Hi everyone ... I wonder if anyone can give me abit of advise , ive been using fixed spool spinning outfits for all my lure fishing and am considering investing in a good baitcasting out fit , The outfit is gona be used for pike and perch fishing over here in the uk , I am just abit stuck as to which outfit i should go for and what casting weight rod. Ive looked at the abu range of baitcasters mainly the revo stx , loaded with 20 or 30lb braid , The lures i will be casting are anything from small rapala countdowns upto 11cm taildancers  possibly even some spoons  and top water lures i,e meadow mouse etc would this reel and braid  be ok for this work and what rate rod should i go for and what make  ? ....bearing in mind i might latch onto a 20lb plus pike ......Thanks in advance and hope you all have a good new year.....p.s. i am after a trigger grip style rod as i just5 wanna be able to use it with one hand and from my kayak ....Many thanks ...

Yeah in that case i will continue to use my light spinning outfit for the perch but which rod n reel should i go for do you reckon . cheers

Cheers for that , the thing is i get abit confused when it comes to the casting rates for these modern day rods and the line ratings , Ive seen a couple rated from i think around 1/4 to 1 0z , that rating is one i can understand but when they start coming 1/8 ...3/8 etc etc i get abit confused cause the rods over here are rated in grammes rather than said ...also the line rating say for instance 10lb to 17lb mono , how would i assosiate these readings when using braid ?     
Say for instance a rod that has a casting weight of 1/4 to 1oz would this be adequate for casting rapalas and spoons to pike , its just i dont want to go down the route of chucking big bull dawg lures and heavy jerkbaits on very stiff rods.....
 one last think can you reccomend a rod that would cope , its very difficult investing in a mail order rod without seeing and feeling it yet this is the only way i am gona do it because no tackle shops were i live sell these ...Thanks

Cheers for that , the thing is i get abit confused when it comes to the casting rates for these modern day rods and the line ratings , Ive seen a couple rated from i think around 1/4 to 1 0z , that rating is one i can understand but when they start coming 1/8 ...3/8 etc etc i get abit confused cause the rods over here are rated in grammes rather than said ...also the line rating say for instance 10lb to 17lb mono , how would i assosiate these readings when using braid ?     
Say for instance a rod that has a casting weight of 1/4 to 1oz would this be adequate for casting rapalas and spoons to pike , its just i dont want to go down the route of chucking big bull dawg lures and heavy jerkbaits on very stiff rods.....
 one last think can you reccomend a rod that would cope , its very difficult investing in a mail order rod without seeing and feeling it yet this is the only way i am gona do it because no tackle shops were i live sell these ...Thanks

Hi Dav. I'm stickler for balanced tackle. You want to get a casting rod to match the lure weights you'll be throwing. You will be alright throwing rapalas and spoons on a 1/4 to 1oz rated baitcasting rod as long as the rapalas and spoons are in the 1/4 to 1 oz. range. Baitcasters can be very unforgiving (big birds nests) if your tackle is not balanced. I think a medium action, 1/4 oz to 3/4 oz,  should suit you fine. If your throwing heavier lures than a medium-heavy rod should do the trick. If you're throwing lighter lures than you would want a medium-light rod, 1/8 or 3/16 to 1/2 oz. These are general rating based off of my every growing rod collection . My wife is going to kill me if I buy another rod. Don't forget you''ll need a good baitcasting reel if you going to throw 1/8 oz lures. Personally thats were the spinning rod comes in for me.

As far as braid goes, here is the link to Power Pro's website (I like and use Power Pro). It has braid to mono conversion charts in both USA and Metric. http://www.powerpro.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/powerpro/about/using_powerpro/specs.html

If you bought Power Pro 40 pound test line it would have the the diameter of 10 pound test. 30 pound Power Pro would have the diameter of 8 pound mono etc. If your reel uses 8 to 12 pound test mono then you would get the 30, 40 or 50 pound test Power Pro. Amazingly strong stuff in small diameters.

Hope this helps

Thats quality info macmang just the type i was after , .....Ill have to look for a medium rod now, as i thought i would need a heavy for a start... ....Cheers for your time....Dave...

Your Quite welcome Dave, anytime. Shop around. You'll see some good new year/ start of the season sales. Heck you might Be able to pick up couple of rods.