What’s your favorite finesse rod and reel?

[FrankN209]

Shimano Zodias 7'M

Pflueger Supreme XT30X

[casterus60]

As for now Megabass Flyssa + Certate 3000 + 11lb  YGK 112 braid.

My new Exist 3000 is waiting for Steez AGS 7'6" M/ML  ( should be shipped end of May )

Adam

[Hook2Jaw]

Budget man will budget.

 

My favorite current spinning setup is my Daiwa Tatula XT 7' Medium Fast.  It is paired up with my Daiwa Fuego LT 2500D-XH, because I slack line a lot of weedless sticks and flukes and use the 10# Berkley X9 as a strike indicator.  That is normally tied to 10# Berkley Trilene 100% Fluoro, but I have gone as high as 12 and as low as 6.  The rod has a good tip to it and can toss my presentations a mile, and enough backbone to drive a 4/0 EWG.

 

It may not be a Stella strapped onto a G-Loomis, but I'm pretty proud of it.

[walleyecrazy]

My current favorite is my 7’6” Tatula Elite AGS ML/M paired up with a Tatula LT 3000. I’ve been using this setup for Ned rigs, small tubes, and small swimbaits so far this spring and have so far been very impressed with it. 

[islandbass]

I’ve had this rod for well over a decade. 
7’ Lamiglas Certified Pro Drop Shot Special

ML 

This rod is light and incredible. I have to wear leather workman’s gloves to stave off the sensitivity (jk)
 

I pair it most of the time with my size 20 Rapala sx6i or 2500 Shimano Symetre and usually filled with 6# Seaguar Invizx. 
 

I feel guilty sometimes. It’s not even a fair fight. 

[optimator]

I just got off the phone with Doybns. I picked up a Sierra 692 SF. Now what size reel to put on it.....

[Teal]

12 minutes ago, optimator said:

I just got off the phone with Doybns. I picked up a Sierra 692 SF. Now what size reel to put on it.....

2000-2500 size would be perfect.  Cant beat a daiwa or shimano reel in tour price range.  

[optimator]

19 minutes ago, Teal said:

2000-2500 size would be perfect.  Cant beat a daiwa or shimano reel in tour price range.  

I know I've got a couple Sahara 2500's on my spare rods. Should make a nice little combo.

[fishwizzard]

I have a few finesse combos but the current favorite is a Megabass P3 Criffhanger w/ an Airy Red Pixzilla. 

 

Super fun little combo for anything 1/8-1/4oz.  It's a great wading combo and makes the tiny smallies around here feel like tanks.  

[new2BC4bass]

Don't know yet.  I've picked up new-2-me rods and reels over time, but haven't been fishing much the past 2 years.  Not fishing much at all so far this year.  Hopefully that will turn around.  Have to get out more than a few times with each combo in order to choose a favorite.

 

Casting rods that might make the cut.

 

Falcon Expert 6’9” LF 1/16-3/8 oz.

Fishing 13 Envy Black 6’ 10” ML-EF 6-12 lb. 1/8-3/8 oz.

7’ LF Custom MHX HM spin jig blank 6-10 lb. 1/16-3/8 oz.

 

Possible casting reels.

 

Shimano Curado 51E

Shimano Scorpion 1001 4x4 SVS

Daiwa TD-Z 105H

Daiwa SV105HSL

Daiwa Tatula SV103HL

Daiwa Alphas ito 103-Ai

Daiwa Liberto Pixy L Airy Red

Daiwa PX68L
Daiwa PXL Type R

 

 

Spinning rods

 

Abu Fantasista Regista 6’10” MLF 4-10 lbs. 1/8-1/2 oz.

Abu Villain 6’9” Gen1 ML 1/8-1/2 oz.

Berkley Lightning 6’ MLF 1/8-3/8 oz.

Major Craft Benkei 6’7” LF 1/16-1/4 4-8 lb.

 

Spinning reels

 

Daiwa 1000C
Daiwa 1500C

Daiwa-S 1500CU

Daiwa BG 1500

Penn 430SS

 

Pick a couple.    The Lightning/Penn have seen a lot of use (from when I used to only fish spinning). 

 

fishwizzard...I love that combo.   

 

[nascar2428]

7'2" Daiwa Lexa spinning rod

Okuma RTX 30S

[ChrisD46]

23 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Pflueger President-25 on a Dobyns Fury 702SF - 8# Suffix Elite.

Insert drool here : *That is a sweet set up ! 

Dobyns Sierra 703 with a Daiwa 3000 size reel with PP #10 lb. Hi-Viz braid + FC #8 lb. leader is my M finesse set up , my Ned Rig set up is a 7' ML / F Cabela's spinning rod (not made any more ) with a President 2500 series reel , PP #8 lb. line + #6 lb. FC leader .

