Question about casting rod length and action.

[Kirtley Howe]

I have several spinning reels that I use for light tackle fishing.  None of my reels are terribly expensive, with most being in the $60 yo $70 price range. I know that buying more expensive reels may solve some of the problem, but that is really not an option for me. The reels I have perform well for my needs except for the one problem....on every reel I have, after using them for a year or so as a weekend fisherman, the line starts to slip between the end of the line pick up and the washer that separates the line pick up from the bail frame. It is more of a problem with #6 or #8 line than with heavier lines of a larger diameter. I have tried taking the bail apart and cleaning all parts, and reinstalling while making sure the screw that hold everything together is tight. I have checked for wear while it was apart, but could not see any problem.  So, the question is what is going on, and how can I prevent it, or at least fix it? For reference, the reels I use are a Pfluger President model, and others in that class. It has happed to all of my reels, I have replaced several with new reels thinking that maybe it was a fluke , and they work fine for about a year, and then it happens again. I take good care of my reels, and clean and lubricate them often. I am at my wits end with this. Any help would be appreciated.

[A-Jay]

?

A-Jay

[Kirtley Howe]

I don't know why the thread I started about spinning reels shows up when I started this new topic, but here goes with what my question about casting rods .....

I keep wondering why it is next to impossible to find a 7' 6' to 8' 6" casting rod in a light action, with moderate speed, or even almost a parabolic bend action. Every rod over 7foot that I find is MH fast action, or H fast action, or even XH fast action.  My thought on this is that in a spinning rod, a long, light rod is used for casting light lures greater distances....would not the same logic apply to casting rods? Is my logic flawed? I know that many people would just say to use a spinning set up for this type of fishing, and not worry about it. While I can accept that the spinning set up might be a "better" choice, I would still like to use a casting rod for this type of application.  So what does everyone think?

[MN Fisher]

It's called BFS - Bait Finesse System - small reels, light power rods.

 

Far as rods.

Kokanee series has 8' Light and Medium Light - Moderate-Fast casting rods.

https://www.lamiglas.com/collections/kokanee-trout-trolling-rods

[A-Jay]

20 minutes ago, Kirt Howe said:

I don't know why the thread I started about spinning reels shows up when I started this new topic, but here goes with what my question about casting rods .....

I keep wondering why it is next to impossible to find a 7' 6' to 8' 6" casting rod in a light action, with moderate speed, or even almost a parabolic bend action. Every rod over 7foot that I find is MH fast action, or H fast action, or even XH fast action.  My thought on this is that in a spinning rod, a long, light rod is used for casting light lures greater distances....would not the same logic apply to casting rods? Is my logic flawed? I know that many people would just say to use a spinning set up for this type of fishing, and not worry about it. While I can accept that the spinning set up might be a "better" choice, I would still like to use a casting rod for this type of application.  So what does everyone think?

Generally NOT a stick used in Bass Fishing.

Certainly can be but not a remotely popular deal.

With the recent surge in very light / small ultra finesse presentations for bass,

this type of blank might be found at more bass fishing rod vendors.

As it stands now, if I were looking for that deal,

I'd be checking out rods usually used for trout type applications.

A-Jay

[jimmyjoe]

45 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Certainly can be but not a remotely popular deal.

 

   There's the answer. Popularity means sales, and sales rules the market.          jj

[Kirtley Howe]

Explains why I don't see this type rod in shops.  Thanks for the suggestions.

[bulldog1935]

Small BFS reels with short para rods are made for stream trout fishing - accurate casts under 50' are the goal. 

 

You can make Bait Finesse System reel from any size baitcaster - low-inertia spool bearings and a low-mass, shallow spool.  You may have to go to aftermarket to find both, but you may already have a reel that can make the swap - Daiwa, Shimano, Abu, including Revo and Black Max.    AMO Store on the offshore Express website is a good place to start. 

There are a few ebay US vendors with very low-cost spools to give this a try. 

@Kirt Howe If you have a reel and you want to swap in a spool, pm me for possible links

 

Two example rods, bass BFS all range, though a spendy rod

and 13Fishing Omen Green inshore ML - mid price ($120) - they also make this rod in 7'7" (OG2C77M), though finding stock may not be easy.  Check inshore ML offerings from other brands. 13Fishing has this rod in stock, and I highly recommend it. 

Either of these rods will cast 1/8 oz 140-150' with the right reel set-up. 

Both rods are fast, neither rod is tippy over full lure weight range.  

 

Just in the past few years, the Japanese have been taking BFS to shore light game (rockfish) and offshore jigging.  This 8'2" all-range rod will cast 1/16 oz to 140',  and protect 4-lb test. 

