Weightless Soft Plastic Spinning Setup (200$ Range)

[Lucas G.]

What do you guys use when it comes to weightless soft plastics or light weighted rigs? I am looking for a spinning combo that has a solid rod and solid reel for a total of a 200 dollar combo. The rod needs to have a solid backbone while having the perfect tip (not too soft or too stiff). The reel also needs to be saltwater approved for my frequent inshore trips that I go on.  Also what length, power, and action is preferred for this type of finesse fishing? 
From what I have seen so far, the Shimano Nasci 2500 has been my best bet while I am still undecided on the rod.

Thanks for the suggestions and feedback.

[garroyo130]

If going the Shimano route, Spheros SW is a better reel for only about $20 more than the Nasci. With the Spheros you get worm gear oscillation which is better if you plan on using braid. 

[Lucas G.]

The only problem is that the Shimano Spheros SW is sold out on Tackle Warehouse and it’s hard to find it on sale on other websites. It only comes in a 3000 size and I preferably want a 2500 size.It’s a possibility but I am going to need other suggestions but thanks though.

[garroyo130]

Yeah I haven't seen it on sale at any time tbh. Are you planning on having the rod do double duty too? or will you use a different rod for salt and freshwater?

[Lucas G.]

The rod will do both because the saltwater fishing I do is small 3-4 inch paddletails on weedless or light jig heads for reds and snook. Any bass rod can double for inshore and do great so I am not worried about that. Just a rod that can cast those weightless or light finesse techniques for bass is what I need since it can always double for inshore. 

[king fisher]

Diawa BG for the reel. In my experience, nothing else comes close in the price range for salt water spinning reels.  I own Shimano, Penn, and Okuma salt water spinning reels that cost twice as much as the BG and prefer the BG. none of the others are even a close second.  As far as rods, go, I defer to other members, with more experience.

[zpelletier]

The Daiwa Fuego LT is a good option, this video is a good review
 

 

 

[FrnkNsteen]

1 hour ago, zpelletier said:

The Daiwa Fuego LT is a good option, this video is a good review
 

 

 

Agreed,... For me,... I was going to suggest a Fuego LT on a Daiwa RG, Fenwick HMG, or for a bit more $ a Phenix Feather rod.

[WRB]

Try contacting ALF for Shimano reels plus they offer 10% discount.

Tom

 

[Boomstick]

The Daiwa BG is definitely a winner for the reel. Solid reel for the price, great drag and made for saltwater. I would think a 2000 or 2500 size would do.

For the rod, it sounds like a Dobyns Fury 662SF or 702SF is probably what you're looking for.

[Lucas G.]

6 hours ago, Boomstick said:

The Daiwa BG is definitely a winner for the reel. Solid reel for the price, great drag and made for saltwater. I would think a 2000 or 2500 size would do.

For the rod, it sounds like a Dobyns Fury 663SF or 703SF is probably what you're looking for.

I heard that the Dobyns Fury’s are pretty stiff and it was true when I held one. I am not sure about it because of it. I was also looking at the tatula and procyon rods from Daiwa which looked good on paper. I have it narrowed between the Nasci, Fuego, and Procyon. I didn’t mention the BG because it is quite heavy and is a fully exclusive saltwater reel. 

[Cbump]

These are my spinning setups. They may or may not work for you. 
 

Skipping flukes/heavy drop shot/shakey: Penn Battle II, Daiwa Arid-X 6’6” medium spinning, 20lb power pro braid to 15lb invisx fc leader 

 

Wacky rig/Ned: Daiwa laguna, daiwa arid-x 6’6” medium spinning, 10lb power pro braid to 8lb fc

 

Drop Shot: lews speed spool, h2o express tac40 ML 7’, 10lb power pro braid to 10lb seaguar fc leader

 

 

In the future I will get a Dobyns 702 and a Vanford. 

[Boomstick]

10 hours ago, Lucas G. said:

I heard that the Dobyns Fury’s are pretty stiff and it was true when I held one. I am not sure about it because of it. I was also looking at the tatula and procyon rods from Daiwa which looked good on paper. I have it narrowed between the Nasci, Fuego, and Procyon. I didn’t mention the BG because it is quite heavy and is a fully exclusive saltwater reel. 

First I apologize, I messed up the Dobyns models. If you want to throw soft plastics into cover, the 663 or 703 is what you want, but to throw senkos and other finesse lures, the 662/702 is what you want. I don't think the 702 could possibly be too stiff for throwing a senko, although possibly for other finesse lures. The 703 would be if you plan on throwing senkos into cover with heavier line.

 

For the Tatula line, I don't have any of the spinning rods. Their mediums do run quite a bit heavy. I do have the Brent Ehrler designed 7'1" Tatula Elite M/F dropshot rod, and that is a finesse medium and would do the trick and throw other finesse baits pretty nicely.

 

The BG is far from a fully exclusive saltwater reel (a lot of us bass guys use them), and is similar or lighter than the Nasci in some sizes. Very solid reels, great drag. The only downside is they are a little heavy. I have one paired with a rod that is tip heavy with lighter reels and it balances out nicely. Do keep in mind that the BG 2500 is similar to the Nasci in the 3000 size, so go a size down with the BG.

