Find me a rod

[Swest18x]

Looking for a rod for a specific situation and presentation, namely light jerkbaits (picture bfs style, like a Lucky Craft bfreeze, megabass x80 bfs, 3/16 to 1/4 ounce). First priority is I need to send them a MILE. I'm fishing them from an elevated bank and I jerk sideways so a long rod is a benefit. Right now I'm alternating between a Cashion 7'0 light /Curado bfs, and a Steez MML 7'6. The Steez sends them a bit further but not far enough, and is really too heavy to be ideal for jerkbaits that small imo. The Cashion doesn't send them as far as the Steez, and I need more distance. 

 

So what I really want probably doesn't exist: a long, light, whippy spinning rod with a jerkbait tip. In this application, I like the rod long, that 7'6 length feels about right. And did I mention that I like my jerkbait rods to be super sensitive (for reference, my favorite overall jerkbait rod is a P5 Windbuster).

 

Along the same line, the 7'0 Cashion is ok but too soft in the tip imo for an ideal jerkbait bfs rod. Has anyone come across a true bfs jerkbait rod? I'm thinking that niche hasn't been explored too much by manufacturers yet.

[casts_by_fly]

Do you want a spinning rod or a casting rod?  You said you want a whippy spinning rod but then say you are looking at BFS.  Sounds like you're open to either option?

 

How far is 'a mile'?

 

On the spinning rod side, you probably want to look at Hair Jig rods.

[JackstrawIII]

You don't give a budget, but Dobyns has some long BFS style rods in their Sierra line that are reasonable and perform well. 

[Reel]

I've just received a 7 foot 6 Expride B in ML that fits the bill.  I use it for hair jigs, Spy Baits and Karashi and like it a lot.

[Swest18x]

I'd prefer spinning at this point, if there was a long bfs rod on the market that fit the bill I'd consider it. Looks like Cashion introduced a 7'6 at Icast but not available yet, and I don't know what the tip is like.

I don't have any hair jig rods, but I was assuming they have a soft tip? I like a crisp tip for working jerkbaits. 

Let's assume no budget. I'm open to any and all suggestions.

[Swest18x]

I bought a Zodias 7'2 ML last year as a bfs rod, it didn't give me the distance on light baits I was looking for. I'd like to hear more about the Expride 7'6. I have a couple Karashis I like to play around with too, what's the tip like on it?

 

Distance is a relative term. I'm chasing blowups on a canal from shore with this rod. The distance I get with a 110 Jr on the Steez is about what I get with a full size 110 on the Windbuster. The Windbuster is my 110 Jr go-to rod but falls a few yards short when I need to reach the opposite bank. But if I could get that far with a smaller bait I'd be good. The baitfish are small here and they are ignoring or just swiping at a 110 Jr but clobbering the X80 bfs. Some of it might be the movement of the bait because they also take a full size trick darter better than a 110 Jr in these situations, but not nearly as good as the 1/4 ounce bfs.

 

It's a very specific case but this will go on for weeks in the middle of the summer here. Sometime in August they'll stop being so selective, until then I'll come across crazy action at the top but they turn their nose up at anything you throw at them. These tiny shallow running jerks are the first thing I've seen them hit consistently. It helps that jerkbaiting is my favorite way to catch a smallie!

[Reel]

I also have a NRX 901 to compare with the Expride.  The Expride is a bit more powerful and not as fast.  It is  best suited for lures around 1/8 oz and a bit heavier.  It gets a lure out there with less effort than the NRX.  

Very sensitive also.  I like it.

[Catt]

Find me a rod

Send me the money

[casts_by_fly]

33 minutes ago, Swest18x said:

I bought a Zodias 7'2 ML last year as a bfs rod, it didn't give me the distance on light baits I was looking for. I'd like to hear more about the Expride 7'6. I have a couple Karashis I like to play around with too, what's the tip like on it?

 

Distance is a relative term. I'm chasing blowups on a canal from shore with this rod. The distance I get with a 110 Jr on the Steez is about what I get with a full size 110 on the Windbuster. The Windbuster is my 110 Jr go-to rod but falls a few yards short when I need to reach the opposite bank. But if I could get that far with a smaller bait I'd be good. The baitfish are small here and they are ignoring or just swiping at a 110 Jr but clobbering the X80 bfs. Some of it might be the movement of the bait because they also take a full size trick darter better than a 110 Jr in these situations, but not nearly as good as the 1/4 ounce bfs.

 

It's a very specific case but this will go on for weeks in the middle of the summer here. Sometime in August they'll stop being so selective, until then I'll come across crazy action at the top but they turn their nose up at anything you throw at them. These tiny shallow running jerks are the first thing I've seen them hit consistently. It helps that jerkbaiting is my favorite way to catch a smallie!

