Rod recommendation needed

[FryDog62]

Looking for a rod in the $250-350 range, 7’-3” to 7’-6” rated to approx 1.25-1.5 oz that can cast far and drag things like a heavy Hardhead/Biffle Bug or 3/4 oz Strike King Jointed Structure Jig/trailer along the bottom.  Keys here are something for making longer casts, and sensitive to maintain bottom contact on fast retrieves in 10-25 Fow.  Thanks - 

[PAbasser927]

Dobyns Champion Extreme DX 745C would fit the bill perfectly for this.

[FryDog62]

55 minutes ago, PAbasser927 said:

Dobyns Champion Extreme DX 745C would fit the bill perfectly for this.

Thank you... I have a couple Dobyns and like them for their balance but haven’t found them to be particularly sensitive bottom contact rods.  Maybe just me though, that is a well regarded rod for sure...

[Junger]

Take a look at some of the Megabass Orochi offerings for your spec range. I have the 2017 EMTF and love it for my light cover jigs/trigs. It's the first rod where I noticed hits on slack line (14lb FC), even thrown way far out like 40+ yards.

[FryDog62]

2 minutes ago, Junger said:

Take a look at some of the Megabass Orochi offerings for your spec range. I have the 2017 EMTF and love it for my light cover jigs/trigs. It's the first rod where I noticed hits on slack line (14lb FC), even thrown way far out like 40+ yards.

Interesting situation on my end... I actually had a new Orochi Perfect Pitch for this purpose - dragging the 1 oz jigs/lures... but it snapped while casting last weekend.  That’s why I think I need something rated closer to 1.5 oz.  

 

The 7’-2” Perfect Pitch did “ok” in terms of casting distance, but I think something 7-3 to 7-6 would be better.  The EMTF would be a great length but is only rated to 1 oz.  I have a Braillist too, great rod just wish they had a similar model a tad beefier to toss a 1 oz + trailer.  

[five-bites]

1 minute ago, FryDog62 said:

Interesting situation on my end... I actually had a new Orochi Perfect Pitch for this purpose - dragging the 1 oz jigs/lures... but it snapped while casting last weekend.  That’s why I think I need something rated closer to 1.5 oz.  

 

The 7’-2” Perfect Pitch did “ok” in terms of casting distance, but I think something 7-3 to 7-6 would be better.  The EMTF would be a great length but is only rated to 1 oz.  I have a Braillist too, great rod just wish they had a similar model a tad beefier to toss a 1 oz + trailer.  

Ouch are they going to take care of you on it?

 

If you’d consider a custom build look into the mhx elite-x 873.5 blank. I just finished mine up and I believe it’s going to be excellent for this technique. 

[Junger]

3 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

Interesting situation on my end... I actually had a new Orochi Perfect Pitch for this purpose - dragging the 1 oz jigs/lures... but it snapped while casting last weekend.  That’s why I think I need something rated closer to 1.5 oz.  

 

The 7’-2” Perfect Pitch did “ok” in terms of casting distance, but I think something 7-3 to 7-6 would be better.  The EMTF would be a great length but is only rated to 1 oz.  I have a Braillist too, great rod just wish they had a similar model a tad beefier to toss a 1 oz + trailer.  

Yeah, the EMTF definitely has its limits, I won't go over 1/2oz with trailer on it. Maybe call up the guys at American Legacy Fishing, or Tackle Trap, they're great resources too.

[FryDog62]

27 minutes ago, five-bites said:

Ouch are they going to take care of you on it?

 

If you’d consider a custom build look into the mhx elite-x 873.5 blank. I just finished mine up and I believe it’s going to be excellent for this technique. 

Yes, Megabass USA has been great to deal with.  I will receive a new Perfect Pitch under warranty but will probably use it as a frog rod.  So, I still need something to drag the 1oz + lures on the bottom.

 

I’m not familiar with the blank you suggested.  Is it a Loomis blank?  And how long, lure weight rating, etc?

[five-bites]

MHX is the brand. Here is a link to that exact blank. They make a 4 power also. 

 

Mine finished at 3.7oz which isn’t to shabby for a rod with this much power and 7’3” long. 

[FryDog62]

11 minutes ago, five-bites said:

MHX is the brand. Here is a link to that exact blank. They make a 4 power also. 

 

Mine finished at 3.7oz which isn’t to shabby for a rod with this much power and 7’3” long. 

Thx, doesn’t look like the link attached.  Do you know how heavy a lure the blank is rated for?  i.e. 1.5 oz

[five-bites]

Dangit. Here you go http://www.mudhole.com/MHX-Elite-X-Rod-Blank-NMB873.5

 

 

It says one ounce but it’s a stout rod. The 874 might be more up your alley. 

