. Figure that’s kinda the same thing as a casting egg.




Pretty much the same theory. See no reason why it wouldn’t work.

[Duffman]

On occasion I’ll swap out the casting egg for a dehooked popping plug and tie the fluroleader to the rear eye.

That’s a killer idea! I like it!

Never thought of casting the Clark’s. Only trolled em before.

[Skolmann]

That’s a killer idea! I like it!

Never thought of casting the Clark’s. Only trolled em before.


Learned that trick when I lived in Florida. Since the Clark spoons are so light they are difficult to cast for any distance (& I’m not a fan of the product they make called a castable Clark spoon). A casting egg/dehooked popper in the 3/4-1 ounce range is the perfect weight for casting out a trailing Clark spoon without interfering or impeding it’s action.

[Hookmanski]

I've been running the Tsunami Shield on my surf casting rod for 2-3 seasons now and its held up great for a $100 reel, and I definitely haven't treated it all too well :D

[mike1010]

The BGs are decent but they wont hold up to drag ripping hardtails for very long. Nor will they last long in the salt. I'd look towards a 4000 size reel a step or two above the BG.

I've also heard the spheros 4000 inshore is a winner, esp with the fairly cheap bearing upgrade from the plastic bushings. They're somewhat sealed too.

What kind of failures are you seeing on the BG? Thanks.

[Jigman13]

What kind of failures are you seeing on the BG? Thanks.

Mostly harsh grinding and difficulty turning the handle to the point of seizure.

I use my gear to the point of abuse, but I also rinse and grease multiple times a season. That said, I've had a BG4000 crap out on me catching stripers to 30ish inches during a spring run bite in the back bay. Not cool.

I've had friends using BGs standing right next to me and after a few nice fish, I could hear them grinding. Same deal. Striper fishing. Back bay. Spring run.

We weren't taking waves or anything like that, or dropping them on rocks. Just launching plugs and gliders and having the reels crap out after fish that weren't big.

On the flip side, I switched to a spinfisher 4500 bailless and sheared the pinion bearing fighting an epic beast that eventually won. Penn immediately replaced the reel within a week. The newer reel has held up, but I haven't exerted the same kinda pressure on it yet unfortunately.

I'm a huge daiwa guy. I've opted to go the ballistic route since the BG failure. I have them from 1000 to 4000 sized; 3 of which are 2500s--one ex and 2 LTs. The ex has been serviced once and has since performed flawlessly. The LTs get rinsed and greased and havent had a single issue yet... used from sweetwater trouting, walleye, hybrids and smallmouth to back bay fluking, winter flounder, schoolie bass and blues, albies and tog and mahi to 20+ lbs. None have "failed" like the BG.

Moral of the story, if it's in your budget, opt for the better quality reel. You get what you pay for.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Another vote for the Ballistic. I know a few guys using them for Tog and Stripers and they hold up well. They have a few advantages over the BG, they are mag sealed so the internals are better protected and are composite not metal so they are lighter and not as prone to pitting.

If you're going to be using these set ups more for finesse fishing I would go with the Ballistic since the lighter weight is key. This would be especially true jigging for tog where lightweight set up allows you to feel the little ticks better.

I think the BG will serve your general needs as well but there's nothing like the feel of a lighter weigh outfit even when not finesse fishing. Much less fatigue if you plan to be casting and jigging all day too.

If your set on a lightweight rod I would put them both on the rod to see the difference of how they balance on the rod and feel on your wrist.

[Duffman]

Few things I’m learning from the info on this thread…….

1) I buy all high quality stuff…….which I don’t

2) I take really good care of my stuff…..which I don’t

3) I do regular yearly maintenance……which I don’t

Bottom line is I don’t fish enough and I don’t catch shit. Only reason I don’t see the failures you guys are seeing :D

[Gerry Zagorski]

Few things I’m learning from the info on this thread…….

1) I buy all high quality stuff…….which I don’t

2) I take really good care of my stuff…..which I don’t

3) I do regular yearly maintenance……which I don’t

Bottom line is I don’t fish enough and I don’t catch shit. Only reason I don’t see the failures you guys are seeing :D

Well then given all this new information this might be right up your alley :D

[Skolmann]

Well then given all this new information this might be right up your alley :D

😱