 

I bought the curado 7'2" BFS casting rod earlier this year and agree that itsn't not a rod for light baits.  The curado and zodias share the same blank, so that's a good reference point.  I've recently picked up the Phenix ML 7'1" BFS for throwing 1/16 oz plus plastic neds and similar and its a good one, even with a cheap Kastking zephyr on it.  Overhead casting, 30 yards with 1/8 oz total bait weight is about right.  I assume you're looking for more than that and my zodias 6'9" ML will outcast it by 10 yards with the same bait.

 

The X80 is 1/4 oz which for a spinning rod is no problem to bang out.  A long ML with braid will see you 40+ yards no problem.  if I was buying blind, the expride 7'6" would be the first place I'd look.

[webertime]

You described the Phenix Recon 762 spinning rod.  I've got one and it is exactly what you described that you were looking for. 

 

You described the Phenix Recon 762 spinning rod.  I've got one and it is exactly what you described that you were looking for. If you ever make it to Champlain you're more than welcome to it for a day.

 

[Jmurphy87]

Dobyns 701c is my best bfs rod that I have owned, I also have 2 kistler hunt casting rods that are good but for different lures and uses. I use a alderbarren bfs reel and my dobyns cast light weights without any problems at all the kistler rods won’t give me the same results unfortunately. I held the expride bfs new model at the local tackle shop, it’s more suited for power bfs and 1/8 or higher lures all day long. It reminded me of my old zodias 7”2 ml bfs rod. I hope that this helps you out.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

How far exactly are you talking?

I know what you mean by a crisp 7'6 ML.  I use them inshore for drifting light soft plastics.  They have to have give, but be super crisp and sensitive to feel a bite on slack line.  Unfortunately, probably the best production rod ive used has been the 7'6 MML steez.  It has a crisp action which is hard to find in that light of a power and length.  A friend of mine likes the steez over his NRX, because of the action.

Honestly its hard to get a good JB rod over 7'1.  Once that tip section gets too long, it dulls the action of the bait and is noticeably harder to work.  They have rods designed for inshore JBs that are in the 8' range.  They dont have that typical FW JB blank feel, much softer and focused on distance rather than action.  They are more designed to get a 5/8 or 3/4 surf pointer over the breakers to the second bar and work the trough in between.  Zenaq is a company you may want to look into.  They make very high end blanks that are meant to send light baits, while maintaining a very crisp action.  Ive only had my hands on 1 of the heavier snipe models as they're very limited.  TOMOs tackle is the biggest importer I know of.  If you call them they will help out for sure.

Personally  I would going with the right bait and a very long casting line like gliss and go from there.  I think spinning gear is the way to go for JBs efficiency wise, but Im not into the BFS thing yet.  I know if you put the money into it, you can really super tune some of those BFS reels to wing a little bait, but capacity can be an issue.

 

 

[Swest18x]

I will probably try out the Phenix 7'6. Another thought I had was the Megabass Flyssa, but I'm not sure what the tip section is like on that rod.

[PaulVE64]

 

[softwateronly]

If you go casting/bfs this rod has the right tip in my opinion and at 7'8 with a stock alphas air it sends, I frequently spool with small spoons.  If you go with the ML instead, I don't think you want the solid tip so be aware as the labeling is very similar....

 

https://www.digitaka.com/item/29/6/140/4573236273983

 

https://www.majorcraft.co.jp/5g/blackporgy/

 

scott

[FishTank]

On 8/2/2024 at 7:58 AM, Swest18x said:

Looking for a rod for a specific situation and presentation, namely light jerkbaits (picture bfs style, like a Lucky Craft bfreeze, megabass x80 bfs, 3/16 to 1/4 ounce). First priority is I need to send them a MILE. I'm fishing them from an elevated bank and I jerk sideways so a long rod is a benefit. Right now I'm alternating between a Cashion 7'0 light /Curado bfs, and a Steez MML 7'6. The Steez sends them a bit further but not far enough, and is really too heavy to be ideal for jerkbaits that small imo. The Cashion doesn't send them as far as the Steez, and I need more distance. 

 

So what I really want probably doesn't exist: a long, light, whippy spinning rod with a jerkbait tip. In this application, I like the rod long, that 7'6 length feels about right. And did I mention that I like my jerkbait rods to be super sensitive (for reference, my favorite overall jerkbait rod is a P5 Windbuster).

 

Along the same line, the 7'0 Cashion is ok but too soft in the tip imo for an ideal jerkbait bfs rod. Has anyone come across a true bfs jerkbait rod? I'm thinking that niche hasn't been explored too much by manufacturers yet.

 

I have a couple of the lures mentioned above. Casting those baits a mile can be difficult even with the perfect setup and under the best conditions. With light line and light lures, I have found rod length becomes less of factor. It has to do with how well the rod loads given the lure weight and the type of line you use. 

 

So the rods I have liked best so far, Megabass P5 Six Eleven, Megabass P5 Z-Crank (my favorite 110 Jr rod), and for really light weight baits the Kistler Hunt BFS.  For line, I use 5lb Sunline Invisible.