Need Advice On A Medium/heavy-Heavy Spinning Rod

[thehooligan]

Looking for a stout 6'7-7ft spinning rod for throwing frogs and small swimbaits. I have a baitcaster but im true spinning guy. My lews tourney pro will be in the sale section btw

Anyway, my budget is $100-200 bucks. Ive done my share of searching the past few weeks and it seems like the more popular rods in the $100 range is the mojo and veritas. Ive had both rods and would like something a bit higher end.

Rods that appealed to me were these three,

Dobyns coalition 7ft medium/heavy

Shimano crucial 7'2 medium/heavy

G Loomis gl2 804 6'8 heavy or 854 7'1 heavy

The three things i care about most is being light, split grip, and a short handle. I have a dobyns champion dropshot rod and absolutely love it, something is telling me to pull the trigger on the coalition, just figured id get some opinions, and maybe other rods you can suggest me, thanks fellas.

[mod479]

I've got a 6'6" veritas "medium" and its more or less a heavy action spinning rod. It's got a short handle and is very stiff. I use it for tossing some swimbaits and frogging......good rod for $99. This option will save you some coin.

I'm slowly going all Dobyns myself, I've got 3 rods, all of which are a different series. (savvy, champ, champ extreme) To me, the power they assign them is overrated, and you might want to go with a "heavy" action if you go the DR route.

Dont have a loomis rod so I can't comment, and the only shimano rod I've got is a M/XF dropshot cumara, so I cant really tell you much about the crucial either.

[BASSclary]

Powell Endurance 7'1 MH spinning rod. I personally guarantee you that there will not be a better rod for less than $200. Plus, the handle is fairly short

[fishking247]

thehooligan, i own the 7'2" MH crucial spinning rod and i use it for exactly what you intend on throwing, frogs and swimbaits. best frog spinning rod i have ever used

[thehooligan]

Thanks for the feedback, the crucial was the only rod out of the three that i got to handle. I thinking in ruling out the dobyns and i didnt hear great reviews about the gl2. So i guess its down to the crucial and powell endurance. What rod do you think is lighter ?

[BASSclary]

I've owned two crucial (cork handle), and have plenty of Powell's.

I think the Powell's are lighter, and balance a bit better. My preference shows in the fact I own more Powell's than Crucials, I actually dont own any Crucials now.

[TNBassin']

I've got a 6'6" veritas "medium" and its more or less a heavy action spinning rod.

I've noticed that Abu rods are incredibly stiff. I have a medium Vendetta and that rod handles everything I throw at it.

[thehooligan]

Im going to be throwing 1/2-3/4oz frogs, a few 5/8-7/8 topwater baits, and a few 1/2-1oz swimbaits. I know im trying to do alot with one rod but im curious what rod action would be better the extra fast or fast ? I noticed the powell is extra fast and the dobyns and crucial are fast.

[bassinbrian]

Im going to be throwing 1/2-3/4oz frogs, a few 5/8-7/8 topwater baits, and a few 1/2-1oz swimbaits. I know im trying to do alot with one rod but im curious what rod action would be better the extra fast or fast ? I noticed the powell is extra fast and the dobyns and crucial are fast.

I would go with a fast action, its a little more versatile.

[BASSclary]

XF is what your gonna want. Your gonna be working frogs and topwater, so the XF tip is really gonna help you get the action you specifically want, while offering the sturdy, hard hooksets your gonna need for those frogs, and swimbaits for that matter.

Although, any MH or H is traditionally not a very ideal topwater rod. I would try to throw those on a shorter, lighter powered rod.

[SirSnookalot]

Im going to be throwing 1/2-3/4oz frogs, a few 5/8-7/8 topwater baits, and a few 1/2-1oz swimbaits. I know im trying to do alot with one rod but im curious what rod action would be better the extra fast or fast ? I noticed the powell is extra fast and the dobyns and crucial are fast.

I think one rod covers all that quite easy. I'd forget about power, med or med hvy as power ratings are not industry standard, I'd be looking at lure weights on the rod. I'd be willing to bet about any rod rated for a max lure weight of an ounce will have enough power.

[K_Mac]

In a medium powered rod an XF action is usually my preference. In MH I would agree with bassinbrian that a fast is more versatile, and would work fine in your applications. Just my choice. As in many fishing rear related choices, it often comes down to personal preference. Good luck.

[thehooligan]

Went with the coalition 704 from btd, couldnt pass it up at $160.

[SirSnookalot]

Although, any MH or H is traditionally not a very ideal topwater rod. I would try to throw those on a shorter, lighter powered rod.

Not sure I agree with this....personally I would not use a heavy rod for any kind of bass fishing, I don't want to use a bait that is that heavy for bass, that just isn't for me.

As far as mh for top water lures, I do it day in a day out, lures from 1/4 oz to 1 oz 7' and 7'6 rods, nothing to it. My rods handle the range of lures, I handle the fish.............where's the problem?

[BASSclary]

Not sure I agree with this....personally I would not use a heavy rod for any kind of bass fishing, I don't want to use a bait that is that heavy for bass, that just isn't for me.

As far as mh for top water lures, I do it day in a day out, lures from 1/4 oz to 1 oz 7' and 7'6 rods, nothing to it. My rods handle the range of lures, I handle the fish.............where's the problem?

My problem with a MH and topwaters is that not too many bass sized topwaters (or atleast all of mine) weigh over 1/2 an ounce, most are around 1/4 to 3/8. I think A MH is just way too over-powered for such a small lure, and some extra bend in the rod will help keep the trebles pinned, while still being able to retain an XF action to work the baits, and cast the lighter guys a bit better.

[SirSnookalot]

My problem with a MH and topwaters is that not too many bass sized topwaters (or atleast all of mine) weigh over 1/2 an ounce, most are around 1/4 to 3/8. I think A MH is just way too over-powered for such a small lure, and some extra bend in the rod will help keep the trebles pinned, while still being able to retain an XF action to work the baits, and cast the lighter guys a bit better.

I seldom use a mh rod for bass but I do it form time to time. I can and often do use the same rod for a variety of species, bass are just one of them. It's normal for me to cast 1 oz lures for saltwater species, then stop and bass fish on my way home using the same rod, I haven't endured any hardship between different lure weights, all my rods are all around rods.

[BASSclary]

To each his own opinion, I like to have tech. specific combos, so I tend to use whats best for me and my techniques.

[thehooligan]

I only use medium action rods and lighter, medium/light being my favorite. I use my 6'3 fenwick smallmouth rod for topwater duty and works great. But i just picked up a jackall dagored at 7/8oz and is too heavy for that rod. Plus ive been throwing frogs and losing fish due to the rod not having enough backbone. This will be my first medium/heavy and i hope it works well for bigger wakebaits, frogs, and swimbaits.