 

All of these are definitely progressive taper rods, and the last example is pretty tippy to get the full lure weight range.  All the fish power is in the butt.

@Kirt Howe

You can build your own from a fast 5-wt fly rod blank. That would let you cast 1/16 to 3/8 oz farther than you could fish it. 

[Kirtley Howe]

On 11/25/2021 at 4:17 PM, A-Jay said:

Generally NOT a stick used in Bass Fishing.

Certainly can be but not a remotely popular deal.

With the recent surge in very light / small ultra finesse presentations for bass,

this type of blank might be found at more bass fishing rod vendors.

As it stands now, if I were looking for that deal,

I'd be checking out rods usually used for trout type applications.

A-Jay

I had a flash of brilliance a couple of days ago; Well, actually I was sorting through all my fishing rods, and noticed that I had a light action trolling rod (Eagle Claw) that was pretty much what I was thinking of for a light baitcasting rod. It is 8' long, light (almost but not quite whippy) action in the upper half, but some decent backbone in the bottom half. I mated it up with an Abu Garcia Black Max 3 reel with 6 lb test line (which I quickly swapped for 8 lb once I got out on the water).  I tried it out yesterday with some light lures (1/8 and 3/16th jigs, small crankbaits in the 3/16 to 1/4 oz range, and some unweighted plastic worms and beaver style baits, and some light jerkbaits.  It worked great with the jigs, very well with the crankbaits and unweighted plastic, and just plain sucked with the jerkbaits. It was just too soft to work the jerkbaits well.  I caught several nice smallmouth bass in the 1 1/2 lb range, a couple in the 3 lb range, and one that was a solid 4lb. Also caught some bonus Walleye.  Overall I was very pleased with the results, and my wife was pleased that I did not spend $$$ buying a new rod. 

[Darth-Baiter]

win win!!!  nice!

[A-Jay]

On 11/25/2021 at 3:59 PM, Kirt Howe said:

I don't know why the thread I started about spinning reels shows up when I started this new topic, but here goes with what my question about casting rods .....

I keep wondering why it is next to impossible to find a 7' 6' to 8' 6" casting rod in a light action, with moderate speed, or even almost a parabolic bend action. Every rod over 7foot that I find is MH fast action, or H fast action, or even XH fast action.  My thought on this is that in a spinning rod, a long, light rod is used for casting light lures greater distances....would not the same logic apply to casting rods? Is my logic flawed? I know that many people would just say to use a spinning set up for this type of fishing, and not worry about it. While I can accept that the spinning set up might be a "better" choice, I would still like to use a casting rod for this type of application.  So what does everyone think?

 

37 minutes ago, Kirt Howe said:

I had a flash of brilliance a couple of days ago; Well, actually I was sorting through all my fishing rods, and noticed that I had a light action trolling rod (Eagle Claw) that was pretty much what I was thinking of for a light baitcasting rod. It is 8' long, light (almost but not quite whippy) action in the upper half, but some decent backbone in the bottom half. I mated it up with an Abu Garcia Black Max 3 reel with 6 lb test line (which I quickly swapped for 8 lb once I got out on the water).  I tried it out yesterday with some light lures (1/8 and 3/16th jigs, small crankbaits in the 3/16 to 1/4 oz range, and some unweighted plastic worms and beaver style baits, and some light jerkbaits.  It worked great with the jigs, very well with the crankbaits and unweighted plastic, and just plain sucked with the jerkbaits. It was just too soft to work the jerkbaits well.  I caught several nice smallmouth bass in the 1 1/2 lb range, a couple in the 3 lb range, and one that was a solid 4lb. Also caught some bonus Walleye.  Overall I was very pleased with the results, and my wife was pleased that I did not spend $$$ buying a new rod. 

If it works for you, then roll with it.

Casting an 1/8 oz jig on that reel with 8 lb mono or FC (Guessing)

and an 8 ft trolling rod, is something I don't think I could pull off effectively.

So good on you.

A-Jay

[Kirtley Howe]

5 hours ago, A-Jay said:

 

If it works for you, then roll with it.

Casting an 1/8 oz jig on that reel with 8 lb mono or FC (Guessing)

and an 8 ft trolling rod, is something I don't think I could pull off effectively.

So good on you.

A-Jay

In all honesty, it sometimes got away from me, and my accuracy needs to improve, but I am very encouraged at this point. Time will tell if I get the accuracy I really would want in order to pinpoint my targets. And, I did have a few professional overruns. I still am working on getting everything set just right.