I need help choosing new rod power and action!

[Ads7633]

I mainly fish from a kayak, which means I need to keep the rod selection to a minimum. My goal is to always stick to 3 rods on the water. I am looking to replace one of those rods, but I want to be able to match it (as best I can) with the type of fishing I will use it for.

 

Here are my current setups and what I generally use them for:

 

1.) 6'6'' ML-F Spinning Setup, spooled with 20 lb Braid with an 8 lb flouro leader- I use it for dropshot, shakey-head, ned rig, finnesse plastics, etc.

 

2.) 6'8'' M-F Casting Setup, Spooled with 12 lb Flouro- I use it for most plastics, light swimbaits, lipless cranks, squarebills, mid-sized jigs.

 

The one I am looking to replace

3.) 6'6'' M-F Casting Setup, spooled with 50lb braid- I use it for walking baits, frogs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, chatterbaits.

 

I would like to keep the new rod spooled with 50lb braid, and to as best I can effectively fish all of the techniques I have listed above. Now that may be asking a lot out of one rod, but I can only bring so many with me. I was thinking of getting a MH rod that is somewhere between 6'6" and 7'. However I am not sure if I would want a Fast action rod, or something more Mod-F. In you all's experience what do you think?

 

Thanks for the help!

[Choporoz]

IMHO, you 'need' a MHF for the techniques listed.  I'd probably go with 7', but would consider going down towards 6'.  I can't use "Mod" for frogs or buzzbaits...or even chatterbaits....well, I can cast them...just can't set the hook

[RoLo]

 

In my opinion, Medium power and 50-lb braid is a mismatch.

 

I'd replace that rod with a 6'10" (+-4") Med Hvy power - Fast action

 

Roger

[Ads7633]

I have seen that some people prefer Mod-F Action for Spinnerbaits and Buzzbaits? Can anyone speak to this?

 

 

In my opinion, Medium power and 50-lb braid is a mismatch.

 

I'd replace that rod with a 6'10" (+-4") Med Hvy power - Fast action

 

Roger

Yeah, I agree. It was a stout M, but It was mostly out of necessity because it is currently my heaviest rod, and I was told not to go below 50lb braid on a casting rod to avoid it digging in.

[RoLo]

 

I have seen that some people prefer Mod-F Action for Spinnerbaits and Buzzbaits? Can anyone speak to this?

Yeah, I agree. It was a stout M, but It was mostly out of necessity because it is currently my heaviest rod, and I was told not to go below 50lb braid on a casting rod to avoid it digging in.

 

For the lures you mentioned I use 30-lb braided line.

I have not experienced line-burrowing 'once' in the past two years of fishing

 

Roger

[Choporoz]

To elaborate on a couple of points....

 

-Length: you have some experience fishing from your yak, so you probably have your own opinions already, but if you haven't tried a variety of butt-lengths, mix it up to find what works for you -- for me, a short butt is even more important than overall rod length.

 

-Ratings: My comment on frogs and buzzbaits should have emphasized that fishing those lures from a yak is different than from a boat or from shore.  Your yak WILL move when you lay into a fish....that will give back some of the power, so a bit heavier (than 'normal') is where I'll start looking

-Braid digging in: I actually have more problem with heavier braid digging in...but I think that's probably a function of me being willing to try to pull heavy jigs out of wood because of the 50-60# 'rope' I'm using.  I use braid from 12 to 60 and 'digging-in' just isn't a big enough problem for my consideration

[Ads7633]

 

To elaborate on a couple of points....

 

-Length: you have some experience fishing from your yak, so you probably have your own opinions already, but if you haven't tried a variety of butt-lengths, mix it up to find what works for you -- for me, a short butt is even more important than overall rod length.

 

-Ratings: My comment on frogs and buzzbaits should have emphasized that fishing those lures from a yak is different than from a boat or from shore.  Your yak WILL move when you lay into a fish....that will give back some of the power, so a bit heavier (than 'normal') is where I'll start looking

Good things to think about! Can you elaborate on why you prefer the shorter butt-length?

[Choporoz]

 

Good things to think about! Can you elaborate on why you prefer the shorter butt-length?

 

Longer butts get caught on my shirt, sleeve, PFD, side of yak, crate, etc. 