[tim_kovar]

If you want to stay in the Orochi XX lineup you will definitely want to step up the Aaron Martins Flipping Special.  I am not sure what model that equates to on the new 2018 lineup, but I have that Aaron Martins Rod and it is awesome for 3/4 oz. and 1 oz.  I use it for punching and heavy flipping with those two weights.  It is a little longer than what you mentioned though at 7'9". 

 

A couple other great options would be a Dobyns Champion Extreme HP 746 or G. Loomis IMX Pro Casting Rod 7'3" Extra Hvy 875C CRR.   

[Dwight Hottle]

Take a hard look at a Kistler Helium 3 heavy extra fast in 7'-3" or 7'-6". Perfect for your specs. 

[FryDog62]

1 hour ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Take a hard look at a Kistler Helium 3 heavy extra fast in 7'-3" or 7'-6". Perfect for your specs. 

The 7-6 Helium might be a great suggestion.  I have and like the 7-3 Helium, Dwight have you fished the 7-6?  The 7-3 is a light, sensitive rod - just wondering if you give anything up if you go a little longer (i.e. tip heavy, etc.).  The extra length should help get more distance anyway...

[Dwight Hottle]

25 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

The 7-6 Helium might be a great suggestion.  I have and like the 7-3 Helium, Dwight have you fished the 7-6?  The 7-3 is a light, sensitive rod - just wondering if you give anything up if you go a little longer (i.e. tip heavy, etc.).  The extra length should help get more distance anyway...

No I haven't fished the 7'-6" model. I have the 7'-3" and have been very happy with it. If you want the 7-6 give Trey Kistler a call & ask his advice. I have talked to him and found him very approachable & willing to share his knowledge of the product. Since the heliums are so light I don't think the 7-6 would be tip heavy compared to the 7-3. Good luck with your quest for "the one".

[jbrew73]

I’ve been very satisfied using my Falcon Amistad with up to 11/16oz biffle heads.

[WRB]

10 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

Looking for a rod in the $250-350 range, 7’-3” to 7’-6” rated to approx 1.25-1.5 oz that can cast far and drag things like a heavy Hardhead/Biffle Bug or 3/4 oz Strike King Jointed Structure Jig/trailer along the bottom.  Keys here are something for making longer casts, and sensitive to maintain bottom contact on fast retrieves in 10-25 Fow.  Thanks - 

My standard jig casting distance is between about 40 yds/120' in 10' to 35' of water with casts to 50 yds/150' if I feel it p's needed. The jig I fish 80% of the is 7/16 oz hair jig with pork rind trailer and if needed 3/4" jig do to wind conditions.

So tell me why do you think a 7'3"-7'6" rod rated to 1 1/2 oz is needed? Do you casts longer distance then 50 yds?

The longer rod may give you a few additional yards if you have the skills to cast over 50 yds. The longer rod has little affect on jig hook sets over 35 yds, it's a combination of reeling quickly with a high speed reel that retreives several feet of line followed by a rod sweep into tightened line. I have been doing for about 38 years using 6'10" 5 power rod very successfully with mono line!

Take a look at ALX Dragger rod, it's everything you want.

Tom

[FryDog62]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

My standard jig casting distance is between about 40 yds/120' in 10' to 35' of water with casts to 50 yds/150' if I feel it p's needed. The jig I fish 80% of the is 7/16 oz hair jig with pork rind trailer and if needed 3/4" jig do to wind conditions.

So tell me why do you think a 7'3"-7'6" rod rated to 1 1/2 oz is needed? Do you casts longer distance then 50 yds?

The longer rod may give you a few additional yards if you have the skills to cast over 50 yds. The longer rod has little affect on jig hook sets over 35 yds, it's a combination of reeling quickly with a high speed reel that retreives several feet of line followed by a rod sweep into tightened line. I have been doing for about 38 years using 6'10" 5 power rod very successfully with mono line!

Take a look at ALX Dragger rod, it's everything you want.

Tom

Thanks Tom, I will look at the Dragger.  Reason I am leaning towards a rod rated to 1.5 oz is because I broke off the top 13 inches off of a new 7’-2” Orochi Perfect Pitch rated to 1.2 oz while casting a 1 oz lure.  Was I casting hard and getting some snap - yes.  But I don’t think I was overcasting either.  Might either need a rod with a slightly higher weight rating, or a longer one that doesn’t require as much effort to cast far... or maybe both? 

[WRB]

You can't whip cast a baitcaster like spinning. Let the rod load up and luanch the lure, it take lots of practice. If you broke a rod casting it something was defective in the rod or it was damaged somehow.

The parabolic the rod the easier it is to cast, i.e.; crankbait rod for example. Problem the rod moderate action tends to dampen line movements. Xfast action are the most difficult to cast because only the top 25% tends to bend launching a lure. Ideally you need the rod to bend 50% during your casting motion to luanch lure Maxiumum distance. Your budget is enough to have a custom rod made to your specifications and that is what I do. Contact Alex at ALX and others to get thier input, ideal guide train, blank and handle etc.

