Finesse combo?

[Corey91]

Hey everyone, I need a finesse set up, never had one or fished with one but I know my arsenal needs it. What would be the best route to go, I'd like to keep it under $150 bc it's completely new to me. I currently have 2 Texas rig, 1 Carolina rig, swim bait, 2 crank bait, and a frog set up in the boat. I mostly fish from a boat for large mouth. Is there anything else I'm missing?

[ike8120]

I use a  Dobyns FR702SF and Kastking Sharkylll 1000 with 8#braid and FC leader

[MN Fisher]

My general finesse rig is a Dobyns FR702SF and a Pflueger President-25, 10# Braid with 6# FC leader.

[galyonj]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

My general finesse rig is a Dobyns FR702SF and a Pflueger President-25, 10# Braid with 6# FC leader.

 

That's pretty close to what I was about to type out.

 

Ton of great options for this kind of combo at OP's price point.

[JustJames]

What kind of techniques that finesse to you? What make you think that what you have now is not capable of finesse fishing? What do you have on those two Texas rig? Are we talking spinning or baitcaster?

[lynxcat]

9 hours ago, Corey91 said:

Hey everyone, I need a finesse set up, never had one or fished with one but I know my arsenal needs it. What would be the best route to go, I'd like to keep it under $150 bc it's completely new to me. I currently have 2 Texas rig, 1 Carolina rig, swim bait, 2 crank bait, and a frog set up in the boat. I mostly fish from a boat for large mouth. Is there anything else I'm missing?

I’m shocked that you have that many technique specific rigs already and a finesse spinning rig isn’t one of them. 
 

Sensitivity matters a lot in the rod and you need a pretty dependable rig with a decent drag if you are fishing lighter lines that finesse typically requires. 

 

Daiwa Legalis LT would be a great option to consider for the reel. Lightweight, solid performance and $70. 
 

Daiwa Aird-X has some of the best reviews in its class at $50 for the rod. 
 

You need to decide how finesse would expect this to be...Medium vs Medium Light action in particular. Fishing shakey heads and Neko rigs I would lean towards Medium but I’d go ML if light weight Ned Rigs and Drop Shots are the primary purpose. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

If your going to be using ned rigs, DSs or anything with small light wire hooks, you want a reel with a good drag.  It doesnt need to be strong, it needs to be smooth to keep the little hooks pinned.  Either the Regal LT or the Exceler LT are great reels for the money and would be your best bet.

 The 13 Defy Blacks feel great for $60.  Either ML or M depending what you want to throw.  If you spend another $20 you upgrade to the Fate Blacks which are made of a higher quality graphite then the Defy.  That makes the Fate Blacks have a more crisp action, more sensitive and lighter.  Same deal with the power, it all depends on what you want to throw.  I see that the Aird X is recommended, Ive never picked one up so I cant compare them to the 13s.  I have used the Tatula XTs and really wasnt crazy about them, I would take a Fate all day over the more expensive Tatula XT. 

[galyonj]

6 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

If your going to be using ned rigs, DSs or anything with small light wire hooks, you want a reel with a good.  It doesnt need to be strong, it needs to be smooth to keep the little hooks pinned.  Either the Regal LT or the Exceler LT are great reels for the money and would be your best bet.

 

I don't think I ever truly appreciated a nice, smooth drag until I got into fishing with little hooks and presentations that, consequently, required me to develop a sort of touch to successfully land the fish.

[LCG]

My finesse set up is a BPS Carbonlite 2.0 6'8" M-XF rated for 1/8-1/2 oz. That's some rod manufacturers medium light, others medium. 

 

I pair it with a Shimano Stradic FL 2500 spooled with 20lb braid to 6-10lb leader. Super smooth drag and retrieve. 

 

This set up can do alot. Ned's, neko, wacky, weightless texas rig, 1/8oz texas rig, drop shot, shake head, inline spinners,etc.

 

I know this is above your price point. The rod goes on sale often at BPS. The fenwick HMG medium light is another good finesse rod. 

 

Shimano makes the nexave reel that's budget friendly, never used one just played with it in the store. Felt good. Daiwa makes some good reels as well. 

[QED]

Outside of the original budget constraint, but a Shimano Poison Adrena 267ML coupled with a Shimano Vanford C2000HG makes an ideal finesse spinning rig that weighs only about 8-1/2 oz.  

[David Austin]

Are you looking for a spinning outfit or a baitcast outfit?  Also, what do you consider finesse???

[WRB]

I agree with Glenn’s 5 combo’s choices with one being a 7’ Medium power fast action spinning rod and 2500 size spinning reel.

