Out of the hundreds of different gamefish available in North Carolina, there is an equal number of rod and reel combinations available to fishermen for every set of conditions.
Unfortunately, no single rod and reel combo will cover all inshore fishing situations; several variables must be considered that may call for a longer rod, more-flexible rod, a stiffer rod and reels with more line capacity.
A strong rod and solid reel is needed to overpower redfish in an oyster- and grass-infested marsh, but light lures are often required, as well as long casts that might drive a fisherman to distraction in any tackle shop.
However, new technology is available to the angler that can make these choices easy.
Guide Jot Owens uses top-of-the-line gear for his inshore and nearshore fishing trips.
“The new technology has opened up the game for me for drum fishing,” says Owens. “I use a smaller, powerhouse reel like the Penn Conflict 2500. It is lightweight (and) contains a good drag and gear system, which are important for throwing artificials all day to redfish.”
Rods are the second facet of the game, and technology is now available to produce a lightweight, super-sensitive and strong rod capable of casting small lures long distances into the wind. For redfish, the new 36-40 ton graphite versions are hard to beat. They are made of low-resin graphite that is very lightweight, adding sensitivity without compromising strength. This technology is being incorporated into most rod companies’ product lines, including Penn’s Regiment, Abu Garcia’s Villian, All Star’s Nano, and Fenwick’s Aetos.
For casting to red drum in the small creeks and tidal flats, rods of at least seven feet are a must, but even a 7 ½-foot rod is not out of the question and is preferred by many fishermen. Depending on the manufacturer, the medium to medium-heavy action is what will be needed to power these fish to the boat.
Fishermen also need to get join the braided-line revolution. The small-diameter, braided fibers are a perfect complement to a light rod-and-reel combination for casting lightly-weighted lures. Anglers targeting red drum should use between 10- and 20-pound test braid.
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