Pairing rods with reels

[FatTuna]

So one of the things that I really struggle with in fishing is pairing rods with reels. Can't tell you how many reels I've bought for rods that are sitting in the rack only to have to resell and start over.

I have the following gear that I'm on the fence about fishing/selling. What would you pair said rod/reel with? What species and application would you use the combo for?

Reels:
Daiwa Saltist 20BG
Shimano Tekota 300 (levelwind)
Calcutta 700
Penn 114H
Daiwa 900

Rods:
Shimano Tallus Bluewater (spinning): TLS-69HBBL, 6'9", 50-100lb, heavy, fast action.
Shimano Teramar (conventional): TMC-74MHBRA, 7'4", 12-25lb, 1/2-1 1/2oz, medium-heavy, fast action.
Shimano Teramar Inshore (conventional): TMC-76H, 7'6", 15-30lb, 1/2-2oz, heavy.
Shimano Talavera (conventional): TEC-E70MH, 12-20lb line, medium-heavy, fast action.

The Shimano Tallus Bluewater rods I'm definitely keeping. I had four Baitrunner 8000Ds paired on them but I'm going to sell those reels. Looking for four matching affordable reels for live bait boat fishing. The Penn 114H/Daiwa 900 I was thinking of setting up as shark combos for when I go down south. Hopefully do some trolling with them too. Everything else I'm on the fence about. I'm on the final purge. I plan to quit impulsively buying fishing gear. I think I have enough for the rest of my life.

[Reel 224]

I'll be perfectly honest that I pair reels and rod now. I buy a reel and make the rod that best serves the stile I intend to fish, most of the time,,intact all of the time it's live bait or plugging and MH for bait and ML pluggin. 

Joe 

[FatTuna]

I'll be perfectly honest that I pair reels and rod now. I buy a reel and make the rod that best serves the stile I intend to fish, most of the time,,intact all of the time it's live bait or plugging and MH for bait and ML pluggin. 

Joe 

One of these days I'd like to pick up the art of rod building. It's not going to be this year though. Have too much stuff going on and too many expenses. Until then, I will be reading posts by guys like you.

[boon]

For those 50-100lb spinning rods you're going to have a hard time finding spinners that output meaningful drag and don't break the bank. The 8000Ds, with a practical maximum drag of about 13lb, were never going to keep up. Something like the Okuma Azores spinners maybe, or Fin-nor Lethal, or Shimano Spheros.

[FatTuna]

For those 50-100lb spinning rods you're going to have a hard time finding spinners that output meaningful drag and don't break the bank. The 8000Ds, with a practical maximum drag of about 13lb, were never going to keep up. Something like the Okuma Azores spinners maybe, or Fin-nor Lethal, or Shimano Spheros.

I was thinking about buying 4 four Penn Clash 6ks. I picked up two of them earlier this summer for ~$130 each.

My biggest issue with the 8000D is the time it takes to service them. Also, I'm not sold on the secondary drag. The fish feels it and spits the bait. They have a lot of play. The whole reel flexes with a good fish on the end of the line. I want something more rigid. No back play in the handle. Simple to rebuild.

[philaroman]

if there's an Okuma you like, they also make(made?) an aftermarket drag knob w/ the Baitrunner  feature in the knob -- not especially great or durable, it seems, but at least you choose the reel on its own merits & add/remove baitrunning, as needed

[FatTuna]

if there's an Okuma you like, they also make(made?) an aftermarket drag knob w/ the Baitrunner  feature in the knob -- not especially great or durable, it seems, but at least you choose the reel on its own merits & add/remove baitrunning, as needed

That's interesting. I'm going to have to look that up.

Recently I've just been wrapping a rubberband around the rod before installing the reel. Up above the reel seat. Then I leave the bail open and tuck a single loop under the rubberband. When you get a take, it pulls loose. Works best with mono.

I think I'm done with baitrunner style reels.

[philaroman]

scroll down to my "red thingamajig" comments:

http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=26088.0

those things work w/ braid...  about $5 for 3 at Cabella's 20+ yrs ago

[FatTuna]

I had something similar to that before. I lost it though. Rubberband method works well for me. It could be used with braid but I prefer mono for chunking. I always carry a few rubberbands. Can be used for so many things in fishing. If I remember, I'll post up a picture of how I rig it.

I have a friend that uses downrigger clips on this big game rods. Same concept. Mounted right above the reel seat. Rods are so long (9'6") you have to use a hook to grab the line. Clips are used to make grabbing the line easier and to keep the line as close to the boat as possible for the down line. Fishing the boat's shadow. Biggest pain but it seems to always get the most amount of bites.

Same concept is also used when rigging tuna bombs. Wrap a rubberband around the "bomb" before running the line through. Then tuck one loop under the rubberband. When the fish pulls, it slides right down to the hook. In theory you could fish really light leader for really big fish.   

[kmstorm64]

I had something similar to that before. I lost it though. Rubberband method works well for me. It could be used with braid but I prefer mono for chunking. I always carry a few rubberbands. Can be used for so many things in fishing. If I remember, I'll post up a picture of how I rig it.

I have a friend that uses downrigger clips on this big game rods. Same concept. Mounted right above the reel seat. Rods are so long (9'6") you have to use a hook to grab the line. Clips are used to make grabbing the line easier and to keep the line as close to the boat as possible for the down line. Fishing the boat's shadow. Biggest pain but it seems to always get the most amount of bites.

Same concept is also used when rigging tuna bombs. Wrap a rubberband around the "bomb" before running the line through. Then tuck one loop under the rubberband. When the fish pulls, it slides right down to the hook. In theory you could fish really light leader for really big fish.   

Love to see an image of that if you have a pic.

Thanks