A new combo

[WVHillbilly]

I'm looking to buy a new rod and reel. Open faced spinning and ~7' rod. I'm replacing a Penn 4500 and a Shakespear ugly stick. Don't want to spend a fortune. . . a couple hundred or so. Ideas? I'll be using it for snapper, etc along the west coast and a little walleye fishing up north.

[jake42]

What's wrong with a baitcaster?

[Capt Rick Hiott]

Some people cant throw them.............. I would stay with the Ugly Stick. Have you used the Ugly Stick Custom Inshore rod yet?

[tunatamer]

I have a penn 460 slammer reel with 7' St croix rod that I have been real happy with. It has a really good drag and casts braid well. Reel should cost about $140, but I think the rod was $160. You may want to buy a little less rod to keep the price down, but I think the slammer series from penn is good stuff. Fishing it in salt for several years with no problems.

[WVHillbilly]

Thanks for the info. I'll probably stick with some type of Penn reel. Maybe look closly at the St Croix rods. As for casting reels. . . I can use them alright, but the concept has always escaped me. . . advantageous over a spinning reel how? I only use them for trolling and bottom jigging.

[WVHillbilly]

FYI: I stopped by the local Sporting Goods store in Englewood (Cooks) while down there earlier this month and lined up four reels, all in the $80-100 price range. . . Penn, Quantum, Pflueger and Shimano. I picked the Quantum KT40PTi. It is probably the smoothest reel I've ever used. Works like an absolute dream. I was ready to buy another Penn, but after testing out the Quantum I had to go with it. Light and compact but really solid and strudy feeling. The baler is made of titanium and will not bend or break. Great reel. Check it out if you're in the market for an inexpensive (79.99) small-medium size reel.