What should I do with this rod?

[michael1]

A buddy of mine game me a 7'5" Heavy Fast Shimano SLX casting rod that has a lure rating of 1/2-1 1/2. What would be a good use for this rod?

[jbsoonerfan]

Small swimbait or punching is about the only techniques I would use it for. It really wouldn't fit the bill for anything else I use.

[MN Fisher]

Well, mine is only a 7' - but my H/F is used for flipping, pitching, punching, larger topwaters (WP-90 & 110, Super Spooks, etc.) and frogs.

[michael1]

26 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Small swimbait or punching is about the only techniques I would use it for. It really wouldn't fit the bill for anything else I use.

My first thought was a frog rod? Seems suited for that or am I wrong? But maybe bigger jigs? Bigger spinnerbaits? Whopper ploppers?

[jbsoonerfan]

I'm not a big frog fisherman, but I throw them on a MH rod with braid. I use the MH rod so that I can get a little bit of give when they hit. I tried a H rod and I would always pull the frog away from them.

[RichF]

It would definitely work for frogs and big jigs/flipping. I throw both those baits a ton and have at 6 rods rigged for them. All are 7'3 to 7'6.

[Fishes in trees]

How nice, you've basically got a free football jig/Biffle Bug rod, that you can also throw smallish swim baits with.  Me, I'd pair it with a basic workhorse reel, like a Curado K and dedicate it as a Biffle Bug Rod.

[the reel ess]

Frog-frog-FROG

[gilkeybr]

My 7'6H/F Expride (similar length/action) will be used for Frogs and jigs over 3/4oz

[michael1]

4 minutes ago, gilkeybr said:

My 7'6H/F Expride (similar length/action) will be used for Frogs and jigs over 3/4oz

I'd assume 99% of people fish a jig with a trailer on it. Would you say a trailer bumps a 3/8 up to 1/2oz and a 1/2 up to 3/4oz in essence?

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, michael1 said:

I'd assume 99% of people fish a jig with a trailer on it. Would you say a trailer bumps a 3/8 up to 1/2oz and a 1/2 up to 3/4oz in essence?

About that - have to remember that the weight of the jig printed is JUST for the lead/tungsten in the head. Now add hook, skirt and trailer to that.

[Fishes in trees]

I might guess that, I wouldn't assume that.  Walmart sells cheap digital postal scales that resolve issues like that.

Get a case to store it in & remove the battery between uses (avoiding corrosion) and it will last a long time.  I've had mine since 2009 or so and counting.

[gilkeybr]

1 hour ago, michael1 said:

I'd assume 99% of people fish a jig with a trailer on it. Would you say a trailer bumps a 3/8 up to 1/2oz and a 1/2 up to 3/4oz in essence?

For me, when I read jig weight, its just the weight of the jig alone.  Not including trailer.  

 

In my case id be fishing a 3/4oz jig with trailer.  I have cast it with a 1/2oz jig with trailer and it does fine.  But I have other rods that are better suited to that weight range.

[kayaking_kev]

I have the same rod, I got it for frogs, but I only made about 10 cast with it, but did catch one fish on a big spinnerbait, but I'm now going to sell it because I replaced it with the Sierra 735c, which has a softer tip and better balanced. The SLX is a really light rod, I think it weighed 4.9 oz, but I couldn't get over the bad balance. I wouldn't want to do much tip up fishing with it. The same thing applies to the SLX 7'2 MH/XF, but it's not good for tip down fishing at all, so the bad balance is even more of an issue. If the were the only rods I had, I could deal with it and be fine, but I have too many other rods that are better.

[michael1]

Man, you guys are beating this rod up pretty good! If I wanted to determine for myself if I thought this rod was tip heavy how would I do that? I assume put the reel on and put my finger under it and balance it on there? How far up should be the balance point?

[LionHeart]

Self defense

[CrankFate]

It’ll work great for inshore fishing in saltwater.