Weightless Plastic Casting Rod

[BillNye]

Currently I have two rods that I use when I go out fishing on the Kayak.  A MH/XF Powell Inferno casting rod with a Revo STX and a ML/XF Powell Diesel spinning rod with a Pflueger President.  I use the Inferno for Spinnerbaits, Jigs, Buzzbaits and frogs while using the ML for Wacky rigging, light T-rigs and weightless plastic.  I really like my ML rod and its fun to fight fish on it but I'm finding as the weeds start to grow in its becoming hard to put my plastics where they need to be and fight the fish out of cover.  I'm looking for a rod that has a little more backbone but still can throw lighter lures.  I find the gap between the ML and MH rods to be substantial and the Inferno feels very stiff and its difficult to cast light lures on it.  I would like to stick with a casting rod as I prefer a casting reel over a spinning set up.  Any suggestions on a rod I should check out?  I'm looking to spend ~$150 dollars.  I was thinking I would pair this with a Curado or a Tatula reel.  

[LionHeart]

If you get a chance to handle a Falcon Bucoo SR, they have a medium heavy rated 3/16-5/8 ounce.  If I wasn't afraid of my wife, I'd get that exact rod for light plastics.

 

To me, it feels like it was made for that purpose.

[Robert Riley]

I've got an e6x 803c jwr, thats 6'8" MH/XF. It's a great rod for lighter plastics and jigs. You can probably find one on sale, they were recently closed out (Mine was like $110 before discounts/coupons). I would also mention that the backbone of a spinning rod will be much different than the backbone from the casting rod. So you could definitely find your answer in a medium or medium light. 

[CroakHunter]

7' medium daiwa fuego. Way under budget, can be had for around $60 or less. And it matches up perfect with a tatula ct type r

[Turkey sandwich]

There are tons of great rods around that price range.  I own St. Croix Mojo and Fenwick Aetos rods around that price point and both fish fantastic.  

[BillNye]

Thanks for all the suggestions.  Should I be looking for a medium or medium light rod since casting rods seem to have more power?  I also know that power ratings between companies can be quite different.   I would say a powell medium heavy is more on the heavy side than medium but I dont have much experience with higher priced rods.

[SMITTY0045]

I would look into the mojo bass line up. Their spinning rods tend to have more backbon without sacrificing casting ability and sensitivity

[LionHeart]

2 hours ago, BillNye said:

Thanks for all the suggestions.  Should I be looking for a medium or medium light rod since casting rods seem to have more power?  I also know that power ratings between companies can be quite different.   I would say a powell medium heavy is more on the heavy side than medium but I dont have much experience with higher priced rods.

Good question but not a simple answer.  Every company rates their rods a little differently.  One company's medium heavy may feel like another company's medium.

 

Believe it or not, the best way to tell would be to physically examine the rod and decide for yourself.  

 

The Falcon rod in my opinion is half way between medium and medium heavy.  Perfect.

 

If you have a store that sells it within an hour and a half, go handle it for yourself.  Buying a rod with the right action and power is well worth a bit of a drive IMO.

[BillNye]

Thanks for the suggestion.  The closest store I have to me is a bass pro about an hour and a half away.   Ill have to make the drive and check out their selection.

[Junger]

I have the Powell Max3D 714 MHEF spinning rod, and I've thrown weightless and wacky senkos on it in heavy cover. It has plenty of power and can throw those easily.

 

I've also thrown weightless senkos on a Daiwa Tatula 6'10 MH/F casting rod, but they go farther on the spinning rod.

 

[BillNye]

Im not sure if its the rod or reel but throwing wacky rigs and light plastics is really tough on my mh set up.  Even with a half ounce spinner on the line I cant throw them as far as my spinning set up can throw weightless plastics.

 

I have my stx with only two centrifugal breaks on and the lowest friction and magnetic break settings possible.  I got the stx last summer for 80 bucks otherwise I would have gotten a tatula.

[Junger]

17 minutes ago, BillNye said:

Im not sure if its the rod or reel but throwing wacky rigs and light plastics is really tough on my mh set up.  Even with a half ounce spinner on the line I cant throw them as far as my spinning set up can throw weightless plastics.

 

I have my stx with only two centrifugal breaks on and the lowest friction and magnetic break settings possible.  I got the stx last summer for 80 bucks otherwise I would have gotten a tatula.

