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

[WRB]

24 minutes ago, freelancer27 said:

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

You originally stated you wanted a ultra Fineese spinning outfit. Medium light or 2 power rods would be the top end with 1 power or light being the lower end, what lure weights are you planning to fish with?

Tom

[freelancer27]

5 minutes ago, WRB said:

You originally stated you wanted a ultra Fineese spinning outfit. Medium light or 2 power rods would be the top end with 1 power or light being the lower end, what lure weights are you planning to fish with?

Tom

Thanks for your response!

Small finesse jigs (1/8),  weightless worms, shaky heads (1/16) and drop shot.  Every now and then I would also throw a little a 2.8 inch keitech.

Thanks again!

[WRB]

38 minutes ago, WRB said:

You originally stated you wanted a ultra Fineese spinning outfit. Medium light or 2 power rods would be the top end with 1 power or light being the lower end, what lure weights are you planning to fish with?

Tom

I will stay with my original 9 March suggestion and suggest you look at Fins WindTamer 12 lb moss green braid or Sunline Super Sniper green 7 lb FC main line or leader. Basically a ML or 2 power rod.

Tom

 

[kschultz76]

Agree with smalljaw67. At and above the $200 price point and beyond the Avid line you're entering the world of rapidly diminishing returns in terms of sensitivity. But the rods will tend to feel more crisp, should be lighter, and offer other benefits. 

 

Thats why I suggest the Heliums, if you get a sale you're getting a lot of bang for your buck in terms of the blank in that price point. Plus a clean quality build and good components. In my hands they punch above their weight but others may not agree. 

 

But in terms of feel and sensitivity a lot is subjective especially over $150-200 price point. So temper your expectations. Also pay attention to grip style, materials, and reel seats used. Theyre things can affect your comfort and overall feel of the rod. It's something I'm personally very picky about. 

 

Good of luck and let us know what you choose. 

[RMax]

Avid X and Shimano Nasci. Beautiful combo

[freelancer27]

I am wondering what is more important for the combo, rod or reel?

I found this reel: http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Pflueger_President_XT_Spinning_Reel/descpage-PRS.html and wonder if I should spend more on the rod, or keep both balanced. Choices...

[Loomis13]

Spend more on the rod!! Especially for the techniques you are planning on using. A better reel can come later but isn't really necessary.

[freelancer27]

8 minutes ago, Loomis13 said:

Spend more on the rod!! Especially for the techniques you are planning on using. A better reel can come later but isn't really necessary.

Any recommendations here? 

 

[Loomis13]

1 minute ago, freelancer27 said:

Any recommendations here? 

 

Well Im partial to St.Croix but you have kind of ruled that out. Outside of Croix, I would suggest something from Kistler or Dobyns in the price range of $250 but I do not have much experience with these lines. Megabass is an intiguing choice as well.

[freelancer27]

2 hours ago, Loomis13 said:

Well Im partial to St.Croix but you have kind of ruled that out. Outside of Croix, I would suggest something from Kistler or Dobyns in the price range of $250 but I do not have much experience with these lines. Megabass is an intiguing choice as well.

I did not rule St. Croix out per se. I just dont want to go with an Avid X, since that rod is not sensitive enough for me. 

I am hearing good things about the St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass Spinning Rods though.

[Darren.]

2 minutes ago, freelancer27 said:

I did not rule St. Croix out per se. I just dont want to go with an Avid X, since that rod is not sensitive enough for me. 

I am hearing good things about the St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass Spinning Rods though.

 

FWIW, I have the LT Walleye 6'3" MLXF (same as bass,

just different lengths) and it IS all they say...  sensitive

and all that...

[je1946]

Right now you can get a Diawa Ballistic EX2000 spinning reel on sale at Cabela's for $120, leaving you $230 for a rod if you choose to spend that much for a finesse set up.  The Ballistic normally sells for $200 and is a great reel, I own 2 Stradic CI4s and just bought my second Ballistic, will rate it right there with the Stradic. silky smooth with a great drag.

[kschultz76]

8 minutes ago, freelancer27 said:

I did not rule St. Croix out per se. I just dont want to go with an Avid X, since that rod is not sensitive enough for me. 

I am hearing good things about the St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass Spinning Rods though.

 

I own several St Croixs, spinning and casting. Including one Triumph, one Avid, a couple LTBs, and a couple Legend Extremes. I'm gonna have to burst your bubble, the step up from the Avid or Avid X to an LTB isn't gonna knock your socks off. To find a really noticeable and discernible difference you'll need to step up to the Legend Elite or Extreme. LTB blanks are nice and great performers but I don't find the step up to them from the Avid amazing, so if the Avid X leaves you wanting the LTB may not either. Plus the reel seats on the current LTBs re hideous and loathsome. 

 

if you're worried about ultimate sensitivity in a finess setup then for sure spend most of your budget on the rod and look for a cheap but light spinning reel. Maybe a Pflueger Supreme. 

