carlosjr

hey guys, yes I am talking about spinning gear. I have a stradic fk 3000 on its way that I scored for free and am just looking to pair it up with a decent rod without breaking the bank. I really just plan on throwing tubes with it. I dont have much access to bass rods around here like most folks do. In the PNW we have a lot of options for salmon and steelhead rods but for bass its all largemouth rods which for me coming from the steelhead world all feel like dead pool cues. I just need something with a light enough tip to load the rod, enough give to not throw hooks and a decent amount of backbone to handle 4lb smallies in a little current.

Hey guys, I am looking at a few rods for smallies this summer. I live in the PNW and most of the smallmouth here are between 1-4lbs. nothing crazy. Just curious what rods you guys look for for these little guys? debating going back and forth between ML and M action. In my mind I have a daiwa procyon ML in my mind or a shimano Clarus ML for tubes grubs and other soft plastics up to 1/2oz max. mostly 1/4-3/8oz

Thanks for the replies everyone! Megastink- You don't think a medium power rod would be overkill for smallies?

alright, awesome! I don't have a budget, just can't justify spending more than $100 on a rod when I use braid and can get all the sensitivity I need out of that-overall balance is more important to me. Bluebasser86- Which fenwick rod do you have?

Living here in Oregon, the smallmouth aren't super big, but i typically get into 1-3lb fish. Caught a 5lber not too long ago. I enjoy using light spinning tackle and drop shot rigs for these guys, but my ultralight trout gear isn't cutting it quite anymore with how much i'm getting into it now. I know a 7' ML fast action rod is about right, so I was looking for some decent rod recommendations from you guys. I usually use braid so I'm not really looking for the most sensitive rod ever. I was thinking of a fenwick hmx, cabelas fish eagle or something within that range.

This is really interesting info. I like berkley's lines, and if this is true, I may just start running 20lb XL on my reels

I recognize that line diameter plays a big role in abrasion resistance. Having said that, would Berkley XL 20lb (.016) have the same abrasion resistance as XT (.016), but with perhaps better castability due to the properties of the line? Or should XT still be the more abrasion resistant of the two lines? Just food for thought

I recognize many of you guys are freshwater lake and pond fisherman, however, there must be some salt guys on these boards. If this is in the wrong place, feel free to move it mods. Anyhow, anyone give the cabelas salt striker copoly lines a try? they seem like a great value, similar to big game but more abrasion resistant from the coating.

I may give stren one more try. How is it compared to p-line cx? thats the only one i've used from your list and like it on spinning gear

looking for a good clear blue mono. I know stren original has that color, and berkley xl does. Are there any other brands that make this color with a little more abrasion resistance? I've tried XL, and wasn't that big of a fan-it knicked too easily for my tastes. Stren original-I'm a little wary about their quality control after a few bad spools..

he was the real deal. I miss that guy too

I just do this. In the Pacific NW, when I use braid to mono, I usually go 20-30lb powerpro to ab equal lb test flouro, such as 20lb.

ok so I have a daiwa tatula already loaded with 12lb sufix siege. And I have it currently on a light 4-10lb casting rod that has a more moderate/fast action for lighter baits. I would imagine this could work for specks inshore... As for other outfits, I do have some steelhead spinning rods, 8'6" (8-17) and 9' (6-10) that could be used inshore as well. As far as bass fishing here for smallmouth goes, I typically use crankbaits, tubes and lipless cranks, so I would imagine that is probably what I would use going after largemouth as well. However, I would like to try maybe some topwater fishing say with spooks or frogs. So I guess I may be looking for something that can do a little more power fishing with. Only reason I bring up the loomis is because It had a really nice flex to it that I noticed many other bass rods don't have, such as some of the abu garcia rods I played with in the store. Many of them (to me) feel like broomsticks with an extra-fast tip. Whereas, in Oregon, we use fast action rods, but they have a progressively fast taper to them (similar to edge, NFC, Lamiglass, Loomis imx) which can load the rod nicely to the cork, not stop right after the tip in the top 1/3 of the rod. Would there be much of an application for a rod's action like the loomis, or is there a specific reason many bass rods are built so stout with limber tips?

Hey guys, I am fairly new to the bass fishing world. I am from oregon and we get REALLY great smallmouth fishing here, however, not so much of the bucketmouths many of you do on the eastern side of the US. I am probably going to head to a grad school in texas or florida and don't really have a clue what rod I should buy. I found a Loomis 7' e6x MH 10-17lb mag bass rod the other day and that was pretty nice. Seemed like a good all purpose rod. But I am more so looking for something that I can kind of do most applications with, as well as maybe dabble with some inshore species like speckled trout. Any rod recommendations under $200 would be appreciated

I just bought an arachnid over the curado and I am loving every second of it.