Danny_716 Posted June 23, 2016 Posted June 23, 2016 Hello, I am curious to see what everyone typically brings rod wise to tournaments where you can expect both large and smallmouth. Specifically the st.lawrence river. I've never fished it and have been trying to do as much research as possible for a tournament the end of July. Doesn't need to be brands, but I'm curious to see what lengths, actions, powers, lines etc. and for which techniques. I haven't fished a tournament since I was a kid, back when I wasn't in charge of what gear got brought on the boat. From what I've seen; for smallies I'll definitely need setups for drop shotting, dragging tubes, jerkbaits/cranks, and light (1/16 - 3/16) jigs. And for largemouth, some sort of worming rod, topwater, and Spinnerbait/swim bait. I have access to a fair amount of gear, mostly older-ish, but i also build rods for myself so if there's something i need and don't have, I can put it together. Thankyou to anyone who can give me a quick run down of what they use for this paticular water, or any similar body of water. You'll definitely help this restless mind! 1 Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted June 23, 2016 Super User Posted June 23, 2016 Spinning tackle for lightly weighted and weightless soft plastics. Mine: St. Croix LES70M/ Stella 2500FB/ Tatsu #6 Baitcaster for treble hooks. Mine: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/perfecta-lte.html Baitcaster for single hooks. Mine: Okuma Helios Mini Guide System, HS-CM-701MH/ Helios Low Profile 7.3:1 baitcasting reel/ Tatsu #15 And maybe one more if you have something particular in mind. Mine: G. Loomis MBR842C/ Core 50Mg/ Tatsu #12 1 Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted June 23, 2016 Global Moderator Posted June 23, 2016 Can't help you about what to use for small mouth as unfortunately we don't have them down here. Matter of fact, I'm sorry to say I have never caught one...ever. Maybe someday. Anyway, I use bait casting gear exclusively... 7' 2" Phenix M1 for spinnerbait/chatterbaits. 7' Fenwick Techna AV for bottom contact. 7' Falcon " Carolina Lizard Dragger" for Frogs and swim baits. 7' 3" Quantum Smoke for punching. 7' Phenix X 11 for cranks and top water of all sizes. 7' Loomis GLX 843C MBR for everything else. Mike Quote
Danny_716 Posted June 23, 2016 Author Posted June 23, 2016 Thanks guys, so far this is what I'm thinking (may not use all of them in order to save space- there will be 3 of us aboard...me, my partner, and our NYTBF supplied captain) casting: -MHX MB843, 7'0", MHF, 1/4-3/4oz paired with a daiwa tatula 6.3 and 20lb fireline crystal and 12lb fluoro leader. I'd use this for most single hook retrieving type lures (spinnerbaits, heavier flukes/swimbaits) -MHX CCB834, 7'2"-7'8", MM glass, 3/16-1/2oz with an older shimano bantam mag plus 5. something (has on/off anti-reverse, something I really like because I'm use to tightening drag all the way and backreeling with spinning gear) and unknown mono. I'll probably replace it witha good 10 or 12#. This is the "everything treble hook"/crank rod. The length is adjustable with a MRF system so I can adjust for jerkbaits etc. - Abu Garcia Vengeance, 6'9", MHF, 1/4-1oz combo with Abu black max 2 6.3 I believe and 30lb power pro slick 8 and 12lb mono leader. This will be for frogs and heavy (over 1/4oz) plastics/ flip & pitch jigs. Spinning: - I've decided to build a MHX DS821 for dropshot, it's a 6'10" LXF, 1/8-3/8oz, and pair it with a Mitchell 308x with 10lb crystal and 6lb fluoro leader. I'd use minima guides and aero seat to keep it light, sensitive, and comfortable - BASS Outdoor America, 6'6",ML?M, 1/8-3/8oz and an older 2000 shimano with straight 6lb fluoro. This would be for light hair jigs, small tubes, small jerks/cranks. - All Star Pro 2, 6'6", LF (saltwater rating?), 3/16-1/2oz with an okuma 20 sz. reel, 10lb crystal and 8lb fluoro. This is currently my worm rod but I'd probably use it for mid-larger tubes. - Quantum Tenacity AP, 7'0", MHF, 1/8-3/4oz with okuma sz. 30 reel with 20lb crystal and 12lb fluoro. Was using this for heavier plastics and even for salmon on spoons, but might use for just skipping weightless senkos if I'm somewhere with alot of docks (not the st.lawrence) - want to build a replacement worm rod, mostly 1/8-1/4 Texas rigs. I'd use airwaves and aero seat- want something light and accurate. Most likely another MHX blank but I'm not sure which one. I was thinking the MB782 or MB842 maybe Quote
