Swimbait/glide Bait Rod For A New Guy

[WIBassKid96]

I want to start taking up throwing swimbaits more regularly and I know by doing this I'll need the right rod. I'll mainly be throwing hard baits. For example I'll use the S waver both in the 200 and 168 size (3 1/2oz and 1 5/8oz), the Jackall Gantarel (2.5 oz), Spro BBZ-1 6" floating model (2oz) and I'll be trying the new Lucky Craft Real Ayu 178 (2 1/16oz). I think I have the right idea for a rod setup, but I wanted to make sure with the people on here that have much more experience using baits like these if they could help!

 

Rod: I am thinking either the Okuma Citrix or the Guide Select Series Big Bait from Okuma as well. I was thinking the 7'11" in the Heavy power would be best (rated 1-6oz) since I don't plan on using anything over 6oz anytime soon. I'm leaning towards getting the Citrix, but it has a handle length of 18.5in compare to 24in on the Guide Select Series. I'm not sure if the handle length would make a huge difference when casting heavy baits so I would like some insight if the handle length would be a factor in what I should get.

 

Reel: I am almost dead set on getting a Shimano Cardiff in the 300 size. It has a 5.8:1 Gear Ratio and brings in about 24inches per turn. I think this would be a good all around gear ratio for what I'm using because I tend to reel too fast anyways so this might have me slow it down more. If I were to need to use a faster reel, let me know. If I go faster I was thinking of the Lew BB2 wide spool in the 6.4:1 which brings in about 28" per turn.

 

Line: Here is where I have the biggest question. I was thinking of going with 20lb P-line CXX, but with fishing in WI we have pike and Muskie and I was wondering if they could bite off some of my baits with that line. I have used my Flipping Rod with 65lb braid and a 15lb mono leader and I had lost a S waver 168 on a cast off so that kinda turns me away from using braid with swimbaits now. Also with the floating swimbaits like the BBZ I was wondering if the CXX would work for that too.

 

Thanks in advance for all your input guys! I'm really looking forward to trying this out and catching some bigger fish if I can!

[MarkH024]

It looks like you've been doing your reading, you're on a good track. The Okuma/Cardiff would be a great setup to allow you to throw a lot of bait selections out there.

 

Regarding line......I use braid for my big baits.  I have been fishing a long time and I have never casted off a big bait.  You just need to finesse it, not heave it out like you're trying to reach the other side of the lake.  With that said, I'm not against a heavy mono or copoly.  CXX would be a great choice and there will be more chiming in on line choices. So take opinions for what they're worth, every angler is different.

 

Because we fish the same waters and I am very familiar with the nuisances of pike, I will tell you this.....they will cut through any line be it braid, mono, co-p, or fluoro in the 15#-80# choices. I've had a couple Hudds taken by 18" pike on 65#braid, it sucks.  Tie-able leaders like toothy critter from Cortland are available and so are various wire type leaders.  You will have to pick and choose your poisons.  Using a leader can affect the action on some baits, not all.  Recently in Canada i was using a 100# fluoro leader on 65# braid and caught my PB musky (avatar pic) using a Deps 175SS. The action was still really good with that set up.  Was it the best, perhaps not but i'm not gambling with 40-55" fish in the water.

[blckshirt98]

Budget?  I've really been looking at and considering a MH and XH from Low Down Customs, especially since they run an acid/spiral wrap on their rods.

[Damn Yankee]

I have a guide select and am happy with the quality and performance of it.

[WIBassKid96]

It looks like you've been doing your reading, you're on a good track. The Okuma/Cardiff would be a great setup to allow you to throw a lot of bait selections out there.

 

Regarding line......I use braid for my big baits.  I have been fishing a long time and I have never casted off a big bait.  You just need to finesse it, not heave it out like you're trying to reach the other side of the lake.  With that said, I'm not against a heavy mono or copoly.  CXX would be a great choice and there will be more chiming in on line choices. So take opinions for what they're worth, every angler is different.

