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Thread: Looking at a new Flattie combo need advise please

  1. #1

    Looking at a new Flattie combo need advise please

    Looking at a new Flathead rod and reel combo for flicking soft plastics and hardbodies, Budget is $650.00, baitcaster or spinning doesnt matter. and I prefer using braid with a quality flurocarbon leader. any suggestions would be appreciated.

    Thanks
    Marty
    "Live Life"

  2. #2

    Re: Looking at a new Flattie combo need advise please

    Mate for that money you could get an Egrell Bear S2 and a Shimano Sustain 2500FE or if you are a Daiwa fan you could look at a Heartland or Sol if you bargain right.
    Cheers and thanks.

    "Tackle Whore on a budget..."
    Gonzo II – Brooker 4.5m 40hp Yam & Outlaw Kayak
    Fish Well, Fish Egrell


    http://www.ecofishersqld.org.au

  3. #3

    Re: Looking at a new Flattie combo need advise please

    fark $650 to chase flatties, i couldnt do that. but Lost is right, a friend has the sustain he rates it

    Ben...

  4. #4

    Re: Looking at a new Flattie combo need advise please

    Quote Originally Posted by La Vida View Post
    Looking at a new Flathead rod and reel combo for flicking soft plastics and hardbodies, Budget is $650.00, baitcaster or spinning doesnt matter. and I prefer using braid with a quality flurocarbon leader. any suggestions would be appreciated.

    Thanks
    Marty
    geez, not a bad budget there mate. normally you would be looking around the 2-4 kg rod mark, no shorter than 7 foot long (in boat) in the estuaries and shallow water as casting distance is a big factor. The g loomis drop shot series is a nice rod but cheaper rods will be basically just as good. teamed up witha stradic or sustain would be perfect. Keep in mind though if you are chasing deeper water flathead with high current flow (seaways) you may want a slightly stiffer rod

  5. #5

    Re: Looking at a new Flattie combo need advise please

    Mate as far as a rod would go if you want to specifally target flathead i would leave the 2-4kg rods for the bream guys and go something a bit heavier i find that a Rod around 7 ft and 6-12lb is perfect for chasing Flathead.
    Iam currently using a Daiwa Heartland with the above specs and its awesome.

    As for the Reel i would be matching it too a 2500 size shimano or Daiwa whatever brand you prefer.Me personally would go for something like a 2500 Stradic ci4 super lightweight and easy to fish with all day.

  6. #6

    Re: Looking at a new Flattie combo need advise please

    Quote Originally Posted by Daniel_603 View Post
    Mate as far as a rod would go if you want to specifally target flathead i would leave the 2-4kg rods for the bream guys and go something a bit heavier i find that a Rod around 7 ft and 6-12lb is perfect for chasing Flathead.
    Iam currently using a Daiwa Heartland with the above specs and its awesome.

    As for the Reel i would be matching it too a 2500 size shimano or Daiwa whatever brand you prefer.Me personally would go for something like a 2500 Stradic ci4 super lightweight and easy to fish with all day.
    i think that is is a touch heavy for most flathead applications. dont get me wrong thats ideal for slightly deeper water with faster current but would be difficult casting into a head wind with a 7ft 3-6kg rod and getting anymore than 15-20 metres on the cast in most estuaries in se qld with a 1/8, 1/6 and 1/4 oz jigheads. if you can get an extra ten metres using 2-4kg than you are effectively much more fishing area.

    for the majority of the flathead size being taken than 2-4 kg is the perfect size imo, has enough grunt to handle big fish but enough finesse in it to use plastics and cast a good distance. its also versatile and can be used for other estuarine species such as whiting and bream.

    i thought most dedicated specialist bream guys are using 1-3kg rods in the estuaries?

  7. #7

    Re: Looking at a new Flattie combo need advise please

    I can Honestly say i have no trouble getting a long enough cast with the gear i mentioned using even a 1/8th jighead which is usually the minimum weight i use when chasing Flathead.Thats with 10lb pe braid and 12lb leader.
    As for the 2-4kg rod even when fishing shallower water if iam chasing Lizards i still prefer the heavier rod incase i hook that 80cm+ Fish.
    Maybe La vida can try both and make hes own decision on what he prefers.

