New all rounder set-up - What do you think?

[fisho999]

Ok guys, just a quick update, I went with a Daiwa 20 Aird-X 702LXS Spin Rod and Daiwa Laguna LT 2500, total of $160.
Went to a few different places so I had a chat with a couple of guys.

The 702LXS was recommended as better than the Catana. One guy said as I am just starting out it would have been better to go with a composite like this one:
https://www.anacondastores.com/fishing/ ... 7377-black
as with full graphite there is a chance I will snap it easily. Are they really so delicate?

On the reel there were different opinions. The DAIWA only has 1 year warranty while the Shimano comes with 10. Also the guy who was recommending Shimano showed me the Shimano has a stronger body than the Laguna. I wanted to give the laguna a crack anyway. I have loaded it with a Nomad Pandora x8 ultimate PE fiber Light 10lb. I have trusted the guy. Free spooling at Anaconda if you buy the line with them. He went with mono first and then used 150lm of braid. For the leader I`ll go with a Sunline Siglon FC 10lb which I already have. What do you think? Too light?

My first day out will be in Queenscliff. Do you have a spot to recommend where I am not too far from the water so can lift whatever I catch pretty easily? I was sort of keen to go squids, whatever time of the day

Congrats mate!

I think you're good with the 10lb braid, it's a good all round medium and 10lb fluro should be perfect. You can always bump up the fluro, or drop it down depending what you're chasing and the structure around.

Queenscliff pier is pretty high from the water so you'll often have to just lift the squid, an alternative is people using the cheap $5 crab nets to catch the squid. St Leonards pier is another good spot for squid and is closer to the waters edge about 3-4m to the waterlevel.

Thanks. Is there any specific technique to lift the squid / fish (assuming I`ll catch one)? I guess you try to bend the rod as less as possible and then lift with the other hand, ideally with gloves to avoid being cut by the leader?!?!

to lift any thing you catch I reckon just get the line in a gloved hand and put the rod down. Then you just use the line like a handline and pull the fish up. Works for me.