Tarpon setup

I'm in the process of putting a tarpon rod/reel package together for a trip
to Belize.

I found a Scierra SL 10/12 Sal****er reel for $80.00, do any of you have
experience with this reel? I can't find much on the web about the reel, I
think it's an older Scierra model the shop is closing out.

I would also appreciate any suggestions for a fairly inexpensive rod that
would go with the reel. I have been looking at the TFO TiCr X Series in the
10 or 12 wt. Runs in the $250.00 range. Anyone have or used this rod?

Suggestions on a $350.00 to $400.00 package would be appreciated.

TIA,
JT

On Feb 9, 3:20 pm, "JT" wrote:
I found a Scierra SL 10/12 Sal****er reel for $80.00, do any of you have
experience with this reel? I can't find much on the web about the reel, I
think it's an older Scierra model the shop is closing out.

In reality, I have nothing of substance to offer. I have never fished
for nor caught a tarpon. I have seen them caught on tv however, and
my general reaction is, "Holy **** that's a big fish." I'm as thrifty
as the next guy, probably more so, but I can't imagine catching a fish
like that powerful on a reel that costs less in $$ than the fish
weighs in ##. g

Joe F.

JT wrote:
I'm in the process of putting a tarpon rod/reel package together for a trip
to Belize.

I found a Scierra SL 10/12 Sal****er reel for $80.00, do any of you have
experience with this reel? I can't find much on the web about the reel, I
think it's an older Scierra model the shop is closing out.

I would also appreciate any suggestions for a fairly inexpensive rod that
would go with the reel. I have been looking at the TFO TiCr X Series in the
10 or 12 wt. Runs in the $250.00 range. Anyone have or used this rod?

Suggestions on a $350.00 to $400.00 package would be appreciated.

TIA,
JT

If you're planning on fighting medium to large tarpon, i'd opt for a
better reel...or take a backup reel. If you're talking about an Okuma
Sierra reel, a decent tarpon might "smoke" that reel. FWIW, Redington
and Albright have some sal****er reels on closeout, at very good prices.
Also, i've heard some very good things on the higher weight, TiCr-X
rods. I have an TiCr-X 8wt. It's not my favorite 8wt, but still a very
nice rod.

brians

JT wrote:
I'm in the process of putting a tarpon rod/reel package together for a trip
to Belize.
snip
Suggestions on a $350.00 to $400.00 package would be appreciated.

I have no experience with fly fishing equipment in the tarpon
size range but your price range sounds too cheap to be wise,
as in penny wise, pound foolish. Add up the air fare, the hotel,
the guide, etc. etc. and you want to cut corners on your fishing
gear ? Doesn't sound prudent.

Just my random two hundreths of a dollar and worth every penny.

--
Ken Fortenberry

On Fri, 9 Feb 2007 12:20:50 -0800, "JT" wrote:

I'm in the process of putting a tarpon rod/reel package together for a trip
to Belize.

I don't know anything about those products, but I have caught tarpon in Belize
on an 11wt. The reel you mention holds enough line and backing, but you need to
make sure it has a sturdy drag as well. It took me over 45 minutes to land one
of the tarpon and it had me well into the backing for most of the time and made
some long (100yd maybe) runs. The rod needs to have a strong butt section since,
towards the end, the tarpon will go to the bottom and lay there and you have to
lift them to the surface to remove the hook. The 1st 5 or 10 minutes of the
battle is a blast, the rest is a lot of hard work (but still a blast). ;-)
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com

"briansfly" wrote in message
news:h86zh.95$II6.47@trnddc07...

If you're planning on fighting medium to large tarpon, i'd opt for a
better reel...or take a backup reel. If you're talking about an Okuma
Sierra reel, a decent tarpon might "smoke" that reel. FWIW, Redington and
Albright have some sal****er reels on closeout, at very good prices. Also,
i've heard some very good things on the higher weight, TiCr-X rods. I have
an TiCr-X 8wt. It's not my favorite 8wt, but still a very nice rod.

Thanks for the info...

The reel is very similar to the following, I think the SL I'm looking at is
an older model. It's a machined reel with a decent drag from what I can
gather.
http://scandicangler.com/?t=1||&mod=article&aID=35966

JT

"Ken Fortenberry" wrote in message
. net...
JT wrote:
I'm in the process of putting a tarpon rod/reel package together for a
trip to Belize.
snip
Suggestions on a $350.00 to $400.00 package would be appreciated.

I have no experience with fly fishing equipment in the tarpon
size range but your price range sounds too cheap to be wise,
as in penny wise, pound foolish. Add up the air fare, the hotel,
the guide, etc. etc. and you want to cut corners on your fishing
gear ? Doesn't sound prudent.

Just my random two hundreths of a dollar and worth every penny.

I agree with what you are saying, however, the Scierra SL I'm looking at is
regularly $200.00 and on a closeout deal for $80.00. It's designed for
Sal****er and will hold 250 yrs. of backing. So, I don't think I'm really
cutting corners on the reel. From everything I have read about the TFO TiCr
X Series, it's designed to handle the big sal****er brutes at a reasonable
price.

