Rod Help...matching With Curado 50E

[Mumbly]

Hey Everyone. I am needing some help selecting a rod for my curado 50e. I have seen a few threads on the same topic but all those seem to have a specific use, where mine will be more of a universal application.

 

This might be a long shot and perhaps unconventional but here goes. I am fishing smallmouth and do a fair amount of bank fishing and will only be carrying one rod so I need to be able to throw anything from a jig, tube, grub, topwater, spinnerbait, worm, senko and maybe a few cranks. I am guessing lure weight to be 1/8oz to 1/2oz. (heaviest would be a super spook jr.) To make matters a bit worse...I am on a budget so max would be $100.

 

My gut is telling me a medium action, fast/xf 6'6" or 6'8" but I would love to hear your thoughts and advice on the "one rod to do it all" if such a thing exists.

 

Thank you.

[MarkH024]

6'6 to 7'  MH/F rod would be your best versatile rod to do it all.  Brand would be up to you and your budget. There are a lot of solid rods in the $100 range.

[5dollarsplash]

My first thought was medium fast for all purpose, but I'm mostly a St. Croix guy, so that would be mh in a lot of line ups.  I would mount it if you can before you buy the rod.  My 50e ended up on a ml xf 6'9" rod, and a big part of it was "feel".

 

$100, I think most will recommend the *** stick.  I haven't used one myself, in that price range I'd look for a deal on a Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth.  They also fit the weight range you mentioned rather well.  The 6'10" mf one is rated 1/8-5/8

[lmbfisherman]

I would say get a M/F or MH/F the length is up to you.  As for my experience in the $100 dollar range:

 

1. Smallmouth Elite Tech 6'10" M/F would be a good rod as suggested earlier.  I have this rod and definitely can do what you are requesting.

2. Shimano Compre MH/F - I would stay under 7' with a Curado 50E

3. Veritas - M/F

[ww2farmer]

I have had my 51e's on multiple rods over the years. Right now they are going on Fenwick Elite tech smallmouth rods, I have not fished them together yet, but FWIW, they look and feel fantastic on those rods in my living room.. Lol.

[Cgrinder]

6'10" Elite Tech Smallmouth is a very nice rod that is probably what you're looking for. You might need to wrap the feet of the reel footing in something to get it to be snug in the reel seat, like a few layers of electrical tape. For whatever reason, the Shimano reel footing did not play well with the reel seat on the Elite Tech that I had. There was some serious wiggle room. I think it depends on the individual rod though. 

[Capt.Bob]

St. Croix Premier, 7' MF if you try one expect to in the future be heavily invested in top tier St. Croixs!! just a word of warning! 

[new2BC4bass]

Another vote for the 6'10" MF Smallmouth rod.  I had my Curado 51E on it the first year.  Tried a Sol last year.  The 51E is going back on it.  There is one for sale on one of the forums for $90, I think.  Up until recently you could have gotten a new one from fishusa for $99.95.  They just raised their prices back up to MSRP.  Kind of sucks because I was planning on one more casting rod and a spinning rod in this series by next fishing season.  I'll throw anything on my 6'10" MF within its weight range.  Personally I like it better than my *** although it is also a very nice rod.

 

My 51E fits the seat with no problem.  I did try to mount a Chronarch 101A on my Smallmouth 6'9" MXF.  It wouldn't tighten down enough to keep the reel from moving.  Tried a new-2-me Zillion 100SHLA and it worked fine, but will be switching it out for a Purple Alphas.

[bass1980]

1/8 oz might be tough on a Medium rod even with a nice reel like a 50 series. I have a 51e paired with 6'7 MF *** chasing Smallies on the bank and wader fishing for them. Casting 1/4 oz is a breeze but 1/8 oz you can't really get great distance. A Medium light would be better suited for 1/4 oz IMO.

[Mumbly]

Thanks tons for all the advice. I will try to track down a Smallmouth Elite Tech but I haven't been able to find a local dealer here to try the reel on it. I will take the reel with me and head to a few tackle shops and try a few that were recommended. Thanks for all the great info. It really helps a lot.

[BrianinMD]

A 7ft MH if its all purpose. I have mine on a Falcon Bucco, actually liked it so much bought another 50E and Bucco for a duplicate setup. Only different is line weight.

[Mumbly]

Well it doesn't seem like any of my local tackle shops carry any of the Fenwick rods and doing mail order adds $40 for shipping. I might have to go with a Shimano....either a convergence or clarus. No one is selling Falcon either. I saw a couple St. Croix's but they were the higher end Legend series.

 

I did see a G. Loomis GL2 but it was tough to decipher the writing on it. I think it was 1/4oz - 5/8oz M/F 6'6" for $143 -25% off but wasn't sure on it. any thoughts?

 

Edit: Looking at the Loomis website it might have been the Crankbait rod....might not be a good choice for an overall use rod.

[tomustang]

Fenwick elite tech 6'9MXF, stick between the rods weight limit

[Cgrinder]

Shimano Compre 6'8" MXF is right at $99. If you can't get Fenwicks or Omens, the Compre would be my suggestion.

[new2BC4bass]

Even with the right rod and reel an honest 1/8 oz. isn't going to be easy to throw right away, IMHO.  Last summer I got pretty good with 3/16 oz. on 2 different outfits, but when I tried 1/8 oz., I sucked.  This with a rod rated down to 1/16 oz. so it isn't the rod...at least I don't think so.  I only tried it with my Carbonlite, not the TD-Z 105H, but I seriously doubt the 105H would have done much better.  Not until I get better first.

 

Tom, the 6'9" MXF is rated for 3/8-5/8 oz.  Not going to work for what he wants.  I like that rod a lot, but it isn't my idea of an all-around rod.  I used it last year for topwater, but it should do quite well with bottom contact lures as well.  Want to try it this year?  Will either have a Sol or a Purple Alphas on it.  I know you aren't a fan of Diawas.  You could always drop one of your Curados on it...........and forget to take it off. 

[Mumbly]

Thanks for the advice guys. I agree with what was said about the 1/8 oz. I really appreciate all the info.

[Drewski73]

Ive got 5 50e's, so I pretty much put them everything!

 

A CU50E on a Cumara 7'2" MF rod was a really fun finesse setup for me. Im fishing a lot of timber these days, so all my Curados have at least 30lb if not 50lb braid on them.

 

Theyre really amazing reels, that can do pretty much everything except throw massive deep divers.

[tomustang]

Tom, the 6'9" MXF is rated for 3/8-5/8 oz.  Not going to work for what he wants.  I like that rod a lot, but it isn't my idea of an all-around rod.  I used it last year for topwater, but it should do quite well with bottom contact lures as well.  Want to try it this year?  Will either have a Sol or a Purple Alphas on it.  I know you aren't a fan of Diawas.  You could always drop one of your Curados on it...........and forget to take it off. 

Will do, soon as the 2 feet of snow disappears from a launch