Swimbaits Rod

[FishingMN718]

I'm just getting into fishing Swimbaits. After seeing what they can do I couldn't resist. My only problem is my rod. I know most people use a long, heavy action rod but I think mine would work alright. I've got an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur combo. The rod is a 6'6" MH, pretty stout all the way up. I would like to get a new one but that won't be happening for a while. So I just want to know if you guys think it will do the job for some smaller (nothing over 6") Swimbaits.

[Angry John]

No. You can throw keitech and hollow body but no big baits.

[Bluebasser86]

You might be able to get away with something like a 6" Savage Gear Line Thru or 168 S Waver but those will be at the very top end of that rods abilities (most likely a little past it), but a little over shouldn't hurt it. If you're looking to get serious about it, you'll need a different setup though. 

[timcauliffe]

Upgrade to a H rod. Cabelas and BPS have some great "lower end" rods that would do the job - a bunch of them rated up to 3-4oz.

 

I would highly recommend upgrading to a Okuma Guide Select H rod - they all come with a lifetime warranty and have been one of my top favorite swimbait rods to date. Reasonably priced and built like a workhorse.

[FishingMN718]

You might be able to get away with something like a 6" Savage Gear Line Thru or 168 S Waver but those will be at the very top end of that rods abilities (most likely a little past it), but a little over shouldn't hurt it. If you're looking to get serious about it, you'll need a different setup though.

Do you think a Hudd 68 would be ok for it?

[WRB]

Do you think a Hudd 68 would be ok for it?

68 Huddleston weighs 2 1/4 oz, your rod is rated up to 1 oz.

Tom

[Choporoz]

I throw it on a rod rated to 2oz and it is barely successful.

[deep]

You need a 5 power rod for the 68. An 8 footer or longer, rated upto 4 or 5 ozs.

[Angry John]

when people talk about six inch swim baits they're always talking about the HUD which is very heavy. Not a bait that does well on a normal rod

[Dogmatic]

Your lookin at a little over 2oz. for a 68. So you're definitely pushing it with your MH.

[RoLo]

If you're in the market for a Swimbait rod, first determine all the features you want (length, power, action, handle, guides ~ ~)

 

Also look at the Musky rod lines, because the angler decides how a rod will be used, not the vendor 

 

Roger

[Choporoz]

Good point, Roger.  I'm kicking myself for not picking up a BPS Muskie rod when I came across them for $80

[Big Bait Fishing]

If you're in the market for a Swimbait rod, first determine all the features you want (length, power, action, handle, guides ~ ~)

 

Also look at the Musky rod lines, because the angler decides how a rod will be used, not the vendor 

 

Roger

musky rods are where it's at for throwing big swimbaits !! but for small baits like a hudd 68 , a stout flipping stick will work great .

[FishingMN718]

I do have one of my dads musky rods. It is a team diawa rated up to 3 oz and is 7'3"

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Use the muskie rod. I'm working on designing one for a client now that will likely be on a 9' 2-4oz graphite surf blank matched up with a Revo Beast. 

[Fin Stalker]

Your Dad's musky rod will work fine for 68's and smaller baits like the S-Waver. Keep in mind the sweet range for a rod is in the middle of it's weight rating. So if you have a rod that is rated from 1-3oz. a lure weighing approx. 2oz. (in general) the rod will perform better. There is no industry standard on how rods are rated for power and action so you need to determine what rod is going to work best for you and the lures you are going to throw using said rod.

You do know the difference between Power and Action?

[FishingMN718]

Your Dad's musky rod will work fine for 68's and smaller baits like the S-Waver. Keep in mind the sweet range for a rod is in the middle of it's weight rating. So if you have a rod that is rated from 1-3oz. a lure weighing approx. 2oz. (in general) the rod will perform better. There is no industry standard on how rods are rated for power and action so you need to determine what rod is going to work best for you and the lures you are going to throw using said rod.

You do know the difference between Power and Action?

Haha now I do, just read an article about it.

[WRB]

Most musky rods and flipping rods have a very stout upper section making them marginal swimbait rods.

A good swimbait rod should be able to launch the lure with ease, not wearing you out and have a light enough upper section to detect strikes, strong enough lower section to get good hook sets and long enough to cast a distance. Good swimbait rods are like crankbaits rods, designed for the application.

Okuma' generation A guide special swimbait rods are excellent at $125 price point.

I started using a musky rod, it's all there was back then before swimbait rods hit the market. G. Loomis used their Salmon 9' bounce back blank for swimbait rods, some anglers still use that rod, it's over $300.

Tom

[FishingMN718]

Most musky rods and flipping rods have a very stout upper section making them marginal swimbait rods.

A good swimbait rod should be able to launch the lure with ease, not wearing you out and have a light enough upper section to detect strikes, strong enough lower section to get good hook sets and long enough to cast a distance. Good swimbait rods are like crankbaits rods, designed for the application.

Okuma' generation A guide special swimbait rods are excellent at $125 price point.

I started using a musky rod, it's all there was back then before swimbait rods hit the market. G. Loomis used their Salmon 9' bounce back blank for swimbait rods, some anglers still use that rod, it's over $300.

Tom

Im really new to Swimbaits so how should I set my drag if I'm using braid?

[Angry John]

Depending on the type of hook is how your drag will need to be set.  If your using a single hook like on the HUD then you will need it buttoned down to get that big jig hook set.  If you are using hard baits like the BBZ then the trebles will allow you a lighter setting.  If i remeber correctly even the trebels on the BBZ are quite stout.

[Bluebasser86]

Do you think a Hudd 68 would be ok for it?

No

[WRB]

Im really new to Swimbaits so how should I set my drag if I'm using braid?

What is the rods line rating? The rod is your dads musky rod....right? 8 lbs would be a max drag setting for any bass style hook, that is 8 lbs using a scale to set the force.

Tom

[Big Bait Fishing]

for a sinking bait like the Hudd 68 , you would be better off with a co-polymer line like Izorline XXX, Maxima , CXX, etc.. in 15-20 lb. the only time ever use braid for swimbaits is for top water wake baits like rats .

[WRB]

They have fish with sharp teeth in MN, mono is what we use out west most of the time, some anglers prefer braid.

I use 25 lb Sunline Deifer Armilo Nylon for for swimbaits, wake baits, rat baits, glide baits.

The OP is new at this and a 68 Hudd is a big investment for this young angler.

Tom