TackleDirect Silver Hook TDSSTS703MH / Okuma BTX-40 Travel Combo

Never thought I would ever use a 2 piece 7’ rod let alone a 3 piece. This thing a workhorse pulling in nice size jacks, cudas and gator size needlefish while in south FL. Even pulled in a 10lb halibut all from shore while in Adam Diego!! I do a lot of casting looking for fish so the only issue I have occasionally the top piece of the rod comes a little lose probably user error. I have gotten used to checking it every dozen casts. When looking at the rod u wouldn’t think it can pull up a nice size fish but it somehow does. The Okuma reel is also suprisingly smooth. I mostly use Shimanos and this reel has made me a fan of Okuma. Super nice sounding drag better than Shimano. In my opinion more like a 3000 size reel.

The travel rod was selected for my adult daughter. She enjoys fishing, but always used my equipment, until moving to California. She wanted a light weight travel rod for fresh water, and in-shore coastal waters, for trout, flounder and reds. The Okuma reels are very good reels, and with reasonable care, wiping off with a light cloth with a damp wash cloth and a cloth with a light spray of CLP, are good to go in salt water. The combination balances nicely, and I don't have to give up my IM-6 Gary Loomis rods with the light weight Shimano reels that I have become accustomed to, and she will get, when my grip on life relaxes a little more, or I am unable to step down from the dock to the boat. The rod balances and loads well, the reel casts well, the bail flips promptly and positively, and if I had not progressed from mid-priced equipment to upper end, I would not be able to discern the slight differences between the top of the line and components that are functional and reliable.

Purchased this for a trip to Belize. Performed well in handled bonefish and tarpon quite well. Silky smooth drag and lots of line capacity. I loaded mine with 15 pound braid and it held almost 300 yards. Great fast action rod sensitive tip. My only complaint is the travel two is a bit large. However it did allow me to put two rods and one tube. Would definitely recommend for popping corks top waters or baits and the half to 1 ounce range.

Love this combo, the reel is excellent for inshore species and the rod is just excellent.

Received Okuma reel only. Very well made for the price. Have not received travel rod yet, has 60 plus day delay. Hope to receive soon.

I had purchased the offshore conventional travel rod previously and it was well made. The case that that one came in and the case the present spinning combo came in are very nice. The current rod I am not that impressed with. The guides seem cheap and heavy. As this is an inshore light/medium rod, it make for a relatively heavy rod. It is too heavy for speckled sea trout fishing, but might be appropriate for larger fish, such as red drum or larger bluefish. I used my previous case and will use this one as well to put an additional rod in it for travel. Did I say I like the case? One good think about the case is the zipper goes the entire length and so TSA wont be cramming rods in a tube and breaking tips (I hope).

action id flawless and can not wait until spring to try it out, we still have cold and a foot of snow here.

Bought this combo for my daughter and she loves it. She lives in Louisianna and she and her boyfriend fish a lot. They catch a wide variety of fish up to nice Reds.