Musky Rod- Sell or Use For Swimbaits?

[MidwestHooker]

Hello all, I bought a 7'6 St. Croix Musky Mojo MH impulsively in my early years of fishing. I'm now becoming interested in using big swimbaits for largemouth and smallmouth, and I'm wondering if this rod is worth keeping for that purpose, or if I should just sell it and get a rod better attributed to swimsuit fishing. I'm located in Northern IL, so my swimbaits would likely be downsized compared to what folks in CA and down south are using. Any tips, advice, etc. are greatly appreciated, as I am brand new to this style of fishing. 

[MidwestHooker]

*Swimbait, not swimsuit. 

[Fishingmickey]

Should be fine, rated for up to three oz's. Might not handle the larger big heavy swimbaits well.

FM

[Eric 26]

1 hour ago, MidwestHooker said:

*Swimbait, not swimsuit. 

You have to love autocorrect ?

[WIGuide]

1 hour ago, MidwestHooker said:

*Swimbait, not swimsuit. 

Not sure I've ever went swimsuit fishing.....not sure if the rod would have enough backbone to rip them off the unsuspecting victims. lol

On a more serious note though, since you're just getting into it, buy a few and give it a try. Since you already have the rod you aren't out anything. If it doesn't work, then sell it and buy one that will. 

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, WIGuide said:

Not sure I've ever went swimsuit fishing

Could be fun though, depending on the target.

[JediAmoeba]

Musky rods aren't ideal but when you are starting out, they will work perfectly for you! If you like it, get a decent swimbait rod - they are much lighter and generally a bit more parabolic. Do you have some baits in mind?

[MidwestHooker]

12 minutes ago, JediAmoeba said:

Musky rods aren't ideal but when you are starting out, they will work perfectly for you! If you like it, get a decent swimbait rod - they are much lighter and generally a bit more parabolic. Do you have some baits in mind?

Yes! 6 in Bacca Burrito, 6 in Megabass Mag Draft, 7.8 in Keitech, 8 in Savage Gear Pulse Tail Trout in Carp, and I'd like to buy some Savage Gear 4Plays and River2Sea S-Wavers. The budget is somewhat tight, the Musky rod retails for about $215, and if it would be wiser to just sell it for $200 and get a rod better for bass swimbaits I'd do that. It's also worth noting that I wouldn't mind catching Pike as well. Holding the Musky rod, I do notice that it's kinda clunky. 

[JediAmoeba]

3 hours ago, MidwestHooker said:

Yes! 6 in Bacca Burrito, 6 in Megabass Mag Draft, 7.8 in Keitech, 8 in Savage Gear Pulse Tail Trout in Carp, and I'd like to buy some Savage Gear 4Plays and River2Sea S-Wavers. The budget is somewhat tight, the Musky rod retails for about $215, and if it would be wiser to just sell it for $200 and get a rod better for bass swimbaits I'd do that. It's also worth noting that I wouldn't mind catching Pike as well. Holding the Musky rod, I do notice that it's kinda clunky. 

You will be OK fishing most of those, however the swaver 168s won't be too good - glides fish a lot better with some flex to the rod, a musky rod is, like you say, cumbersome and stiff. 

 

$200 will get you a fine swimbait rod - a good one is IROD Genesis is a great beginner swimbait rod, even the 6th Sense Milliken rod is a great strater rod for what you are looking to do.

[softwateronly]

5 minutes ago, JediAmoeba said:

You will be OK fishing most of those, however the swaver 168s won't be too good - glides fish a lot better with some flex to the rod, a musky rod is, like you say, cumbersome and stiff. 

 

$200 will get you a fine swimbait rod - a good one is IROD Genesis is a great beginner swimbait rod, even the 6th Sense Milliken rod is a great strater rod for what you are looking to do.

 

This is all true, but a s-waver 168 fishes really light.  You might have a MH/H that could handle it and then decide. 

Personally, I've found it hard to find a swimbait rod that does everything well.  Big jig hook baits feel like they need to be faster with more power than big treble hook baits.

 

scott

[Hammer 4]

40 minutes ago, JediAmoeba said:

You will be OK fishing most of those, however the swaver 168s won't be too good - glides fish a lot better with some flex to the rod, a musky rod is, like you say, cumbersome and stiff. 

 

$200 will get you a fine swimbait rod - a good one is IROD Genesis is a great beginner swimbait rod, even the 6th Sense Milliken rod is a great strater rod for what you are looking to do.

 

RE: the Irod. I'm no beginner, and I have the Irod Gen II and III. These rods perform well above their price point, and customer service is next to none. Just choose the appropriate rod for your application. I don't why you would label the Irod as a beginner rod..? 

[JediAmoeba]

31 minutes ago, Hammer 4 said:

 

RE: the Irod. I'm no beginner, and I have the Irod Gen II and III. These rods perform well above their price point, and customer service is next to none. Just choose the appropriate rod for your application. I don't why you would label the Irod as a beginner rod..? 

Because all the swimbait guys I fish with run F5's, Leviathans and other custom rods. I am by no means knocking it, my buddy has a Genesis and loves it.

[MidwestHooker]

On 3/15/2023 at 8:02 PM, softwateronly said:

 

This is all true, but a s-waver 168 fishes really light.  You might have a MH/H that could handle it and then decide. 

Personally, I've found it hard to find a swimbait rod that does everything well.  Big jig hook baits feel like they need to be faster with more power than big treble hook baits.

 

scott

I threw an S-Waver 168 on my 7 ft H casting rod and I loved it. I do have some heavier baits though.

On 3/15/2023 at 7:48 PM, JediAmoeba said:

You will be OK fishing most of those, however the swaver 168s won't be too good - glides fish a lot better with some flex to the rod, a musky rod is, like you say, cumbersome and stiff. 

 

$200 will get you a fine swimbait rod - a good one is IROD Genesis is a great beginner swimbait rod, even the 6th Sense Milliken rod is a great strater rod for what you are looking to do.

I appreciate the recommendations, and I'll likely sell the rod and take your word for it!