Rod For Big Heavy Topwaters

[pbizzle]

What do y'all through your big heavy topwaters on? I just found a few of the big 1-1/4 oz Rapala X-Rap Walks for pretty cheap, and I don't know what rod to throw them on. My normal 6'6" M F topwater/jerkbait rod definitely won't handle them. I know the guys that fish the big Ima Big Sticks throw them on heavy or extra heavy rods, but these aren't quite as heavy as them. I'm planning on throwing them on a 7' MH with 50lb braid (my frog setup), but I wanted y'alls input on it.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

You're probably looking at a swimbait rod of some sort to cast that kind of weight and work it back. 

[gulfcaptain]

I would look into a 7 H or 7'3" H.  Or look into a MH 7'6" that you would use to flip or pitch.  I use a 7'6" older Bionic Blade to throw Hudd 68's and 6" swimbaits and for River 2 Sea's Whopper Plopper.  Off the top of my head a good thought might be one of Fishing 13's Green *** 7'2"MH.  Have the 7'7" and use it for A-rigs and smaller swimbaits up to 6 inches. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

It's hard to say buy a Mh or Hvy etc. because of the subjective nature of the terms. The more I think about it, an In-shore rod might be just the ticket here. But again, the lure weight rating is more meaningful than any other spec. in this case.  

[gulfcaptain]

On what DVT stated, that Green *** is an inshore rod.  But brand would be up to your preferences.  Good luck.

[SirSnookalot]

Fishing inshore it's pretty common to see the lure parameter exceeded.  I throw 1.5 oz lure on a mh rod (rated at 1 oz.), my buddy throws a 2 oz bottle popper on his 7' med spinner (rated at 3/4), I've never seen a lure cast so far by a non surf rod.  I exceed the parameter on every inshore rod I own with no exception, number of different brands.  I happen to use inshore rods for my bass fishing, however I've never had the need or desire to overload them.

[hatrix]

I throw my big topwaters on a old GLX flipping stick with the recoil guides. It is a BCR (xxx) I have no idea on that since I never remember them. It is a Heavy and 3/8 - 1 1/2 I think and it is ehh 7' 2" I think. LOL I really have no idea right now but regardless I know it works like a champ for me and I didn't need a new rod to throw the big topwaters. I use it to throw the big punkers and its not a problem even though it over loads the rod. I can easily cast them farther then I would ever want to walk them back to me and hook sets are a breeze since its a treble and I don't actually need the power like you do on a big top hook swimbait to drive it home and move the bait. My swimbait rods are to long and so are the handles. With the long handle you can only work it towards your body since it tucks under your arm and if you work it down you in the drink with the tip. It might be ok if your always on a boat so you can always face that way but I still wouldn't pick it over the GLX.

[smalljaw67]

I use a Fenwick HMG 7'2" M-MF, it is listed as a medium but it is rated 1/4oz to 1oz and while I haven't used a 1.25oz bait I have used 3/4oz baits and based on the feel I think it would handle up to a 1.5oz as long as you didn't whip cast the bait. The moderate fast action isn't a parabolic action, it bends slightly further down the blank which makes it nice for big square bills and large topwaters.

[Cgrinder]

I'd use a 7' Heavy power, something rated to 1 1/2 or 2 oz on the top end. 

[hatrix]

I will exceed the recommend weight on a rod with spook type baits and have no worry. I am not trying to bomb the bigger ones and would never want to walk one back to me that far as it is. You could spool a reel with those since they are basically the most optimal shape you could have. It like a bullet going through the air. Of course a 8" punker at 3.5 oz is waaayyy beyond the suggested limit of the GLX I use but really its a tank of a rod and it doesn't take but a little toss and its more then far enough since they are so heavy and dense. I know thats not what your talking about but if your trying to whip those baits your probably doing it wrong and will wear your self out. It depends on the rod you use really since rods rated exactly the same all handle differently. I will throw the G2 6" punkers on a M/H crucial that I think goes up to 1 1/4 and those are like 2 oz and I can whip those out there like nothing. To me it depends on the drag a bait makes when you work it if your rod is totally bent over then you probably don't have much room for a hook set. That's not really the case with a walking bait that also have a treble so its much easier to drive a hook then a big single hook. They also cast so well you don't really need the power to be able to crank it back and whip it out as far as you can. Who wants to walk a spook back to them that far any ways when you spool the reel cause I personally don't 

 

Also I don't know that's it is really the case but I feel like braid makes a overloaded rod feel even more so since you don't get that little bit of give in it and it seems much easier if you don't run braid. I don't use it any ways with those baits but if I did it would have to be with as good stiff leader as the bigger ones with super wide glides will just run your hook over non stop.