Several spinning rod questions.

[new2BC4bass]

First let me say that since getting back into fishing in '09 I almost never use a spinning rod although I have bought a few since then.  In my younger days I fished mostly live bait with small Roostertails and Beetle Spins being about the only artificial lures I ever used.  I have never fished a drop shot, Ned Rig or shakey head.  So please excuse my ignorance.  I want to start using my spinning gear more this coming season.  I plan on sticking with finesse presentations because I like my baitcasters much better for everything else.

 

1) Would you consider any spinning rod with a 1/8 oz. low rating suitable for finesse?

 

2) Would you consider a rod rated to 3/4 oz. or 1 oz. a finesse rod if it had a 1/8 oz. low rating?

 

3) Should a rod be able to cast below 1/8 oz.?

 

4) Is rod action important?  And if so

 

5) for what techniques is action important?

 

6) I know this is totally personal and subject to where and how you fish, but what rod lengths do you prefer?

 

I purchased a new spinning reel during the 25 Days of Christmas sale and want to get a rod for it.  But that will be a topic for another thread.  question.

 

EDIT:  Forgot to ask another very important question.

 

7) Are these techniques going to require a sensitive rod or is line watching more critical?

[Loomis13]

Ill help as best as i can!

 

1) Yeah, that should be plenty especially by the time you add plastic. Although as you know, companies vary and some are rated down to 1/8 but really dont do great with them.

 

2) Um, tough question. I would have to see the rod and make my decision based off of playing with it. Are you actually considering a rod with that range? If so, im very curious what rod it is.

 

3) For bass fishing, I see no reason to be able to lower than 1/8. If crappie fishing then absolutely.

 

4) For the techniques you want to do, yes

 

5) In my opinion, you have crank bait rods and then anything else.

 

6) For the things you want to to, I like a linger rod because they will be able to cast a lighter lure much better. When i say longer I mean something like 6'10" to 7'2". 6' will tough.

 

Anyway, thats what I think in the questions you asked!

[Fishin' Fool]

This is coming from someone who was 100% spinning rods until the last few years. Get yourself a nice 6'8" to 7'2" Medium or medium light fast or extra fast action rod. 

[fishnkamp]

Here is how my arsenal is set up.  To cover light weight finesse baits I carry several older G Loomis rods. Actually between my wife and I we own 6 G Loomis rods total.  Four of them are 6 footers

(left over from the days my bass boat only fit 6 footers in its rod locker LOL). They are from the bass classic series- IMX and GL2 and 3s.  One pair are SJR 721s. They rate as 1/16 to 5/16.  These are fantastic for light weight grubs, tubes, small spinnerbaits fished in tough conditions. These also fish the Ned rigs amazingly well. Keep in mind how little a Ned rig body and a 1/10 ounce head weighs in total.  If I was going to replace them today I would go for a 6'6 version.  I doubt there is a better rod series for the money overall.  Now the second ones we own are 6 foot SJR 722. These cover 1/8 to 3/8 and that difference may seem very little but it isn't. These rods handle larger offerings like texas rigs heavier bulkier tubes as well as shakey heads and fluke style baits. The heavier action is needed here to penetrate the worm and the fish's mouth. Both of these models serve an important purpose and have a definite place in both of our fishing arsenals.  Again, if I had to replace them today, they would be 6'6" versions.

Now we both carry a 7 foot light action G Loomis rod for smallies, but these are "special purpose" rods. I do use mine also for drop shotting in deep water, which it is amazing for.  Lastly, and carried more frequently than the 7 ft lights, is a 6"6  Okuma that rates as medium power fast action that I use for real light weight jerkbaits or any jerkbait fished slowly in the winter.  A rod in the 6'6 to 6'10 inch rated for medium power fast action can fill a lot of these duties, if you only want to carry one spinning rod. Look at a rod like the ST Croix Avid X AXS68MXF. That rod can handle almost all of the duties I cover with 3 rods on deck!  It is not an inexpensive rod, but I believe that these techniques are all "touch and feel" techniques and they require a sensitive rod.  There is a G Loomis Classic series rod, a SJR783 IMX, and it is going to cost around $240. There are options like the Irod Genesis II rods. Again, notice how they break up the rod duties. Linda owns the 713 and it is a great jig, tube, worm rod, but too heavy for Ned riggs or drop shots.  That is my experience.  Anytime you want to put some of these rods in your hands, just pm me. We could meet at The Susquehanna Fishing Tackle in York. Good place to go home with a rod from probably.

