Sensitivity Issues

[airborne_angler]

On previous trips I had been using a 6'6" medium action Berkley Cherrywood rod,a vintage Shimano Bantam reel with 10# Vicious Fluorocarbon line. Every thing felt good and I boated about 4 fish per outing on a Rage Craw.

Like a fool I changed things up. I chose to use an Okuma 6.2:1 reel on a 6'6" Medium Heavy Shakespeare rod,with 65# Spiderwire braid,and a leader of 10# Vicious Fluorocarbon.

On this outing I only boated 1 fish,and really had a hard time feeling the bottom. I really think my bait was swimming most of the time.

So as far as the change of equipment goes,what could be the biggest cause for the decreased feel of sensitivity? Is it the Rod? Going from a M to MH. The Line? Going from straight FC to BRAID with a FC leader? I'm thinking the rod causing this difference,but I'd like to know what everyone else thinks.

[jj'sbassinforfun]

I would think the rod was the issue. Going from a graphite rod to glass might be the biggest loss in feel. IMHO the braid would give more feel due to lower stretch than the FC.

[M-D]

Not foolish to change things up...that's how we learn!

My 1st thought would be the braid...swap out the line and see what happens.

[iabass8]

What size bait were you using or how heavy of a jig. At first glance id assume its the rod but if youre using a tiny bait on a mh rod that could be it too.

[smalljaw67]

Braid will give any rod sensitivity, the problem maybe how you fished the rig, if you were using light weight or no weight it is possible the bait was offering enough resistance to detect the bottom.

[airborne_angler]

I think the weight was a 1/4 oz,the same one I used when I was catching fish on the medium action rod. Could it be the braid(buoyant) not sinking as fast as straight FC? If this is the case,then I guess I may have been swimming the Rage Craw instead of having contact with the bottom. Perhaps I should go with the medium action rod and a size larger weight?

[roadwarrior]

Man, you have been around for awhile. You must know by now that there are MUCH better

choices than the stuff you are fishing. Maybe it's time to step up and buy some "bass" gear.

At almost any pricing point there are much better rods than the ones you are fishing.

[unionman]

Braid will give any rod sensitivity, the problem maybe how you fished the rig, if you were using light weight or no weight it is possible the bait was offering enough resistance to detect the bottom.

X2

[Jiggen]

Braid is only more sensitive then Fluoro on a taught line. Just for a test try experimenting by holding the line when you pull over the bottom and see if you feel a noticeable difference. I believe you will. If so it is most likely your rod. Pinnacle makes a great rod for the money. Jim

[Dr. Watson]

Man, you have been around for awhile. You must know by now that there are MUCH better

choices than the stuff you are fishing. Maybe it's time to step up and buy some "bass" gear.

At almost any pricing point there are much better rods than the ones you are fishing.

Hahahaha, what he said, kinda, I would check your rod. Try A $100 Falcon Bucoo or original and see if that doesn't bring some sensitivity to your fingers and not break the bank.

[Quillback]

Man, you have been around for awhile. You must know by now that there are MUCH better

choices than the stuff you are fishing. Maybe it's time to step up and buy some "bass" gear.

At almost any pricing point there are much better rods than the ones you are fishing.

RW is right - I bought an 803 Loomis GLX from a buddy of mine, yesterday I was fishing 3/8 football jigs with 12 lb. floro, dragging the jigs along the bottom in depths from 3 ft to 20 ft. I KNOW when I'm dragging through mud, bumping wood or brushpiles and when I'm going through rocks. And I KNOW when I get the lightest of pickups on the jig. There's other brand rods out there that can give you the same sensitivity, but the point is, you can get rods that will take the guesswork out of bottom contact fishing.

[Capt.Bob]

ROD it aint the braid! The cherrywood I had one about 25 to 30 yeras ago on a abu 5500 and loved it. But man do you know how much rod technology has changed since then!! A St. Croix Premier would astound you, I mean about anything at wall mart would be more sensative. You owe it to yourself to buy a Pfluger IM8, a Bionic Blade, an Extreme, a Compre, or spend a little more and get a St. Croix Premier, you won't believe what your missing, and only one of those will break a 100 dollar bill. But believe me its your rod.