Which rod to choose for topwater spook fishing?

[Pj P]

Looking for a new rod for Zara spook fishing. I know people generally like a rod <7ft for this technique. I’ve been looking in to Duckett and some other brands. Generally in the $200 and under range. I’m open to all options. A lot of the companies websites don’t do the best job at listing which actions and lengths are for which techniques. (Even though I know they all make technique specific rods)

[Jar11591]

For a topwater rod (both poppers and walkers) I prefer a 6’6” medium power rod with a fast tip. The fast action allows me to have much more feel to work the bait. The shorter length prevents me from slapping the water or bottom of the boat, as I tend to jerk my rod down to work both poppers and walkers. The medium power allows me to really bomb casts even when using small topwaters.  Check out the Fenwick HMG in 6’6” M/F. It makes an excellent topwater rod for spooks and poppers. 

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/catpage-FENWIK.html?from=basres

[ChrisD46]

Not to thread jack - but I too am still on the hunt for a new top water rod for the same reasons suggested in this post (i.e. working a top water with the rod tip down at the 4 to 5 o'clock down position without slapping the water from a Kayak or bank fishing . a 6'6" to 6'9" MF or possibly a MM which has to be good with braid . I have two cheap rods I currently use that fit the requirements : All Star nano 6' MF rod and a Berkley Lightening Shock (old model !) MM that I am using for walking baits and poppers . I would like  a little nicer / better quality / lightweight rod (bait cast) though for my larger spooks and pencil poppers while still staying with the shorter rod length .

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, Pj P said:

Looking for a new rod for Zara spook fishing. I know people generally like a rod <7ft for this technique. I’ve been looking in to Duckett and some other brands. Generally in the $200 and under range. I’m open to all options. A lot of the companies websites don’t do the best job at listing which actions and lengths are for which techniques. (Even though I know they all make technique specific rods)

 

The Falcon expert 6'10" Topwater/finesse jig is a perfect walking bait rod.  It has a fast tip that doesn't feel like mush when you're walking one but it isn't super heavy so you're into the middle of the rod quickly on a fish.  I've never lost a treble hooked fish on that rod.  I fish it tip down from a kayak with no problems, and from a boat its even easier.  I first fished it with 14 lb elite (0.015 diameter mono).  I was just using 12 lb supernatural (0.011 diameter mono) until I had a mega 'professional overrun' tuesday that I had to cut out.  Both worked, but I'm looking for goldilocks so 14 lb supernatural is going back onto it tomorrow (0.013 diameter).  That should be just right for topwaters and light swim jigs (what I'm throwing on that rod right now).

7 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

Not to thread jack - but I too am still on the hunt for a new top water rod for the same reasons suggested in this post (i.e. working a top water with the rod tip down at the 4 to 5 o'clock down position without slapping the water from a Kayak or bank fishing . a 6'6" to 6'9" MF or possibly a MM which has to be good with braid . I have two cheap rods I currently use that fit the requirements : All Star nano 6' MF rod and a Berkley Lightening Shock (old model !) MM that I am using for walking baits and poppers . I would like  a little nicer / better quality / lightweight rod (bait cast) though for my larger spooks and pencil poppers while still staying with the shorter rod length .

 

If you want braid capable and a touch softer but able to throw bigger pencil poppers and shorter, the Falcon spinnerbait/jerkbait in the Bucoo series is what you want.  6'8", 1/4-3/4 MH MF.  It has a good bit of power down low and will handle the bigger poppers (I'm thinking 110-130 size) but it isn't so fast as most MF rods.  The Herm rod at 6'6" wouldn't be a bad shout either.  Not sure if you have Academy sports around you but they usually have both in the store.  Both run $100.  

[Pj P]

Thanks for your reply, after looking in to it I think I might give falcon rods a try. I’m not too invested in any rod brand yet as I’ve just started buying higher end bass gear. I also fish off a kayak (standing up most of the time if the wind allows me to) so I think that rod would suit me well.

[Deleted account]

Walking baits, a 6'6" through 6'9" MH, not particularly fast with a short(ish) handle. I find I can get away with a less specific rod for walking baits than poppers, where I have dedicated rods.

[Deephaven]

6'8" St Croix MXF.  Great tip for working the bait and "soft" enough rod to not have the fish toss the bait.  Perfect jerkbait rod as well...but I consider those techniques more or less the same from a rod buying perspective.

