Texas rig rod suggestions

[FryDog62]

What specific baitcasting rod(s) do you like for lighter Texas rigs - mainly 1/8 to 1/4 oz in the $150-250 range? 

[Backroad Angler]

Dobyns sierra medium/fast

super good rod for light t rigs, have had a lot of luck with it

[jbsoonerfan]

Shimano Expride 7'2 MH for 3/16 - 1/4 & Shimano Expride 7'2 H for 3/8 - 1/2

[FryDog62]

16 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Shimano Expride 7'2 MH for 3/16 - 1/4 & Shimano Expride 7'2 H for 3/8 - 1/2

How about 1/8 oz? (Plus plastic weighs more of course)

[jbsoonerfan]

I haven't went that low, but I would say it depends on if that plastic is a 12" monster worm or a 4" finesse worm

[FryDog62]

On 9/28/2020 at 8:39 PM, jbsoonerfan said:

I haven't went that low, but I would say it depends on if that plastic is a 12" monster worm or a 4" finesse worm

1/8 oz + this...

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/search-tackle.html?searchtext=Airtail+rattler

[jbsoonerfan]

I don't know, might be on the light side for the MH.

[roadwarrior]

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/okuma-helios-reel-rod.html

[waymont]

The best rod I have  used for those size t rigs is an IMX-Pro 852 jwr. You can find them used for $$200-$250. Or get an E6x version.

[FryDog62]

I usually use Fast Action rods for T-Rigs, but wonder at 1/8 oz if an Extra Fast would be better.  I throw into weeds/grass and slither the rig in and around the cover.  Maybe XF would help “feel” my way through with a lighter lure?? 

[jbsoonerfan]

30 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

I usually use Fast Action rods for T-Rigs, but wonder at 1/8 oz if an Extra Fast would be better.  I throw into weeds/grass and slither the rig in and around the cover.  Maybe XF would help “feel” my way through with a lighter lure?? 

I had a Crucial that was a 6'10 MH xfast and I loved it! I ordered (about 3 months ago) a Curado 7' MH xfast that I am still waiting on. It is back ordered and I haven't cancelled my order yet because I really want to try it.

[FryDog62]

3 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

I had a Crucial that was a 6'10 MH xfast and I loved it! I ordered (about 3 months ago) a Curado 7' MH xfast that I am still waiting on. It is back ordered and I haven't cancelled my order yet because I really want to try it.

I have a Phenix Feather 7-1 MHXF that might work with the lighter t-rigs.  I haven’t tried it for that - the XF action concerns me a bit, but maybe I’ll switch from braid to fluoro to provide additional give w/o giving up too much sensitivity..

[MidwestBassAttack]

Another nod to the Sierra series from Dobyns. I’ve got three. One 703 for my spinning rig for weightless. A 734 and 703 micro series for TRigs/Jigs as well as a few Champ XP’s and a Fury. Great rods IMHO. 

[FryDog62]

2 hours ago, MidwestBassAttack said:

Another nod to the Sierra series from Dobyns. I’ve got three. One 703 for my spinning rig for weightless. A 734 and 703 micro series for TRigs/Jigs as well as a few Champ XP’s and a Fury. Great rods IMHO. 

Yes, I have the 734 Champ... great rod but probably not for a 1/8 oz T-rig.  703 might work though... Or stick with the Phenix and see how the XF tip is... 

[Bluebasser86]

St. Croix LTB 7' 1" MH/F

[FryDog62]

I can’t get myself to throw MH St. Croix’s anymore... in fact I sold off a couple LTB’s and three AvidX’s a few years back. A preference thing but to me they are heavy, tip-weighted rods. I know I’m in the minority, SC has many fans.

[Crackintubes]

Steez AGS 7'1 MhXF works well for this. 

Lots of custom blanks as well if you wanted to go that route. 

 

Edit: sorry I missed the budget part. 

 

In that price range, Daiwa kage 7'1 mxf or the 7'3 mh are great, as are a few other brands.

 

 

 

Edited September 30, 2020 by Crackintubes
Price

[Fishes in trees]

If you can find an original All Star WR1  (an old USA made rod, long discontinued ) fish with that.   I still think that is the best worm rod I've ever fished with.  Mine sits on the shelf these days, I just don't want to break it.   The All Star Rod line has been reborn and is exclusively distributed by Academy Sports these days.  Their 6'8" worm & jig rod fishes just as well as the old WR! - IMO.

