Rod advice
Submitted by kane on Mon, 2009-07-20 19:26
Hi
So was looking at getting a Saltiga S-EXTREME 64 COMBI JERK rod matched to a Saltiga
S-Extreme 4500 reel for jigging...
But recently Ive heard the rods are basically pieces of crap....anyone had any experiences with these rods or can suggest a good alternative to match up with the 4500 reel?
EDIT> Also the guy who reckons the saltiga rods are rubbish recommended a Catalina 62s instead.....? Im fairly new to jigging so anyones thoughts appreciated.
Cheers 
____________________________________________________________________________
Gooooone Fishin!
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
What are you using it for,
What are you using it for, what line are you running on the reel and what budget? Also, why the s-extreme over the standard one? I can barely figure out what the differences are apart from the paint job and the price tag. (well, the drag is supposed to be different, but its not clear how they differ).
Cost no object, I like the smith rods :D. Though theres lots of other rods available.
kane
Posts: 1752
Date Joined: 07/12/08
Good questions...
I thought the excact same thing when comparing the s extreme to the standard....the only difference i can find is the handle, it has the same handle as the 6500 expedition as opposed to the rubber t handle...and of course (a shiny red paint job)
price i think the rrp is about 60 dollars difference...about the cost of the handle upgrade, but i mean thats rrp and is negotiable to a point.
Line weight.... prob PE 4 maybe PE 3 ... maybe 2 spools, one with each....
budget, not really a problem - within reason, just gotta trickle the money so the missus doesnt see thousands being spent in one hit...
I will take a look at the smith rods mate, since you reckon theyre the bees nees.
Hlock - have you heard bad things about the saltiga rods? I assumed they were good but it seems not...they have a 600 dollar price tag, i would have assumed they were not a bad rod but ive been well warned off them...
Gooooone Fishin!
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Is that PE3/30lb, PE4/40lb
Is that PE3/30lb, PE4/40lb or PE3/50lb, PE4/70lb? What jigs are you using and for what species? E.g. a rod that would be great for 300g lighter sambo jigs might not suit 100g dhuie jigs. You can get rods that do both well (my smith for example, but several others) but some will only be suited to one or the other.
I went out on a charter to the abrolhos recently and saw a fair few saltiga rods. One guy had two of the exact same setup (overheads, PE4, i forget the model) and they looked pretty good. Bend a bit when you have a small fish, but still have the power for larger fish (though, most jigging blanks have that kind of action). Not sure how much they bend through the grip. I dont know about the 'combi-jerks' though. Its not that the saltiga rods (the ones bones is talking about) are bad, they are actually pretty good. I just think for $600 you can get better jigging rods. It has a lot to to with personal preference and the action you want and how light you want the rods to be (so I definately wouldnt rule them out). The AMJ's have a fairly different action (quite a soft tip, medium middle section and beefed up end section, all with a parabolic bend, bending right through the grip). You have to load one up to see what I mean.
You really need to try them out for yourself and see what you like. It also depends on what you want to do with them.
Bones76
Posts: 476
Date Joined: 03/11/08
G'day Kane, I have 3
G'day Kane,
I have 3 Saltiga's - the 55B (for heavy jigging / bottom bashing), 70S (spinning / have used for light jigging - although not designed for this stuff I have put small Smith jigs on it at the Containers and got amberjack and small sambo's - see profile pic as an example) and the 80TN (yet to be christened but will be used for spinning up north). I have no regrets in the purchase I made.
An argument I often hear is that for the money you can get better, but I have no regrets and consider them great value (although I got 2 of the rods at 25% off thanks to a closing down sale).
Looking now to get a 63S, which a 4500 be matched to...
As Matt recommended, I would also look at the Smith - they are beautiful...
kane
Posts: 1752
Date Joined: 07/12/08
Thanks mate
Ive got the SALTIGA SG Muramura 76...but unfortunately havent used that one in anger yet to know how it goes..next season im hoping to get out for some sambo jigging and also hoping to get to the montes and exmouth so hopefully itll get a good workout then also
Gooooone Fishin!
kane
Posts: 1752
Date Joined: 07/12/08
I found these Smith rods that look good
Smith Offshore Stick AMJ-S56M and Smith Offshore Stick WGJ-S56LH
I can buy them from an online store for $600 which is actually a little cheaper than the saltiga rods...
