Dinger0306

I used to have the same feeling towards spinning gear, but I finally got around to getting decent spinning setups and I thoroughly enjoy it. I fish way too much finesse to get by with normal casting gear 95% of the time. I went from a guy that would fish a 7’ baitcaster in creeks that I could jump across to relying on ML spinning rods almost entirely and it’s only helped IMO. In muddy water conditions I’ll pull out the BCer and use spinnerbaits and jigs with 12lb Big Game

May is when I start. March-April is largemouth at the lakes then the remainder of the year until it gets too old is smallmouth in the creeks and rivers, 80% of the time wading.

I use a 5’6” medium power casting rod for wade fishing creeks for smallmouth. It’s the perfect rod for roll casting 1/4oz jigs, spinnerbaits, and 3/8-1/2oz topwaters. Almost always has a SK Bitsy Bug tied on though. I think the things they excel at most in like a lake/open water casting scenario are close casting scenarios especially spinnerbaits around cover. But any lure really where you’re not trying to make a bomb cast. Accuracy is second to none with them IMO. It’s funny to think a 6’6-6’8” rod nowadays is considered short. I hate to see the 5’6-6’ ers dying out.

It depends. But if there are, there's only one way to find out. I've been fishing primarily small streams in search of smallmouth and have caught my fair share of 12-15 inchers but few 16-17s. Areas where small creeks run into larger rivers seem to hold larger fish as they move from the larger areas to the smaller ones. IMO nothing cooler than catching 15+ inchers out of creeks that you can cast across (sometimes, even jump across lol) but I'm still on the hunt for a small water 18+

I wade a lot but am super careful. Never wade for any distance in waist deep water. I stick to the outskirts in shin to knee deep water and cast in the deeper holes. If it's slippery large rocks and fast moving water I won't go in. Limits the areas I fish but not taking any chances. Thinking about getting a PDF/fishing vest to ease my mind a little more

In muddy water for creeks/small rivers a 3/16oz lipless crankbait in silver works well for me.

I bought some BPS Hellgrammites to try them out, and have had a bit of success with them. I've been fishing them on 1/20-to-1/15oz Ned heads. Light enough to where if they are hitting the bottom I can't feel it. I have MUCH better luck with just a regular ole Finesse TRD but I'm gonna keep fishing them. May try the Nikko's out and see if I have any better results.

17-inches in a small creek. I wade fish for smallmouth often, but mostly small water where a good fish is 12-15" and anything over 15 is a tank..

For casting reels, there's really not much reason to look beyond Berkley Big Game. Yes, it's stretchy but you're asking for that with mono. Yes it has line memory but that's not an issue on casting gear. But it's tough and cheap. I actually prefer clear/blue florescent line for line watching fishing plastics. So I'll use Stren in clear/blue florescent often, but if you're fine with clear or green line Big Game all the way.

Maybe a shorter rod 6'6 to 6'10 would be better if it was cumbersome. I'm not a fan of longer rods and though I do own them, I reach for the 6'6s more often than not. I like ML/F for smallies but I'm using lighter jigs 1/16oz more often than not. 1/8+3" grub doesn't feel overpowering, though.

I actually prefer a spinning rod for walk-the-dog baits or poppers. It is 100x easier for me to work topwaters with them compared to palming a baitcaster and doing it. I've got an old 6'6" M/MF Lightning Rod that does the trick. Smaller rivers/creeks for small jaws I have a 5'6" Ugly Stik casting rod that works pretty well for things like Whopper Ploppers/Buzzbaits, etc. I throw some smaller ones like Ploppers in 60-size or Rebel Tiny Pop-R on a 6'6" ML St. Croix Premier.

The cheap Rapala braid scissors from Wal-Mart fishing section. Had them for 2 years now and are still working great.

I do those exact techniques with a 6’6” ML/F St. Croix Premier and a Daiwa Regal 2000LT. Bought the Regal new off FB Marketplace for $50, the rod for $150 including Tax through Cabela’s with $20 worth of Cabela’s points. $200 The St. Croix Triumph in whichever length you want ML/F and Regal 2000 or 2500 would work.

I made a post last year for rod recommendations, and ended up getting a 6’6” ML/F St. Croix Premier. After fishing it for a year, I’ve got to say it’s a hair too long for most of the places I fish (narrow, small creeks where the average fish is 10-to-15 inches). The biggest cons is the rod is slightly clumsy to be waist deep in water surrounded in tree limbs and handling a fish, handle length is a bit too long, and up to this point I’ve never wished I could cast any further so I’m set on a shorter rod fitting the bill better. The action and power are great, though. So I’m pretty set on ML. I’m on the hunt for the perfect setup for this type of fishing, particularly been looking into the Avid line with their 6’ ML/F and 6’3 ML/XF spinning rods. I don’t have the ability to handle either in person but if anyone has, just how different is a St. Croix XF compared to the F? Is there a noticeable difference between a 6’ and 6’3 rod? I’ve not fished a 6’3 at all, and it’s been a while since I’ve used a 6’. The handle length is the same on both which seems like it’d be perfect. I would say 80% of my uses for it are going to be these small creeks so I don’t think I’ll miss my 6’6” too much. Line is going to be 10lb braid but debating on going back to 6-8lb mono. I’m liking the braid/mono leader so far though. 70% of the time I’ll be using 11/15oz Ned Rigs, 4” senkos, 1/16-1/8oz T rigs. The other 30% Rebel Wee-Craws, Rapalas, whopper plopper 60s.