 

Im not sure it's light enough to get into the low weight finess you're looking to throw but a Megabass Orochi XX is hard to beat for sensitivity at its price point. The Medium Light Dropshot would probably be the one to look at. 

[freelancer27]

4 minutes ago, kschultz76 said:

 

I own several St Croixs, spinning and casting. Including one Triumph, one Avid, a couple LTBs, and a couple Legend Extremes. I'm gonna have to burst your bubble, the step up from the Avid or Avid X to an LTB isn't gonna knock your socks off. To find a really noticeable and discernible difference you'll need to step up to the Legend Elite or Extreme. LTB blanks are nice and great performers but I don't find the step up to them from the Avid amazing, so if the Avid X leaves you wanting the LTB may not either. Plus the reel seats on the current LTBs re hideous and loathsome. 

 

if you're worried about ultimate sensitivity in a finess setup then for sure spend most of your budget on the rod and look for a cheap but light spinning reel. Maybe a Pflueger Supreme. 

 

Im not sure it's light enough to get into the low weight finess you're looking to throw but a Megabass Orochi XX is hard to beat for sensitivity at its price point. The Medium Light Dropshot would probably be the one to look at. 

Thanks very much for your great insight!

I might as well go that road, if a legend extreme gives a significant upgrade and pair the rod  ( I am thinking of the St. Croix Legend Xtreme Spinning Rod 6'10" Medium) with a Pflueger President XT Spinning Reel.

On the other hand I am not sure if a legend extreme is really twice as good as a Phenix M1 Spinning Rod 7'2" Medium, as the price would suggest. 


It is part of the fun to talk with other anglers about their gear and experience to find one's right choice!

Thanks everybody for helping out!

[kschultz76]

17 minutes ago, freelancer27 said:

Thanks very much for your great insight!

I might as well go that road, if a legend extreme gives a significant upgrade and pair the rod  ( I am thinking of the St. Croix Legend Xtreme Spinning Rod 6'10" Medium) with a Pflueger President XT Spinning Reel.

On the other hand I am not sure if a legend extreme is really twice as good as a Phenix M1 Spinning Rod 7'2" Medium, as the price would suggest. 


It is part of the fun to talk with other anglers about their gear and experience to find one's right choice!

Thanks everybody for helping out!

I have no experience with Phenix rods so unfortunately I can't help you with that comparison. But given their price points and reviews I've read I'd doubt the Phenix M1 rivals the Extreme for sensitivity. 

[Wewlad]

Stradic 1000 Ci4+ = $200-230

 

Major craft Skyroad Mebaru 7ft= 150-170

 

 

Getting several Japanese Mebaru an Ajing rods is a going to happen for me this year; The more I look into them the more I am impressed. 

[Master Bait'r]

13 hours ago, freelancer27 said:

Any recommendations here? 

 

 

Orochi XX Stinger Shot

Shimano Sahara

 

ALWAYS go big on the rod, as there's very little you can do to change it.  Spinning reels are functionally all very similar so to me it doesn't make sense to go halfway with one.  I'd go sick rod, ok spinning reel.  You need feel for those presentaions!  

 

 

[freelancer27]

Thanks.

I think I am gonna stick with the Pflueger XT reel. Seems like a light reel from a company with a good track record. 

For the rod I am considering the following now:

• Orochi XX Spinning Rod 6'10" Stinger Shot 

• Dobyns Champion Extreme HP Spin Rod 7' Light 70

• G. Loomis IMX Pro Spinning Rod 6'10" Mag Med 822S SYR

• Kistler Helium 3 Series Spinning Rod 7' Med Light

• Phenix Bass Recon Elite Spinning Rod 7'2" Light

• Shimano Expride A Spinning Rod 6'10" Med Lt

• St. Croix Legend Tournament Spin Rod 6'10" Med Lt

• St. Croix Legend Xtreme Spinning Rod 6'10" Medium

A little bit of a price range, but want to start to limit my options. I am still overwhelmed!

[Wewlad]

I have a 6ft 8 ML Expride casting rod; For the price, I have to say they are quite amazing rods. Incredibly sensitive and responsive, and the High Power X wrapping really does make for a fast recovery when using jerkbaits and jigs. 

 

 

[DaveT63]

I agree with one of the previous posters about the St Croix LTB reel seat.  I recently had to replace an older LTB under the warranty.  I got a new 6'8" MXF spinning rod back from them.  I REALLY do not like that reel seat.  If you have any opportunity at all, try to hold one first before you buy.  The Xtreme, on the other hand, as well as the Elite, have great reel seats.

 

I have no experience with any of the other rods you list.

[kschultz76]

13 minutes ago, DaveT63 said:

I agree with one of the previous posters about the St Croix LTB reel seat.  I recently had to replace an older LTB under the warranty.  I got a new 6'8" MXF spinning rod back from them.  I REALLY do not like that reel seat.  If you have any opportunity at all, try to hold one first before you buy.  The Xtreme, on the other hand, as well as the Elite, have great reel seats.