 

By the way I carry all of those rods because they all catch fish at some time. The last time we fished Dale Hollow I stood on the front deck with 16 of my rods still in the rod box because after one day with our guide we found out that we were in a tough fishing condition. The big female largies and smallies had just left the creeks after spawn and were settling in on huge 20 to 30 foot grass covered main lake flats and they ignored every bait we threw on the first day. Our guide had us fish Ned rigs all week. I landed over 25 bass between 5 and 7 pounds with a 6 foot G Loomis 721 in my hand!  I had a SISSY stick in my hand and a smile on my face!

 

[Fishinthefish]

1) Would you consider any spinning rod with a 1/8 oz. low rating suitable for finesse?

 

Yes, you'd be surprised what the average lures outside of BFS sort of things weigh with line, hook, and knot counted in the weight. Throwing a genuine 1/16th of an OZ is incredibly uncommon.

 

2) Would you consider a rod rated to 3/4 oz. or 1 oz. a finesse rod if it had a 1/8 oz. low rating?

 

Absolutely not, most rods load up better between 1/2 or 3/4ths of the rating range. Also do some reviews, rods like Dobyns sometimes say 1/4 to 1 1/2 OZ but you can't throw anything with them under 3/4ths of an OZ. Hands on reviews matter just as much as what the rod has printed on it.

 

3) Should a rod be able to cast below 1/8 oz.?

 

Not all of them, technique specific rods should. Often times you won't cast under 1/8th of an OZ unless you're pan fishing.

 

4) Is rod action important?  And if so

 

Rod action is incredibly important if you have the budget to allow it to be, a cane pole works. It all depends on what you can afford to allow to matter.

 

5) for what techniques is action important?

 

Extra fast for single hooks, sometimes fast. Jigs I want Extra fast rods to get a solid hook set with a larger wire single hook to really snap it into the fishes mouth. Texas rig I'll be okay with a Fast taper to snap the hook into the mouth as the wire of the hook is usually less thick than what jigs or spinnerbaits run. Moderate action helps you with treble hooks to keep the rod loaded while fighting the fish, which makes it so that they have a significantly more difficult time throwing the hook out of their mouth which is important because the treble hooks are often smaller, and can come out easier.

 

6) I know this is totally personal and subject to where and how you fish, but what rod lengths do you prefer?

 

I refuse to fish anything under 7', personal preference I feel more accurate, with a longer cast in the 7'2-7'6'' range. I also don't like anything over a 7'6'' it makes it increasingly difficult to transport especially considering I primarily fish banks.

[Deleted account]

11 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

First let me say that since getting back into fishing in '09 I almost never use a spinning rod although I have 

 

1) Would you consider any spinning rod with a 1/8 oz. low rating suitable for finesse? :  Yes

 

2) Would you consider a rod rated to 3/4 oz. or 1 oz. a finesse rod if it had a 1/8 oz. low rating?:  No

 

3) Should a rod be able to cast below 1/8 oz.? : ???

 

4) Is rod action important?  And if so:  Yes

 

5) for what techniques is action important?: Were I to believe techniques exist, all of them.

 

6) I know this is totally personal and subject to where and how you fish, but what rod lengths do you prefer?: 6'-6'6"

 

I purchased a new spinning reel during the 25 Days of Christmas sale and want to get a rod for it.  But that will be a topic for another thread.  

 

[SWVABass]

11 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

First let me say that since getting back into fishing in '09 I almost never use a spinning rod although I have bought a few since then.  In my younger days I fished mostly live bait with small Roostertails and Beetle Spins being about the only artificial lures I ever used.  I have never fished a drop shot, Ned Rig or shakey head.  So please excuse my ignorance.  I want to start using my spinning gear more this coming season.  I plan on sticking with finesse presentations because I like my baitcasters much better for everything else.

 

1) Would you consider any spinning rod with a 1/8 oz. low rating suitable for finesse?

 

2) Would you consider a rod rated to 3/4 oz. or 1 oz. a finesse rod if it had a 1/8 oz. low rating?

 

3) Should a rod be able to cast below 1/8 oz.?

 

4) Is rod action important?  And if so

 

5) for what techniques is action important?

 

6) I know this is totally personal and subject to where and how you fish, but what rod lengths do you prefer?

 

I purchased a new spinning reel during the 25 Days of Christmas sale and want to get a rod for it.  But that will be a topic for another thread.  

1. Yes I would consider suitable for what most people define as finesse.

2. Does not fit the idea of what most people think as finesse but can you finesse a 1 oz jig yes so depends on your definition.

3. Depends again on the technique you want to throw. Dropshot maybe not a ned rig rod you might want an even lower rating.

