Spinning Rod & Reel for Senko Fishing

[B-Gee]

I fish for bass in a shallow pond with a grassy bottom here in Florida with a St. Croix 7 foot Triumph spinning rod (TSR 70 MF) and a Daiwa BG 3000 spinning reel with 15 lb. braid and 20 lb. leader. Most of the time I fish with Wacky rigged 5” Senkos, sometimes Texas rigged. I don’t add any additional weight to these baits. The bass I’ve caught here have ranged from small to about 22 inches.

 

I’m thinking about buying a lighter, more sensitive rod and reel and have studied the previous recommendations for Senko rods posted on this forum.  My upper price limit would be about $225. St. Croix rods were recommended most often in the BR Forum with the St. Croix Avid X 6'8" MXF highly recommended for Senko fishing. Another recommendation was the St. Croix Mojo 6’ 8” which is less expensive. Most of the other rods that were recommended are priced above my maximum of $225.

 

Based on these recommendations I think I’ll probably buy an Avid X 6’ 8” spinning rod and a 2500 reel.  But I would like to hear from some of the bass fishermen on this forum as to whether they agree with my choice or would have a better suggestion. I’ll also need a reel and would appreciate your recommendations.

 

[WRB]

St Croix Victory VTS71MF is $180 ideal for 5” unweighted Senko’s and other finesse spinning presentations. I like the handle design and light weight rod.

Tom

[NHBull]

This can be had when it hits on sale this Fall and fishes far better than its price point

 

https://www.alphaangler.com/collections/spinning-rods/products/wrench-7-medium-spinning-rod

[bigfishnfreak]

i just purchased a st. croix bass x 6'8" m xf , while waiting for a warranty replacement rod.

to throw a small pointer jerk bait, i wanted something with a short handle. The rod i broke was a tournment legend M xf.

All i can tell you the bass x is a much softer blank. it has caught 100 plus fish  this last week. nothing over 3 1/2 lbs

I wouldn't want to use it for a senko rod. 

 

[Fishes in trees]

To me a perfect spinning reel for throwing wacky senkos would have plenty of backbone for setting the hook on a semi-slack line AND enough flex in the tip to where you could skip underneath stuff and throw for distance without maximum effort.

 

I am several spinning rods into this process.   6 1/2" Medium Action spinning rods seemed to have too much tip for me - at the expense of rod back bone.  I found a 7'  Fenwick HMG spinning rod that was the same blank as one of their MH Baitcasting rods.  Great backbone, but not really enough tip.   I found a different Fenwick 6'10",  HMX I think - similar situation right amount of backbone for me, but not enough tip.   I could skip and get modest distance, but in my opinion I was working too hard for the distance I was getting.  Anyway - I lived with this situation for a couple of seasons because I liked the backbone for setting the hook.   I went with a 1000 size Shimano, just to save a little bit of weight and it didn't look like I was going to need the extra line capacity.  Started out throwing14 lb Fireline Crystal - currently I'm using some 20 lb braid that I don't remember the name of right now.  I got a 7' Med. Action St Croix Mojo and it worked ok - but it had too much handle for me.  The handle went more than half way down my fore arm.

I liked the handle for 2 handed casting, but I felt like it got in the way during the retrieve.  (The handles on the 2 Fenwick  rods weren't quite as long.

The Dick's sporting good store nearest me decided to get out of the fishing tackle business and closed out all their baits, rods, reels, everything.  Their house brand was Field & Stream - I bought one of their 7' spinning rods because - hey you can always use another spinning rod, even if it is just for a loaner, also I liked the color ( bright metallic blue ).     I kind of liked the reel seat but didn't like the handle length at all,  and because I only had $15 in the rod, I hacked off the lower 6 to 8 inches of the handle.   Decided to try it for throwing senkos, and for me, it checks all the boxes.   Plenty of backbone - check.  Enough tip to skip with little effort and throw long with modest effort - check.    I sealed the hacked up end the rod by wrapping the bottom of the rod with a couple of layers of Gorilla Tape - then I repeatedly dipped the end in blue plastic dip.   The rod measures 6'5", something like that now and it does what I want.  I've landed fish up to 19" with this rod and never felt like the fish was out of control.   I know that in Florida you're likely to come into contact with bigger fish, but I wouldn't be worried with this rod on bigger fish.

