What Specs Are Good For A Topwater Rod?

[kjud29]

I'm looking to purchase a casting topwater rod. What specs are good for a topwater rod? What action and length should it be? It will be used to catch bass with buzz baits, pop R, and other topwater lures.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

6'6" M/F with a softer tip. St Croix Avid for one over the counter. I may even go as short as 6'. If you're tall 7' might still be comfortable for you especially from a boat deck. What ever is comfortable and keeps you from slapping the water with the tip.

[MrSwimJig]

I really like the Shimano Crucial CRCT68MA 6' 8" MED/MED FAST but I find myself going to my St Croix Avid 6' 6" M/F AVC66MF

[J Francho]

A buzzbait and a Pop-R are two entirely different baits, though both target the top of the water column. For a buzzbait, I use any longer extra fast rod that I'd use for a spinnerbait. match the power to the size of the bait and the cover you're fishing. The extra fast taper allows you to get into the power section of the rod for a powerful, lightning fast hookset required for big buzzbait hooks. For a treble hooked, floating topwater, I like a shorter rod, medium or medium light power, and x-fast taper for a quick recovery after twitching. I like shorter to keep the tip out of the water while using downward strokes of the rod to twitch the bait. Pop-R's are pretty light baits, and I actually use a spinning rod with 20# braid, and 12# CXX leader for them to get extra casting distance. A good compromise for both would be a 6-6 medium/x-fast rod.

[S Hovanec]

I prefer XF rods for topwater. I have a 6'8" M/XF Rainshadow RX8 that I'm trying to build for myself......just can't find the time.

[outdoorsman110]

I prefer XF rods for topwater.

X2

[kjud29]

Why is extra fast a good action? I have a fast rod and maybe I'm the one missing the fish but sometimes with a buzz bait i feel like I'm setting the hook to early and not letting him inhale it. I know a buzz bait is a reaction bait but I've missed a few fish because of this reason. Im not saying you guys are wrong because you obviously know more than me but I'm just curious for an explanation as to why an extra fast rod will do the job.

[dave]

See the strike, waaaaiiiiiiit FEEL the weight of the fish, then set the hook.

[kjud29]

I will have to get better at doing that. It get a little anxious once i see that big bass destroy the buzz bait haha

[Deleted account]

A buzzbait and a Pop-R are two entirely different baits, though both target the top of the water column. For a buzzbait, I use any longer extra fast rod that I'd use for a spinnerbait. match the power to the size of the bait and the cover you're fishing. The extra fast taper allows you to get into the power section of the rod for a powerful, lightning fast hookset required for big buzzbait hooks. For a treble hooked, floating topwater, I like a shorter rod, medium or medium light power, and x-fast taper for a quick recovery after twitching. I like shorter to keep the tip out of the water while using downward strokes of the rod to twitch the bait. Pop-R's are pretty light baits, and I actually use a spinning rod with 20# braid, and 12# CXX leader for them to get extra casting distance. A good compromise for both would be a 6-6 medium/x-fast rod.

What he said.

[Chris at Tech]

6'6" M/F with a softer tip. St Croix Avid for one over the counter.

Bingo

[SuckAtPhishing]

On 4/11/2012 at 1:51 PM, J Francho said:

A buzzbait and a Pop-R are two entirely different baits, though both target the top of the water column. For a buzzbait, I use any longer extra fast rod that I'd use for a spinnerbait. match the power to the size of the bait and the cover you're fishing. The extra fast taper allows you to get into the power section of the rod for a powerful, lightning fast hookset required for big buzzbait hooks. For a treble hooked, floating topwater, I like a shorter rod, medium or medium light power, and x-fast taper for a quick recovery after twitching. I like shorter to keep the tip out of the water while using downward strokes of the rod to twitch the bait. Pop-R's are pretty light baits, and I actually use a spinning rod with 20# braid, and 12# CXX leader for them to get extra casting distance. A good compromise for both would be a 6-6 medium/x-fast rod.

