Looking For A Top Water/swimmbait Rod And Reel Set Up

[freelancer27]

Hello again,

another 'what should I buy' thread... The last time when I bought my spinning gear set up, I got some good recommendations here, so I am trying this again!

I am in the market for a rod and reel combo that I was planning to use for my top water and swimbait fishing. For top water I would like to throw anything from a frog over a spook to a 130 size Whopper Plopper. In regards to swimmbaits I was planning to use it for anything from a 5" Biwaa Seven to a Huddleston Deluxe 68  Weedless (I havent bought this lure yet, so if there is anything that is a bit lighter and similar I would be open to it) . I know that this is a pretty big range, but I would like to limit my fishing gear to three rods.

I have already:
* BPS Extreme 7' Medium Heavy with fast taper (I have 14 pound fluro on it and use it for Smaller swimmbaits, spinner, jigs and crankbaits)
* 7 foot spinning gear (use for worms and any lighter lure)
* NEW ROAD AND REEL (use top water and swim baits, I was planning to put 30-40 pound braid on it)

I would like to take advantage of the upcoming Black Friday deals. My total cost should not go over 350 USD (for Rod and Reel).


Here are some options that I am considering:


First option:

Rod: Daiwa DX 7'3'' Hvy with fast Taper


Reel:
Daiwa Tatula Tactical. 8.1:1 left retrieve


Cost together: 288 USD


Option 2:

Rod: Okuma Scott Martin TCS

7'3'' Heavy (Fast taper)

Reel: Lew's Team Pro Speed Spool

7.1:1 Left Retrieve


Cost would be 350 USD.


What are you general thoughts on my approach, what do you think about the options that I am playing with and what other options am I not considering right now?


Thank you.

Best,
Sebastian
 

[gulfcaptain]

You're looking at 2 different style baits.  What I throw a 130 Whopper Plopper on and what I fish a 68 weedless are  well two different set ups.  The 68 weedless you need to be able to drive the hook home, the WP, well you want something that is going to be a bit softer to not rip hooks out.  I do fish the 130 and the smaller glide baits on the same rod.   Only rod I can think of that may cover both isn't even on your list.  It's an iROD Genesis II "Freds Magic Stick" which is 7'5".  I'd opt for something in the 6:6 range if you're looking for a multi-use rod.  The Hudd needs a slower retrieve then say a Whopper Plopper.  It's much easier to wind a bit faster then slow that 7:1 or 8:1 down to a painfully slow wind barely turning the handle.  I use 5.3:1's for my Hudds and other soft swimbaits, with 40-50lb braid and 20-25lb mono leaders.

 

And your spook would fish great on the 7'MH you already have.

[freelancer27]

You're looking at 2 different style baits.  What I throw a 130 Whopper Plopper on and what I fish a 68 weedless are  well two different set ups.  The 68 weedless you need to be able to drive the hook home, the WP, well you want something that is going to be a bit softer to not rip hooks out.  I do fish the 130 and the smaller glide baits on the same rod.   Only rod I can think of that may cover both isn't even on your list.  It's an iROD Genesis II "Freds Magic Stick" which is 7'5".  I'd opt for something in the 6:6 range if you're looking for a multi-use rod.  The Hudd needs a slower retrieve then say a Whopper Plopper.  It's much easier to wind a bit faster then slow that 7:1 or 8:1 down to a painfully slow wind barely turning the handle.  I use 5.3:1's for my Hudds and other soft swimbaits, with 40-50lb braid and 20-25lb mono leaders.

 

And your spook would fish great on the 7'MH you already have.

Thank you for your response!

My assumption was that the fast taper would give me a bit flexibilty in terms of hook sets for smaller lures such as frogs and the Whopper Plopper.  When you say 6:6 range for the rod? Isnt that the opposite? I thought I should go for at least a 7' -7'5" rod.

Out of the two options that I posted, which would you choose and why?

Thanks again for your help! Have a great Sunday!

[gulfcaptain]

The 6.6 refers to the gear ratio on the reel.  Not the rod.  The rod I suggested is a 7'5".  

[webertime]

Phenix Recon 766 or 796. Great for Frogs, BIG treble baits (Shellcrackers, Punkers, S-Waver, BBZ 6") and 6" Hudds. A Daiwa Fuego or Tatula (Even a Lexa 100 or Exceller) in the 6.3 should work spooled with 60lb Sunline Fx2.

That Daiwa DX is pretty overpriced in my opinion. It's the same blank as the S-Rod or Tatula XT.

Another option... Lexa or Exceller reels and Dobyns Fury 735 and 795. ~$160 per combo with black Friday sales/auction sites. Fewer compromises with trying to balance rod actions for so many tactics.

[WPCfishing]

I tried 6 rods for frogs/toads. Price ranged from

$120.00-$250.00. My favorite was the Abu Garcia

IKE74-6. The rod shows it quality immediately. After you've

spent a half hour with it the party's over. You're not

shipping it back. When you set the hook and pull

that horse out of the junk for the first time you'll be happy

to recommend the rod too.

It's a class rod..

I'm not a big swim bait fisherman.. I would recommend

a swim bait rod thats job specific.

As far as reels are concerned you can't beat a Lews

tournament pro.

I have a Team Mag and Team lite, I use them for square

bills, spinner baits, worming, swim jigs, plastic swim baits. Ect... Both great reels.

I prefer the TP for frogs and toads. It just feels right and they're

tough. If not a TP check out a Super Duty.

[freelancer27]

Thanks guys,

I have thrown the 6.5 Biwaa on my Medium Heavy and it was okayyyy. Of course it would make sense to get x more rods for the purposes that I have listed, but since I purely do not want to spend that much money and I am also too lazy to carry 3 + x rods around with me, I would like to limit my third rod to the topics specified.

What kind of reels would fit the bill? Are the Lew's and the Daiwa a good choice?

Thanks guys!

[J Francho]

Froggin, I use a 7'3" Heavy/Xfast, and a fast reel.  For swimbaits, like 68s and the like, I use a 7'9" Heavy/Fast or 8' Xheavy/Mod-Fast and a slow to mid speed reel.  There is pretty much no crossover in the two styles.  The Frog rod is a light and nimble stick, while the swimbait rods are "light" they arn't exactly light weight, if you follow.

[freelancer27]

I wonder why you guys are not font of the  'Okuma Scott Martin TCS Casting Rod 7'3" Heavy'? It says that it can handle lures from 1/4 to 2 ounces, it has a good backbone and a fast taper in case I wanted to throw lighter lures like frogs for example.

I might get a couple of the Huddleston Deluxe Weedless Shad Swimbaits to start with my swimmbait endevour and get a single Huddleston Deluxe 68 Special Weedless to see how 'bad' it is with the Okuma. And if I really 'bite' on the whole swimbait fishing thing, I might really get a dedicated set up in a year or so.

What are your thoughts on that?

Thanks for your time guys!