Rod and reels , what do you guys recommend ?

As some thieving prat has helped himself to most of my gear I am in the market for new rods and reels for deadbait fishing. I had et pitmasters coupled with stratos fs10000s and found the set up a tad over gunned for what I needed as I mainly fish fairly small lakes , rivers and drains.

Cheers
Kev

the greys prodigy sx 2.75lb test carp rods are very good. thats what i'm currently using and they can be had off ebay for around 70 quid.
i used to use shimano reels but recently bought these and am finding them spot on for the job (honestly i kid you not) the line they come with though is crap so i've loaded mine with berkley big game 15lb line. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271000502854?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Rods wise I've got 3 Prologic classic carps 2.75, 3 and 3.5 test you can get them for around £40-£45 with delivery. Reels I've got 3 Okuma Proforce 55s with spare spools I think you can get them for about £18 from here http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/okuma-pro-baitfeeder-prfb155-p182300

greys 2.5lb x-flite plus with two shimano 8000 gte b reels used them the last three years and would not part with them for the world only problem is you might be hard pressed to get the rods ? ask rosso lol

same rods as kell but mine are 2:75tv,same reels to

Currently using the Maver Armaggeddons which i love - better than many rods i've used at twice the price. Paired up with daiwa regal - z 5000 which i find better than my old shimano's as i prefer the cranking power and single handle. Line lay isn't quite as good though i must admit. Got some second hand emblem z6000pt coming to me soon though that have been QD'd and had carbon clutches fitted so i'll see how they are.

Had some of those regals myself and they were knackered after 2 sessions on a big loch they all had bent spindals and gears were slipping they could not take rugged use worst reels i have ever owned and a mate of mine had the same problem. shimmanos are far superior to any diawa reels

phill49 wrote:Had some of those regals myself and they were knackered after 2 sessions on a big loch they all had bent spindals and gears were slipping they could not take rugged use worst reels i have ever owned and a mate of mine had the same problem. shimmanos are far superior to any diawa reels

ive broke most reels ive owned at some point. Daiwas have always lived longer than shimanos for me. Shims ive had to ' recyle' incude tritin seaspins aero gts all of which suffered stripped gears bent spindles shattered bodies. Daiwas seem to have suffered mainly cosmetic damage or spool breakages.
The best reels for logevity and reliabilty for me are penns. Dont get m wrong both daiwa snd shimsno are good reels but neither are bombproof
Current pike reel line up is
Shimano aerlex 4000's from 1990 on esox spinflex 2.5's
Penn slammer 560's new last year on p1's
Penn surfmaster 70's from 2002 on fox piker heavy deadbaits
Shakespere alpha 060's from late 80's on 10 ft harrison boat rods
Daiwa sealine bull 6000's 2010 ish split between infinities in 3lb and 4.5 spod rofs depending on what im doing
Plus a couple of odds and sods for one off jobs

Recent departures on the reel front shimano long casts and daiwa emcast advanced as neither were good enough for m

You can see some are cheap some expensive so in answer to the OP then buy what you can afford and what suits your venues I fish small rivers to glacials, well I would if I could get out of late hence the spread of rods