Rod For Those Giant Swimbaits

[JeziHogg]

What would be a good rod for throwing those heavy swimbaits (Roman Made Mothers, Deps 250 slide swimmers, etc)

I was thinking maybe a LTMU76XHF or LTMU79HMF?? What other options are there?

[Diggy]

Try looking at lowdown customs rods... They seem to have it on lock.

Also look for matt Allen on YouTube... He has tons of info..I think he uses dobyns

The guys from big bass dreams use some big okuma rods

Plenty of choices

[Fishes in trees]

A couple of weeks ago I got a new Fenwick AETOS 7'9" HEavy action rod.  I don't know about heavy swim baits, but it throws a 3 1/2 oz (total weight) A-rig great.  It is rated to throw up to 4 ounces, so I'm pretty sure it would do OK.  I thought the color was a little weird at first ( a deep, dark blue) but I got over it.

[00 mod]

Some of the baits mentioned are in the 10+ oz range.  You need a custom rod, or at the very least a Low Down Custom XH production rod for the depps and something even heavier for the mothers!

 

Jeff

[Diggy]

Some of the baits mentioned are in the 10+ oz range.  You need a custom rod, or at the very least a Low Down Custom XH production rod for the depps and something even heavier for the mothers!

 

Jeff

I noticed the production version of the LDC rods are up to 8oz and the Dobyns and okuma make rods up to 10oz....the okuma is cheapest in price at 134. 

 

I see the mothers is 10.5oz in weight

[gulfcaptain]

first off, what rods are in your price range?  This last fall I started throwing the 4-5oz swimbaits for the first time and I was stuck with what rod to get.  Now I know I wanted something forgiving since I was gonna be using braid with a mono leader.  So I wanted something in a IM6.  Next I wanted something that I could feel comfortable throwing a heavy swimbait on.  If you're not comfortable casting a $30-80 swimbait wondering if the rod you have can handle it, it's not the rod you wanna use.  I have a dedicated swimbait rod for just that use.  I purchased a Bass Pro Shops Graphite 7'6" H musky rod.  Having saltwater fished for years as well as being a charter captain, big baits get eaten, not nibbled on.  I understood that anything that is gonna eat a 8" swimbait is going to be a good one.  Now the rod I fish is a moderate action, loads up nice, and can handle the weight of the bait when casting as well as having the power to move and handle the size fish your after.  Having caught 4-8lb fish on the big swimbaits, I'm glad I had the rod to handle the size fish attached to that 5oz swimbait and not worry.  Of course, that is what works for me and is only my opinion on the topic.  

[00 mod]

I noticed the production version of the LDC rods are up to 8oz and the Dobyns and okuma make rods up to 10oz....the okuma is cheapest in price at 134. 

 

I see the mothers is 10.5oz in weight

 

 

Even though the Okuma rods say they go up to 10 oz, what I have been told is that it is not the "sweet spot" for that rod.  I do not know what rod to throw a 10 oz + bait on, but I am sure Speedbead will be by here shortly!

 

Jeff

[Diggy]

Even though the Okuma rods say they go up to 10 oz, what I have been told is that it is not the "sweet spot" for that rod.  I do not know what rod to throw a 10 oz + bait on, but I am sure Speedbead will be by here shortly!

 

Jeff

That sure is the man to ask

[J Francho]

Scratch both Saint Croixs from your list, if plan to throw a 10+ oz. bait.

[MichiganFishing1997]

If you go on Tackle Warehouse they have a whole section dedicated to swimbaits.  It looks like IRod makes a rod that would work for giant swimbaits, as does Okuma and a few other brands.

[00 mod]

Speedbead?????   Deep???   Where are you guys?

 

Jeff

[bigbill]

I finally gave up trying to use a castiac 9" rainbow on a heavier freshwater rod. Either way the last 15" or so if every rod has no real backbone up there. I'm into the saltwater rods now. The upper section is stronger but I may cut the rod tip shorter so I have more meat and backbone at the tip.(spinning rods) I think by cutting down a 8' or 9' saltwater rod it should be ok.(cheaper rod like a $20) I'm so afraid the tip is going to break from bending on most of these rods. I'm almost thinking about a boat rod for casting this heavier stuff.

Do a search for, swimbait rod reviews a lot of swimbait rod reviews comes up.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I'll build you something if you'd like. A quick search shows an MHX Salt/Musky blank rated for 5-16oz and is 9'. There are other options as well.

[S Hovanec]

I've built a couple on Batson SW967. The guys seem to like them. Can't remember the specs off the top of my head tho.

[GoneFishi'n]

Speedbead????? Deep??? Where are you guys?

Jeff

I haven't seen deep on here in a while.

[00 mod]

I haven't seen deep on here in a while.

 

It has been a while.  I will see if I can catch up with him!

 

[GoneFishi'n]

It has been a while. I will see if I can catch up with him!

Thanks! I haven't seem him on SU or SN either.

[00 mod]

I sent him a text and PM.  He got back to me and said everything is fine just really busy with other priorities right now!

 

Back on topic........

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Sorry, computer took a dump yesterday here.

 

You are correct, I would absolutely recommend the LDC Production XH for the Deps. The Mother is a whole new ballgame however. With a bait that big, you are looking at his XXH Parabolic series rods and all reports indicate that this stick is the ultimate for throwing super sized baits. I don't have the Mother but I'm tight with a few guys who do have them and throw them regularly. I'll take their word for it and pass it on to you as the truth,100%.

 

I dont know about using the MHX blank for this purpose DVT. I've heard good things about their conventional blanks but just because something says it's in the weight rating, that isnt always the case. Some of the Dobyns stuff is rated for super heavy baits but you'd be hard pressed to even hold the bait on the line without the rod feeling taxed, let alone actually casting it.

 

JFranch is correct also about the St. Croix, even the LT Musky rod Big Dawg. It's rated to 12oz but I don't put much stock in that. 8oz for sure, but with the Mother being 10+ that is a big difference especially if you really want to lean into a cast.

 

Bottom line, contact Ben at Low Down Custom if you are truly interested in the ultimate swimbait rod. He makes swimbait sticks. That's it. He also throws these baits and catches the fish that swimbaits are intended to target. Even if you don't purchase a rod from him, give him a call. I can guarantee you will come away from the conversation having learned something valuable.

 

Tell him the guy with the beard sent you.

[Hooligan]

Best rod I've found for Massive swimbaits is the Dobyns 908. I initially bought it to throw big plastic swimbaits like the Suzie sucker and Curly Sue, but found it to be astonishingly effective for throwing big, heavy wood baits.

The Loomis MUR 967 is also quite adept, although not optimal.

Agree with Speed and JF on the Legend Muskie. It just doesn't have the guts to do it in a wood bait. It can handle 8ounce bulldawgs but much more than that and it is taxed pretty hard.