best bay jigging rod/reel combo?

[warrenahrens]

any opinions on the most effective (strike to hook-up ratio) rod and reel combo for jigging sting silvers over structures in the bay?

[TL]

Warren

I'm a big fan of my ambassadeur 6500TCST reel paired with a 7'0" med-heavy (#10-20) Castaway graphite rod. The reel is spooled with #30 power pro topped with an 8' fluoro leader. The combination of graphite and braid make for great sensitivity for strikes and feeling the wrecks. Don't know the hook up ratio, but I'm sure I lose more fish to user error than the setup.

It's also a great setup for flounder, and trolling for spanish macks.

What do you use?

Tony

[rlcharters]

Can't argue the 6500, especially for price, though I personally own Shimano Calcutta 250s. I also prefer a shorter (6 footer) rod than the 7 footer. I think you will find that it is a personal choice. You really have to take into consideration the depth of water that you primarily will be fishing, the weight of your stingsilver, the size of the fish you are primarily targeting. Go to a good tackleshop and try a few out. Or better yet, try a friends outfit to see how you like it. Certainly the braided lines are better for hookups, but again, I tend to use a shorter length of fluorocarbon (then again, I have to replace it more often). You need to provide a short loop on the braided line in order to connect the mono. Again, there are more than a few ways of forming the loop and connecting the mono.

[warrenahrens]

baitcaster - yes, I like wide spools w/braided line; spinning reels are OK but, I do not like the whole "bail" thing

rod - limber tip, solid "backbone", 6' 6" seems sufficient, the old "ugly stick" is not bad here for price and reliability, but the tip is the key I believe - whatever brand

[ketch69]

For me I gotta have something that don't weigh a lot when I'm doing the jiggin thing. An Amb. 5500C with 30 pound Power Pro on a 6'6" Medium Heavy Graphite rod is the ticket. I do not waste my money on that Flourocarbon stuff. In my opinion its WWWWAAAAYYYYY overated. Did the old timers have it to use years ago? Not to my knowledge and they caught fish without it just as I do. Spend you hard earned money on something else, like a few more Sting Silvers or some Deans Custom Tackle goodies and tie a lenght of good ol' dependable Ande Mono on the end of that Power Pro and you will do just fine.

[TL]

I started using the fluoro last spring freelining for spadefish, and got considerably more hits/hookups than with mono. I've been a fan ever since, and use it for all my light/medium tackle leader material. You are probably right, in that I bet I use it for more applications than necessary.

[Flounderman]

For me its a custom made J&B rod with a Diawa Millionaire 300 reel. I always spool with power pro for that shiek sensitivity.