Rod / Reel / Line for Worms and Jigs

[T-Billy]

8 hours ago, JackstrawIII said:

I must just be a super slow learner then haha. I’ve been using baitcasters a ton for the last few months and still get backlashes all the time… tho admittedly many fewer than I used to ?

Smoooth casting stroke and follow through is the key. Baitcasters no like herky jerky.

[new2BC4bass]

Whenever I visit Florida (fish with a B-I-L there), I use a MHF casting rod, weightless 10" ribbontail worm (Junebug most of the time, black occasionally), 3/0-5/0 EWG hooks, and 40# braid for the vast majority of my fishing.  We are casting back into the lily pads most of the time.  Last time there I had forgotten to take a baitcast reel with braid except for the reel that went on my dedicated frog rod.

 

As it happened, I had sent an older Fenwick Elite Tech 7' MF Jig & Worm spinning rod down with a couple other baitcast rods.  Guess what the spinning reel I took with me was spooled with.  Yup, braid (purchased used and that is what came on the reel).  Due to my B-I-L's work schedule we only got out 3 times, but every fish I caught was on the spinning combo.  I didn't change how I fished.  Still cast back into the pads.  We do fish from a Gheenoe so we can chase down a snag if necessary.

 

Would I rather have had a baitcast reel?  Yes, but that is what I prefer.  The spinning rod did fine.  Plus I never had one backlash with it! 

 

I prefer a 7 or 8 speed reel.  I prefer a mono/co-polymer for any fishing not done in heavy cover.  I use a lot of AN40, Siege and Big Game...12# on MH rods, 8# on Medium or ML rods.

 

I seldom ever swim the worm except when retrieving for another cast.  Occasionally I'll keep the rod tip in the water in an attempt to keep the worm as deep as possible on a retrieve just in case I am lucky enough to have a bass follow it.    Otherwise I'm moving the worm with the rod.  A speedy reel is for taking up slack and getting the bait back quicker for another cast.

 

I know jigs are very versatile, but I don't seem to have the patience for them.  I have caught a few fish on jigs, but it isn't a technique I'm fond of.

[padon]

On 10/11/2022 at 2:58 PM, ApexAZ said:

Hi all,

 

I have done some novice fly fishing for trout in the past, but want to do some lake and salt river bass fishing in Arizona and I don't necessarily want to do it on a fly rod.  So I have several questions.

 

I've been devouring YouTube content, but still a little lost when it comes to the huge array of tackle options out there, or even where to begin.  Some advice I gleaned from YouTube is to start with worms followed by jigs.  Would you experts agree?

 

If so, the next question becomes tackle to do that.  I want to keep the rod and reel around $600.  Advice seems to really vary on whether to do a MH or H rod, so I was thinking a Shimano Expride B 7'2" MHF paired with a Shimano Bantam MGL as a good mid-price setup.  Would this combination be good for worms and jigs, or should I go with the heavy?  I figure the MHF rod can cast a range of 3/8 to 1oz bait.

 

Would this be a good place to start with mid-range gear?

 

What gear ratio should I go for knowing I'm a complete newbie starting with worms followed by jigs?  I was thinking fast 8, but tackle warehouse recommended a 6.  Thoughts on speed?

 

Thanks all!  Sorry if these are knucklehead questions.  There's just such a dizzying array of options.

 

i have 2 of those exact set ups. one for worms one for jigs. both with 14 pound fluor and both are on my deck every trip from the time i launch til the time i put it on the trailer.

[WRB]

Fly fishing you are casting the line, bait casting and spinning your are casting the lure, very different casting motion.

Bait casting and spinning you should be considering brand customer service, rod warranty, rod weight vs reel weight for proper balance. Lighter the rod weight is generally sought after.

St Croix Victory series rods are very light well made with comfortable reel seats, excellent customer service. Price range around $200 full retail*.

Casting rod: The Marshall 7’3” MHF 

Reel: Daiwa Zillion SV TW G....$340*

Line, Seaguar Tatsu 12#

Spinning rod: Max-Tac 7’3” MXF

Reel: Shimano Vanford 2500...$240*

Line, 7 # Sunline Sniper or 6# Seagaur

Tom

* 1st time buyer discount 10% @ ALF 

PS, learn to cast using Sunline Super Natural Mono 12# casting, 6# spinning.

Can’t think a reason to use braid in AZ lakes.

[CrashVector]

My standard finesse setup is a 7' MH/f Abu Garcia Veritas tournament rod with a Revo SX spooled with green 20lb Hercules no fade 8 carrier braid.  No leader.

[dodgeguy]

21 hours ago, T-Billy said:

The braking systems on modern baitcasters have flattened the learning curve a great deal. I taught my wife and niece to use one this year, and they both figured it out in a matter of minutes. I think baitcasters are actually easier to use, and more efficient once you get the hang of them, which doesn't take long.

The combo the OP mentioned in his first post also covers alot of bases, and is better than spinning for alot of them including the ones he mentioned.

I fish nothing but baitcasters.

[ErieCan]

I'll just post what I use and why and hope that helps. 

 

90% of my Largemouth fishing is in submerged grass in clear water. Thick isolated clumps or lines. Many require some stealth so as not to spook the fish (some long casts required).  I want sensitivity on slack line, a rod and line with the power to turn the fish out/away of the grass, but with a soft tip to cast well. And a reel that can launch a light'ish bait as far as I need. So here are two I use for jigs and tex rigs (I don't use jigs very often. I'll use a skirted tex rig instead) 

 

#1

 

- 3/16 - 5/16oz weight with ribbon tail worms, creature baits.

- St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass 7'3" Heavy/Xfast. 

- 2020 Shimano Metanium XG

- 16lb Sunline sniper 

 

#2

 

- 5/16 - 1/2 oz weight. Usually leave this one unpegged. With tubes, craws, skirted tex rigs. 

- 7'5" Daiwa Steez AGS BC2 

- 2020 Shimano Metanium XG 

- 16lb Sunline sniper 

 

I use baitcasters for pretty well everything but drop shot and mojo rigs now. Wacky rigs, flick shake, trick worms all on a baitcaster.