fissure_man Posted June 24, 2016 Posted June 24, 2016 Hi Danny, Sounds like you're off to a decent start. If you're trying to limit rods, maybe consider targeting one species or the other? For largemouth, I'd add an actual flipping stick with heavy braid to your list. Frogs and heavier jigs/t-rigs are workhorses on that body of water; I'd want more than a 6'9" MH. For smallmouth, consider that you may want to fish deep and in strong current. With your selection you may end up using the 7' MH/F more than you think. I'd ditch the 6'6" ML/M in favor of a 7' M/F or M/XF, which will be more versatile and can serve as a drop shot rod when you need to upsize your weight (3/4 oz +). I prefer throw jerkbaits on a spinning rod (6'8" M/XF) with braid and leader, which is very different from the crankbait rod + mono you've listed. Erratic 'twitching' is key I think in the clear water, and a slower action rod with stretchy line will make that tough. Limiting to 8 rods to cover both species, these would be my picks: Casting 7' MH/F - #12 or #15 copoly - Spinnerbait, buzzbait, bladed jig, small swimbait. Also a backup t-rig rod. 7' MH/XF or H/XF - #50 braid, optional leader - Texas rig, jig, toad 6'6" M/M - #12 mono or copoly - Spook, crankbait 7'6" H/F - Flipping stick - #50 or #65 braid - Heavy jig, heavy t-rig, frogs Spinning 7' ML/F or ML/XF - #20 braid to leader - Light drop shot/general "finesse" 7' M/F or M/XF - #20 braid to leader - Tube, senko 7' M/F or M/XF - #20 braid to leader - Heavier drop shot 6'8" M/XF - #20 braid to leader - Jerkbait If you need to save more space, I'd pick LM or SM and whittle it down. LM are fun, SM will win Good luck! 1 Quote
Red Bear Posted June 24, 2016 Posted June 24, 2016 a single 7" Medium GX2 can replace all that... 1 Quote
Danny_716 Posted June 24, 2016 Author Posted June 24, 2016 7 hours ago, fissure_man said: Hi Danny, Sounds like you're off to a decent start. If you're trying to limit rods, maybe consider targeting one species or the other? For largemouth, I'd add an actual flipping stick with heavy braid to your list. Frogs and heavier jigs/t-rigs are workhorses on that body of water; I'd want more than a 6'9" MH. For smallmouth, consider that you may want to fish deep and in strong current. With your selection you may end up using the 7' MH/F more than you think. I'd ditch the 6'6" ML/M in favor of a 7' M/F or M/XF, which will be more versatile and can serve as a drop shot rod when you need to upsize your weight (3/4 oz +). I prefer throw jerkbaits on a spinning rod (6'8" M/XF) with braid and leader, which is very different from the crankbait rod + mono you've listed. Erratic 'twitching' is key I think in the clear water, and a slower action rod with stretchy line will make that tough. Limiting to 8 rods to cover both species, these would be my picks: Casting 7' MH/F - #12 or #15 copoly - Spinnerbait, buzzbait, bladed jig, small swimbait. Also a backup t-rig rod. 7' MH/XF or H/XF - #50 braid, optional leader - Texas rig, jig, toad 6'6" M/M - #12 mono or copoly - Spook, crankbait 7'6" H/F - Flipping stick - #50 or #65 braid - Heavy jig, heavy t-rig, frogs Spinning 7' ML/F or ML/XF - #20 braid to leader - Light drop shot/general "finesse" 7' M/F or M/XF - #20 braid to leader - Tube, senko 7' M/F or M/XF - #20 braid to leader - Heavier drop shot 6'8" M/XF - #20 braid to leader - Jerkbait If you need to save more space, I'd pick LM or SM and whittle it down. LM are fun, SM will win Good luck! Thankyou very much! So it looks like im set for the most part. Also, I stopped by cabelas today just to look around and picked up a floor model daiwa exceler for $50 in the bargain cave. Also I found 2 flippin sticks in my price range and might go back to pick one up. They were both ~$40. Have you ever had experience with either: - Berkley Lighting Rod, im6, 7'6", H/F, 5/8-1 1/2oz - Cabelas Tourney Trail, im7, 7'8", H/F, 1-4oz Both have good reviews online saying they are great rods for the money, more sensitive and durable than expected. I initially liked the cabelas, but the heavier weight rating threw me a little. I've never actually thrown a jig or t-rig over 1/2 oz, and was concerned that it would be far too much rod for my use. What is the minimum weight you throw on your flipping gear? Quote
trick worms Posted June 25, 2016 Posted June 25, 2016 Barbie, Spider-Man, and frozen rods. I like Spider-Man rods for jigs/ t-rigs, frozen rods for finesse, and Barbie for crankin. This is what works for me. 1 Quote
Danny_716 Posted June 26, 2016 Author Posted June 26, 2016 On 6/24/2016 at 11:26 PM, trick worms said: Barbie, Spider-Man, and frozen rods. I like Spider-Man rods for jigs/ t-rigs, frozen rods for finesse, and Barbie for crankin. This is what works for me. I went with the lightning rod, they were all out of the Spider-Mans Quote
trick worms Posted June 26, 2016 Posted June 26, 2016 1 hour ago, Danny_716 said: I went with the lightning rod, they were all out of the Spider-Mans I like those for froggin? Quote
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