Figured I throw this out there to experienced anglers who have been in my shoes for advice...
I've got friends who have a kid that loves fishing, but they don't. I took him fishing on a party boat and he was catching fish all day and now he's seriously hooked and won't quit talking about it. Basically I created a junkie haha. Anyways, his birthday is coming up and his parents want to get him a fishing pole and reel and they asked me for advice on what they should get him. He's 8 years old, strong for his age. I'm just not sure what to get him... he's young, probably gonna abuse it so it doesn't really make sense to go expensive, but I also know that having the right set up from the get go saves a lot of headache and I want him to have fun and be successful, and proud/stoked on his gear... he'll mostly be fishing out of Morro Bay for rockfish with this rig on charter boats. Any advice is super helpful and I'm sure his parents don't want to spend a fortune
For vintage gear I would look for a Penn 320GTI. Basically the same gear train as a 113H in level line. Parts readily available from Mysticparts.com. For a rod I like the Californian by Turners Outdoorsman. Just find one in the weight class of line you plan on using. The 320 is good for 30-40# line. Bill
What did he use last time?
daiwa sealine 50h on a daiwa vip 6' 25-60lb. it's my loaner reel/rod combo. could go used route but was thinking new/affordable/bullet proof if that exists...
Quote from: jerconte on June 23, 2024, 02:21:37 AMnew/affordable/bullet proof if that exists...
Man that's the reel version of cars "fast, cheap, reliable. Pick any 2."
I vote for a jigmaster. But I really like jigmasters so I'm biased.
Jigmaster is readily available new — match it with an Ugly Stik.
He will learn how to fish and won't pinch his fingers in a level wind.
Best, Fred
The 320GT that Bill mentioned is a good choice. Plenty strong, the right gear ratio for drop fishing, durable, and a levelwind, so one less thing for an eight year old to deal with. Graphite frame and sideplates, so less corrosion problems. I never saw a customer jam a finger in a levelwind when I was deckhanding on the same sort of trips. But I saw plenty of issues from customers screwing up manual line lay. Having said that, the Jigmaster that others are recommending is not a bad choice. It is not a very strong reel, but it is much better casting reel than a 320.
I would go with something durable like sort of Ugly Stik for the rod, but don't know which model to recommend. If you want to get a bit fancier, Okuma has some good rods at lower price points.
Even as a grownup, I would not feel disappointed if I went on a rockfish trip and got handed an Ugly Stick with a 320 (or a Jigmaster) on it.
And good on you for getting a youngster into fishing.
-J
Just give him your loaner outfit. Everyone's a winner. He gets the rig he's used to and already has some memories attached to. You can put together a new loaner outfit, spend what you want on it, and not have to feel guilty about it.
Quote from: oc1 on June 23, 2024, 06:09:17 AMJust give him your loaner outfit. Everyone's a winner. He gets the rig he's used to and already has some memories attached to. You can put together a new loaner outfit, spend what you want on it, and not have to feel guilty about it.
Unfortunately I have sentimental attachment to the 50h... but I do have a Penn 555 that's just been sitting around. Thinking of giving that to him.
Agree with Bill and J. If a deckhand doesn't clean your catch the kid will have to, or learn to. After that a FW rinse is easily ignored—-graphite helps. Also though, a conventional with bushings instead of ball bearings, such as the Jigmaster, helps when the internals godda be cleaned.
My rods are cheap for SW fishing on purpose and I just pay attention to weight/line rating.
Look for a used Calcutta 400b. They only weigh 11.7 ounces. The combination of line capacity and weight is hard to beat. It's a very versatile inshore reel.
Quote from: Jenx on June 23, 2024, 04:10:14 PMLook for a used Calcutta 400b. They only weigh 11.7 ounces. The combination of line capacity and weight is hard to beat. It's a very versatile inshore reel.
Lots of rock fishing trips are in deeper water due to the newer restrictions. Not sure if a Calcutta would be up to dropping 16oz leads all day. It might have to be a special purpose setup. I don't think that I would have kept a Calcutta in fishable shape very long when I was eight. Somebody would have had to take care of it for me. I would have been better off with a reel that could be tossed in a bucket of fresh water for maintenance until the end of season. Not sure if a 400 would have the line capacity for all rockfish trips.