 

The Fuego and Procyon are strictly freshwater reels.

[Lucas G.]

Thanks for the suggestions and explaining further on the BG helping me understand. I’ll see what I can put together with a Dobyns rod and a Daiwa BG! 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

My Fuego 25k has been unreal as far how its held up.  Although I've never dunked it in salt it's taken half a dozen foamy splashes, been dropped on the jetty 2 times and caught fish it wasnt designed to catch and keeps going.  If you dont plan to come across bull reds it will be fine, but if you fish in current a red over 10 lb red might have the power to make that reel stem flex.  I've caught stripers to about 15lb with my 25k without any major flexing, but its not the reel you want if your odds of hooking a fish over 8lbs in current are good.  The Nasci looks like it may be a world beater for the price, I cant say because I dont have 1.  I do have a BG and a Spheros and while both are good the spheros sw is the better reel for the purpose you want it for.  The Spheros is basically a Stradic FK, it's more refined, water doesn't get in as easily and will take a beating.  I think the BG has the edge in cranking power, although the main gear in the BG is zinc compared to Spheross' aluminum,  its bigger.  Everything thing else Spheros matches or surpasses BG.  I know you said you want a 2500, but the short handles and small knobs dont make things easier with weightless plastics or playing bigger fish.  The BGs have a different sizing then the LT daiwas in that they're bigger.  A 3500 is about the size of a 5000 Shimano, so keep that in mind.

 

The reel isn't nearly as important as the rod.  Reels wear out, especially in SW but the rod is going to be around until you break it or the eyes fall apart.  That being said either try to get an inshore rod or a rod with guides that will resist corrosion.  If your casting light weightless plastics like flukes or even trick worms a faster tipped M will help.  If your throwing heavier plastics like senkos or coffee tubes you may be able get away with a MH F.  The jighead weight + the weight of the paddletails should fall into the sweet spot of the rod.  That way if you need to use a heavier weight or cast into the wind you can do without overloading the blank.  SC used to make a perfect M F for what you need, but the lower price point rods have gotten a little softer.  I would still reccomend SC, along with Shimano, Daiwa and Falcon.  See if you can actually find a place where you can see how they feel.  

Keep in mind these are my conclusions drawn from my personal experiences, keep that in mind.  My apologies for the novel.  Hope this helps.

[Ben77]

My setup is a diawa bg 2500 paired up with a dobyns sierra 704. For me it's more versatile and a tad stiffer but still very sensitive. I love this combo you can use it for multiple applications.

[Big Hands]

On 6/25/2022 at 2:01 PM, Lucas G. said:

The rod will do both because the saltwater fishing I do is small 3-4 inch paddletails on weedless or light jig heads for reds and snook. Any bass rod can double for inshore and do great so I am not worried about that. Just a rod that can cast those weightless or light finesse techniques for bass is what I need since it can always double for inshore. 

I have been on a vision quest for my ultimate weightless wacky Senko rod and have been through several 6'10" to 7'1" M/F, ML/F and L/F spinning rods. They were all OK at it, but I really wanted that extra casting difference.

After grinding on what might be the next step, I kept coming back to wanting to try something a little longer. I was initially interested in either the Tatula TTU761MLMFS or the extra Gucci Tatula Elite TAEL761MLMFS-AGS (Seth Feider Hair Jig rod). The 'regular' Tatula version is very difficult to find in stock (or was a month ago), and I wasn't sure I wanted to drop $300 on a rod I couldn't handle first. 

I was in my local tackle store and they had a St. Croix Mojo MJS76MLXF (7'6" ML/XF Hair Jig rod) in the store. So far it's outperformed all of my other spinning rods (Tatula, Kage, Zodias, Expride & Phenix Feather) for delivering weightless wacky plastics (specifically 4" and 5" Senkos). The light tip lets me know the fish are there long before they know I'm there, and the extra fast action let's me lean into them to drive the finesse hooks in and keeps them pinned really well. Maybe I'm way off on this as it seems that so many others have homed in on the relatively shorter solutions, but as far as I am concerned, all of my other spinning rods can go back to doing whatever other finesse techniques they also do well. 

[Tail Slap]

The Tatula LT series is a lot of rod for the $.  Very good sensitivity to feel bottom.  It's a top pick for jigging in the surf for fluke along the east coast.  The major focus on the rod for this is sensitivity to be able to feel that slight hit on bottom in that turning surf.  It's recommemded only behind the Steez AGS for that specific task.  There is a huge thread on Striper online about it "Shore Fluke - Proven Method"  thinks its around 30+ pgs long.

 

The BG reel is no more SW specific than any other reel with some seals.  The Stradic FL by that standard is way more SW specific then and we know that's not the truth.  Even more for the Vanford as it's mostly C4I+ which can not corrode.

 

Personally spend less on that level of reel and a bit more on the rod. With that said those BGs take a serious beating and last and last.  Just takes some common sense maintenence after SW use. Light flow freshwater rinse. Lube the line roller.  Unless it takes a serious dunk that's about it until it needs to be cracked open to give the internals a once over.