Very well explained

[hunterPRO1]

6'3"-7' (depending on preference/your height) medium power|fast action

 

i prefer a 6'6"

 

 

[timsford]

I use a 6'3" length in a m or mh fast for poppers, walking baits, and jerkbaits and a 6'10" mh fast for spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. The shorter rod allows me to work the baits with more action without hurting the ground, water, or boat and the longer rod gives more leverage for hooksets with heavier single hooks but is still short enough to let me make accurate roll casts under branches and to cover

[artdav]

quick question, do any of you guys think the BERKLEY EMOTION 6"4 MF ROD would be good for throwing a top water spook or popper with a bait caster? I'm about 5'11 and do a lot of pond fishing from the bank. any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in Advance

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Pop r s and spooks i use 6' med action pistol grips with 10lb line 

[NorthernBasser]

My favorite topwater rod is the Mojo. Obviously the Avid is better if you wanna pay a little more.

 

St. Croix Mojo Bass Casting Rod 6'8" Med/X Fast

MJC68MXF - Topwater. This is an ideal rod for poppers and walk-the-dog type baits. Also a fine choice for tubes, grubs and unweighted soft plastics.

[5by3]

I’m 6’5, so I prefer to use longer rods.

 

I throw poppers and small topwater on a dobyns 704cb with light braid or sometimes mono. 

 

Spooks on a dobyns 705cb glass tied to straight braid.

 

buzzbaits/WP 110 on a dobyns 734 tied to straight braid.

[Boomstick]

I picked up the St. Croix Mojo Bass Topwater rod which is 6'8" M/XF for top water. The advantage of a XF rod is that it will give the lures a better action at the sacrifice of hookup ratio. That said, there does seem to be a decent amount of play in the Mojo Bass topwater rod -- although I have not got to try it yet.

[ike8120]

I just purchased a Dobyns FR705CB.

[Fishingmickey]

22 hours ago, artdav said:

quick question, do any of you guys think the BERKLEY EMOTION 6"4 MF ROD would be good for throwing a top water spook or popper with a bait caster? I'm about 5'11 and do a lot of pond fishing from the bank. any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in Advance

It might be a little light for a full sized 1 oz spook and it might be too heavy for the little Rico/pop-r/skitter pop type poppers in the smallest sizes. Should be fine for the medium to large poppers, junior spooks and jerk baits.

FM

[Matt_3479]

Why is it that on crankbait a and such with trebles you want a moderate to keep them pinned but the top water trebles you want extra fast?

[MickD]

It's not so much the action that's important; it's the power.  Too much power will tend to ****** the lure out of the mouth of the fish.  It's hard to not react too fast to the strike.  But whether it's mod action or fast or whatever, it's the power, which applies the force to the line, that is most important.  Stretchy line will help because it prevents the direct application of the power of the rod.

 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Matt_3479 said:

Why is it that on crankbait a and such with trebles you want a moderate to keep them pinned but the top water trebles you want extra fast?

 Fair Question Matt ~ 

 

 I'm generally not 'working' my cranking baits like I do a topwater walking bait or even a popper.  

 It's desirable for my crankbait blank to be 'slower' initially to allow by crankbait to deflect while the rod is still slightly 'loaded as well as while I'm playing & hopefully landing a spirited bass.

 Conversely,  'working' a topwater plug with a 'slower' stick would not offer same 'crisp & responsive' blank action that a Fast or X-Fast stick can; which is really needed to get the job done right. 

 

Not trying to over think it, I use a couple of different 7 ft (ish) Medium Fast action Spinning rod to present most of my larger topwater walking & popping baits.   Along with 20lb braid mainline and 12lb test big game mono leader - I do OK.

 Long casts - works the baits effectively - offers solid hooksets - land the bass.

 

A-Jay

[ChrisD46]

On 4/11/2012 at 2:51 PM, J Francho said:

A buzzbait and a Pop-R are two entirely different baits, though both target the top of the water column. For a buzzbait, I use any longer extra fast rod that I'd use for a spinnerbait. match the power to the size of the bait and the cover you're fishing. The extra fast taper allows you to get into the power section of the rod for a powerful, lightning fast hookset required for big buzzbait hooks. For a treble hooked, floating topwater, I like a shorter rod, medium or medium light power, and x-fast taper for a quick recovery after twitching. I like shorter to keep the tip out of the water while using downward strokes of the rod to twitch the bait. Pop-R's are pretty light baits, and I actually use a spinning rod with 20# braid, and 12# CXX leader for them to get extra casting distance. A good compromise for both would be a 6-6 medium/x-fast rod.

*Sweet write up ! ... Same buzzbait rod could be used for toads as well . Poppers can range in weight from light to fairly large and heavy - ditto for walk-the-dog lures (spooks) which tend to run heavier than poppers .