 

Because we fish the same waters and I am very familiar with the nuisances of pike, I will tell you this.....they will cut through any line be it braid, mono, co-p, or fluoro in the 15#-80# choices. I've had a couple Hudds taken by 18" pike on 65#braid, it sucks.  Tie-able leaders like toothy critter from Cortland are available and so are various wire type leaders.  You will have to pick and choose your poisons.  Using a leader can affect the action on some baits, not all.  Recently in Canada i was using a 100# fluoro leader on 65# braid and caught my PB musky (avatar pic) using a Deps 175SS. The action was still really good with that set up.  Was it the best, perhaps not but i'm not gambling with 40-55" fish in the water.

Maybe 80lb braid main line with a 20lb mono leader could work too. I guess it's all just trial and error from here lol

 

Budget?  I've really been looking at and considering a MH and XH from Low Down Customs, especially since they run an acid/spiral wrap on their rods.

Yeah kinda, I don't want to go all out yet until I have a lot of confidence in it. Once I do, then maybe I'll upgrade more

[rippin-lips]

I use exactly what you have mentioned.

Okuma guide select 7'11 H

Cardiff 301

#20cxx

Great setup for about $200. The rod is rated to 6oz but anything over 3oz starts to make it feel overloaded. Just a heads up.

[Big Bait Fishing]

I want to start taking up throwing swimbaits more regularly and I know by doing this I'll need the right rod. I'll mainly be throwing hard baits. For example I'll use the S waver both in the 200 and 168 size (3 1/2oz and 1 5/8oz), the Jackall Gantarel (2.5 oz), Spro BBZ-1 6" floating model (2oz) and I'll be trying the new Lucky Craft Real Ayu 178 (2 1/16oz). I think I have the right idea for a rod setup, but I wanted to make sure with the people on here that have much more experience using baits like these if they could help!

 

Rod: I am thinking either the Okuma Citrix or the Guide Select Series Big Bait from Okuma as well. I was thinking the 7'11" in the Heavy power would be best (rated 1-6oz) since I don't plan on using anything over 6oz anytime soon. I'm leaning towards getting the Citrix, but it has a handle length of 18.5in compare to 24in on the Guide Select Series. I'm not sure if the handle length would make a huge difference when casting heavy baits so I would like some insight if the handle length would be a factor in what I should get.

 

Reel: I am almost dead set on getting a Shimano Cardiff in the 300 size. It has a 5.8:1 Gear Ratio and brings in about 24inches per turn. I think this would be a good all around gear ratio for what I'm using because I tend to reel too fast anyways so this might have me slow it down more. If I were to need to use a faster reel, let me know. If I go faster I was thinking of the Lew BB2 wide spool in the 6.4:1 which brings in about 28" per turn.

 

Line: Here is where I have the biggest question. I was thinking of going with 20lb P-line CXX, but with fishing in WI we have pike and Muskie and I was wondering if they could bite off some of my baits with that line. I have used my Flipping Rod with 65lb braid and a 15lb mono leader and I had lost a S waver 168 on a cast off so that kinda turns me away from using braid with swimbaits now. Also with the floating swimbaits like the BBZ I was wondering if the CXX would work for that too.

 

Thanks in advance for all your input guys! I'm really looking forward to trying this out and catching some bigger fish if I can!

 

about the handle length comparisions of the citrix & the guide select , i asume you are going by TW's handle length  , the measure from the fore grip back to the butt . on the citrix , the handle length is stated as 18 12 '' , that is from the top of the reel seat , figure a reel seat is about 4'' so in effect you have a 14 1/2'' handle . the guide select is stated to have a 24'' handle but 4'' is for the cork fore grip & 4'' is for the reel seat , so you end up with 16'' handle( the cork butt cap is about 3'' long ) so they are kinda very close to the same size  . for 2-6 oz. baits both rods with that length handles will be sufficent , if i were choosing , i would get the Citrix 7'11'' XH 2-10 oz. lure rated rod , you would be able to throw 8'' Hudds ,8''BBZ's , s-wavers , and other baits with ease . for swim bait rods , you always want a little extra power in your rod so as not to be over taxing the rods capability.