So that's where I'm at right now in my quest for a perfect wacky senko spinning rig.  Good luck in your search.   

[GetFishorDieTryin]

A M power Victory would be the way to go.  It would just be a matter of which action you would prefer F or XF.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

The concept o guides dont look as nice as the guides on the avid x, but I think the Vic has the AX beat in everything else.  The blank is more advanced, lighter and I think the handle/reel seat is more comfortable and feels more secure because of the rear locking nut.(last 2 are opinion so I guess they don't count)

[MIbassyaker]

3 hours ago, Robert C. Gates said:

 

St. Croix rods were recommended most often in the BR Forum with the St. Croix Avid X 6'8" MXF highly recommended for Senko fishing.

 

I have this rod and use it for senkos and other weightless and lightly-weighted plastics.  It's virtually perfect for these applications, but I would expect the comparable power and action in the Victory line could be just as good or better.

[padon]

id go with the 7ft or so medium victory.

3 hours ago, NHBull said:

This can be had when it hits on sale this Fall and fishes far better than its price point

 

https://www.alphaangler.com/collections/spinning-rods/products/wrench-7-medium-spinning-rod

what can you tell me about the dropshot model. i know you own one. i need a dropshot rod with a little more backbone than some because at times i will texas rig a small worm with a rebarb hook. one of our strong patterns here is fishing a dropshot on deep grass edges.

[The Pond King]

I have a lot of experience with St. Croix rods now as well as with G. Loomis, so I can help you. Off the top of my head, I own an Avid 7' MHF Casting, Avid 6' 8" MXF Casting, Avid 6' 8" MXF Spinning, Avid 7' ULF Spinning, Avid X 6' 6" MF Casting, Avid 6' 9" MLXF Spinning, and I have an Avid 7' MF Casting on the way. 

 

I also own a St. Croix Legend Elite 7' MF Spinning, Legend Elite 7'1 MHXF Casting, and I even own a St. Croix Victory 7' 3" MXF. 

 

One of the best models out of the St. Croix Avid line is the Avid 6' 8" MXF Spinning. The Avid 6' 8" MXF Casting is just as good. Interestingly, the casting version of the 6' 8" MXF has a slightly more sensitive and lighter tip than the spinning version even though they are the same power and action spec wise. They are both good rods and among the best models in the Avid line, in my opinion. Light, balanced, well designed, reliable, and alright sensitivity. 

 

Although it's not what you're looking for, the Avid X 6' 6" MF Casting feels like it's the lightest, most sensitive, and the best balanced out of all of the Avid rods that I have. The aluminum oxide Kigan guides haven't given me any issues yet, but I just don't like mini guides when throwing weightless soft plastics. The worst out of all of the Avids I own is the Avid 7' MHF Casting rod. It's tip heavy. However, I've finally come to like this rod now somewhat because it works well as a spinnerbait, chatterbait, and swimjig rod. It can do alright in a pinch for jigs, and it's acceptable as a pitching rod for 3/8oz weighted Texas rigs, but the sensitivity is lacking for my preference when it comes to bottom contact baits, and it's not pleasant for these techniques because it's tip heavy. 

 

Out of the rods you are thinking of choosing, go with the USA made Avid 6' 8" MXF Spinning. It's the most comfortable spinning rod I own. I like the foregrip on this rod. Fits my hand like a glove. That's the best part about this rod. In fact, I like the Avid 6' 8" MXF more than my twice as expensive Legend Elite MF Spinning, but that's a story for another time.

 

[NHBull]

9 hours ago, padon said:

id go with the 7ft or so medium victory.

what can you tell me about the dropshot model. i know you own one. i need a dropshot rod with a little more backbone than some because at times i will texas rig a small worm with a rebarb hook. one of our strong patterns here is fishing a dropshot on deep grass edges.

I really like it....I have a few rods for DS including a loomis DSR and I put the Alpha in the Dropshot+ category as it has a little more backbone and fishes a 4 inch waxk pretty  darn good.  It is a little more versatile than my loomis.  I think it would also fish a small SB pretty well. Hope this helps

[smr913]

7' Medium is perfect. I'm not so worried about sensitivy when I'm throwing senkos because I'm fishing them on slack line mostly and watching for line movements. I would personally drop the leader down to 10 lb FC.