Yes, that will always be the case because it's a casting vs spinning set up. You should be fine with a MH/F spinning set up for your weightless stuff though, lots of good options for under $100.

[new2BC4bass]

I personally would rather fish a MH in weeds.  Many are rated 1/4-3/4 oz.  Since you don't like a stiff rod, I wouldn't look for a MH in lines that are known to fish a bit heavy....such as Abu and St. Croix.  Look to Falcon as a possible  MH choice.  If you can go over the $150, then take a look at Hammer.

 

If you are looking at buying a Medium power then this is a very nice rod.  Check out Tackletour's review of it.

 

Okuma Helios 7' M    list $179.99 Amazon $121.34

 

No idea if the handles on any of the rods would be to your liking.

[Catt]

Powell Inferno 703 MH CEF  ?

[thinkingredneck]

I fish weightless plastics on a M St Croix Mojo Casting rod.   LOVE IT

[BigAngus752]

On 6/15/2018 at 1:53 AM, CroakHunter said:

7' medium daiwa fuego. Way under budget, can be had for around $60 or less. And it matches up perfect with a tatula ct type r

^^^this^^^  Or, since you already already own a Revo, last Sunday I walked into my local Field and Stream and found an unadvertised special.  I bought a Gen 4 Revo SX for $99 (normally $149) and I got a Vendetta for free.  I have two Vendettas, one in MH fast and one in M/moderate.  The M/M would work for you.  But if that sale is still happening it will end today and it's in stores only at Field and Stream or Dicks.  But I still prefer a Tatula CT or SV over the Revo SX.  Nothing wrong with the Revo, just personal preference.  

[The Fisher]

19 hours ago, BillNye said:

Thanks for the suggestion.  The closest store I have to me is a bass pro about an hour and a half away.   Ill have to make the drive and check out their selection.

I’d call first to see what they have. Or you can go to their website and look at the rods you are interested in and see if they are in stock at your store. You can save a lot of time and gas.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

"Weightless " is a misnomer. A 5" senko is plenty hefty enough for a mh casting rig.  A 4" trick worm, not so much. Point is, you need to know the weight of what you'll be throwing and make decisions accordingly. 

[fishwizzard]

On 6/16/2018 at 5:38 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

"Weightless " is a misnomer. A 5" senko is plenty hefty enough for a mh casting rig.  A 4" trick worm, not so much. Point is, you need to know the weight of what you'll be throwing and make decisions accordingly. 

A $10 digital scale was one of the best fishing investment I have made.  It amazed me how much plastics in general weigh and how most hardbaits are pretty far off from their listed weight. 

 

A 5" GYCB Senko is right around 3/8oz, a bit more with hook.

 

A 6" Zoom Trickworm w/ 3/0 hook is right around 1/4oz.  

 

 

[BassFisher22]

Could not recommend a Dobyns Fury 703c more. It is incredibly sensitive and has plenty of power to crank fish out of the weeds.

[grub_man]

A little more specificity on which particular weightless plastics you will be fishing would be a big help, as mentioned.

 

Senkos, Super Flukes, 6" trick worms and the like cast just fine on a MH fast action 1/4-3/4oz worm/jig rod.  Smaller things like the fluke are a tougher challenge for casting gear.  The best casting rod I built for the purpose is a 1 power spin jig blank 6'6" L fast action 1/16 - 5/16oz.  It's a great build for bank runners, but really doesn't have the backbone I like for 3lb+ fish.  So, most of the time I fish little flukes and such on my 6'10" M power extra fast action 1/8 - 1/2 oz (similar to a St. Croix 6'8" MXF rod).  The tip is soft like a ML fast action, but locks up into a solid backbone.  Something along these lines will likely be your best bet.  I know the St. Croix line matches up best with my expectations in terms of power and action, as well as compares favorably to most of the blanks I build on.  I think you should have a few different options from St. Croix close to your budget on SCIII graphite, which is the sweet spot for getting a lightweight sensitive blank without going obscenely over budget.

 

I'm not afraid to take that rod, fling a fluke back in the pads with 8 lb mono (dense weeds are more of an exception on most of the waters I fish).  Most of the time a good hook set will get the fish moving towards me as long as you don't let them take the plastic and run with it.  If not, then I might need to go in after them.  If cover conditions dictate, you either need to be willing to go and extract the fish or use the rod that will get them out, and if that means it's the more powerful rod, then train up that thumb.