[WRB]

If you are looking at Okuma, order the new A series.

8" Hudds weigh 4 oz, a rod rated for 10 oz may not be a good choice for your average lure weight of 2 to 3 oz, the heavy should be good, X heavy if to plan on 6 to 8 oz lures, XX heavy for 8 to 12 oz lures.

Tom

[Big Bait Fishing]

If you are looking at Okuma, order the new A series.

8" Hudds weigh 4 oz, a rod rated for 10 oz may not be a good choice for your average lure weight of 2 to 3 oz, the heavy should be good, X heavy if to plan on 6 to 8 oz lures, XX heavy for 8 to 12 oz lures.

Tom

okuma kinda over rates their rods . a lot of people say the heavy maxs out at 3-4 oz....

 

 

matter of fact , check rippin-lips post    ^^^^  , he says 3 oz. starts to max out the rod .

[rippin-lips]

okuma kinda over rates their rods . a lot of people say the heavy maxs out at 3-4 oz....

matter of fact , check rippin-lips post ^^^^ , he says 3 oz. starts to max out the rod .

A 2-3oz bait is the sweet spot on it. Any more than that makes it feel overloaded to me. Works great for baits like the spro rat,S waver 200,8" triple trout,hardgill,coach gill,9" slammer,hudd 68,8" savage gear trout. I do have an 8" hudd that I've thrown on it. It will work, but just feels like it's starting to push the limits of the rod. That would be the heaviest I'd throw on it. Luckily that's the heaviest bait I own so I'm good there.

[WRB]

okuma kinda over rates their rods . a lot of people say the heavy maxs out at 3-4 oz....

matter of fact , check rippin-lips post ^^^^ , he says 3 oz. starts to max out the rod .

The Okuma heavy is topping out with 8"-4 oz Hudds, handles them OK. If 8" -4 oz Hudds is the average lure used, then I agree a Xheavy Okuma is a better choice. If OP plans on 2-3 oz lures, the H is good choice IMO.

Tom

[Big Bait Fishing]

for me a rod that loads to far into the backbone is gonna start to fatigue you while casting all day , i would rather a rod with a little more power to it , and just stating out throwing swimbaits , i recommend getting a rod that can handle the baits well and have a little room for bigger baits . i throw baits averaging 3-11 oz. sometimes 15 , i have two rods , one that handles baits from 2-6 oz. and a rod that handles big baits 5-16 oz.

 

ther is nothing worse than having a rod setup that wears you out half way thru the day !!!

[hatrix]

Budget? I've really been looking at and considering a MH and XH from Low Down Customs, especially since they run an acid/spiral wrap on their rods.

If he plans on getting his rod in the next 6 months I would look else where. It's a wait to get your rod when you order one. I actually use a LDC M/H for I think most of the bait he mentioned. I am not 100% sure but I think a M/H is rather up to 5oz. They are not super stiff rods and excell at baits with trebles but can still throw whatever. When it comes to throwing like a hudd 68 or something I use a stouter rod with more sensitivity.

[WIBassKid96]

Thanks for all your input guys! I really appreciate it! I still think that the Heavy would be my best fit for me right now. I don't really plan on going over 3oz much expect for the S waver 200, which I don't know how often I'll be throwing it. If I decide to start using Hudds I'll begin with the 68 size and then eventually if I start using the 8" I'll get another rod that would work better. Thanks again guys!

