Bait Caster for Finesse

[MUSLENUTZ]

I just don’t know if I can use a spinning real, as I enjoy a bait caster so much. It’s accurate and to me I have more control. I need a light set up perhaps on a medium rod. How does a baitcaster stand up to spinning for this application. I have a MH rod which is to strong for the light presentations or even throwing it without birds nesting. How well will a baitcaster perform on a Med rod for finesse?

[Tywithay]

Depends on the reel and the rod. I have an Alphas CT SV on a 6'10" ML rod and it can do pretty much everything a spinning rod can do, aside from the very smallest ultralight.

[waymont]

What type of finesse application are you interested in using a casting rig for?

[MUSLENUTZ]

13 minutes ago, waymont said:

What type of finesse application are you interested in using a casting rig for?

Senko - every style. I mostly go with weight or weightless. Flipping and pitching, TR, Shakey, Whacky and occasional Dropshot. 

[WRB]

What line do you plan to use and minimum weight lures you plan to cast??

Tom

[dodgeguy]

senko is not light and should cast on any modern baitcaster. i cast 1/10 oz ned rig on a bps 7 ft medium fast patriot rod with 8 lb sufix advance mono with a lews tournament pro reel with ease. thinking of trying it with a lighter jig

[waymont]

20 minutes ago, MUSLENUTZ said:

Senko - every style. I mostly go with weight or weightless. Flipping and pitching, TR, Shakey, Whacky and occasional Dropshot. 

Flipping, pitching, T rigs are not really usually finesse presentations, but a great rod for what you want to do would be a G loomis JWR 802c or 852c. I would also recommend a Daiw SV tw with this rod.

[Heartland]

3/8th of an oz is right in the wheelhouse of most modern day bass fishing equipment barring the rigs for especially heavy or light baits.  If you are having trouble casting a weightless 5 inch senko, you still have work to do on the education of your thumb.  Good news is that it is inexpensive, just cost you a little bit of your time.

[RoLo]

 

If you're not comfortable with spinning gear, then stick with casting gear.

There was a time when I was in the opposite camp, and used spinning gear for almost everything.

In any event, a 5-in unweighted Senko weighs 3/8 ounce, so you're good to go.

 

Roger

[Jermination]

1 hour ago, MUSLENUTZ said:

I just don’t know if I can use a spinning real, as I enjoy a bait caster so much. It’s accurate and to me I have more control. I need a light set up perhaps on a medium rod. How does a baitcaster stand up to spinning for this application. I have a MH rod which is to strong for the light presentations or even throwing it without birds nesting. How well will a baitcaster perform on a Med rod for finesse?

matt the most important thing here is not the weight of the senko or the rig you are putting it on, the most imporant aspect of what rod you are going to use is what hook are you using? Senko will skip fine on a spinning reel or baitcaster but you are going to break off a bunch on hooksets or lose fish when the hook doesnt drive home. I may know one or 2 people who throw a wacky rigged senko on a baitcaster, accurate skipping is just so much easier on a spinning reel, if your worm comes off the hook mid rig your baitcaster is going to explode and that reel is pretty much done for the day. If you are using a lightwire hook you need to have it on a spinning reel, if you are using a heavy wire hook(shaky head ewg/mag) throw that sucker on a baitcaster and cross their eyes. 

 

I regularly have a senko tied on 3 different outfits

5inch senko or dinger on a mag/ewg shaky head(mh fast 7'0 13 fate black)

4 inch senko or dinger on a small shaky head--buckeye spot remover(medium fast 7'0 lews mach spinning)

5 inch senko or dinger wacky rigged with a 3/16 weighted hook(medium fast 6'8 allstar with a spinning)

 

[browne762]

I have been using a GLX 852C with a Curado 70 now for the last few weeks and I have really gotten to enjoy it more then using my spinning set ups. I will probably upgrade to a Aldebaran.

[Jig Man]

1 hour ago, MUSLENUTZ said:

I just don’t know if I can use a spinning real, as I enjoy a bait caster so much. It’s accurate and to me I have more control. I need a light set up perhaps on a medium rod. How does a baitcaster stand up to spinning for this application. I have a MH rod which is to strong for the light presentations or even throwing it without birds nesting. How well will a baitcaster perform on a Med rod for finesse?

A setup with a medium rod to me is for shaky or cranking.  Finesse is when I pull out my ml Bronzeback and my Curado 70.

[MUSLENUTZ]

Well I just came back from the water. I’m using a curado dc and a Dobyns 734c. I think the rod is just too heavy For my applications for soft plastics. It works, but perhaps I buy a new rod first that’s got more give, then try the curado on that. I’d like to try a standard baitcaster, but this curado dc is just flawless with minimal backlash.  I’m open to more advice and I appreciate everyone’s help here. I had a curado non dc and the dc just put performed it. 

