What is/are your setups for smallmouth?

[Ohioguy25]

I use a 6’ St. Croix Premier Medium-
Light Fast Action with a Shimano Nasci 2500 spinning and 8 lb Trilene Mono. 
 

This has served me very well for creek smallies which is mostly what I go after, although I’ve recently branched out to larger bodies of water and was curious to see what everyone here used for different sized rivers/creeks.

[Black Hawk Basser]

I have used a Quantum Smoke 6'3" ML F with a Quantum Smoke Speed Freak 30 spinning reel. 20 lb 832 and usually use an 8 lb fluoro leader so I don't lose so much braid if I snag.

 

Lately I've used a 7' moderate fast ML custom I made for crankbaits and it keeps them hooked so much better.

[Ohioguy25]

8 minutes ago, Pickle_Power said:

I have used a Quantum Smoke 6'3" ML F with a Quantum Smoke Speed Freak 30 spinning reel. 20 lb 832 and usually use an 8 lb fluoro leader so I don't lose so much braid if I snag.

 

Lately I've used a 7' moderate fast ML custom I made for crankbaits and it keeps them hooked so much better.

Nice, I’ve heard good things about Quantum Smoke. You think bigger/heavier rods keep fish hooked better, why do you suppose that is? How big are the fish you catch on average?

[Scott F]

I use 7’, St Croix Avids, in ML F, and M F with Quantum Smoke 15 & 25 sizes with 10lb Sufix 832 line. (No leaders…..ever)

[Ohioguy25]

43 minutes ago, Scott F said:

I use 7’, St Croix Avids, in ML F, and M F with Quantum Smoke 15 & 25 sizes with 10lb Sufix 832 line. (No leaders…..ever)

Is Quantum smoother than Shimano? Ya I’ve heard leaders screw w presentation.

[Scott F]

23 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Is Quantum smoother than Shimano? Ya I’ve heard leaders screw w presentation.

I don’t know anything about Shimano spinning reels. I haven’t used one in over 20 years. I’ve used nothing but Quantum spinning reels for many years.

For the waters I fish, I just find leaders do not provide any benefits that outweigh the the issues of having to have extra line, having to tie extra knots and having those knots go through the guides - which drives me nuts!

[Black Hawk Basser]

3 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Nice, I’ve heard good things about Quantum Smoke. You think bigger/heavier rods keep fish hooked better, why do you suppose that is? How big are the fish you catch on average?

The rod I was referring to isn't any heavier, it's just a slower action; the bend goes further down into the rod blank and seems to allow more head shakes without treble hooks being thrown out of the mouth.

 

Walleyes are 15-17" on average, 20"+ fish are not real common. Smallmouth go anywhere from dinks to 20", with anything over 17" not common.

 

I also haven't used a Shimano in years.  I like the Speed Freak because it has a fast gear ratio for reeling back in quickly after the lure leaves the strike zone.

[Ohioguy25]

55 minutes ago, Pickle_Power said:

The rod I was referring to isn't any heavier, it's just a slower action; the bend goes further down into the rod blank and seems to allow more head shakes without treble hooks being thrown out of the mouth.

 

Walleyes are 15-17" on average, 20"+ fish are not real common. Smallmouth go anywhere from dinks to 20", with anything over 17" not common.

 

I also haven't used a Shimano in years.  I like the Speed Freak because it has a fast gear ratio for reeling back in quickly after the lure leaves the strike zone.

That last paragraph blew my mind. What is a good place to start with those?

[Black Hawk Basser]

I guess I never mentioned that the river I fish is small, and is barely a step above what you'd consider a creek, at least in the upper reaches where I fish it.

 

32 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

That last paragraph blew my mind. What is a good place to start with those?

Can you clarify?  I'm not sure I understand the question, sorry.

[Ohioguy25]

53 minutes ago, Pickle_Power said:

I guess I never mentioned that the river I fish is small, and is barely a step above what you'd consider a creek, at least in the upper reaches where I fish it.

 

Can you clarify?  I'm not sure I understand the question, sorry.

As in what is a good Quantum reel in the  sub $200 price range?

[Scott F]

I don’t think any of the Quantum reel will go $200. I don’t keep up with all the changes. My Smoke reels which were top of the line a couple years ago, were about $170 or so I think. I don’t think you can go wrong with anything in the line in the over $100 price range. 

[Black Hawk Basser]

I think the Smoke speed Freak I got was around $120 at the time, about 3 years ago.

[PaulVE64]

6-6" St Croix Triumph L/F with a 1000 series Revros and 10# hi vis braid to a 6# fluoro leader

Some crappy 6 ft ML/M with a 2500 Sienna and 15# hi vis braid to a 10# mono leader

6' St Croix Triumph ML/F with a 2500 Daiwa BG and 15# hi vis braid to a 10# fluoro leader

7' St Croix Avid M/F with a 3000 series Daiwa BG and 20# braid to a 10# fluoro leader

6-6" ugly stick M/M with a 3500 series Phlueger President XT and 20# hi vis braid to a 20# mono leader

 

[Ohioguy25]

3 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

6-6" St Croix Triumph L/F with a 1000 series Revros and 10# hi vis braid to a 6# fluoro leader

Some crappy 6 ft ML/M with a 2500 Sienna and 15# hi vis braid to a 10# mono leader

6' St Croix Triumph ML/F with a 2500 Daiwa BG and 15# hi vis braid to a 10# fluoro leader

7' St Croix Avid M/F with a 3000 series Daiwa BG and 20# braid to a 10# fluoro leader

6-6" ugly stick M/M with a 3500 series Phlueger President XT and 20# hi vis braid to a 20# mono leader

 

My man is die hard St Croix 

[A-Jay]

I have a rod locker plum full of setups for smallmouth.

