Tips & Techniques
Choosing the Right Rod
The rods and reels we use are commodities that we have to rely on day in and day out.
They’re more than just a fashion statement, and more than a simple replaceable object.
Although different people use different set-ups and brands, one thing that is in common throughout the masses is a trust that is built with a certain brand.
by Capt. Ty Hibbs
Marsh & Bayou Outfitters
(504) 309-3446
www.marshandbayou.com
line. I feel they shoot through the guides and
wind so well, but have your gloves on when fighting those big fish because they will give you a
good line burn if you aren’t careful.
Puglia’s is one of the best known tackle
There are thousands of different combinations of rods, reels, and lines that you can make in
the fishing world, but for us in the saltwater
world, we can keep it a bit more simple. Here are
a few different set-ups I use, as well as Captain
Casey Brunning's set-ups, and recommendations
from Anthony Puglia of Puglia’s Sporting Goods.
When I am jigging Lake Pontchartrain for
speckled trout or redfish, one of my favorite setups is a shorter rod with fast ratio reel. I like the
shorter rod because it allows more feel and control of my bait down at the bottom. I am mostly
flipping and pitching no more than a few feet at
pylons so I don’t need that extra length on the
rod. If you’re not a fan of shorter rods, you can always go with a more sensitive longer rod. The
longest I'll usually go is about 6' 8". One of my favorite set-ups for jigging the Lake is a saltwater
series trout rod made by Duce Rods. It is one of
the most sensitive rods I’ve ever used and thanks
to the spiral wrapped eyes, I have no worries if I
hook into that bull red or tackle-busting jack
crevalle. My reel of choice is either a Shimano E
Series Curado or Chronarch, or the newer model
Chronarch Ci4 if I’m wanting my set-up to be really light. Shimano is a brand that I ‘ve always relied on and I’ve always felt most confident about
using with no problems.
One of Captain Casey's favorite jigging setups is a medium-action Envy by 13 Fishing paired
with a Concept E reel and some 12lb Stren original. He says that with how light and sensitive the
rod is, he rarely misses those subtle bites especially when jigging deep. For redfish, Captain
Casey uses the medium-heavy Envy with the Concept E reel and 50lb. Sufix performance braid.
When fishing a tournament, those redfish need to
be in the livewell as soon as possible to give
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June 2016 www.marshandbayou.com
them the best chance at survival, and he feels
confident this set-up gets them in fast and
healthy. Captain Casey trusts the 13 Fishing name
because he’s used and abused them for as long
as they’ve been around, and the gear has yet to
fail on him - even in some of his toughest situations.
Fly-fishing is something that’s been slowly
growing lately in our area. It brings out the true
sport in people. For the most part, you have to
sightfish everything with the fly so it takes that
hunting mentality to a whole new level on the
water. When you hook a redfish, it's all about setting that hook with your hands, and fighting it in a
well thought-out way. When it comes to fly reels, I
look for reels with some serious drag such as Galvan Fly Reels. The Galvan reels have one of the
best drag systems on the market especially since
they’re now offering a sealed drag system in the
new Grip series of reels. It stops those fish in their
tracks and carries tons of backing for those big
trophies to make their long run without a worry
from you. Some of my favorite rods for fly-fishing
are made by G. Loomis and Hardy. I like to go
with a one-piece rod because it’s almost impossible to abuse and
break them; but a
2, 3, or 4 piece is
definitely more
practical especially in traveling
situations. My favorite line over
the years has become the Scientific Anglers
Mastery Textured
series or Sharkskin
shops on the southshore. They have whatever
you may need pretty much all the time. Here are
a few of Anthony Puglia’s best selling rods and
reels at his shop.
Two of his best-selling spinning rod and reel
combos are the Penn Clash and Shimano Stradic
on either a Fenwick HMG Rod or a TFO Outfitters
rod. His two best bait-casting combos are the
new Shimano Curado and the Concept A reel by
13 Fishing paired with either a Duce Rod or an
H&H Custom rod.
Whether you prefer one brand over the next,
when it comes down to it, what makes you the
best fisherman is what you are most confident
using. The more confidence you have in your set,
the better you will feel about everything and tune
into your rod and reel. All of these great products
can be found at Puglia’s Sporting Goods on Veterans Highway in Metairie. Just swing by and ask
one of their highly knowledgeable staff to help
you with a set-up that fits you and your fishing
style best.