The $150 budget for a combo greatly limits what to suggest.

TOM

[Corey91]

Yes I'm looking for a spinning set up. Thanks for everyone's advice, I am currently looking into the suggestions.

[Darth-Baiter]

2 minutes ago, Corey91 said:

Yes I'm looking for a spinning set up. Thanks for everyone's advice, I am currently looking into the suggestions.

my current finesse rig is a Phenix Maxim Med-fast.  it is 7'3".  attached is a 2500 Daiwa Procyon AL.  20lb high Viz yellow braid, with 8 lb sunline flouro.  it is a KILLER setup for me.  your mileage may vary.  I loved it so much that when it sank in a lake, I ordered the exact same thing.

 

I do however, have a Shimano Vanford 2500 apparently lost in the mail!!  rod choice is TBD.

[QED]

My current finesse rig.  The reel is about 0.7 oz heavier than a vanford, but I can live with that.

[Darth-Baiter]

5 minutes ago, QED said:

My current finesse rig.  The reel is about 0.7 oz heavier than a vanford, but I can live with that.

not to criticize:  but you dont want to tell the OP what it is?   you want him to either zoom in on letters, or try to cross reference photos at tackle warehouse?  

[GReb]

If you could extend your budget to $175-200 it would be worth it in my opinion. If you take your time you can find some great deals out there. I bought a Quantum Smoke KVD on eBay for $55 a few months ago and have been very impressed. 

[JustJames]

8 hours ago, Corey91 said:

Yes I'm looking for a spinning set up. Thanks for everyone's advice, I am currently looking into the suggestions.

For 150 budget.

reel I would look into Daiwa LT series from Fuego down. Fuego, Exceler, Legalis or Regal LT.

Rod gonna be tougher since each manufacturer have different rating for action and power. I would look into M or ML fast that rate down to only 1/8oz. If ML rate down to 1/16 it might be good for only Ned rig or weightless worm but gonna have a hard time shaking Neko rig/Shakey head. 
Two rod around 100 dollars come to my mind, light and have pretty good action and exceptional power.

1. majorcraft Nanoace M

2. Daiwa Tatula XT 7’ M

[CrankFate]

11 hours ago, QED said:

My current finesse rig.  The reel is about 0.7 oz heavier than a vanford, but I can live with that.

This would be extra heavy for me. Not to criticize, but you’re using this for bass? Are you in Texas or Florida? Looks more like a red fish or southeastern inshore setup to me. This looks like finesse for species over 25lbs.

 

11 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

not to criticize:  but you dont want to tell the OP what it is?   you want him to either zoom in on letters, or try to cross reference photos at tackle warehouse?  

 

Yes.

[Bobby Mentel]

I just bought the penn battle III 3000 combo, rod is 7'1" medium with fast action, 20lb suffix braid, 10lb seaguar leader.  Can i get away with this setup for wacky rig finess ? how long should i make the leader? i use uni to uni knots.  i live in Austin and fish Lake Travis ... got skunked last week so trying a finess technique ... used a jig with craw tail last week arounds docks and deep ledges but no go. 

[inferiorfisherman]

I won't try and convince you to blow your budget, although that is what I always end up doing.  For sub $100 spinning reels I like pflueger.  I think the supreme is the best under $100.  for a $100 rod I like the dobyns fury or Fenwick HMG.  that being said you can buy a fplueger supreme fenwick hmg combo at BPS right now for $179.  I would buy that in 7' med-light if I was looking to try out finesse fishing.  It has a 1/4-3/4 oz range.  I have this combo on my boat as a backup (guest) combo.  even though it  is rated med-light, it is more on the medium side.

[QED]

10 hours ago, CrankFate said:

This would be extra heavy for me. Not to criticize, but you’re using this for bass? Are you in Texas or Florida? Looks more like a red fish or southeastern inshore setup to me. This looks like finesse for species over 25lbs.

 

 

Yes.

The rod is 3.25 oz and rated for 4-8 lb line.  The reel is a 1000 size with 6 lb test.  Nothing heavy about either one.

[CrankFate]

53 minutes ago, QED said:

The rod is 3.25 oz and rated for 4-8 lb line.  The reel is a 1000 size with 6 lb test.  Nothing heavy about either one.

Looks like a 2500 reel and poison adrena heavy in the pic. 

[JustJames]

The one you show the OP probably can buy 6-7 setups in his price range ???

[Corey91]

Well, I have a rod and reel ordered. Thanks everyone for all the replies. I ended up going with a dobyns medium fast rod and a Pflueger President-25. I will probably put 20lb braid on it with an 8lb leader.