raoka Posted May 26, 2020 Posted May 26, 2020 Hi all, So i have been trying very hard to find a topwater rod i like for my medium ish size walking baits 1/2 oz ish some a little under and some a little over. I use to use a 6'10" old full cork crucial that looks like it was billed as a light texas rig/jig rod so it was a MH xf lure weight was up to 3/4oz. so i really liked how on a far cast that xf fast allowed me to work the bait, but once it got close there were times on a short line scenario it just did not have enough of a bend to keep the fish pinned and the hooks came out... now this year i tried a 703 dobyns per recommendation. i hooked into fish and as with all my dobyns rods...once the fish is hooked up i really like the action of the rods. the sierra series has even slower graphite than say the champion xps so the fish stays pinned and surges are not so scary. unfortunately, i can barely walk any of my baits at the end of the cast and it just does not feel crisp, the tip action. i need to get about 1/3 of my retrieve in before i feel i can effectively work my lure... dilemma...and i wanted to pick everyone's brains about what rods come to mind that fits the criteria i like...maybe not an xf tip but maybe something fast but with a crisper graphite so that i can work a lure, but then has some bend to help keep the trebles inside a fish...hope this makes sense and thanks again all. Quote
Born 2 fish Posted May 26, 2020 Posted May 26, 2020 I use a 7’ medium bps crankin stick for walking baits and chug bugs. it loads nice and keeps them pined. I also use the same set up for jerkbaits. Quote
Nelson Delaney Posted May 26, 2020 Posted May 26, 2020 I use a falcon lowrider med mod. Launches the baits a mile & keeps em hooked up. It is a bit slow for heavy weeds tho. Quote
Super User Mobasser Posted May 26, 2020 Super User Posted May 26, 2020 For walking baits, I like a 6ft or less in lenght, with a tip flex, to help work the lure. A shorter handle style can also be good. A composite rod with some power in the butt section, and a moderate tip action, seems to work best for me, with walking baits up to 3/4 oz. Just now, Mobasser said: For walking baits, I like a 6ft or less in lenght, with a tip flex, to help work the lure. A shorter handle style can also be good. A composite rod with some power in the butt section, and a moderate tip action, seems to work best for me, with walking baits up to 3/4 oz. You might do a Google search on Hall Of Fame bass angler Charlie Campbell. He was known as the Spook Master, and was an expert with walking baits. Quote
walleyecrazy Posted May 26, 2020 Posted May 26, 2020 Take a look at the Daiwa Tatula elite TAEL721MHRB. It's a 7'2" MH regular action which basically amounts to a mod fast, and makes for a pretty good top water rod in my opinion. Quote
Ogandrews Posted May 26, 2020 Posted May 26, 2020 Most of my top waters are thrown on either a dobyns 733 or a st croix mojo bass 6’8” m xf jerkbait rod. The st croix is great because it has a very fast tip section to work baits but once you hook up the rod will load up almost down to the handle. Perfect rod for jerkbaits, don’t understand people throwing them on Crankbait rods I could never properly work a bait that way. Quote
rangerjockey Posted May 26, 2020 Posted May 26, 2020 I like the St.Croix Topwater rod in whatever model fits your budget. I have the LTB version and I like it as a jerkbait rod as well. Quote
Super User ChrisD46 Posted May 26, 2020 Super User Posted May 26, 2020 9 hours ago, raoka said: Hi all, So i have been trying very hard to find a topwater rod i like for my medium ish size walking baits 1/2 oz ish some a little under and some a little over. I use to use a 6'10" old full cork crucial that looks like it was billed as a light texas rig/jig rod so it was a MH xf lure weight was up to 3/4oz. so i really liked how on a far cast that xf fast allowed me to work the bait, but once it got close there were times on a short line scenario it just did not have enough of a bend to keep the fish pinned and the hooks came out... now this year i tried a 703 dobyns per recommendation. i hooked into fish and as with all my dobyns rods...once the fish is hooked up i really like the action of the rods. the sierra series has even slower graphite than say the champion xps so the fish stays pinned and surges are not so scary. unfortunately, i can barely walk any of my baits at the end of the cast and it just does not feel crisp, the tip action. i need to get about 1/3 of my retrieve in before i feel i can effectively work my lure... dilemma...and i wanted to pick everyone's brains about what rods come to mind that fits the criteria i like...maybe not an xf tip but maybe something fast but with a crisper graphite so that i can work a lure, but then has some bend to help keep the trebles inside a fish...hope this makes sense and thanks again all. *I take it you are referring to the Sierra 703c. casting model ? Have you tried this rod with BRAID mainline + Mono / Co-Poly leader line set up ? If not , try using #30 lb. braid with a short 12" ~ 18" #12 lb. ~ #15 lb. Mono or Co-Poly leader and report back . *Braid mainline + leader requires far less work for you and the rod for working top water baits ! You can absolutely BOMB a top water bait out a long way using braid main line plus you can work the baits better out at the end of your cast and get much better hook sets ! Again , if you haven't tried braid main line + mono or co-poly leader with the Sierra 703c. then you are missing the boat as this rod excels with braid for top water usage and will change your mind about this rod ! Quote
raoka Posted May 27, 2020 Author Posted May 27, 2020 thanks for all the replies everyone. will be taking all suggestions into consideration (also wanted to add i do braid to mono leader. i can definitely cast this super far...probably further than i need to...haha Quote
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