The Best Swimbait Rod

[The Pond King]

Hey guys,

 

I'm in the market for a swimbait rod.

 

I'm really close to pulling the trigger on a Phenix M1 Swimbait Casting Rod in 8' Heavy. I've felt this rod in hand at the store and have been really impressed. For a rod of it's power and length, it's really light, balanced, and sensitive. I also like the asthetics of it as well. This would be my first rod from Phenix.

 

I've researched other brands and could not find one that I thought was better than the Phenix M1 and would like to hear your recommendations as I highly value them.

 

I don't have any budgetary restrictions. The sky is the limit, so you can recommend to me any stick whether its a good bang for the buck rod or the most high end.

 

Best regards,
The Pond King

[NorcalBassin]

Depends if you're throwing specifically treble hook swimbaits, top jig hook, 6" or 8"+, etc or if you're looking for an all around. The Phenix looks nice and gets a lot of good reviews, and the Dobyns Champion and G Loomis IMX Pro are also very solid choices. Champion 795 or 806 are nice for 6" swimbaits or treble hook swimbaits and the 807 for large (8"+) swimbaits with a jig hook like an 8-10" Hudd. The IMX Pro 965 is very similar to the Dobyns 806 (IMO), and the 966 is similar to the 807. I use the 795 for magnum topwaters and 5-7" glides and the 806 and 965 interchangeably for larger glides and Hudd 68's. 

[WRB]

Very few swimbait rods rated to 6 oz lures can actually cast swimbaits weighing over 4 oz effectively like 8" Hudds. I am not familiar with Phenix M1's, maybe it can perform well with 8" Hudds?

The fact the M1 doesn't have a fore grip eliminates this rod for me, a fore grip is essential design element for swimbait rods.

Tom

[The Pond King]

1 hour ago, NorcalBassin said:

Depends if you're throwing specifically treble hook swimbaits, top jig hook, 6" or 8"+, etc or if you're looking for an all around. The Phenix looks nice and gets a lot of good reviews, and the Dobyns Champion and G Loomis IMX Pro are also very solid choices. Champion 795 or 806 are nice for 6" swimbaits or treble hook swimbaits and the 807 for large (8"+) swimbaits with a jig hook like an 8-10" Hudd. The IMX Pro 965 is very similar to the Dobyns 806 (IMO), and the 966 is similar to the 807. I use the 795 for magnum topwaters and 5-7" glides and the 806 and 965 interchangeably for larger glides and Hudd 68's. 

 

Hi NorcalBassin! I'm looking for an all around rod. The IMX-PRO 965C SWBR looks real nice. 

 

15 minutes ago, WRB said:

Very few swimbait rods rated to 6 oz lures can actually cast swimbaits weighing over 4 oz effectively like 8" Hudds. I am not familiar with Phenix M1's, maybe it can perform well with 8" Hudds?

The fact the M1 doesn't have a fore grip eliminates this rod for me, a fore grip is essential design element for swoimbait rods.

Tom

You're right, WRB. I agree with ya. I was thinking the same thing: this rod, while rated up to 6oz, it's sweet spot would probably be around 3-4 ounces. 

[blckshirt98]

If you're going the go with Phenix for a swimbait rod go with an M1 Inshore rod like the SMX-90H instead (it has a foregrip), though the 9'0" one-piece length might be tough to drive around with.

 

If cost really is no object maybe look into getting a custom swimbait rod by MOAM.  Once you have a deposit made Cam will communicate with you one-on-one to help you with what you're looking for in a swimbait rod.

[WRB]

Okuma SBX 2-10 oz swimbait rod looks ideal for 8" Hudds and lures in the 3 to 5 oz range. Dobyns 807 series rods are very popular for for swimbaits in the same 3-5 oz range. Going up to 7 oz lures like 250 Deps you need 3-10 lure weight rated extra heavy swimbait rods IMO. 

Tom

PS, haven't fished with SBX rods, the GS A series rods tend to be under powered and slower action for thier rating but good for treble hook lures.

[Smalls]

Lowdown Customs, hands down. Not something I can afford right now, but I’ve tried their 7’ 9 MH. When my change bucket gets full, I’ll be ordering one. 

[GreenPig]

I have really enjoyed my Daiwa DX swimbait rods. The rods come in four weight ratings for $110 a piece. They're typically in stock and no custom wait. I'm by no means claiming they're the best.

[freelancer27]

Dobyns 867

[MassYak85]

12 hours ago, Smalls said:

Lowdown Customs, hands down. Not something I can afford right now, but I’ve tried their 7’ 9 MH. When my change bucket gets full, I’ll be ordering one. 

I was going to say, if budget is truly not a factor I think custom is the way to go unless you need it ASAP and want to avoid lead times. 

[Smalls]

11 hours ago, MassYak85 said:

I was going to say, if budget is truly not a factor I think custom is the way to go unless you need it ASAP and want to avoid lead times. 

Yeah, and F5 and Lowdown will occasionally have a few batches of pre made rods in stock. Not often, but a few times a year. Just have to keep an eye on their sites

[The Pond King]

@GreenPig I have considered the Daiwa DX's as well. The DX's look like a good rod for the money, but I am looking for a something a little nicer. 

 

@MassYak85 and @Smalls I'm not sure how I feel about going custom. It's just that I've never gone custom before, so I'm not that comfortable venturing into the unknown in this case. 

 

Thanks to everyone here who's helped make recommendations and suggestions. i really appreciate it. It has helped me a lot to choose confidently now. 

[Smalls]

While LD offers custom rods, most of what they offer is just not “pre made”. They have a few varieties of popular lengths/actions, and start the build when someone orders it. 

 

But if not going that route, I know a bunch of guys that rave over the iRod Genesis rods. I haven’t fished one, but I’ve never heard a bad thing about them. They’re priced really well, too. 

[REB]

I throw a Vexan 8’6” XXH in salt water. Throwing 8” to 10” mullet, well. I can pull big Snook and Reds from under docks with  60lb braid and 80lb leader. I have a 9’ rated for 16 oz baits I use on the beach for Tarpon.

 

[FrankN209]

I heard the Megabass Destroyer Onager is a pretty good swimbait rod...