Need affordable casting rod selection advice for throwing lighter flukes longer distances

[CDMTJager]

Had my heart broken not once but three times last night. Gills are on their beds and I was fishing a watermelon red flake 5.5" fluke in my favorite lilly pad patch and lost two big bass and one behemoth. All because I was using spin casting set up so I could toss my fluke the long distances I needed to get to the prime areas I knew likely held bass. All three bass hit very early into my retrieve after a 40 yard plus cast. I set the hook no issues but all three bass immediately went airborne then crashed dived into the weeds and the combination of line stretch of my copolymer line with a 30 yards+ of line out, my medium action rod and 10lb test line I just didn't have the power needed to horse a big bass up and over the weeds.

 

This has already happened two previous time this year fishing swimbaits. I feel none of my current baitcasting rods I own have enough flex in the rod to be able to both cast a 1/4oz to 5/16oz bait far enough to get me to the areas I know hold bass or more accurately bait fish the bass are after. I plan on using a 1/16 or if need be a 1/8oz weighted Owner Twist Lock hook to help solve my casting weight issues. I plan on spooling the reel with 20lb 8 strand braid to aid in casting distance and hopefully cut my way out of weeds if need be. Will use a barrel swivel to go to 10 or 12lb fluorocarbon leader.  

My budget it $125 Looking for the most sensitive rod I can get at that price that can cast a no heavier than a 3/8oz T-rigged soft plastic. 

[MediumMouthBass]

Get a Shimano SLX MGL, this will help that more than any rod can.

I can put mine on a flipping rod and still be able to cast flukes if i wanted too.

Paired with 30lb braid. Look into it on here and youtube.

(ive got about 30 rods and this 1 reel makes a bigger difference then any of them can).

[CDMTJager]

20 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Get a Shimano SLX MGL, this will help that more than any rod can.

If you would please which version as I am finding at least three different SLX MGL models

[MediumMouthBass]

3 hours ago, CDMTJager said:

If you would please which version as I am finding at least three different SLX MGL models

There should only be 2 versions, the older gen was the SLX MGL 70 and the newer one that just came out is the SLX MGL. They run between $100-150 depending on whos having a sale or still has old stock of the last gen.

 

Really phenomenal reels for casting lighter lures, far and with ease.

[casts_by_fly]

Spinning rod with 15-20# braid. Probably medium power. Fast reel. Set the hook and keep cranking. 

[PhishLI]

3 hours ago, CDMTJager said:

I feel none of my current baitcasting rods I own have enough flex in the rod to be able to both cast a 1/4oz to 5/16oz bait far

A 5" SK Caffeine Shad or a Big Bite Baits Jerk Minnow both weigh in between 11 and 11.5 grams, which is over 3/8oz, when rigged on an unweighted 6/0 Owner Twistlock Light. I fished both baits last time out, and I'm basically fishing in a huge pad field. Both can be cast 120' no problem with a standard 7'3"-7'6" MHF assuming you have a decent reel with a reasonably light spool. Which reels do you own? Which rods do you own? Personally, I'd never go below 30lb braid fishing pads. I've seen 20lb pop too often in them, but not 30lb.