Game rod and reel combo - advice please

Gday all - Im looking at gearing up for the coming marlin/YFT season off the perth trench and will be going to Exmouth some time in the near future for the big game season.  Ive never bought a big game combo so this is where Im at with research so far  -  either a

Tiagra 50WA LRS  with 800m of 24 kg mono on a 24Kg tiagra t-curve and gimble/harness thingo

or

Tiagra 80WA with 800m of 37kg mono on  a 37kg tiagra t-curve and gimble/harness thing

 

As a newbie should i go for the 24 or 37 kg set-up the vast majority of fishing with it will be off the perth trench.. Also Ive lost 3 discs in my lower back so i definitely need the harness/ gimball I know that, but which is better a straight butt or a short bent butt cause I thought i read somewhere the short bent butt is easier on the back,  also what about the action of the rod fast, medium or slow as a broom handle which is best  all advice/thoughts welcome please 

Cheers Dave  


sammy85's picture

Posts: 831

Date Joined: 31/08/10

 The 37kg would be better for

Wed, 2013-09-25 15:30

 The 37kg would be better for marlin but the 24 for yft. The 37 will have more drag at strike so will put more pressure on your back either way I would definitely go for bent butt setups and a black magic equaliser system with a bent butt adapter. 

____________________________________________________________________________

 Plumber and gas fitter- 0415489103

Posts: 756

Date Joined: 22/08/12

Thanks for the advice

Wed, 2013-09-25 16:35

just thought i might be over doing it by going for the 37kg set up first as a newbie. I always thought bent butt rods were for gamechairs only so im glad i did some research otherwise i would have autonmatically gone for a straight butt without knowing better. 

Tim's picture

Posts: 2497

Date Joined: 26/09/06

Up to you

Wed, 2013-09-25 17:29

Line class is really up to you and what you can handle experience wise but you will find nearly everyone will have their own preferences.
We got our Blue at the trench on 15 this year and most I know of were on 15 or 24kg.
Personally I like the straight butts for stand up marlin or similar where the fish are away from the boat a lot more as the rod is more in the air and loads up better and a bent butt for tuna where they will more than likely slug it out deep as its more parallel to the water.
If you get a good harness setup like the black magic one your back should go OK but the heavier the line the more pressure you will feel.
My starting choice would be a good 24kg combo which will be fine for pretty much everywhere

Simon C's picture

Posts: 801

Date Joined: 01/05/07

Why bother with 37kg

Wed, 2013-09-25 17:29

 If you can't fish it. Unless u happen to be pretty solid (90kg) plus and fit I would say anyone who says they can fish 37kg to its full potential standup is having a lend. 80 is a heavy outfit, 50w with backing and 37kg top shot would be more enjoyable if u really want to fish that heavy. This is not saying you won't need 37 if u hook a blue, but with your back I would buy something u can use not something u wish u could after 10 minutes in the harness. I spent 1.5hr on a black last year in exxy on 24 and loved it, but I was rooted and nearly swam at the end when I pushed to sunset on a wet deck. First outfit definitely go a 50w. 24 is more fun on most stuff u hook, at least off exmouth

MattMiller's picture

Posts: 4171

Date Joined: 15/06/09

100% agree

Wed, 2013-09-25 20:07

there is no point at all getting an outfit that you can't use to its full potential.

By the sound of it your back would have no chance standing up to 12kg of strike drag for any period of time.

If you intend on using it off Exmouth 37kg would be massive overkill 90% of the time. Go the 24kg