    Mojority of my breamin mates will have an assortment of 1-3kg and 2-4kg.

  8. #8

    Re: Looking at a new Flattie combo need advise please

    yeah fair enough, each to their own. i tend to go on the lighter side of things for finesse and to get that casting distance as flathead can spook quite easily too so long casts pay dividends for me. not getting too close in still and/or clear water helps. In terms of versatility and what the majority of flathead size captures would be than i still think 2-4kg is the better choice and Lavida would get more value out of the purchase, plus it is still capable (although, yes i agree a tiny bit undergunned) of catching the big crocs if you play it right. if your targeting big crocs then yes a rod 4-7kg would be the choice

  9. #9

    Re: Looking at a new Flattie combo need advise please

    Hi Marty,

    I had the same choice to make and went for a SOL 2000 and a 7' 2-4Kg GUSA rod. I can guarantee that it's a great flattie combo, because I just had one for dinner (the flattie, not the combo!)

    I find that big flatties eat small lures (3-4") and only really put up a fight on light gear anyway, so imo there is no need for an elephant gun. In fact, I find myself more and more taking a bream rod (6'6" 2Kg) with the SOL (it comes with a spare spool, so I have 3lbs on one and 6lbs on the other), so that I can chase breams and surface feeders on hbs in the early morning and then target sun-baking lizards as the sun warms up. Oh, and did I mention that the SOL is a fantastic little reel?

  10. #10

    Re: Looking at a new Flattie combo need advise please

    since there is so much debate over what combo to buy for 650 you could buy 2 good combos one 2-4kg and one 4-8kg.you can pick up the shimano symetres for around $160 each then spend the rest on the rods of your choice.
    this is what i have for flathead fishing, i have a heavier 4-8kg for the deep water and incase you stumble across a jewie, and a 2-4kg for the shallow water stuff. good luck with your choice marty. cheers BK

    ...of all the liars among mankind, the fisherman is the most trustworthy. ~William Sherwood Fox.

  11. #11

    Re: Looking at a new Flattie combo need advise please

    I just bought a 2-4 kg shimano catana for 69$ and have it matched to a 1000 stradic with 3lb braid and its great for flathead, you might find the 2000 stradic and 4 lb braid better for general use, throw some 4kg braid on the spare spool and you have a great bay snapper outfit.

  12. #12

    Re: Looking at a new Flattie combo need advise please

    Thanks for all of the input guys, Daiwa sol 2500/3000has taken the fancy so just deciding on which one and which rod
    "Live Life"

  13. #13

    Re: Looking at a new Flattie combo need advise please

    Had a heap of good gear knocked off last year and the insurance company has finally been kind to me. last time I bought a lot of gear was 7 years ago and Have been fishing much lately due to new kids and some serious health issues, so all clear now, time to live life again and get some new toys.

    Hey the wife likes flash jewellery so its olnly fair that I get some bling fishing jewellery!! As I have found the best way to convince the misses is to use the reverse phycology.. my new flattie combo is just says how much you love me..

    Trust me it works!! for the first time I have found something that she doesnt have a come back for.. but move fast before she losses that loving feeling!!!
    "Live Life"

  14. #14

    Re: Looking at a new Flattie combo need advise please

    Quote Originally Posted by La Vida View Post
    Thanks for all of the input guys, Daiwa sol 2500/3000has taken the fancy so just deciding on which one and which rod
    I have a sol 1500 and found the bail arm bearing went in weeks, if this happens you can get a stainless bearing fitted from any good tackle shop..

  15. #15

    Re: Looking at a new Flattie combo need advise please

    i reckon all those opinions are pretty spot on, even the i prefer lighter combos for more sport. i just have another combo to add to the array of opinions which a guy wrote about on hear the other week.
    the pflueger combos. their rods have fuji sic guides and reel seats and reels that are lighter than stradics ci4. im waiting to see if they have them at the tinnie show otherwise il get one after. the only thing that still might pull me back to the stradic, is the line propulsion. i reckon it works amazing extra 20% at least on a cast.

    good luck with your choice. ive been tossin up the same choice, but more for bream weight with the possibility to handle a flattie. just have to play the fight carefully. much more exciting!!

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