4. To me yes

5.this was covered well by @Fishinthefish

6. I have to light rods I fish one is the ike ds rod from abu it’s 6’10” and I have another rod that’s 7’6” for throwing spybaits.

[LCG]

8 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

A rod in the 6'6 to 6'10 inch rated for medium power fast action can fill a lot of these duties, if you only want to carry one spinning rod. Look at a rod like the ST Croix Avid X AXS68MXF. That rod can handle almost all of the duties I cover with 3 rods on deck!

X2 

[new2BC4bass]

Lots of great info.  Very helpful.  Thanks a bunch guys.  Sorry 'reason', but I don't understand your post.

 

Loomis13, to answer your question...an Aetos 7' MF rated 1/16-3/4 oz. and 6-14 lb.  Picked it up at a super price from FFO.  Know I had it out once because there is a reel on it.    Another rod I'd like to use more, but I wouldn't consider for finesse is my Cielo 6'6" MHF WJS rated 1/8-1 oz. and 10-17.  It is my nicest spinning rod.  I don't understand your #5 reply.  Do you mean crankbaits are the only technique you consider actions to be important for?

 

Fishin' Fool those are pretty much the rod specs I am looking at other than a used Benkei 672L (1/16-1/4 oz., 4-8 lb.).

 

fishnkamp, good answer as always.  The only rod I still use from the old days is a 6'F Lightning rated 1/8-3/8 oz.  Has caught more fish than the total of all my new rods.  Back then I actually lived where catching fish was a given.  The reason I am considering the Benkei is to handle the weights you use the SJR 721s for.  My Fuego 6'10" MXS may be able to occupy the same space as the SJR 722, but it may not have enough sensitivity.

 

Fishinthefish, more excellent answers.  I understand not all rod's will handle what is listed on them.  I have a MHF rated from 3/8 to 1-1/4 that can barely cast a 1/2 oz. spinnerbait decent fishing distances.

 

Swbass15, one of the rods I looked at last night is an Ikes 6'10" ML-MF.  The 60/40 concept sounds interesting and the review I read was very positive.  I will admit that I have been leaning towards an XF action.  Maybe I should consider one of each.  

 

To all, I am liking the more expensive rods I have, but have never spent $200 on a rod although I have rods with MSRPs up to $300.  I hesitate spending that much on a spinning rod until I know it is one I will use a lot.

 

Thanks to all for your help.

 

EDIT: fishnkamp I would love to meet up with you and bring a few combos that you may not have handled before.  However, I'd probably drive away with the Bait Monkey sitting on my shoulder.  

[Fishin' Fool]

It seems like the Japanese rod companies have a good handle on the finesse market. Give a good consideration to the Daiwa Elite rods, Megabass (the Levante spinning rod gets good reviews on TW even though the same isn't true of the casting rod) and @WRBTom seems to always recommend Major Craft rods.

[fishnkamp]

Aw, I would be there to keep that monkey in check sorta.  Otherwise my friends that own SFT will have a good sales day.  The one person I can't afford to take there is my wife!  She can not get past those darn G Loomis rods!  I do not know if I shared this with you before, but we dated for 10 years, all through high school and college. We are coming up on our 30th wedding anniversary this summer. For our 20th I offered her a choice between a new diamond ring or another G Loomis rod. She is still fishing her G Loomis rod. It is her G2 722. 

I do not know what your time table is, but if you can wait a month, till we have some soft water again, then perhaps we could meet up on Blue Marsh Lake. I would happily haul my Lowe with me. I have not fished that lake since 1995. That way you could fish the rods and see what they actually fish like.

[tonka_blue]

Get yourself an enigma Aaron's Edge 6ft10in medium light for drop shot and an enigma Aaron's Edge 6ft11in medium for shakey heads and whatever else 

[SWVABass]

21 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Lots of great info.  Very helpful.  Thanks a bunch guys.  Sorry 'reason', but I don't understand your post.

 

Loomis13, to answer your question...an Aetos 7' MF rated 1/16-3/4 oz. and 6-14 lb.  Picked it up at a super price from FFO.  Know I had it out once because there is a reel on it.    Another rod I'd like to use more, but I wouldn't consider for finesse is my Cielo 6'6" MHF WJS rated 1/8-1 oz. and 10-17.  It is my nicest spinning rod.  I don't understand your #5 reply.  Do you mean crankbaits are the only technique you consider actions to be important for?

 

Fishin' Fool those are pretty much the rod specs I am looking at other than a used Benkei 672L (1/16-1/4 oz., 4-8 lb.).

