Help Choosing A Swim Bait Rod

[Matthew2000]

I'm trying to figure out what rod to use for at most a 3 ounce swim bait and a least a 1 ounce I can't pick between a Powell inferno or a okuma guide series big bait rod. Any suggestions max budget is 150$

[WRB]

Go with the Okuma 7'11" swimbait rod with 25% off a TW sale. What reel do you plan to use?

Tom

[rippin-lips]

The guide select 7'11 heavy handles 3oz baits nicely.

[Matthew2000]

I was planning on a lews super duty unless you can recommend anything better for that price range

[WRB]

I would go with Shimano Cardiff 200A or 300A. Should be able to find this reel under $100 sale price.

The 200A is good for your smaller 1to 2 oz swimbaits, the 300A if you plan on using 3 to 4 oz swimbaits.

Don't know what line you plan on using? Sunline Defier nylon mono 17 lb for the 200A, 25 lb for the 300A.

Tom

[F14A-B]

Shimano Cardiff 301 in the flea market, if your looking for a lefty...

[rippin-lips]

If you prefer a low profile reel instead of a round reel. Look at the Daiwa lexa 300. Very popular reel in the swimbait world. You can find them for about $130ish on flea bay. The cardiff 300 for about $95.

[Matthew2000]

Will do thanks for the help. and I was planning on braid with a flouro or mono leader depending on conditions. Also how big are the 200 and 300 series as far as the fit in your hand? That Lexa looks very nice, do you recommend it because of a out of line capacity ?

[Bluebasser86]

I have a 400 Calcutta that I can palm when fishing the really big swimmers, a 300 is easy and a 200 isn't much higher off the rod than a low profile reel. The Cardiffs have a recessed reel seat that keeps them from sitting as high off the rod as the old school round reels do. The Cardiffs are great, affordable swimbait reels. 

[Matthew2000]

Thanks for your help I'm going to go with the okuma and 300 series Cardiff

[J Francho]

That's an exellent plan, you won't go wrong with that rig.

[Choporoz]

Would you all throw an A-rig on that same set-up?

[Matthew2000]

Probably not the only a rig I throw is a Shane's baits finesse rig. Also is the longer rod better or does it not Mat

[J Francho]

Would you all throw an A-rig on that same set-up?

 

Yes and no.  I would not have it spooled with braid if I was using swimbaits, but with a reel spooled up with 50-65# braid, sure.