[DaubsNU1]

I'm running a medium power, 6'-6" | 6-12lb | 1/4-5/8oz spinning rod with Shimano Nexave 2500 reel.

 

10lb yellow Power Pro, 10lb Fluoro leader.

[BrianMDTX]

17 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

To me a perfect spinning reel for throwing wacky senkos would have plenty of backbone for setting the hook on a semi-slack line AND enough flex in the tip to where you could skip underneath stuff and throw for distance without maximum effort.

The tip for skipping I’ll agree with. Not so sure about  the backbone. But I’ll guess that depends on the hook. I use a Gamakatsu 1/0 circle octopus hook, so I don’t set the hook at all. I raise the rod tip and reel in the slack and the bass sets the hook. Either my Fenwick HMX MF or Daiwa Procyon MXF (both with 20 lb braid and 6 lb mono leader) work equally well (the Procyon’s XF is pretty close to the HMX’s F as far as the tip action). Even my St. Croix Bass-X MLXF does a good job, but is a bit light in power for anything over 4 lbs. Although it’s handled a few 5 lb’ers without that much difficulty. 

[Oklahoma Mike]

9 hours ago, The Pond King said:

One of the best models out of the St. Croix Avid line is the Avid 6' 8" MXF Spinning.

This is exactly what I use for that application and love it. 

[B-Gee]

3 hours ago, smr913 said:

7' Medium is perfect. I'm not so worried about sensitivy when I'm throwing senkos because I'm fishing them on slack line mostly and watching for line movements. I would personally drop the leader down to 10 lb FC.

I have been using a 6 foot 20 lb. mono leader on 15 lb. braid because I fish from shore and have to drag my catch through the shoreline grasses up the bank which isn't very steep. I've been afraid that a lighter leader might break. Maybe I could get away with 10 lb. if I can find leader that light and I may give it a try. 

[Drew03cmc]

I guess I am odd. For 5" Senkos, for me, it's a 6'8" MF Legend X with a Metanium MG, 20# Smackdown and a 12lb fluoro leader. This is my favorite setup and the one I normally use for creek smallies, which often entails 1/3-1/2oz topwaters or soft craws. 

[MGF]

19 hours ago, smr913 said:

7' Medium is perfect. I'm not so worried about sensitivy when I'm throwing senkos because I'm fishing them on slack line mostly and watching for line movements. I would personally drop the leader down to 10 lb FC.

I prefer a rod of about 6'6" and I generally see a bite before I feel it. If I feel a bite first it's usually because of a "mistake".

 

A weightless senko type bait rigged wacky or Texas is one of my favorite baits for skipping under cover so I'm more concerned with the how well the combo casts.

[Fishes in trees]

I don't use circle hooks for bass fishing, throwing wacky senkos,  because, well, I don't know why, I just don't.  The only circle hooks that I have are 5/0 and 7/0 ones, that I use for throwing cut bait on those very rare times I get talked into cat fishing.  The hooks that I use for wacky senkos are the Falcon K wacky ones, 3/0 size, with the wire weed guard and more often than not the ones with the sixteenth ounce weight molded on to the shaft of the hook.  I could probably get by with a rod will less back bone, a more moderate bend, because  these hooks don't require a monster hook set, but the back bone of the rod helps setting the hook. - IMO.    If I used a more moderate action rod with less backbone, I think it would cost me fractions of seconds on the hook set, with the rod bending instead of the line moving as fast as possible, and I think it would cost me some fish, over the course of a season.  I could modify my hooks to accommodate the greater flex in a rod, but why do that?  Anyway, hope that explains why I like a significant backbone in the rod I choose for wacky senko fishing.  I get it - if I was throwing circle hooks, the rod backbone is counter productive - but I ain't.

[Aaron_H]

On 8/26/2021 at 4:36 PM, Robert C. Gates said:

I’ll also need a reel and would appreciate your recommendations.

 

 

 

You've already received many wonderful rod suggestions, so I'll just throw my two cents on the reel: Stick with the BG in a 2500 size. Daiwa really knocked that reel out of the park.

[LCG]

I have owned the at croix mojo bass 6'8" M-XF spinning rod and it was a good, solid rod but a little on the heavier power side, probably should have got the ML-XF.

