I need some insight

[Wheresthebutton]

I am going to get a finesse setup soon and I need to know if I am getting the right stuff. I am mostly going to use Ned rigs on it, and I am going to  be fishing in Lake Erie. I am mostly going to be catching smallmouth around the 3-4lb range, I will be using 6lb Fluro.

 

Reel: Shimano Stradic Ci4+   2500 size

 

Rod: Shimano Intenza 7'6 Light

 

Do these seem like good options for me, and is a light rod fine for big smallmouth? 

[Sphynx]

No experience with the rod, but you should be just fine with the reel. As far as catching big smallmouth on light line, it's absolutely possible, and honestly it's done a lot, you'll have to learn how to get a feel for the relationship between setting your drag tight enough to get hook penetration but not so tight that the line will break before the drag starts giving line, key points here are going to be using light wire hooks, they are much less thick and will penetrate with less force, as long as they are sharp, which is the other big thing here, make sure you keep those hooks ultra, ultra sharp, and you shouldn't have too much difficulty adjusting from there.

 

I use a St. Croix Mojo Bass medium spinning rod for my finesse stuff, it does the job fine, but basically your going to want as sensitive a rod as you can get, while still having a tip that is conducive to imparting the action you need on the presentations you use with it.

[MN Fisher]

2500 reel on a Light rod? I'd go a smaller reel, personally, but that should be just fine for any bass you catch in Erie.

 

Learn how to work your drag as Sphynx said - save you a world of hurt.

[BassFishinBrandon]

Should be fine. My wife landed this chunk on a very similar setup a couple months ago.

[GaryH]

Lake Erie has some big sm. I would opt for a medium rod. 

[Deeare]

3 hours ago, GaryH said:

Lake Erie has some big sm. I would opt for a medium rod. 

I’d go with a medium power rod also. Let’s you fish more types of lures.    And I’d use 8lb test 

[roadwarrior]

Medium Power/ Fast Action

#6 Tatsu

 

[diehardbassfishing]

12 hours ago, Wheresthebutton said:

Do these seem like good options for me, and is a light rod fine for big smallmouth? 

 

No.

 

This "finesse" fishing stuff is out of control. Do hunters use finesse guns??

 

 

Karl

[Spankey]

I’d be fishing with 7’ ML Fast, don’t think you need X-Fast but to each his own. 

[Dwight Hottle]

I fished Erie for about 12 years running and I never targeted 3-4 lb smallies. I targeted the biggest fish in the system. I’m sure I caught more 4-8 lb fish than 1-4 lb smallies. I fished with jerk baits mostly between 1/2 oz to 1 oz. My only finesse fishing was with a drop shot or hair jig. Erie is one of the very best smallmouth fisheries in the world so take advantage of it. Use medium weight rods & 8lb line as a minimum. Enjoy your finesse approach but be prepared to catch some trophies. 

I did play around with some Ande 4lb IGFA line & hair jigs for smallies after I satisfied my thirst for trophy bass. I knew my next bass could be a new PB but my chances of landing it would be reduced. 

[roadwarrior]

6 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

 I did play around with some Ande 4lb IGFA line & hair jigs for smallies after I satisfied my thirst for trophy bass. I knew my next bass could be a new PB but my chances of landing it would be reduced. 

 

Lighter line is the ticket!

 

[MickD]

Fishing Lake Erie for smb will have you fishing tubes at times, and for tubes, more power is better for better hook sets.  Since it's open water, light tackle will work in fighting the fish, but I would go with more power for better hooks sets, more versatility, and the ability to land the fish faster.

[diehardbassfishing]

28 minutes ago, Spankey said:

I’d be fishing with 7’ ML Fast, don’t think you need X-Fast but to each his own. 

 

X-Fast? No.

 

Adds no backbone, and you'll have a rod that won't load up when casting a light lure. A classic broomstick rod.

 

 

Karl

[Steelhead]

I have two dedicated Ned rods. Loomis IMX-Pro 901SJR and St. Croix Eyecon 76MLXF2. Both are 7'6". The IMX is fast and the Eyecon is extra fast. The tip on the Eyecon is soft and casts fantastic. I don't like a stiff tip. I don't know if that Intenza has a soft tip. Some XF spinning rods have a stiff tip, others don't especially on the longer rods.

[Team9nine]

Personally, I would probably bump up to at least a ML if that were an option. You can drop to a fast action if needed to pull that off, but otherwise, everything sounds good, IMO. 

[Vilas15]

4 hours ago, diehardbassfishing said:

 

No.

 

This "finesse" fishing stuff is out of control. Do hunters use finesse guns??

 

 

Karl

 

Yes, I wouldn't use a 30-06 for squirrel hunting. Choose the appropriate tool for the task. Not saying a L power is right, but "finesse" is the way to go in wide open clear water. Set the drag right and you'll be fine.

[diehardbassfishing]

44 minutes ago, Vilas15 said:

Yes, I wouldn't use a 30-06 for squirrel hunting. Choose the appropriate tool for the task. Not saying a L power is right, but "finesse" is the way to go in wide open clear water. Set the drag right and you'll be fine.

 

Yup - right size rod for the right size fish.

Wouldn't hunt for bear with a 22!

Using a light lure does not require a low power rod. I never go less than a typical Med/Fast for low weight soft plastics. Especially important for those Erie smallies!

 

 

Karl

[Reel]

I'm using exactly the same set-up ( 7,6  Shimano Intenza and Stradic Ci4+ 2500) to throw Ned rigs and it's ideal.  Even if this rod is labelled LIGHT, it's got some backbone and will let you  throw that light ned rig the right distance.  I fish the St-Lawrence river for the same large smallmouths in clear water and have no problem with them.  I use 10 pound braid with an eight pound leader.

[Junk Fisherman]

If this is your first finesse setup then I would get a ML rod rather than Light.  The medium light is more versatile and you'll be throwing a lot of tubes and dropshot which will be better on the medium light rod.  Now I do use a light rod for my Ned rig (1/16th oz jigs and TRDs) but I only use it for my lightest Neds and hair jigs.  It's better to throw a Ned with a ML than a tube or DS on a light action rod.  I use 8 lb fluorocarbon rather than 6 lb.  Good luck.  

[haggard]

Your 6 lb line choice should work.

 

You may find a 7'6 light power rod a little noodly for 3-4 lb smallies with a 2500 CI4+.

 

I use the 2500 CI4+ on a 7'0 ML/F and it seems great for smallies, though mine are usually in the 2-3 lb range but I have no doubt it would handle 3-4 lb especially if you use the drag.

 

I suggest the 1000 CI4+ for a light power, but for your application I'd go with 2500 CI4+ on a ML.

 

[NHBull]

Everything  sounds great  but I do far better with 8 and 10#......as Ned recommends.....since moving from 6 to 8,10.....i get hit more on the Fall and living in the granite state a little extra abraisen resistance is good

[Junk Fisherman]

10 hours ago, haggard said:

I use the 2500 CI4+ on a 7'0 ML/F and it seems great for smallies, though mine are usually in the 2-3 lb range but I have no doubt it would handle 3-4 lb especially if you use the drag.

 

Every 4, 5, and 6 lb smallmouth I have caught on spinning gear has been on either a medium light or lite action rod (mostly medium light).  It is plenty of rod for open water, smallmouth fishing.  Now, largemouth around weeds or docks and I go to a medium action rod.