 

True story: A couple years ago after I got my kayak, I noticed a bruise on the inside of my left bicep....couldn't figure how it got there....showed my wife, and sure enough...she had one in the same place on her right arm.   Turns out, it was the spinning rod butt pinching or slamming into our arms when setting the hook. (She's right handed...I'm LH)

 

Of less importance, is the ease of getting them in and out of holders behind me.

[Fishingmickey]

Ads,

    I also pretty much just kayak bass fish. I prefer a longer rod in the kayak 7'-7'3". A 7' rod helps you clear the nose of the kayak if/when your fish swims under the boat or you need or want to change sides. For spinner baits, buzz baits and chatter baits I use 14-16# flouro. Frog fishing would be braid (40-50#) and a heavy rod. That rod would also double for flipping or pitching jigs, t-rigs and punching into heavier cover.

Fishingmickky

[bigfruits]

Not sure what your budget is but something like the XX Diablo Spec R might be worth a look.

 

If you are looking for a MH and want to use frogs, I assume its not very heavy cover or you will want a more powerful rod once you hook into one.

 

The rod I mentioned is a Fast (maybe mod fast) 7'2" powerful MH or light H I'd say. Better suited for the spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, buzzbaits on your list. You can walk topwaters and frogs with it. Unless you are standing in the kayak its a side to side twitch of the rod for walking so length doesnt matter much to me as long as its balanced.

 

Not that you asked but I either kayak fish or co-angle so I always carry 3-5 rods. Over the years I have bought and sold (more buying) a lot of rods and have way more than I could carry. Depending on what body of water I am going to and what I plan on throwing, I grab 3-5 rods and reels from the rack. I have way more rods than reels too, my reels sleep around. Extra spools add versatility when rods outnumber reels.

 

Oh - and you will need a jig rod

[Angry John]

I have fished in my yak for the last 7 years and the rod that I use the most in a 7' mhf st Croix.  I have different ones from avid to legend elite but this rod seems to work well for me.  I don't fish a frog on it though.  I use a lamiglass 735 for that and punching in the yak.  I prefer a more powerful rod and it is so true about loosing power while fishing in a yak.  As soon as you set the hook your moving in the direction of the fish as the yak provides almost no resistance due to its design to move easily threw the water to reduce fatigue.  One rod that may interest you is the megabass perfect pitch.  It would fill the frog, jig and swimbait section of your fishing quite well.  It would be classified as a heavy but is not a broom stick.  You may also want to consider the dobyns champion 734 or 735.  I love frog fishing and I don't know how much time you have dedicated to frogging so the rods main purpose I may have missed.

 

One thing that drives me crazy is the one size fits all idea of handle length.  The more powerful the rod the longer I want the handle.  I have no issue fishing jerkbaits and topwater with a 10" handle standing in my yak, try that while frog fishing and I end up with a sore wrist and some bruises in my side.   Rod handle lengths change to me like the length of a golf club, one size does not fit all and I am working on trying to figure out a formula for the correct length based on height and application.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I agree with getting a rod with a little more power. Problem is mh is subjective and varies between brands. You want a stout mh like a st croix or a hvy from another line. Look for a lure rating of 3/8-1oz or there about 

[Hawkeye21]

I like to have a 7' MHF rod because it can be used for just about every technique.  I have one for casting and spinning.

[fishnkamp]

I am going to suggest a rod that is my most versatile rod in my 12 baitcaster inventory. It is a Powell Max 683CEF.

That is a 6'8 Casting Extra fast.  I use it for a ton of stuff. Now I have a dedicated rod for frogs cranks, topwater and jerkbaits but take a minute and read the review of it that Tackletour did on it.

They tested it using baits it should have done well with (1/4 to 3/4) but found it handled everything up to a 2 ounce swimbait! http://www.tackletour.com/reviewpowell683cxfast.html

They now make that rod in the Inferno and Max3D and I would probably go with the Max 3D 683CEF.

I can easily fish chatterbaits, buzzbaits,spinnerbaits, frogs and walking baits on mine.

If you are interested in another option then look at a Dobyns 734C. It could be a Fury, Sierra, or a Champion Xp depending on your budget.

[d-camarena]

I use 50lb braid on medium and medium heavy rods. Casts just fine. Im not taking any chances on the fish going into cover. I can horse em in without having any problems. 30lb digs in my spools when i try to horse a fish. 

 

Using braid on a mod fast rod should have no problem setting a hook. On flouro or mono its a little harder