~$100 for the rod leaves you ~$200 for the reel/line, depending on the type of fishing he is doing…you can’t beat a Shimano Stradic in a 3000 or 4000 size.

I have an Okuma Celilo CE—S-902MHA, 9’ 10-30lb, 1/2-2oz which I paired with my Stradic 4000. That setup has caught me chinook, coho and surf perch all in the same outing. Love that rod and picked it up on sale a few years ago for $40.


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Shimano Stradic 4000

 

Been pleased with the new Shimano Nasci. Best bang for the buck at $100. 3000 or 4000 size depending on line cap needed.

 

okuma ceymar

 

Shimano Stradic, stay away from Daiwa, Okuma, etc, anything in that price range from them is junk

 

Really depends on how much he'll be using it. Everyday, then ya, Stradic. Once a month, anything in the Ceymar range will do.

 

Stradic FL is a workhorse and I love it. Over 100 coho and chinook on my 2500 and it still works like day one. Should be able to find it on sale this weekend for $175.

 

Penn spinfisher or slammer...they're both sealed reels...

 

Battle 2 or 3 also.

 

I think a Stradic 5000 FJ (used $102 eBay) and Edge BWS SAR 9115 (sale $186) is tough to beat for a Nook spinning outfit < $300.

 

Where are you seeing the Edge rod for $186? I have one already, and it is an awesome rod!

 

The lightest, smoothest, and fastest retrieve reel I know of is the one my wife and I both own, Shimano Vanford 5000. Lite weight, 7.8 ounces, holds well over 200 yards of 30 lb braid, and over 20 lbs of drag, Each turn of the handle retrieves 40 inches of line. Also safe for saltwater use. I fish a lot for Steelhead and Salmon from shore and its the best spinning reel I have ever owned and I'm 71.

They are not cheap, $250.00 from Cabelas, but worth every penny. If anyone knows of a better spinning reel at that price range please let us know. I can't think of any, and our pervious spinning reels were both Daiwa Ballistics , same price range, which we had bail failure after less than a year, our Vanford bails closes now, after heavy use, just like it did when new, important when bobber fishing for steelhead and salmon.

Not a good feeling when your bobber goes down and you close your bail and it fails and you have no hookup only slack line.

 

Agree 100% - Vanford is amazing. I was concerned it was too pricey with the total budget for rod and reel at 300, but if the budget allows, Vanford all the way.

 

What ever you buy make sure its all metal.
My Penn 4500 fell off the top of my Grady and it the shop floor snaping the base

 

I purchased three Cadence spinning reels a couple years ago and am very impressed with the drags and overall durability. Very reasonably priced $60-120. You can find them on Amazon. Shimano Stradic still the king though if you're willing to spend the money.

BC

 

I have had bad luck with penn battle ii and conflicts gumming up after a dunk or heavy rain. Haven't had this issue with my shimanos

 

They have/had a 30% off factory direct sale. I only have the one Edge and it's a Black Widow (lower end rod). Great rod for the $$, IMHO.

Also a great outfit for jetty fishing.

 

The Black Widow is their better rod, the First Strike is the lower end rod and it is on sale right now for a little under $200. If the Black Widow was on sale for $186 I would have to buy another one lol.

 

Daiwa Saltwater BG or Penn Spinfisher are good in the salt. For shore fishing, look for a sealed saltwater reel.

 

Plunking or casting? There is a very reel difference. If casting, a smaller reel is just fine. It really doesn't make much difference what reel you use for casting. Pflueger President size 4 works just fine, it has a good drag, and it is cheap enough to just replace when it dies a few years from now. Plunking requires bigger, tougher reels, because plunking sometimes requires throwing heavy weights (over 10 oz.) which can gut a reel. The big Penns are tried-and-true, and so are the Shimanos.