 

I now use a BPS Carbonlite 2.0 6'8" M-XF that's rated for 1/8-1/2 oz lures, which is very accurate. The tip is light and extra fast but the power loads the blank nicely when fighting the fish that it's rare to lose a fish and not too stiff either. I have it paired with a Shimano Stardic FL 2500 spooled with 10lb high Viz yellow braid to a 6-10lb mono leader. Used for Ned rigs, drop shot, wacky and weightless Texas rigged senkos and trick worms. Great at skipping under overhanging trees and accurate casting rod. It's been my favorite now for the last 2 years. 

 

Another rod I had was a Fenwick HMG spinning rods 6'6 M-F and a 6'9" ML-F, they were nice as well. I sold them both but I do miss the 6'9" ML-F, I may buy another for finesse fishing for travel.

[MontclairDave]

On 8/26/2021 at 4:36 PM, Robert C. Gates said:

I fish for bass in a shallow pond with a grassy bottom here in Florida with a St. Croix 7 foot Triumph spinning rod (TSR 70 MF) and a Daiwa BG 3000 spinning reel with 15 lb. braid and 20 lb. leader. Most of the time I fish with Wacky rigged 5” Senkos, sometimes Texas rigged. I don’t add any additional weight to these baits. The bass I’ve caught here have ranged from small to about 22 inches.

 

I’m thinking about buying a lighter, more sensitive rod and reel and have studied the previous recommendations for Senko rods posted on this forum.  My upper price limit would be about $225. St. Croix rods were recommended most often in the BR Forum with the St. Croix Avid X 6'8" MXF highly recommended for Senko fishing. Another recommendation was the St. Croix Mojo 6’ 8” which is less expensive. Most of the other rods that were recommended are priced above my maximum of $225.

 

Based on these recommendations I think I’ll probably buy an Avid X 6’ 8” spinning rod and a 2500 reel.  But I would like to hear from some of the bass fishermen on this forum as to whether they agree with my choice or would have a better suggestion. I’ll also need a reel and would appreciate your recommendations.

 

I’ve fished Senkos with the St. Croix Avid X 6'8" MXF for about 10 years. I’ve also used Triumphs, Premiers, an Irod Genesis, and a higher-end Falcon and while they all handle Senkos well, I’d definitely give the Avid the nod for sensitivity. I imagine the newer generation of Avids are even better but I can’t say personally.

[Big Hands]

I have been sitting back eating a virtual bowl of popcorn and trying to figure out why there is an emphasis on the shorter rods for this application? I do fish weightless 5" senkos, but have so far preferred rods more in the 7 foot and slightly over length. I have a 7'1" rod that is otherwise very similar to the 6'10" that I also have and I definitely prefer the longer rod. 

 

Is it for skipping more easily or something else I am missing?

 

If it's about skipping, then I probably just just know what I don't know because I don't have much use for skipping.

 

Disclaimer: If my skipping game was weak, that would be an upgrade from where it is now. I'm just trying to learn about something I don't know much about. . . .

[Scott804]

50 minutes ago, Big Hands said:

I have been sitting back eating a virtual bowl of popcorn and trying to figure out why there is an emphasis on the shorter rods for this application? I do fish weightless 5" senkos, but have so far preferred rods more in the 7 foot and slightly over length. I have a 7'1" rod that is otherwise very similar to the 6'10" that I also have and I definitely prefer the longer rod. 

 

Is it for skipping more easily or something else I am missing?

 

If it's about skipping, then I probably just just know what I don't know because I don't have much use for skipping.

 

Disclaimer: If my skipping game was weak, that would be an upgrade from where it is now. I'm just trying to learn about something I don't know much about. . . .

I have the Megabass Orochi Ronin, which is a 6'8 rod built for weightless senko skipping. The shorter rod certainly adds some benefit towards accuracy and ease of skipping, but it is certainly no game changer in my opinion. I find myself using my 6'11 and 7'0 rods just as much for skipping unless I am in a tight area which isn't too often. 

[gm4511]

I use a Duckett Micro Magic Pro, 7', ML action rod and Pflueger President 3000 reel for 4-5" Senkos and Generals.  I also use it for finesse worms.  It skips well and has enough backbone to set the hook and handle heavier fish.