I need a light finess spinning set up - 350 USD budget

[freelancer27]

Hi all,

I have decided that I need to upgrade my spinning gear. Currently I am using a bass pro extreme 7' (where the tip is broken off) with a pflueger 6940X. That combo is heavy and to be honest I do not feel **** with it...

So I am looking for a light, sensitive combo that I can throw ultra finesse lures with (micro jigs, weightless plastics, etc.)

I would really appreciate it, if you could give me some recommendations, since I am totally overwhelmed with the options!


Thank ya much.

Cheers,
Seb.

[Darren.]

Well, you've got lots of options, obviously, hence the

potential for being overwhelmed.

 

Here are safe bets with a $350 budget:

 

Shimano Stradic FK, or CI4+ (I'm a 1000 size guy)

 

I can attest the Stradic FK is an awesome reel.

 

As far as rods, for ME, I like shorter and super light

rods. I like the Carbonlite series from Bass Pro.

 

So that'd put you at the $300 mark with an FK and 

Carbonlite, then use the $50 for more micro jigs and

so on  Or opt for a rod that's $50 more...

[Fishinthefish]

Stradic fk, dobyns fury. Update road later as needed.

[nameiztaken]

Stradic.

[blckshirt98]

American Legacy has the Stradic FK 1000 size on sale for $139.99.  Great deal if a 1000 size reel is what will work on the rod you plan on pairing it with.  If you really want ultra-finesse you could pair it up with an UL trout rod, like a Phenix Elixir FX802-1X.  I use a similar setup (reel is an older model Fuego 1000) for dropshotting at times and it's a load of fun.

[fishnkamp]

Take a good look at an Okuma RTX30 reel, it has a nice high gear ratio, is composite so super lite and holds plenty of line. Look at a Dobyns Fury FR 703SF, or Sierra SA693 SF. Another good option is a St Croix Avid X AXS68MXF. All of these rods will work well.  I have 3 friends using at least one of each or these combos. I fish with one of these reels on my 6 foot IMX rod from G Loomis.   

[Darren.]

1 hour ago, blckshirt98 said:

American Legacy has the Stradic FK 1000 size on sale for $139.99.  Great deal if a 1000 size reel is what will work on the rod you plan on pairing it with.  If you really want ultra-finesse you could pair it up with an UL trout rod, like a Phenix Elixir FX802-1X.  I use a similar setup (reel is an older model Fuego 1000) for dropshotting at times and it's a load of fun.

 

That's a great deal on the 1000FK.

 

Good find.

[WRB]

Majorcraft Don Iovino finesse spinning rod $119 with Shimano Ci4+1000 $229 is in your budget and balances  good.

Tom

[freelancer27]

THanks guys for the thoughts!

Looks like I am not going wrong with the Stradic. 

Will check them out in the next tackle store!

Thanks again!

[smalljaw67]

I don't know how crucial rod length is for you but I like rods in the 6'8" to 7' range for my finesse spinning applications. That said, American Legacy still has the G.Loomis Bronzeback 811S-SP on sale for $165.75 which will leave you more than enough for a good reel. With spinning I find the rod is more important than the reel and a good rod with a good mid tier reel would work really well. If you stay with American Legacy you can get a Shimano Ultegra for $150 or a Daiwa Procyon for $108, both solid reels and you'll still be in budget with a killer set up. The rod is 6'9" listed as a light power with a fast action but it is really more of a medium light rated 1/8oz to 5/16oz. I have this rod and it is a perfect all purpose finesse stick, it has a really nice tip, soft enough for drop shot fishing but not so soft that it can't be used for other techniques. I've only used mine twice this season, I was fishing 2.75" tubes on a 1/16oz head and I also was throwing 1/8oz hair jigs with it, the sensitivity is excellent the backbone is impressive, it may be worth checking out if the 6'9" length is ok.

[roadwarrior]

 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Id go light $$ on the reel and heavy $$$$ on the rod. President XT 6.6oz $80 and Megabass Orochi XX $275-$285

[freelancer27]

After some weeks, I finally had time to go to check some rod and reels out. 

I really liked the Phenix M1 Spinning Rod 6'9" Light paired with a Shimano Stradic Ci4+ (1000 series).  Would be slightly higher than my budget though (would go for around 400 USD). 

Any thoughts on that? 

Thanks!

[NorcalBassin]

If TW has their usual tax stimulus 10% off sale in another week or two that would get you down to $360 if you're set on that combo.

[DogBone_384]

I've got the perfect one for you: my 6' 10' ML/F Abu Villain with Pflueger Supreme XT hanging off it... it's at the bottom of Ponkapog pond in Canton, MA.

 

It's super light, sensitive, and right at your $350 budget.  An awesome set up.

[I.rar]

My go to is a stradic 1000 fk with an avid x ml/f. Absolutely love that combo. 

[jimmyjoe]

    If you haven't decided yet, try out the Daiwa Fuego 2000sh. Super smooth and quiet, which is what I want for finesse. Leaves money for a really good 6'9"-or-so extra fast finesse rod. One reason I like the Fuego is that it performs well with either one of the various superlines or regular old monofilament; I have Stren on mine right now, after having AN40 and Trilene XL. When looking for a rod, decide whether you're going to use a superline/leader setup. If you are, check that the guides pass leader knots easily. I learned that lesson the hard way.    jj

[kschultz76]

Many good suggestions have been made. Certainly can't go wrong with a St Croix or a Loomis. However for your budget and the light line sensitivity you're looking for I'd look at the Kistler Helium 3 series in either ML or M power, and wait till they have a sale on their website. When they have a sale you can get the HE3 around $225 if they do 15% off. 

