Swimbait rod advice

[The Baron]

I’m going to stick my toe in the swimbait pond this season and am looking for rod/reel advice.  I’ll be throwing bigger baits for spring pike, then showing our local bass something different.  So far I’ve picked up a R2S S-Waver 168, 13 Fishing Glidesdale 185, Savage Gear 6 3/4” 4D Perch, a 6” Cullshad and an 8” Rapala Peto.  I’ll be grabbing a Spro Rat 40 and/or 50 as soon as I can find one.  So, I’m looking to throw baits in the 1 1/4 - 3oz -ish range.   

I already had a St. Croix Bass X 7’11” Heavy/Moderate-Fast rod that’s rated 1/2-2oz., paired with Chronarch 201E 6.5:1.   This isn’t labelled as a swimbait rod, but I’m thinking it will work fine for the lighter baits I’ve listed?

 

I also want to add a bit heavier rod.  A local shop has a Diawa Tatula 7’3” Swimbait rod, rated for 1-4oz.  Would that be a good choice for throwing 1.5-2.5oz. hard baits around docks and other cover?   Thought I might pair it with a Tatula 300 reel and 20# Berkley Fluoroshield copoly.

 

I fish small-medium size lakes from a 16ft. aluminum bass boat.  Pike up to 10-12# are pretty common, and I could certainly catch bigger.  But up here a really big bass is 5-6#, and I’m just as likely to catch a smallmouth that size, as I am a largemouth.

[Dwight Hottle]

Your first choice the St Croix 7-11 probably will work for most baits up to 2.5 oz. I personally prefer longer rods for swim baits like 7-6 to 8-0. Loomis IMX + makes a 7-6 for 1-3 oz baits. Kistler makes a 7-11 for 1-3 oz. Once you really get into swim baits you will probably want a rod that goes from 1-4 oz or 2-6 oz. The moderate or moderate fast rods are great for treble hook baits but marginal for single hook baits like a Hudd or Burito. Both of my 1-3 oz rods also make great cranking sticks & larger lipless crank rods, remember to try them if you go that route. They will also make great pike rods. 

[webertime]

The Tatula rod should have you covered.

 

A 300 Tatula for baits that weight is way overkill.  A Tatula 150 or 200 on the Tatula will get you set. 

I've got the 7'9" model Tatula swimbait rod and it's great (with a Tatula 200).

 

The previous generation BassX 710 Hf swimbait rod is like $80 shipped from St Croix and covers .75 to 3 oz.  I've got one and it's great for trebles in the size you mention.  I run a Shimano Citca E on it and it's been a really solid set up.

[Big Hands]

11 hours ago, webertime said:

A 300 Tatula for baits that weight is way overkill.  A Tatula 150 or 200 on the Tatula will get you set. 

 

I was thinking maybe a Curado 300 or a Tatula 200, but I agree a Tatula 300 is overkill. The Curado will cast further and be less cumbersome to fish.

 

For a rod, I would check out a Dobyns Fury 806SB. I know it's rated for up to 8 ounces, but I think I wouldn't throw much over 4 ounces with mine at most and it has a nice moderate bend even thought it's rated as a 'fast' action. I have a Tatula 200 on mine with 20 lbs Big Game monofilament.

[WRB]

Having owned a 1/2 dozen or so swimbait rods from Loomis to Okuma GS my choice is IRODIRG 805 SB, light weight and cast better than all the others.

Tom

[ATA]

Welcome to Swimbait world. I have three mail Swimbait combo, But what I read in your post you need something like my smallest Swimbait combo.

It is G-Loomis 966 paired with Antares MD DC. This rod is very versatail and great for both treble hook lures and single/Jigstyle hook. And the reel is very smooth and cast very far good for bomb casting and hold lots of line. I spool all my reels with 65lb(in this combo) or 80lb Maxquatro(for my bigger combos), and have 75 yards of straight fluorocarbon(in this case 20lb Seaguar AbrazX). So when I cast I only have flour out and I change the Fluorocarbon frequently, Sometimes after each trip if I catch fish because I can't afford loosing expensive lures. 

I really like this combo and I think you'll love it specially it is very light compared with other similar options.

Please feel free to ask any question and Let me know if you want me share my other Swimbait combos with you.

Remember you going to loose some lures and they are pricy, But it is definitely worthed, In last three weeks I lost a chad shad which I replaced $63 and I lost a Megabass Vatalion 190 for another $60 which I am going to replace later this week. and that's $120 in last month only 😅.