I'm a stillwater guy with zero saltwater experience and figured I better look here for help. My 2013 trip plans for Alaska has been changed and my new destination with 2 friends is Baja (East Cape). We have just started the planning phase of the trip. Although we do plan on using a guide for a couple days, most of the trip is geared towards roaming the shores. Right now my largest rods are a 7 and 8 wt. I'm leaning towards adding a switch rod and was hoping someone could help me out deciding what I really need for a shore rod. I get a really good deal on Ross reels, so whatever I buy I would like to pair it up with a Ross LA if possible. Any input on reels would be greatly appreciated as well.
I use a couple of different rods for saltwater. I have an Xi2 6 wt. and a Z-Axis 5 wt. switch. Whatever you use should be sturdy enough to handle small salmon to 5 or 6 lbs. just in case you get really lucky. Cutts are not leader shy so a faster tip is okay but other fish may break you off depending on the leader size. I have used an 8 wt. extensively as well, for the Pink Salmon run in odd years. You can get by with a 5 wt. if you really want to wear your arms out and kill the fish but if you want to get them in and out quickly, a 7 or 8 wt. is the ticket. There is a bevy of good rods out there. You might want to consider something with a fighting butt as well.
My mistake. I misread the post but I could offer some thoughts there too. However, I will refrain from further comments on this particular subject since the mistake was made.
In my opinion, the lightest line weight rod you should use is a stout 9 weight. Line it up with an integrated line like a Rio Outbound, SA Streamer Express, Wulff Ambush fly lines, etc., and you're ready to rock. I don't know why you would take a switch rod . . . with roosters, typically getting the line in to play QUICKLY is a huge deal. If you can get a great deal on a Ross LA, go bigger than you think you need. I prefer the increased retrieve rate of the larger diameter reels . . . Also, say the 9 weight is on the small side for a fish you hook. The extra backing capacity of the larger reel might come in handy . . .
No problems with information for fishing up your way. One of these days I'll make a trip up to fish the beaches. 6 years at Bangor and 0 days fishing the beaches. What was I thinking.
I figured the 7 and 8 would be too small. I'll definately look for a 9 though as well as the SA Streamer Express and a larger LA reel. I guess the reasoning behind my switch rod thought was getting the extra distance in the surf and never really considered there would be that much difference between the start of a strip with a single hand rod and the switch. I may need to rething things. Thanks for the input.
You've got the correct info now. That's all that matters. The only change I personally would make is that I would choose a 10 wt. rod and I'd use the suggested Rio Outbound Tropic. I would choose a Ross reel in size 6, either a CLA or a Momentum LT. My personal is a Sage Xi2 and Momentum 6 with the Rio line. If you get a big Rooster, that might not be enough. Start a conversation with Pez Gallo on the forum. I think he lives there and is an avid beach fisherman. He can steer you in the right direction.
Steve, have you tried the Ross F1 yet? I have both Momentum and CLA reels, and the difference is like a Corolla and a Lexus. I haven't had one to the tropics yet, but have caught steelhead, chum and trout.
I have not and probably will not. That isn't because they are not really good reels. I just bought a Tibor Signature 11/12 and the same in 9/10 plus I already have a Billy Pate Tarpon and Bonefish models. I have four Momentum reels as well so I am pretty well stocked up on LA reel. I like Ross reels a lot but came upon the Tibor reels more by accident then by design. I swapped off a bunch of stuff to Angler's Habitat in Idaho for store credit so I used it for them.
I started a similar thread last year (might check it out as there were many good suggestions from our forums sw guru's). I started with my custom built RPL 690, which works really well, but I did not build it with saltwater components...so I didn't want to continue using for SRC's. I then bought a VT2 691, but found it a bit too weak in the butt section and not very good against a headwind. I now have and really like my St. Croix Legend Elite SW (ESW906-4). Paired with my Lamson V2 and Cortland's Precision Clear Intermediate, I'm set. Happy hunting...lot's of options.
Denny gave you some great advice. For all of my beach fishing down there, I used a single hand 10 wt. It seemed to me to be the perfect set-up for what you're likely to encounter in Baja. There are lots of good rod choices out there. Just find a rod & line set-up you feel comfortable with to make quick casts while walking the beaches.
Stonefish has pulled on lots of warm saltwater fish, and he speaks big medicine . . . I also use a 10 wt 95%+ of the time when in Mexico. It's a stout TFO TiCr (I love, love, love that rod!) that thinks it's a sturdy 11 weight. However, note that for nearly all of my fishing I'm fishing from a boat, so the boat can position itself where I'm not casting in to the wind, etc., a luxury one doesn't necessarily have when fishing from the shore. For many people, particularly those who aren't used to fishing a rod larger than a 7 or 8, a 10 wt or more could be a difficult rod to cast from a beach where one is making lots of casts. If an angler can't get the fly effectively to the fish because the angler is having a tough time casting, well, that doesn't make sense. Sometimes a 9 could be easier for that transition, but still provide the extra oomph needed to fight a fish. Again, if one has a reel with a fair amount of backing and a solid drag (both musts), you should be fine.