[Big Bait Fishing]

Budget?  I've really been looking at and considering a MH and XH from Low Down Customs, especially since they run an acid/spiral wrap on their rods.

low down customs uses Phenix rod blanks , if you want a rod built like that , contact a custom rod builder in your area . if you want a good Phenix rod blank recommendation , check out the Phenix Black Diamond PSW809H-b, that's an 8' rod blank , for an 8'6'' blank , check out the PSW869H-B , both will throw up to 6 oz. baits but will also throw baits down to 2 oz. as far as a rod with a spiral wrap , that's how all of my casting rods are , including my swim bait rods . i have them spiral wrappped with micro guides , size 4 American Tackle Artus heavy duty micro guides in size 4 for my big swim bait rod which is a St.Croix Big Nasty ( the rod is a straight out beast !!) and for my smaller swimbait rod which is a Phenix PSW869H-XF-B , i have it also spiral wrapped with size 3 micro guides ( same brand as big rod )

 

anyhow , you can get the rod of your dreams created by a custom rod builder , hit up Mike ( Delaware Valley Tackle) here on the forum , he can build you whatever you would like , even if you wanted one just like a LDC , it's all possible ...

[Big Bait Fishing]

low down customs uses Phenix rod blanks , if you want a rod built like that , contact a custom rod builder in your area . if you want a good Phenix rod blank recommendation , check out the Phenix Black Diamond PSW809H-b, that's an 8' rod blank , for an 8'6'' blank , check out the PSW869H-B , both will throw up to 6 oz. baits but will also throw baits down to 2 oz. as far as a rod with a spiral wrap , that's how all of my casting rods are , including my swim bait rods . i have them spiral wrappped with micro guides , size 4 American Tackle Artus heavy duty micro guides in size 4 for my big swim bait rod which is a St.Croix Big Nasty ( the rod is a straight out beast !!) and for my smaller swimbait rod which is a Phenix PSW869H-XF-B , i have it also spiral wrapped with size 3 micro guides ( same brand as big rod )

 

anyhow , you can get the rod of your dreams created by a custom rod builder , hit up Mike ( Delaware Valley Tackle) here on the forum , he can build you whatever you would like , even if you wanted one just like a LDC , it's all possible ...

heres a pic of my big swimbait rod , a St.Croix 9' Big Nasty , spiral wrapped ----

[catch anything]

did you re wrap the st croix rod or buy the blank? Either way that thing looks great!

[Big Bait Fishing]

did you re wrap the st croix rod or buy the blank? Either way that thing looks great!

bought the blank then took the colbalt blue finish off it , now its the natural graphite , thanks !

[blckshirt98]

low down customs uses Phenix rod blanks , if you want a rod built like that , contact a custom rod builder in your area . if you want a good Phenix rod blank recommendation , check out the Phenix Black Diamond PSW809H-b, that's an 8' rod blank , for an 8'6'' blank , check out the PSW869H-B , both will throw up to 6 oz. baits but will also throw baits down to 2 oz. as far as a rod with a spiral wrap , that's how all of my casting rods are , including my swim bait rods . i have them spiral wrappped with micro guides , size 4 American Tackle Artus heavy duty micro guides in size 4 for my big swim bait rod which is a St.Croix Big Nasty ( the rod is a straight out beast !!) and for my smaller swimbait rod which is a Phenix PSW869H-XF-B , i have it also spiral wrapped with size 3 micro guides ( same brand as big rod )

 

anyhow , you can get the rod of your dreams created by a custom rod builder , hit up Mike ( Delaware Valley Tackle) here on the forum , he can build you whatever you would like , even if you wanted one just like a LDC , it's all possible ...

 

Thank for the info, and, didn't know Low Down has a backlog that long.  I was looking at their "production" rods that I was hoping were already made and ready to be shipped.  Still a ways away though, maybe look into the getting the rods for next season as I'm still starting out with the bigger swimbaits!

[hatrix]

Thank for the info, and, didn't know Low Down has a backlog that long. I was looking at their "production" rods that I was hoping were already made and ready to be shipped. Still a ways away though, maybe look into the getting the rods for next season as I'm still starting out with the bigger swimbaits!

Ya you would like to think production means they are cranking them out and ready for you to buy. That is definetly not the case though.

[TexasRig88]

On 7/30/2015 at 9:20 PM, Big Bait Fishing said:

heres a pic of my big swimbait rod , a St.Croix 9' Big Nasty , spiral wrapped ----

Ummm, why does your rod look like that? I’ve never seen something like that before. Please enlightenment with what this does, I’m too curious!