Casting rod recommendation

[IgotWood]

In the market for a casting rod. I have never fished one before (I'm new to bass fishing), but I think it's time. What rod are you guys using for jigging? Is a jigging rod too heavy for spinner baits? Thanks!

[Bluebasser86]

 

[WIGuide]

Those two rods overlap pretty well. You'll be looking for something that's a medium heavy power with a fast action. What is your budget for your rod, and are spinnerbaits and jigs the two main bait's you're going to use this rod for?

[new2BC4bass]

42 minutes ago, WIGuide said:

Those two rods overlap pretty well. You'll be looking for something that's a medium heavy power with a fast action. What is your budget for your rod, and are spinnerbaits and jigs the two main bait's you're going to use this rod for?

X2.  Budget helps because posters can recommend rods from $40 to way over $500.

[IgotWood]

$200-400 for rod and reel. I own over a dozen Lamiglas, but they are all salt rods. Anyone use their casting rods?  

[NYBasser]

Go get a Shimano Curado I or Casitas, then pair it up with a Dobyns Fury or St Croix. Mojo Bass. Can't go wrong with those combos.

[Fish4bigfish]

The Dobyns fury 734 c is VERY versatile. The tip of these rods are designed to cover a bunch of techniques. They specifically excel at throwing moving baits from 1/4 to 1 oz. I have thrown jigs, bubba shot, frogs, spinnerbaits, and small swimbaits with mine. The only reason I traded in my fury 734 is because I bought the rod to throw jigs and the champion line is better for that! 

[fishnkamp]

I agree the Dobyns Fury 734 is very versatile, Dobyns has multiple rod lines and each one gets a bit nicer as you go up the line. However a "734" in one line like the Fury will be almost exactly the same as a "734 in say a Sierra series.  The 734 means 7'3" and a power of 4. 1 being real lite in action and 5 being really beefy.  So if the specs of a Fury 734 met your needs you could also look at the higher series like Sierra, the Champion XP, or the Champion Extreme HP.  Personally I like the Fury which retails for $110.  I really like the Sierra rods which feel a little thinner and liter to me. They retail for $179.

I would also look at the Powell rods. Look at the Max 3D 734CF HVY, or a Max3d 723CEF, again a real do it all rod that would do what you want and more. These rods cost $160.  The build quality for any of these rods is very good.. I just had several Powell and Dobyns rods in my hand an hour ago at my local tackle shop and there is almost nothing to make you choose one over another between these two brands.

[IgotWood]

Wow, the Dobyns is very appealing. I think I'll go with that, or the St Croix. As for the reel, I am looking at a Lews. I've heard a hundred people recommend the Curado, but it kinda feels like a fragile toy in my hand. What do you ya think of Lews?

[timsford]

If you like lamiglass, the infinity got a very high review on tackletour.com and is supposed to be a very sensitive rod comparable to much more expensive rods. Lew's makes pretty good reels, but the curado is an aluminum framed reel that is very tough. Lots of guys use them in saltwater. 

 

[fishnkamp]

I will throw another reel in the mix.  I have been changing my arsenal from a mix of BPS and Shimano Curados and Chronarch to all Diawa Tatula and Tatula Type R reels.  I really like them.  They are a bit larger than some other reels but they fit my hand fine and I trust them under any fishing situation. Here on the Chesapeake bay I can be bass fishing and get bit by up to 20 pound cats or big stripers up to 36 inches. My friend who turned me onto these reels fishes on the Potomac River and regularly pulls in those fish as well as big snakeheads. which can destroy other reels drag. The Tatula retails for $150 and can be purchased online for around $95, and the Tatula Type R retails for $199 can easily be purchased for around $140 online as well.

[Onvacation]

fishnkamp, what are you seeing in your opinion as the main reason for picking a R model over a regular Tatula? 

[new2BC4bass]

21 minutes ago, Onvacation said:

fishnkamp, what are you seeing in your opinion as the main reason for picking a R model over a regular Tatula? 

I'm not fishnkamp, but I have owned both.  I like the Type R because 1) I like the finish better.  2)  I wanted an 8.1 ratio.  I have to agree with those that feel performance is the same for both reels.  Maybe I'd notice a difference if I was a hotshot with a baitcast reel.  I'm not. 

