Albie Rod for Swimbaits

salmonfever · 06-07-2006, 07:47 AM

Looking for recommendations for a good, basic rod for casting swimbaits ( will be matching with a newell reel).In particular, if I was to go with a basic Calstar or Seeker, what models? I want something that casts decently, but is stong enough to deal with albies

crabbait · 06-07-2006, 07:58 AM

270-7 (7') or 196-7 (lighter).

Mark Mc · 06-07-2006, 08:18 AM

ditto

270 or 196

The 196 should not be used with anything over 20 lb line. The 270 is fine with both 20 and 25....even 30 in a pinch.

salmonfever · 06-07-2006, 01:31 PM

Calstar and seeker both have rods with that designation- for overall reliability and strenght, is one better than the other?

Mark Mc · 06-07-2006, 02:42 PM

The Calstar blank has a little bit thicker wall than the equivalent Seeker.

Booja 1 · 06-07-2006, 08:19 PM

You cannot go wrong with either Seeker of Calstar, heck the fish don't even seem to mind which one is used on em when they hit the deck. :smile:Personal preference thing again.

What Mark means is while Calstar and Seeker both use pretty much identical blank numbers, the Calstar is a skosh heavier than the equivalent Seeker blank..........

Dr Strangelove · 06-07-2006, 10:52 PM

Seekers are stiffer and have more of an entire rod flex under strain. I have owned both the glass and graphite Seekers and have sold them.

My collection of Calstars have a softer tip which graduates into midshaft backbone without handle flex with a fish on. I like 7.5-8.5 ft rods for casting baits. Both the graphite and glass versions are excellent. I recommend a 270 as well.

I have a glass 270H 8ft 15-40 that allows me to move up line strength for bigger fish. Longer rods give the fish more leverage; glass absorbs this strain better than graphite. For 15-25# albies, I like 20lb line on a graphite 700XL 10-25.