Been seeing a lot more spinning combos being used recently, but what's your preference? In a DB you don't need super long, but still long enough. All the Curado 200 & 300 models and all the older 5500 & 6500 Ambassadeur reels on the levelwind side of things paired with your rod choice of many. If you don't have to cast a five pound gob (I'm kidding of course, but sometimes?) of eggs with a four ounce weight and huge bobber then you can get by with something in the 15-30 pound 9 foot range. If used to have a Rogue 9' 12-25lb class casting rod that would handle almost everything I used it for that lasted me 15 years and landed hundreds of salmon and steelhead, but even back then it wasn't cheap. I don't like to use the word cheap, let's jus say inexpensive. Now on the other hand speaking of inexpensive, I still have four of the Berkley Buzz Series IM-7 in the 9' 15-50lb size rods that other than customs from Southwest Airlines getting their lame hands on it are almost indestructible. Just a matter of what you are willing to spend. There are lot's of great deals on here if you keep your eyes open long enough and will say I have probably bought close to 50% of my rods and reels here. Now for spinning gear, are you thinking about it at all? If so all the Shimano Stradic 3000 to 5000 series (I like the 4000 myself) are awesome and if you don't want to pay that much they now have several down lines that are really nice too.. Don't overlook Okuma rod's and reels as well as some of the Diawa reels as well. I used to use a lot of Penn stuff way, way back, but must admit I am out of the loop with their more up to date products.

 

Those 9' berkley im7 are just an absolute fav of mine fior coastal salmon bobbering. I sold few but still have 4 of em. I have plethora of rods, lami lommis, custom wrapped but whenever I head to coastal salmon bobber fishing...one of those 9' im7 automatically appears in my hand..lol. Paired either with calcutta 300d or luna.

 

Casting Rod (much nicer for letting out line)
9-9’6”
15-30 lb.
2-6 oz.
Graphite handles are much easier to clean
Get a reel with a good drag, a thumb bar release, in a 300 size.

 

Good advice

 

In my humble opinion Rags, the Loomis 1084 is tough to beat. I like a bobber rod that’s fairly lite but plenty of power. Doubles as a great all around rod any ways.

I like Calcutta’s myself. Daiwa Luna is great.

80lb braid. Floats better than the thinner diameter braids.

I sure miss the drift boat. Piling hole with floats, heaven.

 

In my humble opinion Rags, the Loomis 1084 is tough to beat. I like a bobber rod that’s fairly lite but plenty of power. Doubles as a great all around rod any ways.

I like Calcutta’s myself. Daiwa Luna is great.

80lb braid. Floats better than the thinner diameter braids.

I sure miss the drift boat. Pilling hole with floats, heaven.

What is the piling hole? or is that a big secret?

 

I have been bobber fishing for years and my set up is quit simple a 9' rod a north river works well in a heavy action and A ambassador 6500 with 80 tuff line has been my go to rod for years. You don't need a high end rod for bobber fishing just a good solid fairly stiff rod works great. the longer rod makes it a lot easier for you keep your line tended I like the heaver rod it helps control the fish when you fishing around heavy cover. but all the above will get the job done just fine.

 

Ambassadeur 6001C. If you can’t find one I’ve got some.

 

I would have thought you'd have a bunch of bobber and egg, rods/reels for salmon by now.

I would look at medium weight setup rather then heavy. Holding a heavy weight outfit would get tiresome fishing all day.

Good luck with whatever you end up with. And hopefully, that leads to some nice chrome!

 

I picked up an Edge 10'6" rod and put a Daiwa Tatula on it. Very light rod and the reel is an 8:1 retrieve so very fast pickup of line. I've only gotten limited use so far due to hunting but I'm hoping to give it some work this week.....

 

Amazing the retrieval speeds on the newer reels.

 

Yea, great for cast and retrieve but not for playing fish….in my opinion. I like a reel that allows for putting pressure on a fish while reeling. Those fast reels prevent that for most folks. Ya gotta have muscles like Popeye to accomplish that.

 

Another vote for the 9’ Berkeley. I lost my im7 so I’ve been using the im8 for years without issue. 6501 ambassador for me, I prefer the button spool release because sometimes I’m all thumbs

 

I like a 6.0:1 gear ratio on my reels . Pretty fast line retrieve and still enough power to fight a fish. You shouldn’t crank them in anyway lifting the rod and cranking down is proper. Fight the fish with the rod not the reel.

 

G. Loomis SAMR 184 or IMX 1084 SATR. Reel-wise for casting, you can't beat the Shimano Tranx 300/01 HG. It's a winch with a massive LPT rating of 40" and is designed for saltwater abuse.