Finesse spinning gear set up

[Brad Carruth]

I'm looking into getting a spinning reel & rod for finesse applications such as wacky rig, neko, ned & ect. I'm clueless when it comes to spinning gear b/c I've always fished baitcasters. What size spinning reel along with what power rod would you all recommend? I've been looking at either the Shimano Sienna or the Catana possibly paired with a 6'9" M Phenix Feather. Side note: instead of spending $250+ on the Shimano Scorpion BFS, it would cost around $100 for a shallowing bfs spool & bearings for my scorpion 70hg. Would that be a viable option as opposed to buying spinning gear? I appreciate any input as to what you guys prefer!

[GeekOutdoors]

I own 2 "finesse" combos.

 

One is a Fenwick HMG 6'9" ML/F for ned rigs, paired with a Shimano Sedona 1000FE upgraded with carbon drag washer.

 

The other is a Fenwick Elite Tech Bass 6'10" ML/XF as my drop shot rod, still paired with a Sedona 1000FE with upgraded carbon drag washer. I put 1000 size reels on to keep weight to the lightest.

[MN Fisher]

My spinning finesse rig is on the lower end of the price spectrum - out of necessity because of a fixed income.

 

Garcia Mitchel Avocet RZ-2000 on a matched 6'6" ML/F Avocet rod with 8# mono.

 

Ned Rigs, texas rigged worms with 1/16oz weight, drop-shots and size 0-2 inline spinners get worked with this setup.

[SevenYearsDown]

My favorite is my Daiwa Presso UL rod + a Shimano Sienna 500 with 4lb McCoy line. Caught so much trout and blue gill with it. Mine is the 4piece and it feels like a one piece. Cost me less than $90 for this set up if you know how to shop.

 

The one I am trying out now is a Daiwa Liberty, 5' Light action with a Daiwa BG 1500. Not quite finesse but it can definitely throw light lures. I use this for Mackerels on the pier and spotted bass on the beach/jetty and for trout/crappie/blue gill. Rod cost me $60 (very good telescopic rod) and $70 for the reel.

[BoatSquirrel]

How about a medium action 6’10” Shimano Curado paired with a Daiwa Tatula 2500?  15 lb PowerPro to 8 lb Seaguar Red leader and you are there man!  

Spinning gear is your friend!  It is not the wind-knotting headache it once was and will make you a MUCH more diverse fisherman.  Just use braid to a leader and whatever combo you wind up with will be fine.

[Darren.]

A ML to M power spinning rod will do all those techniques well, IMO.

I fish almost all spinning these days, but I did do an experiment where

I went all casting for everything. For "finesse" as defined in your post,

my rod of choice was (is) a ML Carbonlite casting rod, 6'6" paired with

a Chronarch 50e. Could do just about everything.

 

But I'm not doing that anymore because I came to the conclusion that 

while I *could* do so, I was more productive with spinning, especially

in the skipping, and very light weight lure area. Winds are simply easier

to deal with using spinning gear -- though I did do well with casting in

windy conditions. Backlashes are inevitable, and can spoil a day.

 

That's something to chew on or ignore, just my .02.

 

As for sizes of spinning reels, I go with 1000 Stradics paired with 10 or

15# Power Pro, and I always roll with a leader, typically 6, 8, or 10#.

The "standard" for bass fishing is a 2500 size. Really no need to go bigger

unless, perhaps you fish really deep waters.

 

So M or ML rod and a 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, or 3000 reel. Go with the

one that tickles your fancy , including wallet.

[Brad Carruth]

4 hours ago, BoatSquirrel said:

How about a medium action 6’10” Shimano Curado paired with a Daiwa Tatula 2500?  15 lb PowerPro to 8 lb Seaguar Red leader and you are there man!  

Spinning gear is your friend!  It is not the wind-knotting headache it once was and will make you a MUCH more diverse fisherman.  Just use braid to a leader and whatever combo you wind up with will be fine.

I fish strictly braid to floro or mono on all my casting reels. I've read that some braid doesn't work well with spinning reels, but clearly PowerPro does. Hopefully the Vicious No-Fade braid will also play nice with spinning gear since thats usually the only braid I use. As far as your 2500 size Daiwa, I'm assuming thats a larger reel, are you able to easily fish all finesse applications? 

[Landis Carrier]

I’m using a Dobyns Sierra 692SF (6ft 9in) with a Pfluger President and 6lb flouro. Works for me. 

[JoeyT]

Being a finesse angler, I have several set ups.  Drop shot is a 6'10" gloomis DS rod with Stella 2500. Wacky/neko rig 7' med fast action avid x with stradic. Then I have a BPS carbonlite 6'9" med light extra fast with ultera for very light stuff like Trd rig or small shallow tubes or spy baiting. The carbine light is actually a very nice rod and I was so impressed I have a jerkbait and jig casting rod.  Bass pro puts these on sale every now and then for a reasonable price. If you are looking to get one rod/reel to o all of the above I would look at a 7' med extra fast with 3000 size reel. That should cover it. 

[new2BC4bass]

I picked up a used Major Craft Benkei 6'7" L 2-piece spinning rod for Ned Rigs.  This is a bass specific rod not a whippy JDM trout rod.  Got a BG 1500 for it at a good price.

 

From what I have read about the Feather series I think you will like it.  Opinion is the Feather fishes light.  Have never used either Shimano.

 

Can't help with the Scorpion 70.  I have read that spools can make a big difference, but the only one I've tried is a Presso spool in a Sol.  At the time I tried it I didn't have any experience with lighter weights (below 1/4 oz.).  Need to try it again to see how well my experiment worked out now that I can cast a true 3/16 oz. quite a ways.

 

 

[BoatSquirrel]

6 hours ago, Brad Carruth said:

I fish strictly braid to floro or mono on all my casting reels. I've read that some braid doesn't work well with spinning reels, but clearly PowerPro does. Hopefully the Vicious No-Fade braid will also play nice with spinning gear since thats usually the only braid I use. As far as your 2500 size Daiwa, I'm assuming thats a larger reel, are you able to easily fish all finesse applications? 

The 2500 is a midsize reel that will match a ML action rod and work with 15 lb braid.  Vicious braid should be fine.

[The Bassman]

12 hours ago, BoatSquirrel said:

 

Spinning gear is your friend!  It is not the wind-knotting headache it once was and will make you a MUCH more diverse fisherman.  

What he said.

[The Fisher]

I use a St Croix Avid X 6’9” ML Extra Fast with a Daiwa LT 2000 for my Ned Rig and small jigs 

[mwh33]

I have a 2018 megabass orochi shakyhead rod paired with a shimano stradic ci4 that I use for shakyheads, small swimbaits. I have a dobyns dx 742 paired with shimano exsence for dropshotting, flick shakes, and ned rigs. I also have a dobyns champion 703 paired with a shimano stradic fj I use for small swimbaits, small finesse jigs, and small texas rigs.