[webertime]

Topwater as in spooks and 1/2oz+ poppers then please look at the Evergreen SB 7ft2in MH mod fast rod.  I find it to be perfect for that.  Smaller baits, a Mxf St Croix is great.  I was truly blown away by the Evergreen. 

[Jrob78]

7 minutes ago, webertime said:

Topwater as in spooks and 1/2oz+ poppers then please look at the Evergreen SB 7ft2in MH mod fast rod.  I find it to be perfect for that.  Smaller baits, a Mxf St Croix is great.  I was truly blown away by the Evergreen. 

Is that the Combat Stick with the camo grips or a jdm rod? Evergreen is one rod company I haven't tried yet because the JDM rods are so expensive and I've heard some of the Combat Sticks are really heavy, but that might have been the glass rods specifically.

[PressuredFishing]

Treble hook baits benefit from Anything with give will work, give in the line, rod, or both

[rangerjockey]

I use a 35+ year-old All-Star Zell Rowland TWS. The only difference is I've gone to braid rather than mono over the years. I work a spook with the rod tip to the side rather than straight down, but I still like a rod under 7ft.

Whatever rod you can work the bait best with is the one for you. 

 

[webertime]

5 hours ago, Jrob78 said:

Is that the Combat Stick with the camo grips or a jdm rod? Evergreen is one rod company I haven't tried yet because the JDM rods are so expensive and I've heard some of the Combat Sticks are really heavy, but that might have been the glass rods specifically.

Yeah the camo handle one.  I don't notice it weighing any more or less than. Any other 7+' mh rods.  I have it set up with a Scorpion DC and it's so dialed for super spooks, yamatos, sb's.

[Jrob78]

35 minutes ago, webertime said:

Yeah the camo handle one.  I don't notice it weighing any more or less than. Any other 7+' mh rods.  I have it set up with a Scorpion DC and it's so dialed for super spooks, yamatos, sb's.

Cool, I am going to put one of those on my list to try out.

I think the rod that was supposedly heavy was the 7'3" heavy glass chatterbait stick. 

[Jrob78]

2 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

I use a 35+ year-old All-Star Zell Rowland TWS. The only difference is I've gone to braid rather than mono over the years. I work a spook with the rod tip to the side rather than straight down, but I still like a rod under 7ft.

Whatever rod you can work the bait best with is the one for you. 

 

That was the first nice rod I ever bought back in about 1996, when Allstar was still making rods in TX. It needs a guide replaced but it's otherwise still going strong.

[rangerjockey]

8 hours ago, Jrob78 said:

That was the first nice rod I ever bought back in about 1996, when Allstar was still making rods in TX. It needs a guide replaced but it's otherwise still going strong.

Just a great rod. They are bringing crazy money on the used market.

[TNBankFishing]

Honestly any medium power moderate fast action rod will work. But if you want something completely different and really special I’d go with the Megabass Destroyer 110 Special. A good topwater rod and one of if not the best jerkbait rod on the planet. There is currently a shorter model out, and a 6’11” model coming this winter. 

[Boomstick]

On 7/22/2022 at 10:47 AM, Deephaven said:

6'8" St Croix MXF.  Great tip for working the bait and "soft" enough rod to not have the fish toss the bait.  Perfect jerkbait rod as well...but I consider those techniques more or less the same from a rod buying perspective.

I second this. My top water/jerkbait/spook rod is the Mojo Bass top water rod which doesn’t have a lot of bend in the tip but has a lot of bend throughout the rod and is perfect for there’s lures.

[dodgeguy]

My buddy is the best zara spook fisherman I know. He uses a 5-6 pistol grip bps bionic blade IM8 medium from the 1990s. My personal choice is. Dobyns SSM 663 C.

[Bankbeater]

What size spook?  For a Zara Puppy I like a 6'6" m/f, and for the regular Zara Spook I like a 6'6" mh/f.

[Cbump]

I guess I’m the odd ball. My jerkbait/light  topwater rod is not even close to my spook rod. I use a Dobyns 734c for spooks and buzzbaits. 

[Cory20]

I use a 6'6" st croix avid MF.

I overload it a bit with 130mm pencil poppers. I till manage to get the hooks in using 12lb mono but d**n it's spongy.