Super Spook Rod Set Up ?

[ChrisD46]

For your larger top water walking baits like 3/4th oz. - 1 oz. Super Spooks , Sexy Dawgs , Yo-Zuri DB 125's , Berkley J-Walker 120's and other 115 to 125 size pencil walking baits - what is your bit casting  rod set up ? ... I know many may suggest a 7' - 7'3" MH but I'm trying to find a niche rod for this application in the shorter 6'3" to 6'10" bait casting rod length . *The reason is I have a reservoir with wide open shore I want to walk which has expansive flats where bass are busting the surface now through Fall . Since I'm not standing up on a boat deck I'm concerned with "rod slap" on the water surface while walking the big spooks . It may be possible to work the big spooks to the side which would allow for a longer rod , so I am open to suggestions for this particular application I described ... Thanks in advance !  

[Fishes in trees]

If you're standing on the bank, your only option for walking the bait is going to be jerking  to the side.  Expansive flats suggest distance casting.   Find some rod that you can throw the appropriate weights a long ways.  Cabelas used to sell at distance casting "Predator" rod, in both spinning & casting versions.  The one I bought was around 11 feet long/ Medium to Medium Heavy action.  With the old Ambassador 2 speed reel ( speed was adjusted by clutch, reel worked at higher speed until a strike happened and the pressure from the strike triggered a clutch, and the reel shifted down automatically to a lower speed ).  Anyway with this rod & reel filled with 17 lb mono,  I could throw a ounce and a half slab spoon a hundred yards more or less.  Distance is just a guess, spool held a little less than 300 yards and with a good cast I could cast out about half the spool.

 

At this distance, I think a bait that made its own action, like a Whopper Popper might be a better choice than a spook style bait.  This rod & reel combo right now is just gathering dust in my fishing shed.   As I recall, a couple of hours throwing that slab spoon that far with that rig was a workout.

[Chris at Tech]

I use a 4-power Dobyns for those.  You should be able to find a 6’6 or 6’8” 4-power rod in most of their rod series.

[ChrisD46]

Thanks for replies ...On deck I have a Berkley Lightening Shock 6'6" M / Moderate Fast , Berkley 7' MH/F , All Star Spinner Bait  6'10" M/Moderate Fast and finally a Dobyns 734C. Sierra bait cast rods . Both Berkley rods (prior generation) were bought on close out where I had a chance to compare 10 samples of each for the straightest  , most  perfectly aligned rod possible with the best actions  . The All Star rod is fine for spinnerbaits - but I believe too heavy for walk-the-dog large spooks . 

BPS sale now shows a BPS Cranking Stick (6'6" MH / Moderate Fast) on sale for $49 that may work  , I would be willing to consider anything under 7' that is not too expensive for working super spooks - otherwise I may just learn to work my Dobyns 734C. to the side although I never considered a 7'3" rod length for walk the dog type baits (i.e. cadence concerns ?) Lastly , I have another set up for WP110 and WP130 size top water .

[snake95]

Probably not what some of the guys would go with, but I fish spooks and sammys from shore using the Falcon Jason Christie 7 ft MH/MF.  Rated to 3/4 oz and the Super Spook is 1/2 oz.  Also throwing 1 oz sammys - it is clearly underpowered for this -- something more H/MF vs MH/MF rated a little higher would be ideal.  

 

I am a short dude and fish fairly overgrown clearings and honestly don't have a problem walking these lures with the 7 ft rod.  

 

 

[ChrisD46]

15 hours ago, snake95 said:

Probably not what some of the guys would go with, but I fish spooks and sammys from shore using the Falcon Jason Christie 7 ft MH/MF.  Rated to 3/4 oz and the Super Spook is 1/2 oz.  Also throwing 1 oz sammys - it is clearly underpowered for this -- something more H/MF vs MH/MF rated a little higher would be ideal.  

 

I am a short dude and fish fairly overgrown clearings and honestly don't have a problem walking these lures with the 7 ft rod.  

 

 

*Good to know !