 

I have a couple of Academy H2O rods,   7'MH, fast tip that I fish with quite a bit.  I have a pair of Femwick 7'2" AETOS MH rods that I fish with quite a bit (This length seems to be discontinued as well last time I checked).

 

I think that any decent worm rod fishes better using as light a reel as possible.  I have a couple of older Chronarch 50 size reels and a couple of Curado 50 size reels that I like for worm fishing.

[Derek1]

I use a bps carbonlite 2.0 6’6” m/f. I have a chronarch mgl on it for light t rigs. It’s fairly light and crisp. Great for up to a 1/4. It really shines with a 1/8 and a t rigged rage craw. Of coarse I’m talking about weight of the bullet weight not the total. Also great for weightless plastics if you can cast them. 

[kdubracing]

3 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

   I still think that is the best worm rod I've ever fished with.  Mine sits on the shelf these days, I just don't want to break it.

Off topic, but I’m just curious. Why not just use it until it breaks? If you love the rod, you may as well use it as much as possible rather than put it on a shelf and never use it again. 

[Boomstick]

My goto T-Rig rod is a first generation Daiwa Tatula 6'10" MH/F. It has a thinner tip similar to higher end Daiwa rods for extra sensitivity and I really like the split grip because I can easily balance it in one hand if I'm deadsticking it (which I don't do a lot) or need my other hand for something else and detect even the weakest of bites. Most of my rods are Tatula second gens and almost all are in that general price range, but this was the first baitcaster I ever bought and in hindsight it was a good choice.

 

That said, if I ever drop a lot more money on a rod, it would be a rod that I would use for T-Rigs and jigs. I pretty much always have at least one rigged up now since I bought a kayak and extra sensitivity is the most important for bottom contact baits you use n the middle of summer when the fish aren't usually hammering it.

[FishTank]

St. Croix Avid 7' M Fast...

[Catt]

Powell Inferno 703C Medium Heavy X-Fast ?

 

I recently got my hands on a Kistler Argon AR703LMH for field testing but a Cat 4 took care of that.

 

7' 0"

Light Medium Heavy 

Moderate Fast

3/16-3/4 oz

[Hook2Jaw]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

Powell Inferno 703C Medium Heavy X-Fast ?

 

I recently got my hands on a Kistler Argon AR703LMH for field testing but a Cat 4 took care of that.

 

7' 0"

Light Medium Heavy 

Moderate Fast

3/16-3/4 oz

I don't like one cat, much less four.  On a serious note, I'm sorry you're having to deal with all that mess.  As a tree guy I get to work on the hurricanes and get to see the damage and heartache they cause.  Best wishes, @Catt!

 

On topic, I've been given a St. Croix LTB 7'1" MHF by a friend and I am way less than impressed.  I'm appreciative of the gift, but the rod seems to have 38 guides, weigh six pounds, and feels dead...at all times.  Count me in the group that is firmly against St. Croix.  I'll eventually add a mid-priced stick from 13 or Daiwa, either a Muse Black or another Tatula Elite.  iRod has also caught my eye.

[r83srock]

14 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

If you can find an original All Star WR1  (an old USA made rod, long discontinued ) fish with that.   I still think that is the best worm rod I've ever fished with.  Mine sits on the shelf these days, I just don't want to break it.   The All Star Rod line has been reborn and is exclusively distributed by Academy Sports these days.  Their 6'8" worm & jig rod fishes just as well as the old WR! - IMO.

 

I have a couple of Academy H2O rods,   7'MH, fast tip that I fish with quite a bit.  I have a pair of Femwick 7'2" AETOS MH rods that I fish with quite a bit (This length seems to be discontinued as well last time I checked).

 

I think that any decent worm rod fishes better using as light a reel as possible.  I have a couple of older Chronarch 50 size reels and a couple of Curado 50 size reels that I like for worm fishing.

Those were good rods weren’t they? I have a friend of my dads that’s swears by the old All Stars. I wish we had Academy up here. ?  I agree the smaller/lighter reels are best, my favorites are the Curado 100b, but I’m really liking my new SLX 70mgl ?!!

 

I pretty much use the same rod for worms and jigs in the 1/8oz(not total weight) to 1/2oz range. I have a 6’8” MH legend tournament that I want to love, but even I have to admit I’m dropping fish on the hook set with it, I believe because of tip heavy. I have a new 6’8” mh Mojo that has a slightly softer tip and is very well balanced (to me). So far that has been my favorite worm and jig rod.