 

Then I'd spend the rest of my budget on whatever Shimano spinning reel I could find in the size and price on sale fit my budget. In order of preference I'd go stradic CI4+, Stradic FK, then Ultegra. In my personal use Shimanos line management in spinning reels has really cut down on line twist and tangles. 

[freelancer27]

Thanks guys!

When I looked at the Phenix / Shimano combo yesterday, it felt very nice and balanced, though I am not aware of a method to test the sensitivity of a set up in the store...

That having said, I would say my 'most sensitive' rod is a St.Croix Avid X. To be honest, I have never been blown away by the rod's sensitivity. Never had this feeling that I would be able to really feel the fish. 

With the Spinning gear set up, I want to change that! So, if that means I have to save up a little bit longer and put another 100 USD on top of my budget, so be it. 

I really want to be blown away by the sensitivity of the combo.


Thanks again for your help!!!

[smalljaw67]

4 minutes ago, freelancer27 said:

Thanks guys!

When I looked at the Phenix / Shimano combo yesterday, it felt very nice and balanced, though I am not aware of a method to test the sensitivity of a set up in the store...

That having said, I would say my 'most sensitive' rod is a St.Croix Avid X. To be honest, I have never been blown away by the rod's sensitivity. Never had this feeling that I would be able to really feel the fish. 

With the Spinning gear set up, I want to change that! So, if that means I have to save up a little bit longer and put another 100 USD on top of my budget, so be it. 

I really want to be blown away by the sensitivity of the combo.


Thanks again for your help!!!

 

What exactly are you looking to feel?? I ask that because you may be reading into a lot of hype when it comes to sensitivity. I've been bass fishing for more than 30 years and I've had the opportunity to fish a lot of rods the difference between high end rods and good mid tier rod when it comes to sensitivity is noticeable but not mind blowing. The biggest difference I feel when fishing a GLX compared to say an IMX isn't what I can feel, it is the way it feels, when I drag a jig across the bottom and it goes from a hard bottom to soft bottom, I can feel it with both rods, the GLX I can tell a little faster than the IMX. If you have a St. Croix Avid X I fear you won't be "blown away" by any rod in your budget or even close to your budget, as I said, you'll feel the same stuff, the difference will be the more sensitive rod you may be able to tell whether your bait is hitting rock or wood right away once you get use to it. Now line choice helps, braid will make any rod more sensitive, but the part I'm trying to emphasize is that you are fishing with decent stuff already, if you were using an Ugly Stick or a  Cherrywood then I'd say you might be blown away by the sensitivity of a better rod but while there is a difference from say a St.Croix Avid X to a St. Croix Legend elite, it isn't as stark as you might think, it is a crisper feel but you won't feel like you are feeling things you never felt before, it is just a little more crisp and I'm not saying this to discourage you, I'm just trying to keep you from expecting too much and being disappointed, my buddy went from the IMX to a GLX and expected it to be awesome and while he loved the rod his one remark was that it wasn't too much different from what he was using, so understand that the rod may be more sensitive but don't expect to be blown away.

[freelancer27]

12 minutes ago, smalljaw67 said:

 

What exactly are you looking to feel?? I ask that because you may be reading into a lot of hype when it comes to sensitivity. I've been bass fishing for more than 30 years and I've had the opportunity to fish a lot of rods the difference between high end rods and good mid tier rod when it comes to sensitivity is noticeable but not mind blowing. The biggest difference I feel when fishing a GLX compared to say an IMX isn't what I can feel, it is the way it feels, when I drag a jig across the bottom and it goes from a hard bottom to soft bottom, I can feel it with both rods, the GLX I can tell a little faster than the IMX. If you have a St. Croix Avid X I fear you won't be "blown away" by any rod in your budget or even close to your budget, as I said, you'll feel the same stuff, the difference will be the more sensitive rod you may be able to tell whether your bait is hitting rock or wood right away once you get use to it. Now line choice helps, braid will make any rod more sensitive, but the part I'm trying to emphasize is that you are fishing with decent stuff already, if you were using an Ugly Stick or a  Cherrywood then I'd say you might be blown away by the sensitivity of a better rod but while there is a difference from say a St.Croix Avid X to a St. Croix Legend elite, it isn't as stark as you might think, it is a crisper feel but you won't feel like you are feeling things you never felt before, it is just a little more crisp and I'm not saying this to discourage you, I'm just trying to keep you from expecting too much and being disappointed, my buddy went from the IMX to a GLX and expected it to be awesome and while he loved the rod his one remark was that it wasn't too much different from what he was using, so understand that the rod may be more sensitive but don't expect to be blown away.

Thanks for talking sense into me! My wallet appreciates it!

[Fishin' Fool]

2 hours ago, freelancer27 said:

Thanks for talking sense into me! My wallet appreciates it!

 

Do you use braid to fluorocarbon on your spinning set-up?  Because that alone might add to the sensitivity that you feel.

[freelancer27]

5 minutes ago, Fishin' Fool said:

 

Do you use braid to fluorocarbon on your spinning set-up?  Because that alone might add to the sensitivity that you feel.

I was planning to put 20 pound braid as backing and then add a 12 feet flure (7-8 pound) leader to it. 

[Fishin' Fool]

Personally I'd go less 12-16 pound braid with your 7 to 8 pound leader for a finesse set-up should be great.

Use mono backing first though so you don't use so much braid.

[freelancer27]

4 minutes ago, Fishin' Fool said:

Personally I'd go less 12-16 pound braid with your 7 to 8 pound leader for a finesse set-up should be great.

Use mono backing first though so you don't use so much braid.

I think if I get a 1000 reel there is not too much braid that i would have to put on. Might even use the braid directly sometimes if the water clarity allows it.