So How Much Are You Really Feeling Off The Bottom With Your Rod?

[bobsackamoto]

So maybe its just me. Or maybe Im not using the same lure as others. But I recieved my st croix legend extreme today. I did alot of research and ask alot of questions. Id never bought a rod over like 120 dollars. But Ive always wanted a rod I could feel every little thing on the bottom.

 

My two other rods I fish the most with is a  6'6 medium quantum smoke with pflueger supreme. And I have a 6'6 falcon bucoo with a shimano sahara. And also let me tell you all I do anymore is shakyhead with a 1/8 jighead. also braid with a flouricarbon leader.

 

So Ive read these comments like my st extreme is so sensitive I can feel a fish swim by. Or I can feel every leaf thats on the bottom . Well I just have to be honest, it may be a little difference if I bump into brush. but 375.00 different im sorry but i just dont see it. And I also put the pflueger patriarch on it. So what I do give it, its one sweet set up. Its very light and cast well. And it does feel good while fighting the fish.  

 

So it was my birthday and I never laid out the money for this setup. But I tell you if I had, Id probally return it and get something else. And stick with my other rods. But maybe the folks that see a big difference is using maybe a bigger weight or mayber there lake has alot more structure.

[dodgeguy]

your falcon bucco is one of the lightest most sensitive rods made.it's just not a ton of money.

[iabass8]

i would give it time and you will probably (maybe not) change you mind. you'll start noticing little nuances these high end blanks have that lesser blanks don't. the blank these rods are built on, the SCV, are some of the best blanks you can buy. but again sensitivity is perceived differently by everybody.

[bobsackamoto]

I have noticed in the past on windy days when i go to 1/4 ounce i feel more. what you guys think i start using a 3/16 instead 1/8

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

i would give it time and you will probably (maybe not) change you mind. you'll start noticing little nuances these high end blanks have that lesser blanks don't. the blank these rods are built on, the SCV, are some of the best blanks you can buy. but again sensitivity is perceived differently by everybody.

 

Yeah over time you will get to know the rod better and fishing it then going down to the smoke you notice those subtleties BUT the Smoke rod is no slouch. I have a 7 M/F Smoke its an awesome rod I too have a 7'6" SC Elite let me tell you I felt the same way that somehow the Elite should blow away the smoke but it doesnt. There are differences but those differences to dollars varies from one person to another. I got lucky and only paid $130 for my Elite and glad for it. I too have Avid and LTB the jump to Elite just isnt to me worth it full price.

 So fish just the Extreme for a while only it nothing else then go back to the Smoke Falcon then you should notice.

[bobsackamoto]

what braid if any do you guys use. the power pro seams to get hung up on itself coming off the reel. but i was just reading about power pro slick. id never heard of it. but may be an option.

[tomustang]

It could be you, not everyone is the same, the sensitivity goes to your hands and sometimes the hand isnt as responsive to vibrations. Others are opposite and you can feel more with less sensitivity.

Still give it time, let the your hands transition to the rod then you can move back the other rods and feel the difference. If you can perhaps you can trade for something you can get by with in terms of feel.

[Catt]

Do you really want to learn what your St Croix is feeling?

Go night fishing during a new moon, you will be amazed!

[Khong]

You should be able to feel the difference while sliding across the soft bottom dirt and bumping into rock or hitting small structure.  You should be able to feel difference in grass, small dead branches, etc...  If you can't detect a bite from a bump then you're probably not experience enough.  As far as feeling a fish swim by, "LOL!!!" I doubt that.  Anyway, you bought a quality setup and this will last you tons of year to come by if you take care of it, instead of 2-3 year rod.   Be proud of yourself that you own one of the best rod in the world.

[lmbfisherman]

I at first was skeptical about purchasing a rod for 150+ and always bought 100 or lower priced rods.  Until this year, I started by purchasing my first Cumara for Jig and Worm and wow is all I can say.  The difference between my Cumara vs Compre/Vertias I was using was worth the jump, especially at the price I got the Cumara (159 - 1st Gen).  I was able to feel everything and at first I was jumping and setting the hooks on the things I've never felt before.  From that point on I understood why everyone bought these rods, after that I proceeded to buy more (3 GLXs, 1 cumara and 1 Cumulus) for all of my bottom contact techniques or anything that requires a lot of sensitivity.  (I also owned Avids pre the Cumara, although sensitive, I just didn't like to fish with t he MH powered rods as they are stiffer than I'd like to fish, personal preference.  But even then I find the Cumara kick it's butt in sensitivity.)  When I go back and fish my cheaper setups, I now feel like they are dead in feeling.  Especially my really cheap ones like - (Daiwa T Rod, BPS PQ Tourney Rod) 

 

That being said, I still own and fish the Compre and Veritas, even though they aren't as sensitivie as my higher end rods.  They are sensitive enough that I fish with them (I use them more as support or other techniques like reaction or top water).  I'm still every now and then will set the hook on things or question if it's a bite with the higher end rods, but after fishing them more and gaining experience I am not swinging for the fences on everything.  Give it time, I'm sure you will start feeling it. 

[skeletor6]

You should be able to feel the difference while sliding across the soft bottom dirt and bumping into rock or hitting small structure.  You should be able to feel difference in grass, small dead branches, etc...  If you can't detect a bite from a bump then you're probably not experience enough.  As far as feeling a fish swim by, "LOL!!!" I doubt that.  Anyway, you bought a quality setup and this will last you tons of year to come by if you take care of it, instead of 2-3 year rod.   Be proud of yourself that you own one of the best rod in the world.