Here's a couple of the latest additions ~ 

I like them.

A-Jay

 

[roadwarrior]

                                                           

[TOXIC]

50 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I have a rod locker plum full of setups for smallmouth.

Here's a couple of the latest additions ~ 

I like them.

A-Jay

 

There’s something to be said about a man who keeps his cork clean.  ?

[Ohioguy25]

53 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I have a rod locker plum full of setups for smallmouth.

Here's a couple of the latest additions ~ 

I like them.

A-Jay

 

Nice, I like that little fishing shrine whats that framed thing w the anchors?

 

Is there any advantage to the split grip?

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, TOXIC said:

There’s something to be said about a man who keeps his cork clean.  ?

Thanks - I use U-40 Cork Seal on all of it.

Which helps out in the long run.

But I have to come clean on this one and say, 

these pics were taken during hard water,  so the sticks hadn't been used yet.

A-Jay

[TOXIC]

I’d have to write a story on the actual setups I have for smallies.  I leave Wednesday for a week on st Clair and we will be targeting smallmouth mainly but will probably get some by catch of musky, walleye, perch, goggle eye, largemouth and white bass.  It’s easier to list the baits I will be throwing.... Senko, dropshot, Ned, aruku  Shad, flukes, tubes, grubs, jerkbait, and crankbaits.  Just to name a few.?

[A-Jay]

6 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Nice, I like that little fishing shrine whats that framed thing w the anchors?

 

Is there any advantage to the split grip?

Thanks ~

With both my wife and I being  U.S. Coast Guard Retired, 

 (almost 50 years of combines service) 

our home is 'decorated' with a literal 'plethora' of assorted maritime themed items. 

 

As for the split grip - I don't see any advantage and prefer a full cork rear grip when I can get it, but that ship seems to have sailed recently. 

A-Jay

 

[PaulVE64]

Full cork grips all day

7 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

My man is die hard St Croix 

I wanted to stay with one line of rods for a consistent feel. The Avid and the BG are 2 sweet.

 

I would like to pick up a longer ML/F, maybe the aird or an hmg. If not those fenwicks then i will try to learn a baitcaster. 

 

 

[flat]

I fish river mostly as the boat launch is a mile away. In order of most used: a 7' mhm crankbait rod, tied with a 7' mh pitching rod always rigged with a 4" tube, a 7' med spinning rod used mainly with senkos, and a 6'6" ml for small stuff. I have other 7' mh sometimes rigged with swimjigs or jig and craw, and 7' med spinning rods for jig worms, etc.  All avids, but I'm replacing the crankbait rod with a dobyns. I catch piles of bass on my $15 okuma 7' lite while burning worms for flathead bait.

[Mbirdsley]

I fish for both all the time so I use my rods and reels for both. I’ve pulled large mouth and smallies out of the same spot 1 minute part .It depends more on where I’m fishing and if it’s big river fishing or gin clear lake water in norther Michigan.

 

if fishing a really clear lake I’d grab

Spinning 

7ft st.croix  premier m/l with a abu revo premier spinning reel ( I like this rod reel more more as I use it more)

7 ft m/l dobyns cold with a phluegar president spinning reel 

 

6ft6 berkly tactics wacky rig edition with quantum Accurist pti spinning reel 

 

bait casters

6ft6 MH Johnny Morris carbon light 2.0 with a  carbon light 8:1:1 reel 

 

7ft Okuma Evx carbon crank rod with phluegar 5:4:1 supreme( another rod I bought over the winter that that I love using.  Way better than my old skeet Reese crank rod ) 

 

if I was floating in a canoe or wading one of local rivers loaded with smallies around my area.  I would grab the premier for 4 inch tubes and real light  craw t-rigs.  the dobyns for rapala’s and inline spinners 

[Dinger0306]

A bit late but interesting conversation. 

 

6’6” ML St. Croix Premier/Daiwa Regal LT 2000D/8lb Trilene XL

 

This is my main go-to creek wading setup. Mostly Ned rigs, wacky rigs, and keitechs on light jig heads. The reel is a perfect size between a 1000 and a 2500 Shimano, but holds 160-yards or so of 8lb monofilament. I really wish Shimano made more 2000 size reels or maybe I’d gotten one. ML is perfect action, 6’6” gives me casting distance when I do go to larger rivers but I’m mostly fishing like <25 foot wide creeks and it’s not cumbersome at all. 

5’ 6” M Ugly Stik GX2/Lews LFS 6:8:1/12-pound Big Game

 

I don’t use it much since I mostly finesse fish in the creeks, but it gets the job done for 1/4oz jigs, KVD Squarebills, and larger topwaters. I love the short rod for casting around overhanging trees