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[rustynail11]

So fishing for trout in the surf is new to me, my surf fishing has been cast it out past the bars and let it sit until something bites.

I will be down this week and really want to try and get on some trout. What is the best sized rod and reel combo for casting top waters in the surf? As well as what kind of line should I spool the reel with?

Everything I have now is 10-12 foot rods with big reels and heavier line for long casts.

[chapcat54]

I am no expert at surf fishing for trout with topwaters, as I have only been doing it for the last couple of years, but the friend I fish with I would consider as good as anyone in this regard. He prefers a seven foot medium/fast or medium/moderate fast casting rod, with a left handed retrieve low profile baitcasting reel, even though he is right handed. His reasoning is that with the amount of energy required to work the topwater walking the dog over long periods, working the rod with the right hand is easier and more coordinated. I tend to agree with this, and I use similar baitcasting equipment.

However, I have found that a spinning reel with a seven foot graphite rod, med/fast works very well, especially if the center of balance is right over the reel. I have a Duckett Ghost rod, paired with a Daiwa Lexa 300 series reel, that I can work long periods with less fatigue, as the balance is perfect. If your forearm muscles are used to the work, it matters less.

He prefers mono line in 14-20 lb range iirc. I prefer 12 lb mono myself. If you fish this way for any length of time, you WILL eventually hook into a big Jack Crevalle, so keep that in mind with line selection. Braid will work as well, but flourocarbon line will sink, so it is really not as good an option, as it will affect the lure action.

He prefers Heddon Super Spooks, and Rapala Skitterwalks as lures, as do I. I prefer the Spooks myself, as I have found them easier to walk.

Red, if you read this, please correct me if I'm off....

[Oil Field Trash II]

just use whatever you normally use for trout fishing. I haven't noticed a difference throwing topwaters in the bay vs topwaters in the surf.

[rustynail11]

[Oil Field Trash II]

I use a certain brand of rod in the 6'4 to 6' 9" range. fairly stiff with a fast tip for topwaters, reels like the Lews, curado, etc are fine spooled with 20-30 lb braid. I prefer braid because it takes far less arm/wrist action to get the lures working. There is absolutely no stretch to braid, so a quick twitch of the wrist does about the same thing that a big arm pump does on mono.

you want to use somewhat of a lighter drag setting with braid also, since there is no stretch to it, and on a poorly hooked fish, there is nothing to act likea shock absorber. I like heddon spook jr or one knocker. get a couple dark colors, and a couple light colors. I throw chrome and black about 75% of the time, and bone or pearl the other.

so many different rods out there to choose from though. I would personally avoid anything that's "whippy" since it will take more arm motion to get the lure walking.