[MUSLENUTZ]

4 hours ago, waymont said:

What type of finesse application are you interested in using a casting rig for?

All really, I think my rod is just rated too heavy. Dobyns xp 734c. 

[Glaucus]

Just saying, a 1/10oz Ned Head with a Finesse TRD really comes in at about 1/4oz.

[dodgeguy]

1 minute ago, Glaucus said:

Just saying, a 1/10oz Ned Head with a Finesse TRD really comes in at about 1/4oz.

Thats finesse enough for me.

[haggard]

Finesse baitcasting can be done but in general the tradeoff is you spend more money for well tuned or high end reels. I'm a baitcaster fan for all the usual reasons (low profile, accuracy, no line twist, easy to service) but always end up taking one spinning combo (ML/XF) because for light techniques and light lures, it does the job so well with so little fuss. Spinning gear can be very accurate too. One easy solution might be carrying your usual baitcasters plus a single spinning setup for those light duty applications where it excels with very little effort. Right tool / right job thing.

 

[new2BC4bass]

I throw a weightless 10" ribbontail with 3/0, 4/0 or 5/0 hooks on MH rods.  If the 734C is causing you problems....and you want to stick with Dobyns...then try a 733C.

 

I just weighed one I had laying around in the garage.  Looks like a 3/0 EWG hook.  Total weight 3/8 oz.

 

I can't give you a solid recommendation, but can throw out a couple possibilities.  Zolo Dream (Worms, Small Jig, Spinnerbait) or for a bit lighter lure rating the Speed Fury (Weightless Plastics, Soft Jerkbait), iRod has the 7' MH in most models (except Kaimana) that is rated 3/16-3/8 (will handle heavier, don't know about the 3/16 oz. yet).  From what I read Phenix rods fish a little light.  You might want to look at a MH from them.  Would love to try one, either a Feather or the new M1.

[MUSLENUTZ]

1 hour ago, haggard said:

Finesse baitcasting can be done but in general the tradeoff is you spend more money for well tuned or high end reels. I'm a baitcaster fan for all the usual reasons (low profile, accuracy, no line twist, easy to service) but always end up taking one spinning combo (ML/XF) because for light techniques and light lures, it does the job so well with so little fuss. Spinning gear can be very accurate too. One easy solution might be carrying your usual baitcasters plus a single spinning setup for those light duty applications where it excels with very little effort. Right tool / right job thing.

 

I carry an ugly stick only because I may not feel like changing my lure. Perhaps the real answer is getting another curado dc and the lighter Dobyns or try out a expride. I compared a curado in hand on the same rod as my curado dc. I get at least 30 ft longer casts with a lot less chance of backlash. I got to keep reading, the Dobyns is serious but I’m tempted to try an expride. Thanks for your reply too!

[new2BC4bass]

2 minutes ago, MUSLENUTZ said:

I carry an ugly stick only because I may not feel like changing my lure. Perhaps the real answer is getting another curado dc and the lighter Dobyns or try out a expride. I compared a curado in hand on the same rod as my curado dc. I get at least 30 ft longer casts with a lot less chance of backlash. I got to keep reading, the Dobyns is serious but I’m tempted to try an expride. Thanks for your reply too!

Expride is above my price unless I can find a good used one at 50% off.    From what I read, the Expride is said by quite a few to be the best rod in its price range.  A least a couple have said as good as a $400 rod.  Yeah...if I could afford one it would be my first pick.

[BrianMDTX]

I throw a weightless 5” Senko Texas rig on my baitcaster (12 lb hybrid; 7’ MH fast action rod), but I use a spinning rig for weightless wacky rigs (got a new 7’ M fast action rod coming tomorrow to pair with a Daiwa Revros LT2500 with 20# braid and 8# hybrid leader). I tend to cast the Texas rig out 20-40 yards but flip the wacky rig close with minimal splash. I find it much easier to do with spinning gear. 

[WRB]

Nothing the OP is using should be called finesse, it's standard bass tackle.

Tom

[jbrew73]

Nothing truly finesse is needed for a weightless senko.  

[Riverside.bassin]

I have a Mojo Bass 6'8" M/xf casting rod paired with a Curado 70 that does pretty well with weightless senkos and other light/finesse applications. I still like to use my 7'1 m/f spinning set up for weightless senkos, but that doesn't mean it can't be done on a bait caster!

[WRB]

The OP's rod is a baitcasting Jig&worm rod rated 10-20 lb line 1/4-1 oz lures....your basic bass rod.

Tom