 

I do not own said rod of OP. However, let it be known that I have easily felt fish swim by on my most sensitive setups. I could even tell the size of said fish to a degree.

[SirSnookalot]

Feeling a fish swim by is probably attributed more to hallucination than sensitivity.  

[Bluebasser86]

Most of my rods are LTB rods and they are very sensitive. I can easily feel the difference in the bottom composition with them with a heavy enough bait to keep good contact. They took me awhile to get used to and I actually didn't like them much at first but after I fished with them for awhile they really grew on me. 

[Diggy]

For $375 you could have bought a New Loomis NRX Rep Sample, with that you will feel everything including changes in atmospheric pressure. You can even tell what sex the fish is and what it may have eaten earlier...so Ive heard.

[new2BC4bass]

I do not own said rod of OP. However, let it be known that I have easily felt fish swim by on my most sensitive setups. I could even tell the size of said fish to a degree.

 

Well, I see no reason why you can't tell the species and whether it is a male or female.    Just yanking your chain. 

 

I am not one of those guys with great hands, so "No comment".

[Capt.Bob]

I do not own said rod of OP. However, let it be known that I have easily felt fish swim by on my most sensitive setups. I could even tell the size of said fish to a degree.

With My Extreme's and Elite's I feel everything, I know if it's sand, gravel, mud, rock's, weeds, or wood, and once you get that down and learn how to USE THEM,,,,,,, they don't, swim by, regardless of size!!!    

[Darren.]

Baitcasters should never have less than 40 lb braid. Otherwise it will dig in and catch on itself during cast. 40 lb braid is equal to the diameter of 10 lb mono. 50 lb braid is equal to 12 lb mono so forth. When I use braid I use regular power pro 50lb.

 

Perhaps "never" is a bit strong, more of an opinion.

 

While true, lighter braid will dig in, there are ways to manage that. I use 20 lb Power Pro on my Chronarch and it works fantastic. I've used as light as 10lb test on baitcasters with no problems that cannot be managed with pulling line off to eliminate digging, etc.

 

Heavier braid probably needs less "maintenance" with regard to digging in, but is not a requirement. And that's my opinion

[Nice_Bass]

So maybe its just me. Or maybe Im not using the same lure as others. But I recieved my st croix legend extreme today. I did alot of research and ask alot of questions. Id never bought a rod over like 120 dollars. But Ive always wanted a rod I could feel every little thing on the bottom.

 

My two other rods I fish the most with is a  6'6 medium quantum smoke with pflueger supreme. And I have a 6'6 falcon bucoo with a shimano sahara. And also let me tell you all I do anymore is shakyhead with a 1/8 jighead. also braid with a flouricarbon leader.

 

So Ive read these comments like my st extreme is so sensitive I can feel a fish swim by. Or I can feel every leaf thats on the bottom . Well I just have to be honest, it may be a little difference if I bump into brush. but 375.00 different im sorry but i just dont see it. And I also put the pflueger patriarch on it. So what I do give it, its one sweet set up. Its very light and cast well. And it does feel good while fighting the fish.  

 

So it was my birthday and I never laid out the money for this setup. But I tell you if I had, Id probally return it and get something else. And stick with my other rods. But maybe the folks that see a big difference is using maybe a bigger weight or mayber there lake has alot more structure.

The weight you are using will be directly related to how much feel you have of the bottom to a certain extent and then that is dependent of water depth as well as wind factoring into what your line is doing.   

[Quillback]

What line are you using. I can tell what I hit on the bottom with my duckett. I definitely know grass, rocks and mud and most deffinately an bite.

X2 Line type is very important.  I use floro for my bottom contact fishing (c-rigs, t-rigs, dragging jigs), braid is even more sensitive.  If you're using any reasonably sensitive rod paired with the right line you should be able to "read" the bottom and detect the lightest of bites.

[*Hootie]

I liken sensitivity to "The Emperor's New Clothes".

It's not real, but if everybody says it is, then we convince ourselves it is.

So drink the kool aid and enjoy...lol. The very least we can do is enjoy our toys as much as the toy manufacturers enjoy our money.

Hootie

[Diggy]

I liken sensitivity to "The Emperor's New Clothes".

It's not real, but if everybody says it is, then we convince ourselves it is.

So drink the kool aid and enjoy...lol. The very least we can do is enjoy our toys as much as the toy manufacturers enjoy our money.

Hootie

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

[Felix77]

IMO - I found that in time you become more in tune with your equipment.  

 

When I first started fishing I couldn't tell I was fishing bottom unless I had a 1/2oz weight.  It was big/bulky enough for me to tell the difference.  With time I was able to feel the bottom with lighter and lighter weight.  Now I can fish a 1/8 - 3/16oz weight under the same conditions and feel the bottom with the same setup.

 

An example setup is a 6'6" MH Spinning Rod, 10lb PowerPro braid.  The spinning rod I bought was less than $100.

 

FWIW I think that braid had a lot more to do with feeling the bottom than people give it credit for.

[Quillback]

I liken sensitivity to "The Emperor's New Clothes".

It's not real, but if everybody says it is, then we convince ourselves it is.

So drink the kool aid and enjoy...lol. The very least we can do is enjoy our toys as much as the toy manufacturers enjoy our money.

Hootie

it is real, I find it hard to believe there are those who don't know what it is.