Dedicated Sammy/Spook/Walk the Dog Rod

[microotter]

This has recently become my favorite technique. I have had success using both casting and spinning gear to throw sammy 85 and 100’s and Super spook jrs and don’t really prefer one method over the other. I have caught nice bass on everything from a 7’ ml fast spinning rod with 8lb copoly to a 7’ mhxf casting rod with 40lb braid.  I am curious what rods (power & action) and reels you guys use for these baits? I also recently bought a couple megabass pop max, but have yet to use them. Looking to see if I can be using a better setup for this technique. So far I have had pretty good luck on a wide range of setups, but would like to have a dedicated rod. 

 

I currently own the following rods:

1. Spinning: 7’ mlf

2. Spinning: 6’mf

3. Spinning: 6’6” mf

4. Casting: 7’1” mxf

5. Casting: 6’6” mf

6. Casting: 7’ hf

7. Casting: 6’6” mlmf

 

Would any of these be ideal for walking the dog? Mostly fishing from shore and I am tall so hitting my rod off the ground or water is not a huge concern. 

[J Francho]

I use a 6'2" MXF for that.  Out of what you already have, the 6'6" MF would be a good choice.

[ResoKP]

How much are you willing to spend? Megabass is coming out with a couple of new additions to the Destroyer lineup and one of them is a dedicated Dog-X Diamante & PopMax rod.

 

F4.5-71X Otomat - taper: regular, lure rating: 1/4oz-3/4oz, line rating: 8-20lb.

 

Traditionally, poppers and walk-the-dog lures are fished on shorter (6'6"-6'9") medium fast action rods but it seems like Megabass is going with the opposite. Would be interesting to see how well this rod received once available on the market.

[Largies4Life]

15 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I use a 6'2" MXF for that.  Out of what you already have, the 6'6" MF would be a good choice.

X2 for 6'6" MF, would be a very good option for your "walk the dog" baits.

[microotter]

Do you guys prefer spinning or casting for topwaters? I can’t decide which technique I prefer. I kind of like twitching the rod with my dominant right hand on my spinning setup, but also like slinging baits quicker with a casting reel. I use rh casting reels and almost want to try a lh for this combo. It seems crazy buying a lh reel though. 

My 66 spinning is an avid and 66 casting is an older triumph. The triumph is my oldest and maybe cheapest rod and is most due for an upgrade, but I have kept it around for it’s versatility. 

[ResoKP]

7 minutes ago, microotter said:

Do you guys prefer spinning or casting for topwaters? I can’t decide which technique I prefer. I kind of like twitching the rod with my dominant right hand on my spinning setup, but also like slinging baits quicker with a casting reel. I use rh casting reels and almost want to try a lh for this combo. It seems crazy buying a lh reel though. 

My 66 spinning is an avid and 66 casting is an older triumph. The triumph is my oldest and maybe cheapest rod and is most due for an upgrade, but I have kept it around for it’s versatility. 

Casting for me. Because unlike spinning where you have a pendulum-like weight of the spool swinging below the rod on every twitch, with casting, I can be more precise with "walking-the-dog" and do tighter/cleaner twitches.

[Tizi]

I use a 6'10" MXF same as I use for jerkbait fishing.

[jbsoonerfan]

I use a 6'8" MF so I would use the 6'6" MF if it were me.

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, microotter said:

Do you guys prefer spinning or casting for topwaters? I can’t decide which technique I prefer. I kind of like twitching the rod with my dominant right hand on my spinning setup, but also like slinging baits quicker with a casting reel. I use rh casting reels and almost want to try a lh for this combo. It seems crazy buying a lh reel though. 

My 66 spinning is an avid and 66 casting is an older triumph. The triumph is my oldest and maybe cheapest rod and is most due for an upgrade, but I have kept it around for it’s versatility. 

Why?  Lot of us use both hands.  A side benefit is you no longer have to pass on great deals because the reel isn't RH.  (I should mention the Bait Monkey is a good friend of mine so I try to steer people his way.  )

[5by3]

The 6’6 MF would work fine. 

 

If you plan to buy a new one, I might bump it up to a 7’0-7’3 rod for better casting distance. 

 

When im throwing spooks, I’m usually bombing long casts over shallow grass flats. I throw mine on a dobyns 705cb glass.

[microotter]

1 hour ago, ResoKP said:

How much are you willing to spend? Megabass is coming out with a couple of new additions to the Destroyer lineup and one of them is a dedicated Dog-X Diamante & PopMax rod.

 

F4.5-71X Otomat - taper: regular, lure rating: 1/4oz-3/4oz, line rating: 8-20lb.

