Lightweight rod and reel recommendations

[Timf1981]

My brother and I do a lot of topwater smallmouth bass fishing .

We fish with a 1/8oz. Teeny pop R topwater lure. Not the most effective way to catch fish. But the most fun. . With 6 or 8 pound suffix 832 braid.

We are both about 6ft 1in . And generally use 7 ft rods.

Half the fishing is done from a canoe.

We are thinking of spending some money on upgrading our rods and reels. In the past we could spend 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the evening casting. So lots of casting.

So we are looking for a lightweight  spinning reel that wont hinder casting distance too much. And a matching rod. Light but crisp is the best way to explain it. A one piece rod could be suggested.  But probably will go 2 piece

Line recommdations are also recommended.  Little pike are also a nuisance stealing lures.

Thanks.

[Reel]

I would go with a Stradic Ci4+ 2500 spinning reel.  It's one of the lightest out there.  For a two piece rod, the are excellent choices in the Compre and SLX line up.  Ten pound braided line would work well with topwater baits or 8 pound test mono would be another choice.

[MickD]

For $100 you can get the Pflueger Supreme, very light weight, very smooth, a reel deal.  I know I'm not the first to use that pun.  Pflueger has been making some very affordable high quality spin reels for quite a while now.  Size 30, probably.

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, MickD said:

For $100 you can get the Pflueger Supreme, very light weight, very smooth, a reel deal.  I know I'm not the first to use that pun.  Pflueger has been making some very affordable high quality spin reels for quite a while now.  Size 30, probably.

I'll second the Supreme. I have a pair of Presidents and a pair of Trions right now and my wish-list has Supremes to replace the Trions. Even the lower end Pfluegers have been very good to me. I've been a Pflueger fan since the 70s and still have my 'ancient' Pflueger 640 - which I could put on a rod and use today if I wanted.

[JustJames]

What is your budget, for rod and reel?

reel under 100, I’d suggest to take a look at Daiwa LT 1000 size series. I like Legalis LT 1000 and have Exceler 2000 LT coming from China. I believe these Daiwa LTs at 50-60 could be the next best bang for buck reel. If you can set your budget higher in 150-200 there are nothing else but Stradic FL/CI4+ 1000 and Tatula 2000 LT.

For rod you might look into Light or ML rod 1/16-1/4or 3/8oz. I don’t like new ML model rod from a lot of manufacturers, the tip and too stiff plus those 1/2” thick blank even it rate at 1/16.

The one that seems reasonable in price and performance for me is Shimano Sensilite Light 7’. I have Sensilite 6’6 UL but the rod seem to fish like Light good soft fast tip, enough power and quite sensitive.

[NYWayfarer]

I throw Rebel Teeny Pop R's, Crickhoppers, Hellgrammites and Storm Hopper Poppers on my Lew's Carbon Fire Speed Spin 200 size and matching Medium Light action Carbon Fire Speed Stick. spooled with 8# Vicious Fishing panfish line.

 

The Carbon Fire reel has an aluminum frame. It's not as light as a graphite reel but it's durable.

[PaulVE64]

St Croix TRS66LF2 with a 1000 size Revros LT and hi vis braid will throw a 1/8 jig an aweful long way