[Mobasser]

I met and spoke with Charlie Campbell years ago at BPS in Springfield Mo. He was legendary fishing a Spook. He liked a shorter rod with moderate action, 14lb mono, and a high speed reel. Currently, I'm using an older Fenwick 5'6 pistol grip rod, 15lb Big Game line, and an older ABU 4600c reel. The shorter length rod seems to work well for throwing a Spook. Recommended to me by the Spook Master, Charlie Campbell around 30 yrs ago. It works well

[ChrisD46]

8 hours ago, Mobasser said:

I met and spoke with Charlie Campbell years ago at BPS in Springfield Mo. He was legendary fishing a Spook. He liked a shorter rod with moderate action, 14lb mono, and a high speed reel. Currently, I'm using an older Fenwick 5'6 pistol grip rod, 15lb Big Game line, and an older ABU 4600c reel. The shorter length rod seems to work well for throwing a Spook. Recommended to me by the Spook Master, Charlie Campbell around 30 yrs ago. It works well

*I'm familiar with C.C. - he could make a walk-the-dog lure do stuff no one else could do , "high speed" reel to C.C. though was a 6:3:1 gear ratio (lol !)

[WRB]

Heddon Super Spook is 5" weighing 7/8 oz.

You don't need to use a jerk bait downward rod motion the walk a Super Spook. Any forward pull followed by slack line and Spook will walk itself. A 45 degree upward rod position works good. I would use a 7' composite glass 5 power crankbait rod for longer casting distance and strong enough to work and cast a 7/8 lure.

Try your 734C.

Tom

[ChrisD46]

10 hours ago, WRB said:

Heddon Super Spook is 5" weighing 7/8 oz.

You don't need to use a jerk bait downward rod motion the walk a Super Spook. Any forward pull followed by slack line and Spook will walk itself. A 45 degree upward rod position works good. I would use a 7' composite glass 5 power crankbait rod for longer casting distance and strong enough to work and cast a 7/8 lure.

Try your 734C.

Tom

*Thanks Tom - I may be guilty of thinking I always need a 45 degree downward stroke of the rod for walking baits when perhaps a side ways or upward rod pull would accomplish the same results .

[JSP28]

On 6/17/2020 at 10:59 AM, Mobasser said:

I met and spoke with Charlie Campbell years ago at BPS in Springfield Mo. He was legendary fishing a Spook. He liked a shorter rod with moderate action, 14lb mono, and a high speed reel. Currently, I'm using an older Fenwick 5'6 pistol grip rod, 15lb Big Game line, and an older ABU 4600c reel. The shorter length rod seems to work well for throwing a Spook. Recommended to me by the Spook Master, Charlie Campbell around 30 yrs ago. It works well

 

On 6/17/2020 at 10:59 AM, Mobasser said:

I met and spoke with Charlie Campbell years ago at BPS in Springfield Mo. He was legendary fishing a Spook. He liked a shorter rod with moderate action, 14lb mono, and a high speed reel. Currently, I'm using an older Fenwick 5'6 pistol grip rod, 15lb Big Game line, and an older ABU 4600c reel. The shorter length rod seems to work well for throwing a Spook. Recommended to me by the Spook Master, Charlie Campbell around 30 yrs ago. It works well

But the forum here is the SUPER SPOOK. I don’t like a medium action for the bigger, heavier spooks. I’ve been trying to tweak it myself and I’ve lost many fish switching FROM what worked for me.....Shimano Exage 7 MH and 15 pound Big Game mono. Tried shorter rods ...medium action rods , braid to mono and straight braid. I think it’s important to compensate line with rod. Medium action is probably ok with braid.   But for the bigger Spooks , I like a stiffer rod to make that sucker BLOOP . I’m still looking for the perfect rod and probably have it with the Shimano.

[J Francho]

Medium describes power.  Action or taper is described by speed, like slow, fast, moderate, extra fast.

[Bankbeater]

For that size spook I use a 7'0" mh/f baitcaster.  The rod just feels really loaded up when I use a m/m, or a m/f rod.

[WRB]

You all realize this is a 2020 thread.

Tom