Top Water Rod Suggestions

[mattk22]

So, I did some searching for topics on this, but didn't really find any good answers.  What do you guys look for in a top water rod?  Fiberglass, composite, or graphite?  I am thinking I want a 6'6" medium power.  Any suggestions in the under $115 range that you guys like?  I was thinking a Wright McGill Rick Clunn, *** ***, St Croix Mojo, or taking suggestions.

[webertime]

I use a 6'3" MH Daiwa S-Rod.  It's rated for 1/4-1oz.  I think a shorter rod (6'6" is fine) works better for TW (Poppers, sammies, etc.)  It's not really about slapping the tip in the water, although that is certainly a benefit.  I find that the longer rod moves more line (well duh) and often times I was "over working" the bait, and throwing more slack into my line, causing missed strikes or screwing up my cadance.  The shorter rod eliminated that issue.  I also love the short handle, it's nice being able to avoid smacking the rod butt into your arm and messing up the cadance.  It's also a great jerkbait rod.

I got my rod for a song, and they are out there for well under $100, I think you can find them for $120 new. 

 

The Fenwick Elitetech Smallmouth line has a similar rod as well that can be had for ~$100.

[LgMouthGambler]

I use a 7' MH Mod Shimano Compre.

[Teal]

I like a shorter rod. I use a 6'6" Med Xf Daiwa t rod. It doubles as my jerkbait rod. I use this rod for most of my small-med sized topwater/jerkbaits. My big/heavier topwaters are thrown on my Frog rod.

The T Rod is a good buy and serves the purpose. Im going to upgrade that rod someday, but Powell doesnt make a shorter rod with in Med, so im going to look in the direction of St. Croix Avid, Shimano Crucial/compre, or the Fenwicks Elite Techs. The Fenwick small mouth rods seem to have some popularity on here.

[rockchalk06]

So, I did some searching for topics on this, but didn't really find any good answers.  What do you guys look for in a top water rod?  Fiberglass, composite, or graphite?  I am thinking I want a 6'6" medium power.  Any suggestions in the under $115 range that you guys like?  I was thinking a Wright McGill Rick Clunn, *** ***, St Croix Mojo, or taking suggestions.

What kind of top water and what size of baits? If you wanting something to throw frogs in the slop with, a medium really wont work well. If your looking to throw poppers and small jerk baits, your medium will work great. i

 

If I set myself a budget, I try and stay under it. That way, I can buy extra stuff like hooks, baits etc. Too stay under your budget and get a really good top water rod, give the Micro guide rods by Veritas a shot. I have the 7' Medium fast and that sucker is super super light. I would imagine that the 6'6" would even be lighter. Mine is super balanced with the Revo I have on it. I can throw just about anything with it. When it comes to throwing a small 1/4 Pop'R, it loads well, but is a bit to much rod for the bait. I switched to a glass 6'8" Medium/Medium fast for that, but for everything else, it works great.

 

I use a 7' MH Mod Shimano Compre.

You're new here so I will let you know about this guy LMG above me......The guy is an absolute nut about anything Abu Garcia. When you see him say anything about Shimano products, hes really just full of it   

[rockchalk06]

I also forgot to add, that Bass Pro is having a special right now. With order online only, add coupon code VISIT20GC at check out and you get a free 20 dollar BP gift card too. That ends up bringing your total of the rod down to 79.99

[mattk22]

Looking at the ***, it really looks like a front runner right now.  Very short handle length of 12.5", 6"7, medium, fast.  I have been wanting to try one of these rods too.  

[mattk22]

i would be using it mostly for sexy dawgs/spooks, prop baits, pop rs, and jerkbaits.  i have a H frog rod.  I currently have two Veritas, great rods, they seem to be a little stiffer then their rating, and their 6'6" has a 13.5 handle, kinda longer then i wanted.

[BradH]

I use a 6'3" MH Daiwa S-Rod.  It's rated for 1/4-1oz.  I think a shorter rod (6'6" is fine) works better for TW (Poppers, sammies, etc.)  It's not really about slapping the tip in the water, although that is certainly a benefit.  I find that the longer rod moves more line (well duh) and often times I was "over working" the bait, and throwing more slack into my line, causing missed strikes or screwing up my cadance.  The shorter rod eliminated that issue.  I also love the short handle, it's nice being able to avoid smacking the rod butt into your arm and messing up the cadance.  It's also a great jerkbait rod.

I got my rod for a song, and they are out there for well under $100, I think you can find them for $120 new. 

 

The Fenwick Elitetech Smallmouth line has a similar rod as well that can be had for ~$100.

 

I also have the 6' 3" Daiwa S rod and I LOVE it.  Not only is it a good jerkbait/topwater rod, I like to fish rattle baits with it using a rip-pause cadence.  I topped it with a Curado 200E7 so I could suck up the line fast on the pause.  Fantastic rod.

 

I bought the W&M jerkbait rod as a Christmas gift for my Dad.  Bad mistake.  Way too SLOW.  W&M has a couple rods I really like but I probably won't be looking at them for much of anything anymore.

[thehooligan]

I use the 6'3 medium Fenwick small mouth rod for top water and its great. Love it for sammies and poppers.

[J Francho]

I use an Avid AVC62MXF.  I like a shorter rod, with a shorter rear grip so I can use a downward twitch.  The x-fast taper recovers from twitching quicker, and allows better control of the bait.

[ww2farmer]

I like a M power, fast action casting rod, 6'6" in length. Thats what I have always used with out much thought behind it. Then I decided to "cut down" on the number of rods I had in the boat and fished them with a 7' M power , fast action casting rod. That lasted one season, and I quickly learned why all those years I liked the 6'6". My current rod is a 6'6" M/F Mojo.

[11justin22]

I currently use a 6'6" m mojo that works fine. They are a little heavier than their actually rating IMO. If I was to replace it I would defiantly get a 6'3" rod, probably the vendetta 2.

[smalljaw67]

If you are going to be using like 1/2oz and under and like the shorter rod then look at the Fenwick Elite Tech smallmouth casting rod, 6'3" medium power, medium fast action. This rod is awesome for topwaters and jerkbaits, accurate caster and it has some surprising power that will let you work a 1/2oz spook jr with authority and still have the added flex to keep that barely hooked fish pinned. If you want a more powerful rod with a little more casting ability then look at the 6'10" MH - MF in the same Fenwick Smallmouth series, that is the rod that I currently use and it happend to be the most versatile reaction bait rod I ever used.