Rods, Reels, Pods/Sticks, Alarms, etc.?

I'm upgrading my stuff and want to know what you're using at Ladybird & Emma.

My budget is up to $3K.

I know about Wacker, Jedrex, BCT and the other US Tackle Shops, but may consider a UK order also. Have any of you ordered from the UK?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

PS: If it helps, I mostly want to use the equiptment for grass carp in lakes and rivers. I've never caught a grass carp and I want to get serious about it in 2010.

Can't go wrong with Okuma or Shimano reels.

Caught a couple grassies this past weekend that were almost 40 lbs. Good thing is they get pretty darn big, bad thing is I thought I had a 5 lb cat on both times!

Have fun!

I'm sure you'll get more input on tackle shortly

Ok gotta know, where are you catching grassies that big lol

I use sonik sk4 3.5tc rods
shimano gte-c 8000 baitrunners
Nash 4 play pod
fox eos alarms

you could easily get the same set up for 3k I am sure

Century SP 12 foot 3.5 lb test curve rods.
Fox SX Buzzers
Daiwa Emblem Pro reels
Fox Quad Pod
Solar Stainless gear
Fox Ultra bed chair
42 inch North Western net

2nd set "My Daughters"
9 foot chub stalkers
Daiwa regal bait feeders
Delkim Optonic alarms
Solar swingers
Terry Hearn X lite bed chair "Chub"

hey grassiegetter,

When I first got into carping last year, I bought some really inexpensive, introductory stuff from www.bankfishingsystems.com, and they haven't failed me so far:

BFS Pole Kit #1
now available for $129.95

Kit includes:
3- BFS Helius Runners with folding handle for quick storage
3- 12 Black Phantom 2 1/2 lb. TC Carp Rod
1 - Deluxe BFS Holdall to store combos (nice, long bag)

BFS-Kit #2 Aluminum Tripod 4-Alarm Kit $69.95
Kit includes:
1- AC73119-4sh Aluminum Tripod with 4 screwheads for alarms
1- AC73119 Aluminum Tripod for rear rod rest
4- BFS 9 Volt electronic Bite Alarms

Fish Weigh sling ($19.95) and extendable folding landing net ($14.95)

Total to have a basic 4 rod/reel/alarm/stand combo with net/weigh sling--somewhere around $235 (not including shipping)

(I would call the owner John Means if you are considering to order something from them.. and he will cut the shipping costs way down)

I know people on this forum will say this stuff is junk, but hey, after surviving a crazy session at Emma Long, pulling in 20+ and 30+ carps without any problem, I haven't needed to upgrade my gear... at least not yet. The rods haven't snapped on me, the reels haven't given out, the bite alarms have survived rain and still beep, and my net hasn't fallen apart... and I have happy memories of holding up nice carp!

you can see my rod/reel/stand setup in the topic i posted here for Out of State (CA).

anyhow, it sounds like you wanna upgrade to some premium/high-end gear though...

maybe this post will help some newbies look into intro gear...

grassiegetter, without knowing what kind of fisherman you are, how experience, what you use now, etc. I would have a hard time making a recommendation, but I'll tell you what I have and what I like or don't like about it.

note:
Just as you wouldn't buy a $40,000 bass boat if you've never owned a boat before, why get top of the line tackle if you don't know how to use it?

Rods:
2 BlackPhantom II 12' 2 1/2 Test rods. - nice but could use more 'muscle' sometimes. I would next get a 3 or 3.25 test.
1 Shakespear Alpha 10' surf rod - cheap, heavy, and cast a spod or heavy method ball.
1 7' ugly stick (med-heavy) - no complaints, plenty of muscle, just won't cast as far as a longer rod
Reels:
2 BFS Ultimate 5000 Baitrunners. No complaints.
1 older regular shakespear spinning reel; will replace this soon.
1 older Abu Garcia bait clicker casting reel - works fine for shorter range work.
Pod:
Home-made pvc piping - $20 and 1 hour to build. I use this only on a hard bank or deck.
I also use bank sticks wherever the bank allows.
Alarms:
3 used, bought for $40; work fine.
Chair:
I use a cheap 'camp' chair, but this gets uncomfortable after a few hours on the bank. A good supportive chair is one of my next purchases.
Net:
42" Scorpion carp net - I got the cheaper model that does not have a removable handle; I'd pay for the upgrade next time.