Believe me, I would love to buy another Winston to add to my arsenal, I just
can't justify spending that much on a rod that will be used very rarely.

Thanks,
JT

JT wrote:
"briansfly" wrote in message
news:h86zh.95$II6.47@trnddc07...

If you're planning on fighting medium to large tarpon, i'd opt for a
better reel...or take a backup reel. If you're talking about an Okuma
Sierra reel, a decent tarpon might "smoke" that reel. FWIW, Redington and
Albright have some sal****er reels on closeout, at very good prices. Also,
i've heard some very good things on the higher weight, TiCr-X rods. I have
an TiCr-X 8wt. It's not my favorite 8wt, but still a very nice rod.


Thanks for the info...

The reel is very similar to the following, I think the SL I'm looking at is
an older model. It's a machined reel with a decent drag from what I can
gather.
http://scandicangler.com/?t=1||&mod=article&aID=35966

JT

Ah, that is not the reel I thought you were considering. Just keep in
mind what Ken and Charlie have said. It's not worth the money savings,
if the reel breaks, and ruins part of your trip. I'd check to see if the
guides carry spare gear, in case your gear fails.

brians

On Fri, 9 Feb 2007 12:20:50 -0800, "JT"
wrote:

I'm in the process of putting a tarpon rod/reel package together for a trip
to Belize.

I found a Scierra SL 10/12 Sal****er reel for $80.00, do any of you have
experience with this reel? I can't find much on the web about the reel, I
think it's an older Scierra model the shop is closing out.

I would also appreciate any suggestions for a fairly inexpensive rod that
would go with the reel. I have been looking at the TFO TiCr X Series in the
10 or 12 wt. Runs in the $250.00 range. Anyone have or used this rod?

Suggestions on a $350.00 to $400.00 package would be appreciated.

TIA,
JT

Buy the reel first, and then the rod within the budget. If 400.00USD is
the absolute budget, my recommendation would be a used, good-condition
fiberglass rod, and a real reel. I have 40ish year-old fiberglass rods
that have taken a fair share of tarpon, and did and still do with ease.
I have no experience with that particular reel, but as others have
pointed out, unless this is some 75-80% off the original price thing,
I'd be leery. In such fishing, it's pretty much the opposite of
smaller-quarry freshwater fishing in which the reel functions pretty
much only as a place to store the line (yes, I realize FW quarry can
make runs, but not like much of the SW quarry, regardless of relative
size) and the rod plays a key part in presentation. With tarpon, you
need a sturdy lever that can heave a heavy line and fly. "Presentation"
is getting the fly to the quarry - delicacy optional.

I am a big fan of the Tibor/Billy Pate reels, and they make a "Tarpon"
model, but that alone would bust or nearly bust your budget, even used.
If there is room for a, um, budget increase, that'd be what I'd
recommend, and TFO makes about as good a rod for the money as you'll
find, so you'd have an extra coupla-three-hundred in things above the
"budget" of 400. OTOH, the resale is fairly good, and so if you can
find one for 350-400USD, you'd likely be able to get all or most of your
money back if you wished to sell it after the trip.

And if by "package" you mean rod, reel, lines, terminal tackle, flies,
etc., frankly, you're gonna be _hard-pressed_ to get anything new,
except maybe the lines. It could be done, but it's gonna take some
willingness to shop hard and settle. If you wish some ideas on that
front, ask away.

TC and have fun,
R

"JT" wrote in message
...
I'm in the process of putting a tarpon rod/reel package together for a
trip to Belize.

I found a Scierra SL 10/12 Sal****er reel for $80.00, do any of you have
experience with this reel? I can't find much on the web about the reel, I
think it's an older Scierra model the shop is closing out.

I would also appreciate any suggestions for a fairly inexpensive rod that
would go with the reel. I have been looking at the TFO TiCr X Series in
the 10 or 12 wt. Runs in the $250.00 range. Anyone have or used this rod?

I would go out to the sal****er section of a good bulletin board like
flyfisherman.com and ask those questions. I have no experience with TFO rods
personally other than casting them at a show and many people seem to like
them for whatever reason. Apparently TFO stands behind them. A couple of
posters here have spoken of breaking their rods and I know of two shops in
Michigan and one in the Southeast where the TFO rod is the rod most
frequently returned for breakage. Any rod of course can break. That's fine
if you're on a Yellowstone vacation with a shop on every corner, but in
Belize if that rod busts the first day out, you're screwed for the entire
trip. Like several others I am skeptical of the reel but again no nothing
about it and would personally not try it with anything less than an Orvis
Battenkill or a Ross Canyon and more likely a Tibor, Pate, or Abel.

Maybe you ought to consider the used market or see if you can raise your
budget a little. As others have said, it's a special trip and you don't want
to have it ruined by bad tackle.