Is A Swimbait Rod Necessary?

[Sea NaCl]

Hey guys,

 

I recently got into swimbait fishing and I've been throwing the bbz 4" shads and I wanted to throw the 6", but I was wondering if a swimbait rod is necessary for that. Can I use my fast action medium heavy for a 3 ounce swimbait?

[ib_of_the_damned]

You'll probably get better advice from more seasoned swimbait fisherman, but look at the rods ratings. If the weights of the swimbaits fall under the rated weights the rod can support, you're golden. I prefer a little faster taper than the moderate/moderate fast swimbait rods offer, I know that with a softer tip you can load the rod better and chuck a swimbait a good distance. 

 

Others will chime in shortly with better advice than I gave you.

[Nstd]

^ x2 check the rating.

[Ozark_Basser]

Most conventional casting rods will not throw a 3 oz swimbait worth a darn. You need to get a big bait rod for anything over 2 oz. I have an xheavy rod I use to throw 2-2.5 oz swimbaits and it is just about overpowered, and its rated up to 2 oz.oz so your MH probably won't do the job to well.

[einscodek]

That MH F is not going to be able to throw that 3 oz bait very far and ya might even end up breakin the tip.

Not worth it.

My flippin stick is rated to 1.5oz but even then I keep its use in the middle of the weight spectrum.. for 3 oz baits thats actually in the sweetspot of my rated 1-6oz swimbait rod.. 1-6 oz is obviously pr bs.. it throws 3oz lures like a champ.. throws 1oz lures like a broomstick and has a bit of trouble with 5 oz+ lures.

[rippin-lips]

For a 3oz bait the answer would be yes.

My Okuma Guide Select H is rated 1-6oz.

It throws 1.5oz baits so so, and 3oz baits very well. I only have baits up to 4oz and those start to make the rod feel a bit overloaded. Anything more than that and I'll need to buy the XH rod.

[SirSnookalot]

Rod ratings is only a guideline, the individual rod tells the real story.  I over load almost every rod I own, for the heavier lures I use I much prefer a med to mf rather than a faster tip.  I don't use anything heavier than a mh, get plenty distance, lures are about 2 oz, good set up for me.

[iceintheveins]

Any swimbait over 2, and especially 2.5 ounces calls for a large, XH swimbait rod IMO.

[Nice_Bass]

I don't think it is about the weight rating actually as I also overload some rods however I think the bigger issue with throwing bigger swimbaits is the ability to set the hook with a lot of line out and while using larger gauge heavy treble hooks and for that I think you need to match your rod a bit better. 

[Raul]

Yes, no, depends.

 

Yes because it depends on what WEIGHT of swim bait you plan to fish, you can fish "large" swim baits with a MH-H rods, those that weight 1 1/2 oz or less but you won´t be able to cast properly with that same rod something weighting more than 1 1/2 oz.

 

No is also a valid answer, if your swim baits weight less than 1 1/2 oz you don´t need a swim bait rod as long as you have a MH-H rod.

 

So to answer to your question, NO you won´t be able to cast properly that 3 oz bait with a MH rod.

[Bluebasser86]

For the 6" BBZ, you'll want an actual swimbait rod, albeit towards the smaller end of the scale. The Okuma Guide Select Series would be an excellent choice for that bait and doesn't break the bank. 

[ibobpeb]

Everyone pretty much said it for me. If you want a rod that throws 1.5 oz or less I highly recommend the new G. Loomis E6X 7'4 swimbait rod. It's rated up to 2 ounces and is a true swimbait rod with moderate taper.

If you don't mind spending $400ish then get the Megabass X4 Destruction (discontinued).

[hatrix]

It's like such a waste to buy a rod for swimbaits that will only give you a slight increase in weight. You want to throw X swimbait that weighs 2 oz and you say "that's the heaviest I am going to ever throw" it's silly to buy a rod that says it's rated up to 2.5 or 3 oz. Just aboy everyone already has a rod that will throw 1.25-1.5 oz already and you are better off looking at rods that go something like 1-5 or something. You don't want to sell your self short on the rod. I would always take more power once baits start getting heavier then not enough. Casting a 1/8 oz on a flipping stick can be very difficult because it won't load the rod. Casting a 3 oz bait on a rod rated 4-8 or whatever is not the same. Obviously it is not ideal but just the shear weight of it alone will get you a ton of distance.

[rippin-lips]

"Anything worth doing is worth overdoing"

[hatrix]

"Anything worth doing is worth overdoing"

 

Dropping some knowledge right there. 

[SirSnookalot]

From my own personal experience using a rod lighter than I should be using can cause a sore back.  Overloading by an 1/2 ounce or so no problem, but more than that I feel it at times.

[KayakBasser]

      I hate to say it but once you get around the 2 once wieght you need to get a "swimbait" rod.

[Cburgert]

I've been throwing swimbaits for 10 years, Bbz-1, Bbz-1jr, and Huddleston delux 8inch all on a cheap Wal-Mart rod mh.  And Now use a Heavy Swimbait rod. What a huge difference. I broke about 20 rods.

[Dangerfield]

What reel are you using? low profile or round? 

[NHBull]

I have a ci4 on an e6x swimbait rod and it works great.  I don't throw anything bugger than 2 oz

[ThisEndUp]

I have a Daiwa DX Swimbait rod in MH. It's rated for 1-6oz. I think the power is listed a little high because I wouldn't throw a 5-6oz lure on that rod. It is perfect for 1-4oz lures and is only $110 most places.

[WRB]

You cab do whatever you want, it's your choice.

The question is will a MF fast action standard baitcasting rod designed for general use bass lures work well casting 3 oz swimbaits? The answer is no!

Power rating for crankbait rods differ form worm or jig rods for example. Power ratings for specific application swimbait rods differ from both crankbait rods, general use rods or jig and worm rods. MH swimbait rod is designed for swimbaits that weight between 1 to 5 oz for example, H or heavy swimbait rod for 2 to 6 oz and XH for 3 to 10 oz. Keeping in mind there isn't any standard between rod makers, all power ratings are subjective.

Tom

[12poundbass]

24 minutes ago, WRB said:

You cab do whatever you want, it's your choice.

The question is will a MF fast action standard baitcasting rod designed for general use bass lures work well casting 3 oz swimbaits? The answer is no!

Power rating for crankbait rods differ form worm or jig rods for example. Power ratings for specific application swimbait rods differ from both crankbait rods, general use rods or jig and worm rods. MH swimbait rod is designed for swimbaits that weight between 1 to 5 oz for example, H or heavy swimbait rod for 2 to 6 oz and XH for 3 to 10 oz. Keeping in mind there isn't any standard between rod makers, all power ratings are subjective.

Tom

10oz swimbait?! That weighs more than most of the bass I catch!

 

Seriously though that would feel like throwing a brick! I'd be afraid the rod would come flying out of my hands.

[WRB]

Just realized this thread is over 2 years old, the OP more than likely not reading this.

Could add the XXL or Jumbo swimbait rods that are rated 8 oz to 12+ oz.

Yes there are heavier swimbaits then 12 oz., you need to go custom for these rods.

Tom

 

[deep]

@WRB Dobyns 908! (don't have one). My 867 will cast baits upto 8-10 oz easily.

I used to have a GGR medium and a GGR heavy (semi-customs). Both of them were absolute beasts!

 

@12poundbass With the right rod (and the right handle length) it's not much different than casting a 1/2 oz jig + trailer on a heavy-fast casting rod.