Just Need Some Rod Use Reassurance

[The Rooster]

I have a older series Shimano Compre 6'6" M/F baitcast rod with an older BPS Extreme 6.4:1 ratio (28 ITP) reel loaded with Berkley Trilene XL 12 pound mono. I'd like to use this rod for lighter spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, chatterbaits, swim jigs, bottom jigs, Texas rigged plastics, and weightless plastics. Also sometimes in a pinch it might see shallow to medium diving crankbaits up to about 12 feet deep, and jerkbaits like X-raps, and possibly even larger inline spinners like Roostertails, or even a topwater bait. It's sort of an all around rod I guess. I believe it will be more useful in some of these uses than others. I'd like to know if there are any of the above baits that this rod would not perform at least adequately with, taking into consideration the line being used and rod specs as main points of contention. I see it working best with the single hook baits as opposed to the trebles, but I'm a little worried about the line being sensitive enough for bottom contact lures. I've gotten it in my head that mono isn't sensitive like fluoro or copolymers, and it probably isn't, but by how much? I might switch to fluoro but would this affect it's use as a topwater rod with a sinking line? At one time this might not have mattered, as I could have just set it up for more limited use and gotten another rod for the other uses. Now I'm trying to cut down on the number of combos I carry so I'm wanting my rods to be even more multi-use than before.

[WRB]

You would benefit from YoZuri Hybrid or P-Line FluoroClear line.

Tom

[masterbass]

Mono is better for topwater for sure.  I think as long as you keep within the lure weight ratings you should be ok.  This is what I would use it for:  jerk baits, top waters, senkos, flukes, jighead/grubs, shaky head, finesse jigs, light t-rigs, tubes, wacky rig, in-line spinners and light spinnerbaits.  Basically any open water techniques with light wire hooks.  Like I said you have to keep in mind the lure rating is limited on this rod.

[Tywithay]

Copolymer is basically just as soft as nylon line and not very sensitive. If you want more sensitivity, fluorocarbon is the way to go. Fluoro will affect your topwater stuff though, because it sinks. I think that deep running crankbaits might be a bit of a load with that rod.

[The Rooster]

Copolymer is basically just as soft as nylon line and not very sensitive. If you want more sensitivity, fluorocarbon is the way to go. Fluoro will affect your topwater stuff though, because it sinks. I think that deep running crankbaits might be a bit of a load with that rod.

How deep? Most of my crankbaits are Bandit 100, 200, and 300. I'm fairly sure the 100 and 200 are ok, that's up to 8 feet deep, and I have a separate crank rod so this use would be rare anyway. I'd just like to roughly know its limits though without having to spend a lot of time trying every bait in the box.

I'd like to know if standard mono is sensitive enough for bottom plastics and jigs. I guess the only real answer is to spend some time trying it but I thought I'd ask here to see what the general idea is. Years ago it was mono, or mono, for choices. Now you have mono, fluoro, copoly, and braid, and many different versions of all.

[Tywithay]

Mono is sensitive enough. People catch fish with it all the time without issue. A high end fluorocarbon only enhances sensitivity. I think the rod influences sensitivity more than the line, but a combination of rod, line, overall weight, and everything else, working together completes the lineup.

[smalljaw67]

Mono is sensitive enough. People catch fish with it all the time without issue. A high end fluorocarbon only enhances sensitivity. I think the rod influences sensitivity more than the line, but a combination of rod, line, overall weight, and everything else, working together completes the lineup.

 

For an all purpose set up fluorocarbon is not what you want to go with but if you choose to use it stick with high end stuff. I don't like fluorocarbon but I remember trying it and it had stretch, in fact the one brand, Seaguar carbon pro had more stretch than Trilene big game, the difference is fluorocarbon doesn't completely stretch back as does mono for the most part. I think that rod you have is perfect for jerkbaits and light 1/4oz and 3/8oz spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and light texas rigs, and I also would put topwaters in there with jerkbaits, those are the baits your rod will fish exceptionally well.

[frogflogger]

good all around rig