Tom

[FryDog62]

On 9/20/2018 at 7:36 PM, WRB said:

You can't whip cast a baitcaster like spinning. Let the rod load up and luanch the lure, it take lots of practice. If you broke a rod casting it something was defective in the rod or it was damaged somehow.

The parabolic the rod the easier it is to cast, i.e.; crankbait rod for example. Problem the rod moderate action tends to dampen line movements. Xfast action are the most difficult to cast because only the top 25% tends to bend launching a lure. Ideally you need the rod to bend 50% during your casting motion to luanch lure Maxiumum distance. Your budget is enough to have a custom rod made to your specifications and that is what I do. Contact Alex at ALX and others to get thier input, ideal guide train, blank and handle etc.

Tom

Good points Tom, I’ll try to articulate what I do and why I’m looking for a specific rod.  

 

The video below was done by someone I know on waters that I fish... and it works.  It’s basically dragging jigs over a boulder field.  He talks about the type of rod needed at the 6:30, 9:30 and 14:30 marks.  Long rod, bomb casts to keep the Lure in the strike zone the longest, and very sensitive to feel the bottom.  It’s a 7’-5” with a fast tip and backbone.  The rod is actually an Orochi EMTF, but I’ve talked to Ryan and the new Braillist wasn’t released yet and that would be the best scenario for a 1/2 oz or 11/16 oz jig. 

 

Well, that’s the rod I have for this and do this in 8-12 fow.  Works great. 

 

But now add in a different twist - Mille Lacs.  Boulder fields are the key again, but the depths are more likely 18-24 fow.  The 11/16 is too light.  Keith Combs won the Elite tournament on Mille Lacs last fall dragging 1 oz jigs over the rocks. 

 

But now my Braillist is too light too.  On the deeper rocks on Mille Lacs, I either use a 1 oz jig, a 3/4 oz Strike King Jointed Structure Head + trailer, or a 1 oz Dark Sleeper... all to “grind” along the bottom/boulders. 

 

So I move up to a Heavy Orochi 7’-2” Perfect Pitch.  Am launching these heavier lures as far as possible so they can run parallel to the bottom in the strike zone as long as possible.  

 

Long casts, but not obnoxiously long... then “Snap.”

 

So, is the key here a longer rod you don’t have to cast as hard, or is it one rated for heavier lures.  Or both...?

 

I would think there’s an existing rod on the market that does this not just ok - but extremely well.  If not, I could go the customized route - but then what are the specs to build to - length, power, taper, etc?

[WRB]

The vedio is basically horizontal jigging using a Biffle bug on a swing jig.

 I wrote a article for In-Fisherman back in '95 tilt led Horizontal Jigging. The presentation and hook set shown was detailed in this article. Oldschool Horizontal Jigging thread on this site in 2012 may be worth reading.

I changed from Daiwa 6.3:1 Alpha reels to Tatula R100 with 8:1 to improve reel sets with rod sweeps using long casts.

If you contact ALX, Alex reference my S/N 201204, custom rod MB916NG+, rated for 3/8- 1 1/4 oz. This rod weighs 3.8 oz with a 2" Fore grip. If you are comfortable using 7'4" then that is what you need.

Tom

[fishballer06]

The EMTF is definitely not the power you want for this. It's sweet spot is the 5/16-1/2oz range. 

 

I would recommend the Shimano Expride 7'2" Heavy power. Or I believe they make a similar rod in a 7'6" as well. 

[FryDog62]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

The vedio is basically horizontal jigging using a Biffle bug on a swing jig.

 I wrote a article for In-Fisherman back in '95 tilt led Horizontal Jigging. The presentation and hook set shown was detailed in this article. Oldschool Horizontal Jigging thread on this site in 2012 may be worth reading.

I changed from Daiwa 6.3:1 Alpha reels to Tatula R100 with 8:1 to improve reel sets with rod sweeps using long casts.

If you contact ALX, Alex reference my S/N 201204, custom rod MB916NG+, rated for 3/8- 1 1/4 oz. This rod weighs 3.8 oz with a 2" Fore grip. If you are comfortable using 7'4" then that is what you need.

Tom

Tom if you have the phone # for ALX and a link to that article, I’d enjoy reading it.  Thx

[WRB]

58 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

Tom if you have the phone # for ALX and a link to that article, I’d enjoy reading it.  Thx

ALX is 866/628.5052, ask for Alex, they are in Aiken SC and should be OK, no flooding.

Dobyns is 903/919.8028, Gary may be at Lake Mead for the US Open

PM your email and will send a Horizontal Jigging article.

Tom

[NathanDLTH]

Following. Lots good info here. Wow.