Need advice

#1
I need advice. Rain Shadow glass blank custom rod vs Phenix Black Diamond, both 8 feet. The main purpose dino hunt, may use for casting from piers sometimes.

Rain Shadow is cheaper a little bit. Hi's tackle sells own build for 190.

Thank you for your advice.
 
#2
Of the Rain Shadow rods I’ve seen they’re really nice rods but I've never fished one personally. But so are the Phenix BD rods. You could flip a coin. I have a set of Phenix 809’s paired with Abu 7000i reels for my boat rods and like them a lot for that purpose.

But for Pier fishing I use two different setups. A pair of lighter 12ft setups for casting up to 12oz and another pair of heavier 8ft setups for casting 16-24oz. I believe we fish a lot of the same fast moving tidal water (Eckley, Martinez Pier etc.) and sometimes in order to hold you need a lot of lead. I find casting a standard 8ft rod isn't ideal for getting my setup out there as far and where I'd like. Because of this I've been using 8ft deckhand rods now for over 20yrs. Having the ability to move the reel farther up the rod gives you so much more leverage in casting than a standard 8ft reel seat rod. Once I tried it I never went back. Don’t get me wrong I still have a lot of standard rods but for pier and shore casting it's a deckhand or longer 2 piece casting rod. Personally never use spinning setups for sturgeon.

You sound like you’re hovering in the $200 range. Some rods I have that I really like and fit in that price point are Calstar Black West Coast and Seeker American series.

Anyway it's just something to think about.

Mjonesjr
 
#3
Mjonesjr,

Thank you for your reply. Just before pandemic I made couple "early x-mas" presents. Looks like they are in line with your advice.

Feel free to say hi when you see me at Eickley (Russian guy with birthmark on face)
 
#4
Mjonesjr,

Thank you for your reply. Just before pandemic I made couple "early x-mas" presents. Looks like they are in line with your advice.

Feel free to say hi when you see me at Eickley (Russian guy with birthmark on face)
No problem, what did you end up getting?

I’m sure I’ll run into you eventually someday. Robert/Redfish has spoken to me about you a few times. We’ve been fishing a bit more together over about the last year. We met through this board over 20 years ago.
 
#5
12 feet Team Daiwa to through 12-16 oz pyramids.
Phenix BD PSW 909XH - it's a deckhand style.
Rain Shadow 8feet for boat fishing.
I have 2 penns FTH25NLD to pair with RS and Phenix.
and for lures I got Trifecta Pro TRE-S908

Craigslist and Facebook marketplace were good to me. :)
 
#6
12 feet Team Daiwa to through 12-16 oz pyramids.
Phenix BD PSW 909XH - it's a deckhand style.
Rain Shadow 8feet for boat fishing.
I have 2 penns FTH25NLD to pair with RS and Phenix.
and for lures I got Trifecta Pro TRE-S908

Craigslist and Facebook marketplace were good to me. :)
The Phenix sounds really nice. I would love a 9’ DH rod. I look forward to seeing that someday. Glad to hear you found some good deals too.