[Tizi]

My current favorite is a Tatula XT 7’ MF with a Fuego LT 3000 currently spooled with 6 lb Sufix Siege.

[dodgeguy]

BPS Patriot 7ft M fast action baitcast rod with Lews Tournament Pro 7.5 to 1 baitcast reel and Sufix Advantage 8lb copolymer.

[kayaking_kev]

Medium Light Dobyns Extreme HP 702c + SLX MGL 70

Medium Light Dobyns Fury 702sf + Daiwa Revros LT 2000

[Cityangler7]

Dobyns Champion XP 701SF with a Stradic Ci4 2500

[SJex]

Current favorite is a Megabass Destroyer Addermine with a Daiwa Exist.

Also have a soft spot for the setup it replaced, a Shimano Zodias 7' ML and Shimano Rarenium 2500 (JDM Stradic Ci4+).

Caught a ton of fish with it and abused the heck out of it.

[Steelhead]

Loomis IMX-Pro 901SJR. Shimano Sahara 3000Fl. #10 blue PP Superslick v2 w/ #8 Sunline Sniper or #6 Maxima UG. 

 

I have a NRX 852S but it's too stiff for the lower end lure rating. It has a hard time casting an 1/8oz. The sensitivity is stellar. I'm not big on the recoil guides for braid to leader which I prefer. Love 'Em on the NRX fly rods though. 

 

Gotta give a shout out to the GLX 822DSR too. 

 

I recently picked up a St. Croix Eyecon 76MLXF2 for 40% off. Very happy. Love the soft tip and reel seat. 

 

 

[CrankFate]

Kistler custom magnesium casting rod (made from the lightest spinning blank they had) with a Shimano Aldebaran. Perfect for my purposes. Exactly the action I needed. I will probably go for a heavier helium in the not so distant future.

[drbeat1]

I like to use Ugly Stick Gx2 Med with a Penn Fierce II/III 3000 (I have both)...

[Gazz]

On 5/20/2020 at 9:59 PM, jimmyjoe said:

   St. Croix Avid-X 7' ML/F with Shimano Stradic CI4+ 2500 FA, with 6 lb. Stren or 6 lb. Magnethin.  Best wacky-style rig I ever saw. I said I was gonna give up soft plastics for this year, but after thinking about this rig, I may prove myself a liar.   ?    jj 

I just ordered a stratic last night and I’ve been considering an Avid-X to pair with it. I’m also thinking ML/F. Do you think that setup is still strong enough for some weightless t rigs and really small cranks like Shad raps? I only carry one spinning combo when I go out and I want it to cover most of my bases. 

[Gator_Bait]

Abu Garcia Veritas 6'6" M F

Shimano Sahara 2500FE 6.2:1

Different lines

[jimmyjoe]

3 hours ago, Gazz said:

I just ordered a stratic last night and I’ve been considering an Avid-X to pair with it. I’m also thinking ML/F. Do you think that setup is still strong enough for some weightless t rigs and really small cranks like Shad raps? I only carry one spinning combo when I go out and I want it to cover most of my bases. 

 

   All I can tell you is how I use it. If the total weight of whatever I want to use it with is under 1/2 ounce, and the technique is benefited by a reasonably stiff tip, I use this rod and reel. I know it says "1/8 - 3/8", but I use it a little stronger than that.

   Now that I've said that, I'll break it next week on a 1/8 oz. jig.     ???  

   Seriously .... I loved it for light t-rigs, especially 6" ribbontails. I've thrown all sorts of small cranks with it, but it sure as heck ain't no ideal treble hook stick. Too stiff a tip. I love it anyway.       jj

[Gazz]

9 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   All I can tell you is how I use it. If the total weight of whatever I want to use it with is under 1/2 ounce, and the technique is benefited by a reasonably stiff tip, I use this rod and reel. I know it says "1/8 - 3/8", but I use it a little stronger than that.

   Now that I've said that, I'll break it next week on a 1/8 oz. jig.     ???  

   Seriously .... I loved it for light t-rigs, especially 6" ribbontails. I've thrown all sorts of small cranks with it, but it sure as heck ain't no ideal treble hook stick. Too stiff a tip. I love it anyway.       jj

I did not think a ML rod could have too stiff of a tip lol I also don’t have much experience with ML rods. 

[Bass Rutten]

On 5/21/2020 at 8:16 AM, roadwarrior said:

G.Loomis PR844S/ Stella 2500/ Tatsu #5

 

Thought I was the only one on earth rocking a gl popping rod for bass.

I use a imx pr8400s, daiwa tatula 3000, 10# powerpro

On 5/21/2020 at 8:16 AM, roadwarrior said: