SP/ hardbody Combo Advice

[chops_rx2]

Removed....

[kevvie]

Mate sounds like you are pretty much spot on the money. My only concerns are two fold.

1) I think the 6'8" rod is a little too short. If your casting from shore (as well as a boat) it wont give you the cast distance on the lures you have mentioned. Plus a 3-5kg stick might be a little heavy. Maybe look at the starlostix pro 7'3" 2-4kg stick. It is definately more 4kg than 2kg but has a soft tip to cast small lures but plenty of grunt to stop trevws and jewies etc. I know its prob more than you want to spend but something like it would be ideal. Even a pflueger trion 7' 3-5kg would be good. Its more a 3kg stick than 5kgs and its resonable priced at 80 odd bux.

2) its your line selection. maybe consider 6lb braid if you think of tangling with trevs up north. For southern species 4lb is sufficient.

[MeePee_99]

A symetre is a great reel for the price, my brother has one and after a year and a half it is as smooth as my aspire!!!!!!!

[Little grey men]

I use almost the same setup for bass. It should be OK to cover a range of slightly heavier fishing applications.
Mine is used primarily to drag bass out of snags which it does with ease.
Kevvie is spot on about the lure casting . Mine is used to cast heavier stuff, between 8 -15gms. I've never tried to cast a little bream hard bodied lure with it but I know that I wouldn't get enough distance to make me happy.
I used it to cast a lot of light weight plastics in the grassy edges of Lake Samsonvale and those casts were quite short, usually no more than say 30m, even on mornings with no wind.
Slightly lighter and whippier would be the way to go to move your small lures.

[chops_rx2]

Removed....

[chops_rx2]

Removed....

[tailorboi99]

Shimano Starlo Stix are brilliant rods - $99.00, also look for a fairly good length rod around 7-7.2feet is a great length for estuarys to flick lightly weighted plastics a fair way :d, also look for one around the line rating of 1-3kg or 2-4kg. For a reel I like Shimano reels in sizes from 1000 for the bream and flathead for the trevally and jacks I'd say a 2500 size reel to also handle bream and flathead nicely. I like the Shimano Sahara's and the Daiwa Excelor but they're pretty expensive so I'd go fo the Shimano Symetre. For line, use BRAID Whilst fishing plastics for great sensitivity! I like the fireline as it's a cheapish braid but it brilliant when fishing plastics. You should have some spare mono around the 10lb rating. Use the mono as backing then tie on the fireline. The fireline lb rating should be around 8lb for the fish you are wanting to fish with!

Good luck finding a combo!

Cheers Tom

[tailorboi99]

Oh and also you have been on the right track with what you said earlier with the plastics and rod/reel.

Cheers Tom

[chops_rx2]

Removed....

[kevvie]

some that have been mentioned would definately.... are they the 'ideal' rod for that purpose probably not.

The starlostix pro tourny 2-4 throws 25g sp/head combo all day without hassle. A bit tippy to be throwing 40g but would do it...plenty of low down power if you hook a good fish on it too.

[chops_rx2]

Removed....

[For Steve]

I've been using the same Rack Raider you're considering. It's been a great rod, especially for it's $100 price tag. I find it's suited beautifully to 1/8oz to 1/4oz casting.

I also cast 2g bream lures and 1/12oz jigheads - it can do it but it's not ideal. I haven't casted a lot of slugs but I'd stay below 20g. It's handled snapper to 60cm, GT to 70cm, flathead to 70cm, and bream with ease. A good allround SP and lure rod - I think you'll be happy for what you'll be using it for.

Match it up with a 2500 size reel and some 6lb Fireline and you're sorted. The Symetre will be fine.

Regards
Brad

[chops_rx2]

Removed....

[LostNearBribie]

Mate there is a good combo in the for sale section at the moment...

http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?t=134523

[chops_rx2]

Removed....

[chops_rx2]

Removed....