 

Traditionally, poppers and walk-the-dog lures are fished on shorter (6'6"-6'9") medium fast action rods but it seems like Megabass is going with the opposite. Would be interesting to see how well this rod received once available on the market.

Does regular taper equal fast?

[CountryboyinDC]

My absolutely favorite way to fish.  I use a St. Croix Premier 6'6 MF casting rod.  Anything longer and the rod tip ends up in the water when I pop it on slack line.  I use the same rod for all my topwater plugs unless it's something huge like a 130 Whopper Plopper or something pretty tiny that doesn't cast well with a baitcaster.  I use 12 lb mono, so I don't feel the fast taper is too fast with the trebles.

[Bankbeater]

I like a 6’6” for walking baits. It’s easier for me to make the bait walk with the shorter rod. 

[BoatSquirrel]

Regardless of brand, braid to leader on a long medium action rod.  When they eat it just reel, sweep set, and haul them in- just like on a crankbait.

[J Francho]

16 hours ago, microotter said:

Do you guys prefer spinning or casting for topwaters?

It all comes down to the weight of the bait.  Less than 1/4 oz., like a tiny popper, and it's spinning.  Anything more, I prefer the control of a casting reel.

[craww]

I've thrown a sammy 85 more than any lure for over a decade...Any 6'6"-7' MH Fast action is fine, but my favorites a 6'6" MH Fast Fenwick HMG as I've always casted accurately with that rod. Its approx 2 generations old

[fin]

19 hours ago, microotter said:

I am tall so hitting my rod off the ground or water is not a huge concern. 

You can't be that tall ?

 

I'd go with the 6', especially fishing from shore. You'll get a better stroke walking the more vertical you go. I look like I'm putting when I'm walking. Walking baits all cast far naturally, so you don't need the length for that. But you might get better speed on your baitcaster, which is important, depending on what reels you have.

[microotter]

My spinning reels have a higher ipt than most of my casting reels. I think I will continue to experiment with the gear that I have to see what works the best for me. 

[smithy97]

I'm one of those right handed guys that uses left handed reels. Walk the dog baits are what hooked me on fishing. I use a 7' megabass levante flat side special casting rod. Never understood why people like to switch hands when they cast, as well as work the rod with their non dominant hand...anyways if you like a technique enough, buy a dedicated setup for it. Look at a medium to medium heavy, whatever length you prefer. I'm 6 ft tall and walking baits with a 7 foot rod is no problem, and the casting distance improves with a longer rod. 

Just make sure the rod you choose loads deep enough into the blank to handle treble hooked baits. 

[Heartland]

Really hard to recommend a rod based on action and power alone.  There is just not much consistency across brands or many time even lines within the same brand.   If you looking for some general idea where to start, I think you have been given some good options.  Topwater fishing generally divides into two camps, those who prefer a slower tip to work the baits and those who prefer a faster tip.    I am in the faster camp, I don't want to have to work very hard to impart action on the bait, I also do not enjoy fishing with braid to make up for the difference.  For me, I generally start looking at rods in the MH F to XF  depending on what the tip is like.   Really boils down to how you want to fish the bait.

[microotter]

20 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Why?  Lot of us use both hands.  A side benefit is you no longer have to pass on great deals because the reel isn't RH.  (I should mention the Bait Monkey is a good friend of mine so I try to steer people his way.  )

I’ve been thinking about it and I don’t have a good reason why haha. I think I may pick up a left hand baitcasting reel and if I hate it I can sell it. I needed an excuse to buy a new toy anyways. 

[Deleted account]

If we are talking about full sized spooks and other larger walking baits, then I go with a 6'3" to 6'6" MH Mod Fast. For smaller baits like less than 1/2 oz then I step down to a Med rod similar to what I jerk bait or popper with. I'm pretty good with walking he dog and can catch fish with it when there is a top water bite, but It's not one of my favorite things to do.

[microotter]

Like I mentioned in the original post I have had luck throwing walk the dog baits on almost all of my rods (except the hf and mlm). I guess I started this thread out of curiosity to see what others were doing. It seems like different folks use different gear for this technique. I am going to experiment more and try a lh baitcaster too. 

[BassNJake]

8 minutes ago, microotter said:

Like I mentioned in the original post I have had luck throwing walk the dog baits on almost all of my rods (except the hf and mlm). I guess I started this thread out of curiosity to see what others were doing. It seems like different folks use different gear for this technique. I am going to experiment more and try a lh baitcaster too. 

Exactly, everyone gets a feel for how they like things.

I like using braid - therefore I have to have a rod with a little more flex than a guy using mono when it comes to treble hooks

 

[roadwarrior]

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/okuma-helios-reel-rod.html