Dude I had been looking to get one of the 6’2 casting rods and 6’3 spinning rods, Googled Avid Casting rods without any luck and now I’m here. St. Croix is one of the last manufacturers making non-flashy rods with full cork handles and shorter rods (6’-6’6”). I hate that they’re going the same direction as the other guys but I guess that’s where the money is. Guess I’m going to go ahead and order a 6’3” spinning that I’ve been eyeballing for a while. The Avid-X was pulled as soon as I was interested in one of those as well.

I was in a similar situation and ended up with a 6 1/2’ ML St. Croix Premier ($150) and Daiwa Regal 2000 ($60). Excellent job for smallmouth and fishing Ned rigs, 4” senkos, Rapalas, 1/8oz Texas rigs, rebel craws, small topwaters etc. Stiff enough to set the hook on a light plastic but enough bend for a fight with 12-15” fish to be FUN. Look into the Ned rig, it is my go-to for SMB. Z-Man TRD on just a 1/15oz Z-man Ned jig head (heavier depending on your situation). Also whopper ploppers, they make a 60 size that’s perfect for smaller waters. The St. Croix Avid is probably worth the extra price from what I’ve read, but never used one. I wanted a split-grip and not fork out $200+ for the Avid-X at the time.

I have the EXACT same issue with a Shimano Sienna. With no weight or little weight, it reels smoothly - with the resistance of a lure in the water it’s sticky. Sticks every time you start and stop reeling and has too much resistance the rest of the time. Used mine in sandy areas too.

Sadly it seems seems so. 6’6” is the perfect all-around rod, sometimes I even prefer a 6’. I’ve tried the 7 footers for the past 10 years it seems but they’re just so cumbersome when fishing from the bank or especially wade fishing rivers. I have one right now but just makes the experience harder (loading/unloading from my car, not being able to cast some spots because of hitting limbs, they’re usually tip heavier, etc) All in all, eff the fishing industry and its push to 7’+ rods lol

A bit late but interesting conversation. 6’6” ML St. Croix Premier/Daiwa Regal LT 2000D/8lb Trilene XL This is my main go-to creek wading setup. Mostly Ned rigs, wacky rigs, and keitechs on light jig heads. The reel is a perfect size between a 1000 and a 2500 Shimano, but holds 160-yards or so of 8lb monofilament. I really wish Shimano made more 2000 size reels or maybe I’d gotten one. ML is perfect action, 6’6” gives me casting distance when I do go to larger rivers but I’m mostly fishing like <25 foot wide creeks and it’s not cumbersome at all. 5’ 6” M Ugly Stik GX2/Lews LFS 6:8:1/12-pound Big Game I don’t use it much since I mostly finesse fish in the creeks, but it gets the job done for 1/4oz jigs, KVD Squarebills, and larger topwaters. I love the short rod for casting around overhanging trees

Daiwa Regal LT 2000D on a 6’6” St. Croix Premier ML/F, 8lb Trilene XL.

I agree with the replies from @GreenPig and @BrianMDTX. Before you delve into nuance, you’re going to go through a learning curve of using casting gear. Buy a cheap spool of 12lb Big Game from Wal-Mart and spool both reels with it until you get the hang of it. Also I’d drop the finesse setup to 10 or 15lb braid if you like braid, 30 is a bit overkill IMO. To not over complicate things: MH/F setup - single hook lures. M/MF setup - treble hook lures. Spinning setup - finesse lures. Line: MH/F setup - Line diameter depends on the amount of cover. Fluorocarbon has less stretch so could be beneficial and sinks quicker for bottom baits. 12-17lb test. Braid could work here as well in equivalent diameter to 10 or 12lb fluoro. M/MF setup - Monofilament has more stretch and doesn’t sink as fast (topwaters), so could be beneficial. Thinner lines = more Crankbait depth. 10-12lb test. Finesse setup - Braid is the most sensitive, limpest line for spinning reels, less stretch so it can make up for the ML rod for hooksets. Fluoro = less visibility for finesse and will help with abrasion resistance. 10-15lb to a 6-8lb fluorocarbon leader.

I took it out once with a 2500 Sienna on it before I got my Regal in, and I dig it. It replaced an old 6’6” M Lightning Rod that had the handle falling apart, and casts lighter baits better tenfold. Just gotta wait till I hopefully get into some bigger smallies this weekend and see if I can still get a good hook set with that light tip on plastics. The decreased weight compared to the old Lightning Rod/Sienna is enough for me to justify the price difference, ha

New stream/river smallmouth setup. 6’6” ML St. Croix Premier split-grip with a Daiwa Regal 2000D LT, 8lb Trilene XL mono. Gonna take duties for 4” wacky senkos, 1/15oz Ned rigs, Teeny pop-rs, whopper plopper 60s, etc. ?

I ordered two 60s, ended up losing one, in the “monkey butt” color. Not worked as well as I’d thought for creek smallies, only got a few dinks and a 14” pond largemouth on it. Better luck with a Pop-R this year, but I’m not giving up on it

Right when I wanted to learn to use a baitcaster was the same time I got interested in bass fishing, so the first reel I’d have ever thrown something like a crank or spinner on would’ve been a baitcaster so that makes sense. I still like throwing wacky rigs on a baitcaster better, for that same reason I’d imagine.