[mike]

Hello Folks,

 I have just managed to get a spot for fishing on the River Don here in Aberdeen and would like to ask a bit of advise from anyone really.. I would like to buy a spinning rod and reel but im on a budget and dont really want to spend more than around £100 - 120 on them . I know this is really stingy but i just bought a new fly rod and reel recently . The beat i have has just come about unfortunatly through someones poor health so was quite unexpected. I am not sure what weight rod/line etc to go for so any advise would be great . Cheers. 

[Hamish Young]

I like longer spinning rods (then again, I would ) partly for lure control and partly as I've always used longer spinning rods, currently have an 11ft and a 9ft. Mind you, I've not used a spinning rod for quite a while, unless you count pressing them into service for trolling

A light/medium 15-40 gram weight class is all you need rod wise, 9 to 10ft would be my choice. Something like:
http://www.fishingmegastore.com/ron-thompson-steelhead-ii-spin~5932.html?&clearance=1

A half decent reel that'll hold a decent amount of mono in the 18-25lb class:
http://www.fishingmegastore.com/stillwater-tsm-rear-drag-reel~11898.html?&clearance=1#gentable

Add your mono (or whatever you choose as line) and throw a bucket load of cash at lures and you're sorted for just under the ton
Or just give up on the idea of spinning and try some different fly techniques instead. Just an idea

H

[mike]

Cheers Hamish ,
Thats a really good price for what i thought would be an expensive exercise.. Thanks a lot .

[Rob Brownfield]

These are real bad boys of lure rods http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18048 and at under £50 they are fantastic value. They are also pretty "steely" so the tip does not fold in heavy currents. Either the 9 or 10 footers.

Another good rod for the money, and a bit more traditional looking http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=19090 I think Ben at Orvis has these in stock in Banchory. Slightly heavier action than the Vendetta.

These might be worth looking at..25% off. I have some Sonik Carp rods and they are very well made and have a very good warrenty http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18745

As for reels...
I have several or these for Pike/Saltwater lure fishing...and they are awesomely smooooooth. http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18593  Go for the 40 size.

This is the "non high speed version" http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18592 also awesomely smooth and tough.

And these are pretty good too http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18825


What I would say is that spinning gear takes a pounding, especially the reel, so its a bit of a false economy to buy a reel thats not up to the job. You cast hundreds of times in a day and the pressure on the bail arm if fishing big lures is great in a flowing river. The Okuma Trios are more than up to the job.

Hope that helps a bit.

[mike]

These are real bad boys of lure rods http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18048 and at under £50 they are fantastic value. They are also pretty "steely" so the tip does not fold in heavy currents. Either the 9 or 10 footers.

Another good rod for the money, and a bit more traditional looking http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=19090 I think Ben at Orvis has these in stock in Banchory. Slightly heavier action than the Vendetta.

These might be worth looking at..25% off. I have some Sonik Carp rods and they are very well made and have a very good warrenty http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18745

As for reels...
I have several or these for Pike/Saltwater lure fishing...and they are awesomely smooooooth. http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18593  Go for the 40 size.

This is the "non high speed version" http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18592 also awesomely smooth and tough.

And these are pretty good too http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=18825


What I would say is that spinning gear takes a pounding, especially the reel, so its a bit of a false economy to buy a reel thats not up to the job. You cast hundreds of times in a day and the pressure on the bail arm if fishing big lures is great in a flowing river. The Okuma Trios are more than up to the job.

Hope that helps a bit.


A BIT !!!!! 

this is excellent info Rob , also a web site iv never seen before . Thanks very much for all the help from all of you and its very much appreaciated . A purchase will be made soon .     

[Rob Brownfield]

Harris Sportsmail (Formally Harris lures and Sportsmail) is perhaps the best "lure fishing" company out there for basic stuff. I can put you onto more specialist sites, but to tell the truth, it baffles me with some of the things they sell and the cost of some of the lures.

How do you fancy one of these?

http://www.thefriendlyfisherman.co.uk/section17086/product20821/SPRO-BBZ-1-SWIMBAITS.html at £26 for a lure..and thats not an expensive one!

Or how about this reel?
http://www.shimanoshop.co.uk/store/shimano-power-aero-spin-power-2011-limited-edition for £339

I forgot to mention this website... http://www.lure-world.com/index.php?cPath=18_43

They are a polish company and the stuff is imported by a chap called Artur who is a spot on chap to deal with. The rods are very very good quality for not a lot of money. I have some of there "Drop shot" lure rods and love them.

Good luck in your search

[mike]

Hi Rob ,
The Mrs is going to kill you if we ever were to meet for putting expensive ideas in my head !!
On the other hand those " Drop Shot " rods look really good on the eye and pocket . My only concern is the length of them , i think that 8' is the longest ?? is this ok for river fishing for Trout & Salmon ????

Mike . 

[Hamish Young]

My only concern is the length of them , i think that 8' is the longest ?? is this ok for river fishing for Trout & Salmon ????

It'd do..... but as with many things, a longer spinning rod is better, under 9ft is just a wee bit Richard Hammond.
Short and not all that funny.

H

[Iain Cameron]

under 9ft is just a wee bit Richard Hammond.
Short and not all that funny.

ha, good one Hamish!

[Rob Brownfield]

Hi Rob ,
On the other hand those " Drop Shot " rods look really good on the eye and pocket . My only concern is the length of them , i think that 8' is the longest ?? is this ok for river fishing for Trout & Salmon ????

Ahhhh, sorry..I was not clear in my post. The Drop Shot rod is an extremely specialist method of fishing. Its a bit hard to describe, but there are plenty of clips on YouTube. Its fishing a soft, plastic lure on the spot in holes and stuff, hence the length and very fine tip.

I mentioned it to suggest that from the drop shot rods I have, I would say the quality and cost is fantastic. They do do 10 foot rods on that website. Just watch the casting rating as they also do some Pike rods for casting 2-5oz!!!..lol