Do you have to buy a dedicated swimbait rod even for smaller (1-2.5 oz) baits?

[Ohioguy25]

It appears that even the heaviest “normal” casting rods only go up to 1.5 oz weight limits.  Some of my swimbaits (Deps 145, Jackal Gantia, 5” Bull shad) are under 2 oz but several (6” Bull Shad, Chad Shad) are over 2 oz and feel like too much for my HF Mojo.  

 

When browsing rods it seems that only the dedicated “swimbait” rods have ranges that extend beyond 1.5 oz, for example the medium powered Champion XP goes from 2-5 oz.  Can I throw these 2+ oz baits on a 7’4” Champion HP mag heavy (1/4-1.5 oz) or is it going to be a lot easier and less stress on the blank with a swimbait rod? 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I'd be as concerned with the rod's parabolic action as I would be its rating and length based on those baits, and my own experience using very similar baits.    

 

Those are still moving treble hooked baits, and if you just try to slot in a stiff shorter rod, you're going to be losing some fish most likely.    

 

The length really helps with distance, are you going to be bombcasting these baits across structure, or do you intend to pinpoint cast them closer to cover?     

 

I don't throw many soft big swimbaits with large single hooks, but if you do than perhaps a shorter H action could work better vs. hard big swimbaits with trebles.     

 

I decided to just buy a dedicated "heavy bait" setup.....1.5-2oz 5" BD Shads/168 S Wavers/Gantarels.....to 2.5oz ARigs......to potentially down the line 3-4oz 8-10" cover Glides.    Thus far the biggest reason why I'm glad I did is because of the rod itself, and again its parabolic nature.    I lucked into this because nobody talks much about how important this aspect is to big moving hard swimbaits with trebles.    

 

 

[NorthernBasser]

I have the Fury 795 for my larger swimbaits. 

 

But for little lighter hard swimbaits, I have the ALX IKOS Thunder (7'6 XH/mod-fast). Rated up to 2 oz. Also makes a good deep cranking rod and for A-Rigs. Also have the Jenko Savant which is rated up to 2 oz. The tip on this is a little softer than the IKOS.

 

 

[badfish79]

Dobyns has a new A-Rig rod in their Champ XP swimbait lineup. Gonna try to pick this up some time this year. Rated 1-3.5oz with a fast action, but I assume parabolic enough due to the category its under.

https://dobynsrods.com/product/dc-794-5-ar/

[WRB]

IROD IRG754F Gen3 Fred’s Magic Stick designed for frogs makes and good utility rod for big deep diving crank baits and swimbait,/wake baits 1-2 oz the OP plans to use.

Tom

[casts_by_fly]

for the bait sizes you’re talking, go immediately to the classifieds of this forum and buy the falcon expert amistad that’s listed. Great rod for up to 2 oz and will go a little heavier if you want. I throw 6.8 keitechs with a quarter or three eighths hook to good effect. I also throw an a-rig on it. Then on a different day pitch a 3/8 Texas rigged beaver at the best cover you’ve got. 

[Tatulatard]

I'm a believer in a H or H+ utility rod for baits in this range.  It let's you explore swimbaits with baits that arguably get bit more often than a big glide as a gateway into big baits.  Something that has enough utility to do throw other heavy baits like big ploppers, big frogs, wakes, big cranks, umbrella rigs and whatever else you can cook up.  They either fall into big treble mod fast rod or big single hook type fast action rods. 

[Deleted account]

No.

[Dogface]

44 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

No.

?

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

I'm a believer in a H or H+ utility rod for baits in this range.  It let's you explore swimbaits with baits that arguably get bit more often than a big glide as a gateway into big baits.  Something that has enough utility to do throw other heavy baits like big ploppers, big frogs, wakes, big cranks, umbrella rigs and whatever else you can cook up.  They either fall into big treble mod fast rod or big single hook type fast action rods. 

The amistad falls in this category for me. Good pitching rod. Fishes a frog alright. Big spinnerbaits and a-rigs. A couple places I fish have musky and ill keep it rigged with a big keitech. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

There are rods labeled Frog, Swimbait, Pike/Musky, Flippin’, Inshore, Light Salt all with weight ranges to cover that range. 

[Ohioguy25]

On 1/13/2023 at 3:40 PM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I'd be as concerned with the rod's parabolic action as I would be its rating and length based on those baits, and my own experience using very similar baits.    

 

Those are still moving treble hooked baits, and if you just try to slot in a stiff shorter rod, you're going to be losing some fish most likely.    

 

The length really helps with distance, are you going to be bombcasting these baits across structure, or do you intend to pinpoint cast them closer to cover?     

 

I don't throw many soft big swimbaits with large single hooks, but if you do than perhaps a shorter H action could work better vs. hard big swimbaits with trebles.     

 

I decided to just buy a dedicated "heavy bait" setup.....1.5-2oz 5" BD Shads/168 S Wavers/Gantarels.....to 2.5oz ARigs......to potentially down the line 3-4oz 8-10" cover Glides.    Thus far the biggest reason why I'm glad I did is because of the rod itself, and again its parabolic nature.    I lucked into this because nobody talks much about how important this aspect is to big moving hard swimbaits with trebles.    

 

 

Lol you left out which rod you went with?  How long does the rod have to be to produce said parabolic bend?

[WRB]

using 2.5 oz swimbaits then stay with Dobyns DC795SB.