I hope this helps!

Mostly carp. Off/On since '93. Using BFS now but have owned/sold some Nick Buss ACS Rods, though I never owned the expensive Delks, Diawas/Shamanos,Harrison's/Century etc.

Some of the Fox alarms I see on the net are confusing to me.

135# wire
500# crane swivels
5/0 trebles
100# braid or 50# mono
penn 309
7' ugly stick tiger

Oh wait, you guys are talking about the bait fish tackle?

LMAO

too much for me to list lmao

grassie, it sounds like you've the experience to go for it!
I'm satisfied with what I've got; but if I were going to upgrade to full Euro I would pay attention to Richard, Scott, and Jason J. (no slight meant to anyone else I didn't mention).

Don't let the years fool you it's been more off than on.

I'm looking at the SK4 Rods now.

Are any of you using Big Pits? I could use some experience with these.

I've always wanted the shimano long casts myself.

Not sure if the long cast is a true Big Pit reel??

Have you had any experience with the Biomaster, XT-A/B, Naba or Alivio?

I have not but I am in the market for new alarms and reels. The two weak points in my kit. i think I'm going to break down and get Delkim TX-i's but for the Reels I am torn. Shimano Long cast or a set of the sexy Diawa big pits. Ohh or the Shimano 10k's. Like I said I am torn.

I know what you mean. Go for the reels. In a few years Delkim will come out with an improved version. Hard to believe they've been around for 33 years.

My reels have never been what they should. That's one area I won't neglect this time. I'm thinking Big Pit but with the Baitrunner option vs without.
There's some sweet ones out there Diawa, Shimano, Wychwood, even some Okumas, just wish I knew more people who use them. The Jaxons look to be [censored] though.

The 10Ks are a nice carpy looking reel, price ain't bad either around L99 / 165USD. Saw some 10Ks for even less. The 210yd/20lb might be kinda low?

Anyone know what Big Pit holds the most line/#?

Ive had biomasters since 1997, the old 8000gt's, the xs's and the newer xsa, i cant fault them, the shimano drags are awsome, you dont need bait runner conversions as half a turn on the drag is enough (tho the xta's come with baitrunner drags), daiwas big pits are good but you'll need conversions on them or else you be twisting the drag for 5 mins before you can play the fish! From the size of the waters here personally I would think big pits would be a better option as your distance is limited with baitrunners, (apart from the big pit obviously) As for line capacity, the wider the spool, the better it will cast, the 8000/10000 baitrunners have a large capacity but a narrow spool so you do well to cast more than 100 yards.

i have the shimano techniums xta 12000 and love them to death.

very nice reels, way outta my price range!

Lots off good information and great advice. Don't think for a moment that it's getting wasted. I'll be looking more at the suggestion on-line when I get home tonight. Thanks again for all these replies.

Been using Daiwa emblem pro big pit reels for a few years now.
Excellent reels, totally no problems and I'm very rough on tackle.

Shimano XTEA 8000's on 13' Prologic XLNT 3.5TC rods.
Fox Horizon pod (about to move the Solar Globetrotter pod into rotation) with DAM Wireless LCD alarms.
Fox Warrior Net, and I love my Nash Carp Cot mat.

Good Luck!

Chad

hi guys - Been out of comunication for the past 6 months due to personel reasons. Hope that you are all well and doing fine

Grassiegetter

Check out some of the UK tackle sites, there are some very good deals out there at the moment.
I have used these ones myself and know that they do ship abroard - I live in Holand)

http://www.climaxtackle.com/specimen/index.html
http://www.wickfordangling.co.uk/

Currently using
Fox warrior Elite 2.75 TC X 3
Shimano 6 piece 3.0 TC travel rods X 3 (use these when im travelling)
Warrior spod rod 5.5 TC
Fox Quatro Pod
Delkims TXi and reciver
Fox Stratos 10000 X 4 ( great reels - you can cast almost as far as with a big pit but you get full bait runner features in a smaller package)
Fox travel net - full size but packs down to a 30" tube
Also have a waverunner baitboat - Great toy for european waters
and of course Bivvie, bed chair etc

Andy Martin

Good to see you Andy