Best rod for the salt and why?

M

mark wlker

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A little help, please.

Trying to choose between a Winston Boron IIx 9' 8wt, 4pc or a G Loomis GLX 9'6" 10wt, 4pc.
Appreciate your input.
Thanks
 
There is no “best” rod. What you prefer on any particular day will depend on your casting ability and style, the fly you have tied on the end, the conditions, what you are fishing for etc etc.

But, between those 2, the 8 weight. There’s almost no need for a 10 weight in the PNW.
 
mark wlker said:
Salt water wade/beach/kayak. Jetty if there's room.
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If PNW salmon, I'd go for the 9' 8wt but that's still going to be a bit over-gunned for SRC. If I could just have ONE rod for PNW beach/wade/kayak it'd probably be a 7wt. If I could have two, it'd be a 6wt followed by an 8wt.

I've yet to use my 10wts in the PNW salt.

Why are you choosing between those particular options?
 
Chucker said:
There is no “best” rod. What you prefer on any particular day will depend on your casting ability and style, the fly you have tied on the end, the conditions, what you are fishing for etc etc.

But, between those 2, the 8 weight. There’s almost no need for a 10 weight in the PNW.
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Should have mentioned the Gulf Of California. Texas/Florida.
 
Maybe a 9’ 9 weight. Just back from Florida. Atlantic side. 9 weight overlkill on the copious amounts of speckled trout and channel catfish I
caught. But available for bigger fish which I believe twice I had on hook and of course lost. 😞 Also want a rod that will withstand the elements and cast salt water type lines well. Of course any rod will will work but some will work better for you. Not a fan of Biix in lines 6+ but to each their own. I fished an 9’ 9 weight XP
In Florida. Not a real salty rod but a great Alaskan rod and that’s what I had. Fish with what you have if you must. Good luck.
 
Not familiar with those waters. California is the oddball….. Others Similar to the Gulf of Mexico by any chance? 😉
 
8 wt would be my choice fly size / wind considerations come into play.
You need to cast some of the available rods to see if your casting style works with any given rod
most tapers have certain characteristics that favor some casters approach.
Dont limit a rod because of manufacturer or model there are some remarkable rods that could be available
in a an 8 wt configuration.
 
ifsteve said:
That still too broad for much of a decision. What are you typically fishing for? Now that said I think neither or both of those rods. If I was to have just one saltwater rod it would be a 9wt.
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Just vacationing for few weeks.
Typically, whatever is biting.
Tarpon, Snook, Popano. Permit and many others in the Gulf abound.
 
I have a 9' Winston Air Salt 8wt...it is one of my favorite rods I own...fine with big bones and med jacks & cudas...but I am in the market for a 9' 9wt...

When are you going?...I have a 9' 10wt you can borrow (but after the trip I think you wish you had an 8wt)...
 
The best rod for saltwater fishing is the one you can cast most accurately given the conditions and your quarry of choice. Even for Homosassa tarpon, and obviously in The Keys, I always had a 10 weight rigged for tarpon. Many folks just could not accurately and quickly cast a 12 weight. You've got no chance of a fish if the fly doesn't get in his mouth. I would much rather have a tarpon jumping on the end of a 10 weight line than not seeing a fly poorly cast on a 12. Anyone who makes a strong case for a particular rod or line weight is merely telling you what works passably for them.
 
For FLA wade/beach fishing a good 9' fast action 8 or 9 weight rod would be the best choice. The 10, 11, 12 weight comes into play once you spend time on a flats boat.
 
Yes and when fishing on the Sandy ocean beaches I recommend you assemble your gear/especially rod(s) in the parking lot or before the beach . The wind kicks up sand and you do not want any mini sand particles getting in the ferrules path.
 
On the cheaper end is the Redington Predator and or the Echo Boost blue good for salt water beaches ?
 
Yes, I live right on the coast and both the predator and the echo or both great value rods. I really don’t think you have to spend a whole lot more…… I particularly like boost blue
 
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