Tom

[Ohioguy25]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

using 2.5 oz swimbaits then stay with Dobyns DC795SB.

Tom

What about this, is 7’4” too short for that strength to produce the desired parabolic bend for treble hooked baits? Also how much better is the Champion than the falcon quality/balance wise?  I am fishing from a kayak and would prefer something in the 7’4-7’6 range and I like the split grip, seems most dedicated swim rods are broomsticks with long full cork/Eva handles.

 

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

4 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Lol you left out which rod you went with?  How long does the rod have to be to produce said parabolic bend?

I went with the Alpha Angler Wide Glide 7'9 MH X-F with a glass tip.     Any length rod length can have good parabolic action if it's built with that in mind.   The reason many of the Alpha Angler rods have such fantastic and unique parabolic action is because they use glass tops and stiff graphite composite bottom sections.    The rods won't wow you though in terms of looks, pure tools.  

24 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

 

What about this? Is 7’4” too short for that strength to produce the desired parabolic bend for treble hooked baits? Also how much better is the Champion than the falcon quality/balance wise?  I am fishing from a kayak and would prefer something in the 7’4-7’6 range and I like the split grip, seems most dedicated swim rods are broomsticks with long full cork/Eva handles.

 

 

The reason most big swimbait rods have full length handles in because when you tuck them under your arm while retrieving a bait, it's comfortable.  On the other hand if you tuck a split grip under your arm, and work a bait for hours, it becomes very uncomfortable.    Another reason is it's nice to have for bombcasting baits. 

 

There really isn't a free lunch with big swimbaits/a-rigs.    There isn't a finesse option per say.  

 

Coming back to the parabolic aspect, any rod length can have it, you just have to find a rod with the proper action.    Your focused on the power aspect of the rod, but you also have the action aspect to a rod.   

 

XH power on that rod might make it too stiff imho. 

[Ohioguy25]

28 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I went with the Alpha Angler Wide Glide 7'9 MH X-F with a glass tip.     Any length rod length can have good parabolic action if it's built with that in mind.   The reason many of the Alpha Angler rods have such fantastic and unique parabolic action is because they use glass tops and stiff graphite composite bottom sections.    The rods won't wow you though in terms of looks, pure tools.  

The reason most big swimbait rods have full length handles in because when you tuck them under your arm while retrieving a bait, it's comfortable.  On the other hand if you tuck a split grip under your arm, and work a bait for hours, it becomes very uncomfortable.    Another reason is it's nice to have for bombcasting baits. 

 

There really isn't a free lunch with big swimbaits/a-rigs.    There isn't a finesse option per say.  

 

Coming back to the parabolic aspect, any rod length can have it, you just have to find a rod with the proper action.    Your focused on the power aspect of the rod, but you also have the action aspect to a rod.   

 

XH power on that rod might make it too stiff imho. 

Yeah looks like they also offer a heavy but it only goes up to 2 oz, does that matter if I’m planning on using it for baits over 2 oz?

[PhishLI]

2 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

 I am fishing from a kayak

Will you be casting and retrieving from a seated position? If so, you may find the 21"-23" handles found on many typical swimbait rods unwieldy. I went with an iRod Genesis III Jr Swimbait for my yak because of its conventional length handle. It's perfect for the treble baits you've mentioned, and you can chuck a 1/2oz chatterbait/trailer with it, no problem. If you can work with 7'8", it may work for you. It's also quite light.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

36 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Yeah looks like they also offer a heavy but it only goes up to 2 oz, does that matter if I’m planning on using it for baits over 2 oz?

Generally speaking you don't want to exceed the rating as a rule of thumb, but every rod is different, some can handle it.  

 

The advice from others that are yaking like PhishLi is gonna be far more relevant than my opinion, and I'm a long ways from being an expert.     

[Ohioguy25]

39 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Will you be casting and retrieving from a seated position? If so, you may find the 21"-23" handles found on many typical swimbait rods unwieldy. I went with an iRod Jr Swimbait for my yak because of its conventional length handle. It's perfect for the treble baits you've mentioned, and you can chuck a 1/2oz chatterbait/trailer with it, no problem. If you can work with 7'8", it may work for you. It's also quite light.

Yes for sure, and thanks! I was worried about those broomstick handles.

[WRB]

IROD new Quercus has premium cork handle and light weight balanced Swimbait rod IQ783 jr swimbait, 2-4 oz lures, fast-mod action. check this rod out!

Tom

[NorthernBasser]

Daiwa has a new swimbait rod in their Tatula line. 7'3 H/Mod. Rated up to 4 oz. 

[Ohioguy25]

8 hours ago, WRB said:

IROD new Quercus has premium cork handle and light weight balanced Swimbait rod IQ783 jr swimbait, 2-4 oz lures, fast-mod action. check this rod out!

Tom

What line do you recommend? I’ve heard P-line CXX recommended, I am currently running 15 lb seaguar red, but I really don’t want to cast/break off a $75 bait and have had bad luck with fluro fraying/snapping.

[PhishLI]

Just go with 20lb Big Game or 20lb in this :

Izorline XXX Super Co-Polymer Clear 300yd spool - Tackle Warehouse

[WRB]

Sunline Diefer Armilo Nylon 22#/.015D or 25#/.016D.

Tom

[Ohioguy25]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Sunline Diefer Armilo Nylon 22#/.015D or 25#/.016D.

Tom

Will that work with my Curado K?