Rod recommendation…

[Cbump]

I’m looking for a swimbait rod for 6” magdrafts (freestyle and regular) and 5” and 6” bull shads. On The scale the regular magdraft is 1.25 oz and the freestyle is 1.3 oz with 6/0 beast hook. The bull Shads are advertised at 1.35oz and 2oz for the 5 and 6. 
 

I want a 7’ (7’3” max) rod. I will not be bomb casting. I will be flipping these around, casting 20 yards around points, etc. 

 

I do currently have an Orochi Perfect Pitch, which they say is a great magdraft rod, however it’s setup with an 8.1 reel. Also it’s under powered for a bull Shad I think. 
 

Alternatively I could just buy and spool up a 6.2 reel and put It on the perfect pitch when I want to throw magdrafts. 

 

[JediAmoeba]

I throw all mine on a 7'6" Heavy Tatula rod with a Tatula SV reel. Same setup I use for jigs. 

[softwateronly]

I throw regular magdrafts and bullshads on the expride 7'7H, MB Tequila Bacarac, and will throw it on my new 2 piece travel rod, major craft days 702X.  I haven't really gotten a chance yet to give it an honest review, but it feels great and is very affordable.

 

I prefer the expride 7'3 or 7'6XH for the freestyle.  The MB TB is very good as well but prefer the longer rods.

 

scott

[Cbump]

I’ll be throwing the magdraft way more than a bull shad. Would the TB be too much Rod for strictly 1.3 oz magdrafts? 
 

3 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

I throw regular magdrafts and bullshads on the expride 7'7H, MB Tequila Bacarac, and will throw it on my new 2 piece travel rod, major craft days 702X.  I haven't really gotten a chance yet to give it an honest review, but it feels great and is very affordable.

 

I prefer the expride 7'3 or 7'6XH for the freestyle.  The MB TB is very good as well but prefer the longer rods.

 

scott

 

[TheBaitMonkey]

Ive been using an Orochi XXX Mat Bucker 6-611k and I like it for 6” magdrafts and glidebaits in that size. I haven’t tested it with freestyle magdrafts yet though, but it’s made for Frogs so I feel like it would have enough backbone. It has a good amount of flex and has kept them pinned on trebles really well for me so far.

[softwateronly]

6 minutes ago, Cbump said:

I’ll be throwing the magdraft way more than a bull shad. Would the TB be too much Rod for strictly 1.3 oz magdrafts? 
 

 

 

No, it has a very unique to me action.  Soft enough for trebles but there's some real power in there for single hook too.  It's the only rod from the p5 series that I've handled, so I don't know how it compares within the line, but a powerful, sensitive, regular action rod feels like it can do most everything.

 

scott

[Cbump]

Any thoughts on a Dobyns 746c for this? 

Yeah I know it’s an inch longer than I said 

[PhishLI]

Still have the Tat Elite 7'1" H? It'll work. BTW, the 6" Bullshad isn't a resistance bait.

[NorthernBasser]

I haven't used it but I've heard good things about the 7'3 Tatula swimbait rod.

[Cbump]

25 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

Still have the Tat Elite 7'1" H? It'll work. BTW, the 6" Bullshad isn't a resistance bait.

I actually sold It and just found out the guy I sold It to is using It for magdrafts! I screwed that up but didn’t think about magdrafts then. 

[Cbump]

Maybe a 7’1” heavy plus Zodias? It’s rated 7/16 - 2oz

[Bass Rutten]

TTU731HRB-SB

A sleeper in the tatula lineup.

[Cbump]

34 minutes ago, Bass Rutten said:

TTU731HRB-SB

A sleeper in the tatula lineup.

Is It heavy and bulky? I like a slim light rod. 

[casts_by_fly]

You’re liking the feel of falcon rods lately so I’d say pick up an amistad. 7’3” and right in the weight range.  I use my expert version for heavy pitching/light punching, Alabama rigs, big swim baits (7” keitech on a weighted hook), etc. all the things you’re talking about. The expert is rated 3/8-2 but I’d call it 1/2-2 for most things. I’ve fished it with nearly 3 oz and that’s pushing the limits a bit.  I throw braid but that’s because I mostly use it for pitching grass. 

[msgf91]

13 hours ago, Cbump said:

I’m looking for a swimbait rod for 6” magdrafts (freestyle and regular) and 5” and 6” bull shads. On The scale the regular magdraft is 1.25 oz and the freestyle is 1.3 oz with 6/0 beast hook. The bull Shads are advertised at 1.35oz and 2oz for the 5 and 6. 
 

I want a 7’ (7’3” max) rod. I will not be bomb casting. I will be flipping these around, casting 20 yards around points, etc. 

 

I do currently have an Orochi Perfect Pitch, which they say is a great magdraft rod, however it’s setup with an 8.1 reel. Also it’s under powered for a bull Shad I think. 
 

Alternatively I could just buy and spool up a 6.2 reel and put It on the perfect pitch when I want to throw magdrafts. 

 

Changing reels on rods is the best thing I started doing.  8.1 on my 7'4 H for some techniques, then I'll switch it out with a 6.3 to throw big spinnerbaits with swimbait trailers.  

[Cbump]

2 hours ago, msgf91 said:

Changing reels on rods is the best thing I started doing. 

I really think this is what I’m going to do. I’ve got so many rods that would work for different things. Just need the right gear ratio and line and I’m set. 

[msgf91]

9 minutes ago, Cbump said:

I really think this is what I’m going to do. I’ve got so many rods that would work for different things. Just need the right gear ratio and line and I’m set. 

Yeah, I used to marry rods and reels for life. But I started watching more of the reel review youtubers and saw how they had either a collection of reels, or a collection of rods.  It made me think maybe I'm not getting the most out of each reel or each rod. So now I switch them for different purposes 

[Bass Rutten]

20 hours ago, Cbump said:

Is It heavy and bulky? I like a slim light rod. 

I wouldn’t call it slim but it’s balance creates the illusion of lightness.

 

As an aside, beast rigged and treble hooked lures require different rod actions for me.

[Cbump]

22 minutes ago, Bass Rutten said:

As an aside, beast rigged and treble hooked lures require different rod actions for me.

I was thinking about that today. 

[Cbump]

@Bass Rutten

So if I get that Tatula swimbait rod would that be better for the treble hook baits like the regular magdraft and the bull shad?
 

I currently have a Champion 746c (XHF, 3/8-2oz), a Bucoo Amistad (HF 1/2-1.5oz), and a MB Perfect Pitch. 
 

If I get a 6.2 reel, put 17lb p-line on, I could swap between the tat swimbait rod and one of those above for the freestyle?

[Bass Rutten]

That’s pretty much what I do, tatula swimbait rod for trebled and open single hook lures, then I use a heavy power fast action rod for weedless rigged lures.

[djhands]

Shimano makes a 6 6 xh sb rod in the expride line.  Or jackal bpm line has a 7 3 xh sb rod

[waymont]

On 4/15/2023 at 8:55 PM, Cbump said:

Any thoughts on a Dobyns 746c for this? 

Yeah I know it’s an inch longer than I said 

I use a 735c for those baits, and it’s great

[FishTank]

I have been using the Megabass Valkyrie 7'1'' H and the 7'4'' H+. Both rods are very versatile.  I feel comfortable using them with jigs, swimbaits,  A-Rigs, big crankbaits, and glide baits. I think they will both work great for frogs too but I haven't tried them yet. These rods have an adjustable grip as well. So if you want to make them shorter for close courters or just want to adjust the balance,  you can. 

 

Caught this guy last weekend on the H+ using an A-rig with a Tatula 300.