But if you are right about the reel size, there is a smaller version of the Penn 320 (310), and a there is the TR100G and TR200G from Shimano. The TRG is a great graphite levelwind for trolling and drop fishing that does not get the love they deserve. The TRG is sort of the Calcutta for folks that are drop fishing or trolling and want a low maintenance option.
Come to think of it, something that a kid/smaller person is probably going to appreciate most is having a lower retrieve rate, which means a lower gear ratio and/or a smaller spool diameter. It takes a lot less strength and endurance to do the winding if the retrieve rate is in your favor. And nowadays with more deep drops on the rockfish... Along with durability and low maintenance, retrieve rate might be one of the most important factors for this kind of fishing.
I would put the Penn 3x0GTs and the Shimano TRGs in the sweet spot for retrieve rate. That 555 is getting out of the ideal range but doable.
-J
When is his B day? I am in Canada now but I can dig around for a useable Diawa reel when we get home. A Ugly Stick is a good choice for a low end rod.
Can't go wrong with Diawa reels but I would go with a 500 Jigmaster or 113H Senator but I am a "Penn Person".
Quote from: jurelometer on June 23, 2024, 05:25:16 PMQuote from: Jenx on June 23, 2024, 04:10:14 PMLook for a used Calcutta 400b. They only weigh 11.7 ounces. The combination of line capacity and weight is hard to beat. It's a very versatile inshore reel.
Lots of rock fishing trips are in deeper water due to the newer restrictions. Not sure if a Calcutta would be up to dropping 16oz leads all day. It might have to be a special purpose setup. I don't think that I would have kept a Calcutta in fishable shape very long when I was eight. Somebody would have had to take care of it for me. I would have been better off with a reel that could be tossed in a bucket of fresh water for maintenance until the end of season. Not sure if a 400 would have the line capacity for all rockfish trips.
I have actually fished the Calcutta in 500' waters with a 16oz sinker. Granted I have only done it two or three times, so I can't say how well it would hold up over time to that type of fishing, but I have heard heavier weights can wear out the clutch on a baitcaster. That reel wouldn't be my first choice for that depth, but it's a great reel for water under 200'. I'm not sure how deep they are going up there. I know down here in San Diego the afternoon half-days typically stay closer to shore.
For your needs a Penn or Diawa reel the size of the Penn 113H would be my recommendation.
From Walmart - Penn Rival or the tried and true 309. Either one on an Ugly Stik.
Quote from: Keta on June 23, 2024, 05:56:41 PMWhen is his B day? I am in Canada now but I can dig around for a useable Diawa reel when we get home. A Ugly Stick is a good choice for a low end rod.
Can't go wrong with Diawa reels but I would go with a 500 Jigmaster or 113H Senator but I am a "Penn Person".
Bday is on the 17th. I went with an Okuma Cedros CJ-c-601h for the rod. I'm gonna give him my Penn 555, but since a lot of folks are saying jigmaster I'm thinking i'll go with that if the 555 is too high of gear.
I have to ask because I know some folks call stripers rockfish, google is showing all varieties of rockfish. I use a 6500C3 for stripers, but not a budget reel. With the 500ft depth I assume you are talking about Rockfish :fish
Quote from: jgp12000 on June 24, 2024, 02:21:43 PMI have to ask because I know some folks call stripers rockfish, google is showing all varieties of rockfish. I use a 6500C3 for stripers, but not a budget reel. With the 500ft depth I assume you are talking about Rockfish :fish
Location is the Central Coast of California, mostly out of Morro Bay. Catching Vermillion, Copper, Bocaccio, Blues, Gopher, Cabezon, Lincod, etc. Typically we're fishing 200-300ft. Sometimes 60ft, sometimes 400-500ft.
The "rockfish" on the left side of the US are "sebastes" not the same as stripers. There are many varieties, blacks,blues and others in shallow water, yelloweye, shortraker and others found deep with many species in between.
