Spinning rod for long casting small swimbaits

[Bandersnatch]

I'm looking for a whippy rod that can make extremely long casts for smallmouth in clear water. Price range $150$350

[Finessegenics]

Just about any 7'6 ML or M spinning rod. Most rod manufacturers these days make one which they market as a ned or hair jig rod. 

 

Edit: I'm coming back to this post 40 minutes after I replied but I just remembered that St Croix makes an 8'6 ML/XF and an 8'6 M/XF in the LTB lineup.  Just choose the power based on the weight of the swimbait heads you're throwing. Those would be absolutely perfect and I considered picking one up myself but I couldn't justify it to myself since I'm mostly a smaller river fisherman. 

[jimmyjoe]

   I know you probably don't want to wait, but for that type of rod and that description, I'd go custom. I've got an 8' M/MF casting rod (could have been spinning) based on an IP963F Batson blank that I just love. Talk to DVT or got to  rodbuilding dot org, and you'll be amazed what you can get.    jj

  

[Fishes in trees]

I remember an article in In-fisherman magazine where the subject of the article was doing what you want to do, i.e. throw baits a long ways for small mouth in clear water.   They mentioned in particular a couple of St Croix models.   Option #A would be to find that article.   Option #B would be to call In-fisherman and ask what model of St Croix rod they were using.  (I've called them several times over the years and if they are home, they will take the time to talk with you and discuss your issue ). Option #C  would be to call St. Croix and ask them.

 

One thing I do remember about the article was that they mentioned that 7 1/2 foot rods that would do what you wanted, but 8 foot and 8 1/2 foot rods for the most part worked better.  None of the rods that they mentioned were cheap.

 

So, that is where I'd start looking.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

If you have room for it the 8'6 ML XF LTB with a 4k Vanford or Luvias would wing a little swimbait

[evilcatfish]

The Daiwa Tatula 76 medium light-medium would be good on the lower end of your price range, or perhaps spend a little more on the Tatula Elite AGS Seth Feider model? Even better, just go way over budget and splurge on the new 76 Steez Compile X AGS rod, that thing looks awesome

 

Dobyns makes some longer champs that may work for you as well

[Columbia Craw]

Dobyns Champion 732SF is what I’m using.  It’s built on the previous generation Xtreme 742 blank.  I loads great and has improved sensitivity.

[Smalls]

Im using an iRod Genesis 742 for small swimbaits on ball jigs or Okashira screw heads.

 

It's not exactly "whippy", but it does have a really nice tip to it. It'll definitely launch em pretty far. The only possible drawback is if you use braid to leader. You pretty much have no choice but to tie an FG knot, cause the guides are really really small.

 

I think they run just around $150

[bulldog1935]

The whippy part sets me back - they did make long deep-flexing noodle rods at one point, Okuma still offers noodle rods, but most new rod tapers copy the Japanese small-game/rockfish rods with fast progressive taper.  The only whippy part is the extreme tip on sold-tip rods.  Otherwise, these rods are Fast, and have reinforced butt sections for turning big fish.  

I personally would go with Tubular tip, to get the job done with nothing whippy.  

I've filled this niche for more than a dozen years with Japanese rockfish rods.  

NS Black Hole (Korea) makes excellent rods, under-priced for their quality to sneak into the Japan market, and this example in S762LT from reliable ebay vendor gets my recommendation.  

 

If you want the Cadillac, I'd watch Plat New In Stock for models of Yamaga Blanks Blue Current that don't last long in stock.  

If you really want a really long rocketship rod, I just noticed Plat has stock of Major Craft 8'6" CRX-864E E multipiece, and Yamaga Blanks flagship 85TZNano.  

I have the 83TZNano, and it's the longest-casting spinning rod I own (short of 11' surf).  

 

Fighting fish on these rods, especially in current, is like using a fly rod.  You keep the rod low to keep the butt and reel drag doing all the work.  

 

[Eric 26]

On 6/24/2021 at 9:46 AM, Fishes in trees said:

I remember an article in In-fisherman magazine where the subject of the article was doing what you want to do, i.e. throw baits a long ways for small mouth in clear water.   They mentioned in particular a couple of St Croix models.   Option #A would be to find that article.   Option #B would be to call In-fisherman and ask what model of St Croix rod they were using.  (I've called them several times over the years and if they are home, they will take the time to talk with you and discuss your issue ). Option #C  would be to call St. Croix and ask them.

 

One thing I do remember about the article was that they mentioned that 7 1/2 foot rods that would do what you wanted, but 8 foot and 8 1/2 foot rods for the most part worked better.  None of the rods that they mentioned were cheap.