 

fishnkamp, good answer as always.  The only rod I still use from the old days is a 6'F Lightning rated 1/8-3/8 oz.  Has caught more fish than the total of all my new rods.  Back then I actually lived where catching fish was a given.  The reason I am considering the Benkei is to handle the weights you use the SJR 721s for.  My Fuego 6'10" MXS may be able to occupy the same space as the SJR 722, but it may not have enough sensitivity.

 

Fishinthefish, more excellent answers.  I understand not all rod's will handle what is listed on them.  I have a MHF rated from 3/8 to 1-1/4 that can barely cast a 1/2 oz. spinnerbait decent fishing distances.

 

Swbass15, one of the rods I looked at last night is an Ikes 6'10" ML-MF.  The 60/40 concept sounds interesting and the review I read was very positive.  I will admit that I have been leaning towards an XF action.  Maybe I should consider one of each.  

 

To all, I am liking the more expensive rods I have, but have never spent $200 on a rod although I have rods with MSRPs up to $300.  I hesitate spending that much on a spinning rod until I know it is one I will use a lot.

 

Thanks to all for your help.

 

EDIT: fishnkamp I would love to meet up with you and bring a few combos that you may not have handled before.  However, I'd probably drive away with the Bait Monkey sitting on my shoulder.  

I will say this about the Ike rod, I did have it break between the second and third guide drop the tip. I don’t know what it just did. Abu was great though I sent them 3 photos and they replaced it for $10. I really was impressed with their customer service.

[JustJames]

I'm like you alway baitcaster guys. I have a few spinning setup and hardly ever use it. Last time I took out my spinning outfit and caught fish my right arm got tired after pull in those fish.

Spinning I got most of them light to medium light for panfish where I can cast 1/16 jighead. My main spinning is 6'8 shimano crucial for drop shot and wacky rig pair with shimano symetre 2500. The lure rate is 1/8 - 3/8 oz with extra fast tip. This rod can handle 1/16 jig head plus 1/2 zinkerz just fine.

Now to sum up you question.

1. Yes 1/8 rating is nothing as long as it got some backbone. 

2. 3/4-1 oz and finesse can't be in the same sentence lol. I happen to have again shimano crucial inshore series with rate 3/16 to 5/8oz but this rod can handle 1oz lure just fine. I use this for mostly catfish fishing.

3. Depend? 1/8 oz true weight? I think my crucial can cast zoom finesse worm weightless just fine(weight?).

4. Action? I'm still not sure. All my new rods got either fast or extra fast where I use for everything from treble hook to chatterbait to big swimbait. My old rods don't have any action listed. Let see here my casting crucial (dropshot specific) rated as Fast action, but my spinning crucial (dropshot specific) rated as Xtra Fast, go figure.

5. I don't care about action as much as long as I can feel a fish bite, that is more important to me. Most of the rod these day gonna be either fast or extra fast unless you get a crankbait rod.

6. My fav rod length  between 6'8 to 7'. I fish Jonboat and kayak and I'm 5'7 so I like it not too short not too long.

7. Sensitive rod is important but line watching is very important too. Many time especially between fall you won't feel a d**n thing but the line keep moving side way or jumping. After the fall initial then all about sensitive, I alway touch my rod with index finger if the rod have full reel seat, on hold the reel with another hand so you can touch the line.

[Loomis13]

@new2BC4bass What I meant by the crank bait comment was that, too me, there are seemingly two rod types: Those for crank baits and then those for everything else. Sure a moderate-fast might be better for spinner baits and an XF might be better for jigs but you can pretty much have crank bait rods and then rods for everything else.

 

With that being said, I do prefer an XF for some applications, but more often than not, I compensate with my line choice. For example, my crankbait rod is a Medium Fast which I have flouro on to allow me some give. 

[WRB]

On January 21, 2018 at 7:26 AM, Fishin' Fool said:

It seems like the Japanese rod companies have a good handle on the finesse market. Give a good consideration to the Daiwa Elite rods, Megabass (the Levante spinning rod gets good reviews on TW even though the same isn't true of the casting rod) and @WRBTom seems to always recommend Major Craft rods.

I recommend rods that I own and use. Don Iovino's Major Craft finesse and Splash-It rods a good rods for finesse and light weight lure presentations. Well made with high quality components and state of the art light weight rod blanks at a reasonable price.

I also use Lamiglas, Loomis, IRod, Dobyns and custom ALX rods for other specific applications. 

Spinning rods are ideally suited for light weight finesse lures using 5 lb to 7 lb test line and baitcasting for everything else.

Tom