I had key manual for Rockfish. There are so many species that one of the main starting points was color. Not even certain about this, but when in doubt look for "cheek" spines. I.e., spines on the gill cover(operculum).
Rough or smooth between the eyes for a few. In the last few years they have split blues into decon and blue rockfish, something I thought should have been done years ago. They are as alike as largemouth and smallmouth bass, close but no cigar. They school together but are not the same fish.
OCEAN (Oregon Coalition Educating ANglers) has passed out rockfish ID cards for years.
https://myodfw.com/articles/rockfish-identification-tips
Quote from: Keta on June 24, 2024, 03:40:29 PMRough or smooth between the eyes for a few. In the last few years they have split blues into decon and blue rockfish, something I thought should have been done years ago. They are as alike as largemouth and smallmouth bass, close but no cigar. They school together but are not the same fish.
OCEAN (Oregon Coalition Educating ANglers) has passed out rockfish ID cards for years.
https://myodfw.com/articles/rockfish-identification-tips
California still has "Blues" in the same category as "nearshore rockfish". I'll look into that!
In Oregon decon rockfish are a sub limit with blues and blacks.
Decon Rockfish
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastes_diaconus
Quote from: jerconte on June 24, 2024, 05:51:57 AMQuote from: Keta on June 23, 2024, 05:56:41 PMWhen is his B day? I am in Canada now but I can dig around for a useable Diawa reel when we get home. A Ugly Stick is a good choice for a low end rod.
Can't go wrong with Diawa reels but I would go with a 500 Jigmaster or 113H Senator but I am a "Penn Person".
Bday is on the 17th. I went with an Okuma Cedros CJ-c-601h for the rod. I'm gonna give him my Penn 555, but since a lot of folks are saying jigmaster I'm thinking i'll go with that if the 555 is too high of gear.
That's a really big rod. Okuma made some rods with the type of Alps reel seats that did not fit a lot reel feet, especially smaller to mid sized reels, or reels with extensions on the foot for the clamp to screw into which couldn't clear the jumbo seat diameter.
You might want to check that the reels that you intend you use are balanced for the size of the rod and that the seat can hold the reel foot securely. I like that it is a fiberglass blank.
I am not denigrating the Jigmaster (that much :) ) but this community is the most Jigmaster-positive place you are going to find in the fishing universe. The answer to many which-reel questions here is going to be "Jigmaster".
The Jigmaster is a nice inexpensive reel for casting monofilament in the 20 to 30 lb range. Maybe two to six ounce payload. Other uses are possible, but you are getting out of the sweet spot for this reel in terms of form factor and strength.
-J
Quote from: jurelometer on June 24, 2024, 06:03:17 PMbut this community is the most Jigmaster-positive place you are going to find in the fishing universe. The answer to many which-reel questions here is going to be "Jigmaster".
I'm half tempted to put this quote in my signature.
I was asked today via pm, in response to this thread, "why the jigmaster?"
And I liked my answer. So I'm gonna paste it here.
It's a conventional without a levelwind, minimal number of moving parts, and a solid history of pulling in shockingly big fish. I believe they have been in circulation since the late 50s (and are still produced) so you can definitely find parts, and if you fish within the design limits you likely won't need parts. Of course they're also a favorite of modders like myself so lots of companies offer aftermarket upgrades for them. I have one whose only Penn factory parts are the bridge screws, yoke springs and handle screw. At 4:1 they're neither a fast nor a slow reel so they are quite versatile. And there's so many out there that they're by no means scarce and you can find them for cheap.
But I will not shy away from the very accurate assessment that I am in fact 'jigmaster-positive.'
Cool. Deacon Blues; a song by Steely Dan from the '70's. A possible source for the name?. Blue Rockfish are my favorite for eating and love form large schools. Looks real hard to tell the difference without some experience.
I like the 501 and 99 size Jiggy's. The old-school post frame and single ring/side, not so much. But yeah, they don't seem to fail in the stock form too often. How about the lower geared Long Beach Live Baitcaster, the Jigmaster before they changed the gears and took away one ring from each side. Cool picture plates too. Somewheres around 3:1 gears though.