 

So, that is where I'd start looking.

The article being referenced is in the in fisherman 2020 bass guide. If your interested I took a couple photos.

[MickD]

The longer the better for long casts, but length has problems too.  Cumbersome, hard to maneuver, not as accurate on short casts as shorter rods.  I think the suggestions for about 7-6 are good.  Very important is to match the lure recommendations for the rod to the expected weights of the lures you will be casting.

 

Finally, the use of a premium braid (8 carriers and up) in no more than about 15 pound test will enable long casts.  To get a little "give" in the system use a FC leader of about 4 feet length.  Line has more to do with casting distance than most anglers realize.  The lack of stretch of braid will give better hook sets at a distance than mono or FC.  

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

St Croix Avid 8' ML-moderate with 8# Nanofil I use with 1/8 jighead and 2.8" fat impacts. It has good flex but actually recovers rather quickly.

[WRB]

How long the cast and what weight swimbait w/jig??

Tom

[Bandersnatch]

13 hours ago, WRB said:

How long the cast and what weight swimbait w/jig??

Tom

As long as possible, 1/8 & 3/16 okashira or ball heads with a 3 inch spark shad. If you're only gaining a few feet on rods 7'6 and up then it may not be worth the extra length. When I say whippy I'm only saying the rods should be capable of loading and launching the bait far. I don't like whippy rods 

[A-Jay]

 

 

Daiwa Tatula Elite AGS Spinning Rod  7'6" ML Feider model is what I use for presenting baits in that light weight range.  Killer stick IMO, with WAY more fish fighting ability than I would have thought prior to fishing it.

This is it in action . . .

https://youtu.be/3OXnPQs0bqQ?t=61

A-Jay

[Bandersnatch]

11 hours ago, A-Jay said:

 

 

Daiwa Tatula Elite AGS Spinning Rod  7'6" ML Feider model is what I use for presenting baits in that light weight range.  Killer stick IMO, with WAY more fish fighting ability than I would have thought prior to fishing it.

This is it in action . . .

https://youtu.be/3OXnPQs0bqQ?t=61

A-Jay

Are the ags guides micro? I'm wondering if I could use this stick with 12/15lb braid to 6/8ob leader with a fairly tight Albert knot. I won't be adding an fg to my arsenal soon

[inferiorfisherman]

I have some really long spinning rods.  I find casting distance to be mostly limited by the weight and aerodynamics of the jig/bait.  With an 1/8th oz jig head and a 2.5” soft plastic I get basically the same distance between my dobyns dx72sf and a  ML 9’ rod.  The 9’ rod does it with a little less effort but max distance is basically the same.  Same is true if I break out one of my 12’ or 14’ rods.  If I go up to 1/4 oz or higher that changes and I start to get some extra distance from the 9’, but not a ton.  I can tell it is much easier to get a fish in the boat with a 7.5’ rod than it is with a 9’ or 10’ rod.  At a certain point it start to get tough for my T-Rex arms to reach the line or the fish on a long rod.  

[A-Jay]

50 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

Are the ags guides micro? I'm wondering if I could use this stick with 12/15lb braid to 6/8ob leader with a fairly tight Albert knot. I won't be adding an fg to my arsenal soon

I use 8 & 10 lb braid & 8lb FC leader with this one.

With a Uni to Uni Knot

A-Jay

[Bigassbass]

Shimano Soare rod with a solid tip.  Look at the a-jing rods from Japan super nice and you'll throw little baits a mile!

[PaulVE64]

On 6/24/2021 at 1:42 PM, GetFishorDieTryin said:

If you have room for it the 8'6 ML XF LTB with a 4k Vanford or Luvias would wing a little swimbait

Thats the ONE

[GetFishorDieTryin]

35 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

Thats the ONE

It may not be as practical or light as a 7'6 for most people, but in terms of raw distance its tough to beat.  

[Junk Fisherman]

Dobyns Champ 792

[JLBBass]

Dobyns DC 732sf or Tatula 76ML/M

[masterbaiter9117]

anything moderate action probably falcon has some good ones and st croix has that 7'4 glass spinning rod

[MickD]

On 6/27/2021 at 9:06 PM, A-Jay said:

I'm wondering if I could use this stick with 12/15lb braid to 6/8ob leader with a fairly tight Albert knot.

If A-Jay uses an uni/uni knot then the Alberto will work since it is smaller.  I suggest after tying the Alberto according to the accepted method you pull it VERY tight, then apply two overhand knots with the braid tag end, and pull them tightly too.   Then it will never unravel and the overhand knots don't make the knot any larger.