Im leaning toward the first rod listed as it seems to fit the reel better (on paper) although is a little heavier than the second rod...
If a site sponsor stock these Smith rods and can match the price I can get them for online please send me a PM as Id prefer to buy it from you instead..
Cheers guys
Gooooone Fishin!
saltatrix
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 30/03/08
I can buy them from an
I can buy them from an online store for $600 which is actually a little cheaper than the saltiga rods.
Add postage plus credit card fees
Are they as good as a Saltiga Rod though?
Angling tourism is worth $10 billion to the Australian economy - 90000 jobs; more than any sport; spread the word
kane
Posts: 1752
Date Joined: 07/12/08
....that includes postage
....that includes postage but thanks for your concern mate
Gooooone Fishin!
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Nah, they're better
Nah, they're better
Though, it depends really on what you want to do with them. They have different actions and suit slightly different uses and personal preferences.
Only one dealer of smith gear afaik (and not a sponsor)
The 56M rods are up to 230g jig range (though seems to handle 300g dhufish jig style, havent tried sambo style). Strength wise they're rated PE3-5, so not sure how suited they would be for sambo season. However, on the small to medium sized sambos, or general demersals I think they're great. They'd handle big sambos, but you wouldnt get them up as quick as using 50-80lb+ gear (and they cant handle the 500g jigs you sometimes need to use). My go-to gear jigging the barges this time of year though.
kane
Posts: 1752
Date Joined: 07/12/08
Thanks for the PMs mate, a
Thanks for the PMs mate, a great help, cheers.
Gooooone Fishin!
Accident Prone
Posts: 56
Date Joined: 19/07/09
Other models
Another good option is the Smith AMJ-S54H, the AMJ series are fairly soft rods in comparison to a few other brands and I have used the S54H before with my Stella 8000 and a friends Saltiga 4500 and the S54H would be a better pic than the S56M IMO but try and get hold of both and have a swing on them and see what you think but yeah I definitely think the 54H is the better suited rod.
Or you could look at a Jigging Master Powerspell 250-300gm Spin
Cheers,
Josh
Frequenting hospital emergency rooms since 1978.
hlokk
Posts: 4290
Date Joined: 04/04/08
Better suited to what
Better suited to what though? What might better suit demersal jigging would be different than to what might better suit sambo jigging.
Accident Prone
Posts: 56
Date Joined: 19/07/09
Sorry bud, based on jigging
Sorry bud, based on jigging kingfish. Have jigged them to around 25kgs on the AMJ-S54H / Stella 8000.
Cheers,
josh
Frequenting hospital emergency rooms since 1978.
SPESS
Posts: 3356
Date Joined: 29/12/06
Saltigas are great rods but
Saltigas are great rods but there is better like anything. Ive got 3 and love all of them and still cant find a replacement for the ones ive got. the Hiramasa 60B pe4 is one of the best light overheads around and ive matched it up to a Bluebacker300 and pe3. Aswome rod for light to medium jigs and perfect for the rubber rubbers. But dont be fooled these rods have serious grunt. not all the models are3 good but some are awsome..................
saltatrix
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 30/03/08
Ive got the SALTIGA SG
Ive got the SALTIGA SG Muramura 76...but unfortunately havent used that one in anger yet
Give it a go with PE6 and then tell us its "crap"
I doubt "crap" is the terminolgy that will be used 
Angling tourism is worth $10 billion to the Australian economy - 90000 jobs; more than any sport; spread the word
kane
Posts: 1752
Date Joined: 07/12/08
Saltatrix...
The Saltiga S-EXTREME 64 COMBI JERK rod is the rod in particular Ive been advised to steer clear of.
This is a purpose built jigging rod that ive been told is "crap"
Im confident the older or original range of saltiga rods are fantastic which in fact is why I own one and am purchasing another saltiga rod off a fishwrecked member next week.
Once again thanks for your concern.
Gooooone Fishin!