TT found that the Type R didn't cast an 1/8 oz. lure any further than the standard, but it was easier to cast than on the standard.

[fishnkamp]

I agree the performance is not even measurably different.  Internally I believe a couple of the bearings were upgraded to sealed ones which might be better in tidal water (lite salt water) but probably not much better in the real world. I went with two Type R's for the 8-1 gear ratio for things like frogging.  Otherwise the standard Tatula is m choice.  Some complain about the size and I find it funny because it is usually BP S Pro Qualifier owners and a Tatula is a bit smaller. It is a bit bigger than say some of the small body Lews. If that body seems a tiny bit big for your hand to feel happy than look at the new Tatula CT it is a smaller package by a fraction, but it may be better to palm. Personally I intend to change 6 more reels over to Tatulas within the next 6 months. Take a look at this picture.  This is a Potomac River snakehead caught on a Diawa reel either Exceller, Tatula, or Lexa.  I am not sure which without asking my friend Bryan, but I know it was on P LIne CXX 10 pound moss green line.  That weighed over 13 pounds.

[new2BC4bass]

Nice fish.  Nice and UGLY. 

Bet it puts up a good fight, tho.

[fishnkamp]

It fights like a musky he has told me and is "beautiful" on the dinner plate. He has a friend that owns a Thai restaurant. He shares the fish with the chef and the chef prepares it along with some sauces for his dinner.

[GORDO]

St. Croix 7' MHF Mojo Bass with a Lews Tournament MB. For a beginner the breaking system of the MB is perfect to learn on. I suggested this set up to one of my friends for their first and they are already flipping and pitching beside me 2 weeks later. The rod says "spinner bait" but trust me, its great for jigs as well. 

[SneakyPete]

On 7/11/2016 at 0:54 PM, NYBasser said:

Go get a Shimano Curado I or Casitas, then pair it up with a Dobyns Fury or St Croix. Mojo Bass. Can't go wrong with those combos.

You mean like this? ?

[NYBasser]

1 minute ago, SneakyPete said:

You mean like this? ?

A step below, but close enough. Nice combo you got there

[SneakyPete]

2 minutes ago, NYBasser said:

A step below, but close enough. Nice combo you got there

Thanks man

 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

On 7/11/2016 at 11:41 AM, IgotWood said:

$200-400 for rod and reel. I own over a dozen Lamiglas, but they are all salt rods. Anyone use their casting rods?  

 

Okuma Helios rod 7' Medium Heavy Fast would work well. Extremely light 3.4oz and well balanced yet has some power backbone for jigs. Its regularly $180 but walmart has them for $120 leaving you with a good chunk left for a very good reel.

https://www.walmart.com/product/34742965/sellers

 

 

 

 

Only read below if you want to treat yourself to the outstanding workmanship of a Japanese made reel

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 The new Shimano Chronarch MGL if you are willing can be purchased from overseas for around $230, well when in stock. Rated a "10" for performance on a popular tackle review site. quote " the results are phenomenal. We're talking DC like performance in ease of casting"

https://www.digitaka.com/list.php?category=14&series=CASTING REEL&item=CHRONARCH+MGL+(New)

 

This would make an excellent under 10 ounce $350 combo. 

 

OOPS just realized you mentioned salt the Chronarch MGL is NOT saltwater safe.

 

[MDbassin]

The fury will serve you well and for $20 cheaper then the Mojo. The mojos are nice but after handling both IMO the fury is the nicer rod.

 

As for reels the curado is good but you already said it feels like a toy.

 

You mentioned Lews, the tournament MB is a nice reel I would look into that. For a little bit more you could look at there tournament pro g. I went with the pro g cause it just seemed to palm better for me

 The Daiwa tatula Ct is also a good reel and is often compared to/with the curado but my reason for choosing the curado over the tatula is the same reason your not a fan of the curado it felt like a toy in my hand.

 

A Dobyns fury and a tournament pro g will run you $310 well within you budget a fury and tournament mb will be $250? Can't remember if the mb is $130 or $140