 

I have no experience with any of the other rods you list.

 

My LTBs are all the previous version before they moved to the split reel seat. Totally agree they're awful now. But the current version of the Legend Extreme is the same exact terrible reel seats, the only thing that's different is the handle. 

[smalljaw67]

13 hours ago, freelancer27 said:

Thanks.

I think I am gonna stick with the Pflueger XT reel. Seems like a light reel from a company with a good track record. 

For the rod I am considering the following now:

• Orochi XX Spinning Rod 6'10" Stinger Shot 

• Dobyns Champion Extreme HP Spin Rod 7' Light 70

• G. Loomis IMX Pro Spinning Rod 6'10" Mag Med 822S SYR

• Kistler Helium 3 Series Spinning Rod 7' Med Light

• Phenix Bass Recon Elite Spinning Rod 7'2" Light

• Shimano Expride A Spinning Rod 6'10" Med Lt

• St. Croix Legend Tournament Spin Rod 6'10" Med Lt

• St. Croix Legend Xtreme Spinning Rod 6'10" Medium

A little bit of a price range, but want to start to limit my options. I am still overwhelmed!

 

Of all the rods you listed here I may be able to eliminate some. The first one to go is the Phenix Recon Elite, they are new but the Recon and Recon 2 while nice are not going to be more sensitive than an Avid X, probably less because Phenix rods tend to be slower in action than others. The legend Tournament is a little crisper feeling but you are paying for the K- series guides as they have the same alconite inserts and are around the same weight of the Avid line, sensitivity level isn't beyond the Avid line. The last one would be the Megabass Orochi Stinger Shot, if you intend to fish other finesse baits that aren't a completely exposed hook then you won't want that rod. The tip is really soft as it is designed for nose hooking soft plastics and drop shot fishing in general, you will see the strike with that rod before you feel it and it is designed like that as most drop shot specific rods are. The choice is up to you, I think going to a high end rod is a good way for you to go, but if you want to have a real noticeable difference in sensitivity you can mull around with rods that are in the $180 to $250 range, you either go with something in the same category as the Avid series and get a good reel to go with it and have a solid set up with above average sensitivity or you go a little lower on the reel and go with a GLX or Legend Elite or Extreme where you will have a noticeable difference in sensitivity but you aren't going to get even close to blown away with anything under those.

[smr913]

My vote goes to the Avid X 7' ML F or the 6'9" ML XF Then get the best reel you can with the rest of your budget. I use a St. Croix 7' L F with a 1000 Stradic Ci4+ spooled with 10# braid. From what I read you probably want to step up a power.  

[freelancer27]

5 hours ago, smalljaw67 said:

 

Of all the rods you listed here I may be able to eliminate some. The first one to go is the Phenix Recon Elite, they are new but the Recon and Recon 2 while nice are not going to be more sensitive than an Avid X, probably less because Phenix rods tend to be slower in action than others. The legend Tournament is a little crisper feeling but you are paying for the K- series guides as they have the same alconite inserts and are around the same weight of the Avid line, sensitivity level isn't beyond the Avid line. The last one would be the Megabass Orochi Stinger Shot, if you intend to fish other finesse baits that aren't a completely exposed hook then you won't want that rod. The tip is really soft as it is designed for nose hooking soft plastics and drop shot fishing in general, you will see the strike with that rod before you feel it and it is designed like that as most drop shot specific rods are. The choice is up to you, I think going to a high end rod is a good way for you to go, but if you want to have a real noticeable difference in sensitivity you can mull around with rods that are in the $180 to $250 range, you either go with something in the same category as the Avid series and get a good reel to go with it and have a solid set up with above average sensitivity or you go a little lower on the reel and go with a GLX or Legend Elite or Extreme where you will have a noticeable difference in sensitivity but you aren't going to get even close to blown away with anything under those.

Thanks for the detailed response!

I think I am leaning towards the high end rod and mid-level reel. 

The GLX and the Legend Extreme seem to be good candidates paired with a Pflueger XT PRESXTSP20X, put 15pound braid on it (with 7pound fluro leader) and call it a day.

Any thoughts on GLX vs Legend Extreme? Also is there a cheaper way to get one of those than forking out 400 bucks on TW?

Thanks!

[Loomis13]

6 minutes ago, freelancer27 said:

Thanks for the detailed response!

I think I am leaning towards the high end rod and mid-level reel. 

The GLX and the Legend Extreme seem to be good candidates paired with a Pflueger XT PRESXTSP20X, put 15pound braid on it (with 7pound fluro leader) and call it a day.

Any thoughts on GLX vs Legend Extreme? Also is there a cheaper way to get one of those than forking out 400 bucks on TW?

Thanks!

First, I would recommend the Legend Elite over the Legend Extreme. I cant compare the Elite to the GLX but the Elite is sweet rod. The 6'10" Mag-lite GLX would also be a great rod. Check around on ebay or post a WTB in the fishing flea market forum on here.