David et all, I am getting ready for my first Mexico trip and will also be chasing Yellow Fin Tuna later this summer off of the Columbia. I have a chance to buy a nice 12 Weight Sage RPLXi at a great price from a friend. It has limited use and should be a great rod. Given the price at half the Xi2 I don't see how I can go wrong. I am looking at the Redington Breakwater as the reel. I am curious about what you think of that combination. Would also appreciate your thoughts on the right line for this set up. Thanks, Steve

The rod is a good choice, i dont know too much about the new redington reels but the old ones blew up pretty regularly...
Look at a Ross CLA. Great value reel.

The Redington Breakwater has a great reputation on many of the saltwater specific pages (check out danblanton.com for example) and would be a great value for the money. However, for the same money, you can often find good deals on used Abels or Pates which are both bomb proof and would be my first choice.

I recommend you pick up a copy of Trey Combs' Bluewater Fly Fishing. TONS of great information and recommendaions on rod lengths and weights, reels, backing, knots, lines, leaders, flies...you name it. Proven tackle and techniques that have taken the largest gamefish on flies from around the world are shared by many different cutting edge anglers. Rigging is critical for these large ocean species and the book spells out what works.

Take care,
Chris

David, thanks for the tip. I fish the new Ross CLA on my 6 and 8 weights. I love the reel. I have heard a lot of good things about the Breakwater but would hate to learn the hard way.

Chris, thanks for the Blanton reference. I read the board regularly. I have Trey Combs' book. Just started planing the trip and took the easy way. I will pull it out as well as Les Johnson and Mark Mandell's Tube Fly book that has lots of Mexico patterns.

I greatly appreciate the help.

Best regards, Steve

Steve,
What did your research turn up with?
Chris

Was able to buy a Galvan Torque 12 in a discontinued color for the price of the Redington. Reviews on Blanton's site gave it high marks for a tough drag that were verified by several local fly shops. I need to get two more kids through college before I can start thinking about a Tibor.
Chris, I spent some time looking at Trey's Bluewater book and it gave me some good ideas. I appreciate the suggestion.
Steve

Steve,
I have a RPLXi in a nine weight. I love that rod. In fact, if you friend has one in a 7 weight and wants to unload it, I'll take it!

Don