Finesse Set Up

[clayton86]

Im gonna start adding rods to my arsenal and im gonna start with a finesse set up because I don't have anything that can cover this area properly. I'm hoping to keep it moderately priced to keep the wife happy. Its gonna be for drop shots and shaky head fishing. Heres the rods i have in mind what are your thoughts, opinions, recommendations.

Dobyns Savvy Micro Spinning Rod 6'9" Med Lt

Abu Garcia Veritas Spinning Rod 6'9" Med Lt

Falcon Cara T7 Spin 6'9" Medium

Lamiglas Excel Spinning Rod 7' Medium or Med Lt

Kistler Micro Mag TS Spinning Rod 7' Medium

as for reels im an Abu fan but am considering a Ci4 Stradic, Orra SX, Pflueger Supreme MGX, Pflueger Supreme XT.

[smalljaw67]

I think you can't go wrong with any of those and you seem to have an understanding of what you need but I will add one for you. Take a look at the Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth rods, specifically the 6'9" M-XF and the 6'9" ML-F spinning models. I have the 6'9" M-XF, I got it for tubes and light finesse jigs but I also needed it to be able to handle shakey heads, senkos and soft jerkbaits, mostly the smaller variety since I fish the larger ones on casting rods. Anyway, the rod exceeded my expectations 10 fold, I've been talking them up ever since my first one as the performance has been outstanding, extremely good sensitivity, and a price that can't be over looked. I was catching fish on a shaky head in 26' of water using 8'b mono and was feeling light bites in 51 degree water, so while you do have a good assortment picked out you may want to give the Fenwick a look but I'm warning you, if you have a dealer near by that has them for you to hold and check out in person, well you might not want to put it down, the reel seat is amazing.

[clayton86]

hmmm I do like that rod cant seem to find it anywhere but on fenwicks site but its cheaper then all but the abu rod I have listed giving me more room for a reel. I to will more then likely use it for tubes and such as well when wading the river.

[ww2farmer]

. With the exception of Erie your going to need a rod with a little power, even though it's finesse fishing, just to keep fish from taking you into heavy cover and breaking you off around here. I would go with a M power with a fast action, and at least 6'6"...7' would be better IMHO, you want a little "give" in the tip to protect the lighter lines used on this type of gear. XF is great for vertical fishing with no cover around. Of the rods you mentioned, I have used the Kistler, and the Abu. Both on Erie, both belonged to a buddy. The Kistler was a noodle, 1lb bass and gobys felt like monster pike on it, and it had ZERO power, the Abu was nice, just about right IMHO, for a vertical " fish in the sonar cone" rod, felt like a tad more than a ML in power.......they are just not my cup of tea. IDK if I would want it as a rod where there is a chance of any decent size fish running you into weeds/wood, or under a dock.

[smalljaw67]

hmmm I do like that rod cant seem to find it anywhere but on fenwicks site but its cheaper then all but the abu rod I have listed giving me more room for a reel. I to will more then likely use it for tubes and such as well when wading the river.

If you look on Amazon or on ebay you may find one cheaper but I will tell that I honestly believe these rods should have sold for well over $200. My neighbor used my rod when I first got it and he sold one of his St. Croix Avids and got himself one of these, and I'd say for just a drop shot rod the 6'9" ML-F but the 6'9" M-XF is a more versatile rod. Go onto youtube and look for a another site review of the 6'9" M-XF, I know people get sick of hearing me talk about these rods but I'm about to add my 3rd rod from the series, it is the first time in a long while that I've been really sold on a rod, the actions are spot on and really work well for what I use them for. Just so you know, I own 2 custom made rods as well as 4 Loomis rods so I know what good rods feel like and how they perform.

[clayton86]

. With the exception of Erie your going to need a rod with a little power, even though it's finesse fishing, just to keep fish from taking you into heavy cover and breaking you off around here. I would go with a M power with a fast action, and at least 6'6"...7' would be better IMHO, you want a little "give" in the tip to protect the lighter lines used on this type of gear. XF is great for vertical fishing with no cover around. Of the rods you mentioned, I have used the Kistler, and the Abu. Both on Erie, both belonged to a buddy. The Kistler was a noodle, 1lb bass and gobys felt like monster pike on it, and it had ZERO power, the Abu was nice, just about right IMHO, for a vertical " fish in the sonar cone" rod, felt like a tad more than a ML in power.......they are just not my cup of tea. IDK if I would want it as a rod where there is a chance of any decent size fish running you into weeds/wood, or under a dock.

this is also a good point I know most the spots I fish are loaded with beaver dams, downed trees, big sharp boulders especially around point breeze inlet. Theres structure every where it seems I don't know of many spots that arnt loaded with spots for a fish to hang ya up.

smalljaw hows the power on them fenwicks I liked the looks and specs of them but like farmer pointed out we have alot of heavy cover around here.

[smalljaw67]

this is also a good point I know most the spots I fish are loaded with beaver dams, downed trees, big sharp boulders especially around point breeze inlet. Theres structure every where it seems I don't know of many spots that arnt loaded with spots for a fish to hang ya up.

smalljaw hows the power on them fenwicks I liked the looks and specs of them but like farmer pointed out we have alot of heavy cover around here.

The power on them is really good, that is the nice part of going with the medium, if you notice the 6'9" M-XF is rated to 3/4oz, but when you pick the rod up you wouldn't think it has that type of power but it does. If you watch the review done by another site they actually show a fish caught using a shad rap, it was a solid 3lb fish that he got in the boat by using the rod. I think the med. lt. rods you're looking at would be a concern around cover but not the Fenwick, as I've said, I use it for tube and finesse jigs and I'm pitching the finesse jigs into limbs and around laydowns and small brush piles and so far so good and the lifetime warranty adds to the sense of good feeling I have when using that rod.