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To fish for redfish and speckled trout is a no-brainer if you have the right gears with you.
When I first started fishing, I cared less about the kind of fishing rod and reel combo I used. I would often fish for all kinds of fishes using the same rod.
But, this is not possible if you want to fill your buckets with redfish and speckled trout.
Gearing yourself with the right gear is crucial for a successful fishing trip. In this article, I’ll review my favorite combo for catching redfish and speckled trout.
And that’s St. Croix Mojo Surf MSS106MHMF2 with Penn 704Z reel. And after you finish reading this review, you’ll know why I think this is the best rod and reel for redfish and speckled trout.
St. Croix Mojo Surf MSS106MHMF2 Review
Constructed with a high-quality of SCII graphite, this rod performs exceptionally for redfish and speckled trout.
It offers you the best combination of the many features a fish rod should have for these two fishes.
Some of its amazing features are:
- Action: To catch redfish and speckled trout, it is better to use a rod with fast or very fast action. This rod exactly serves this purpose. It has fast action and is most suitable for these kinds of fishes.
- Power: This road has a medium-heavy power which is perfect for catching a big fish like redfish. I managed to tackle the weight of many red fishes with this rod.
- Length: With a length of 10’6”, this fishing rod is longer than most rods. It is most suitable for making longer casts. This makes it easier to fight redfish and speckled trout when I am in the boat.
- Line rating: The line rating is great with a range between 12-25 lb. I have used an even heavier line on this road, and it works perfectly fine.
- Lure rating: This rod has a lure rating of 2-6 oz which is perfect for redfish and speckled trout.
Penn 704Z Review
I have been using the Penn 704Z spinning reel for many years now. It is still working fine and is most suitable for redfish and speckled trout.
Some of its key features are:
- Gear-ratio: It has a low gear ratio of 3:8:1. This low ratio is the best because it gives you more power to fight big dishes like redfish.
- Drag washer: The reel comes with HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers which give you a very smooth drag. This is most important while trying to drag heavy loaded fishes. It has a maximum drag of 15 lbs.
- Weight: The reel weighs 23.5 oz, which is an ideal weight. It does not feel heavy on your wrists.
- Material: The 704Z reel is fully made up of metal with the graphite side plate. This gives it excellent durability.
The St. Croix Mojo Surf comes with the Penn 704Z which is a great combination and is the best road and reel for redfish and speckled trout.
Pros and Cons
There are a lot of pros for these two products. The St. Croix Mojo Surf and the Penn 704Z can be paired to give you the best road and reel for redfish and speckled trout.
I like to fish for long hours and have used this fishing rod and reel for most of my trips. The reels feel light and dos not hurt my wrists even if I hold it for hours in a stretch.
The length of the road allows for long distance casting, and the rod’s power allows for catching heavyweight fishes like redfish.
The reel gives you a real smooth spinning action, and a hassle-free drags for big fishes.
One of the cons of the rod is that it comes at a split ratio of 70/30. This can require some extra space in your car. It also does not come with a butt cap.
Pros
- Excellent durability
- Lightweight
- Affordable price
- Smooth drags
- Perfect for longer casts
- Great power and action for big fishes
Cons
- No butt cap
- Rod has a split ratio of 70/30
Question and Answers
- 1. Can I pair the ssv6500 spin fisher by Penn with this rod?
Yes, definitely! This rod comes with great versatility and hence will pair really well with ssv6500.
- 2. How about pairing this rod with vr175 with a 40lb braid? And will it also work well with 5 yards and 100lb mono leader?
Yes, this kind of reel will fit the rod very well. In fact, it will also give a good combination for redfish and speckled trout.
- 3. Hey, I was wondering if I can pair this rod with a Shimano Ultegra 5500? The reel has a large arbor, and the rod seems to have a small stripper guide (30 lb braid). I don’t want to pair the reel with the wrong rod. Please suggest?
You don’t need to worry about that because this rod would pair perfectly with the reel. The Mojo guides can cast with braided lines.
- 4. Will Penn offer a baseless kit with this reel?
The 704Z comes with bail, and the 706Z model is bail-less.
Click here to purchase this combo on Amazon
Now that you know why I think this is the best rod and reel for redfish and speckled trout, I would really like to hear your opinion on this combo.
If you agree with me or not, leave a comment below.
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