San Diego & SoCal Fishing Forums

Question for you experts: Are you willing or do you often use your high end freshwater bass gear (rod/reel) in saltwater? Or do you prefer "dedicated" saltwater gear?

High end bass gear. I have had zero problems with Shimano and Daiwa bass reels corroding. I do rinse with freshwater after each trip. I use the smaller baitcasting reels (mostly loaded with 6 lb mono) and 2500 size spinning reels. Most rods are very corrosion resistant, even the cheap ones. BFS stuff is a nice size for spotties too but you might be wishing for something bigger when you tie on to some of the bigger halibut or bat rays.

Traditional saltwater gear is overkill in the bays.

no problems at all. be sure to rinse afterwards, and i like to fully break the reels down and service them about every 6 months.

I have a dedicated outfit. It doubles as my 'beater' or the combo I lend out to people in the fresh, and is essentially high end bass stuff from yesteryear.

It's not that I don't have a problem using my high end gear, even those with Magnesium parts...

Buuuuuut I'd rather not.

That would be the exception to salt water use, magnesium corrodes quickly in salt water.