Rod/reel combo for Strolling

[FryDog62]

Curious what rod/reel combos everyone is using for Strolling?  A lot of us have been learning the technique over the past 1-2 years. If you’re like me, what you started with might not be what you end up with next… 

 

Likes/dislikes, recommendations? 

[casts_by_fly]

I'm using my standard 6'9" ML Zodias setup (stradic and 10# 131 to a leader).  I don't like a longer spinning rod and I prefer a lighter power and faster action setup.  I can see where a 7'3" M/MF would be a good choice also but I just don't like fishing spinning rods that long anymore.  

[FryDog62]

9 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

I'm using my standard 6'9" ML Zodias setup (stradic and 10# 131 to a leader).  I don't like a longer spinning rod and I prefer a lighter power and faster action setup.  I can see where a 7'3" M/MF would be a good choice also but I just don't like fishing spinning rods that long anymore.  

I hear ya, casting distance might improve with the longer rod but fighting a fish with a longer rod next to the kayak can be difficult to grab/net. Would like to find a 7 footer that bombs them yet is light action enough to throw the lighter lures. 

[rangerjockey]

I've learned there's really 2 schools of thought on this deal. The longer rod gets the bait further away from the boat, In my case an ALX 7ft6 Mcsmalls but the shorter rod ,Poision adrena 6ft10 UL. shakes easier. 

The jury is still out for me but I feel like being able to reach out further without pinging them into next week especially with fish that get a lot of pressure could be an advantage.

[FryDog62]

1 hour ago, rangerjockey said:

I've learned there's really 2 schools of thought on this deal. The longer rod gets the bait further away from the boat, In my case an ALX 7ft6 Mcsmalls but the shorter rod ,Poision adrena 6ft10 UL. shakes easier. 

The jury is still out for me but I feel like being able to reach out further without pinging them into next week especially with fish that get a lot of pressure could be an advantage.

I hear you... this seems to be the dilemma.  Shorter Stinger tip rods that shake well, or longer rods without Stinger tips for casting distance but can be fatiguing to shake over time.

 

Any idea if the ALX Hover (or any other rods) masters both aspects well?  

[rangerjockey]

3 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

I hear you... this seems to be the dilemma.  Shorter Stinger tip rods that shake well, or longer rods without Stinger tips for casting distance but can be fatiguing to shake over time.

 

Any idea if the ALX Hover (or any other rods) masters both aspects well?  

I don't. I would like to try the Hover myself.

[casts_by_fly]

22 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

I hear ya, casting distance might improve with the longer rod but fighting a fish with a longer rod next to the kayak can be difficult to grab/net. Would like to find a 7 footer that bombs them yet is light action enough to throw the lighter lures. 

 

My dad has the 7' medium zodias and I think it would do what you want with a 1/8 oz head and a 4" soft plastic.  It has a fairly soft top and loads up with a 6" worm and splitshot.  A more compact hover rig should fling.

[WRB]

Before the term strolling was hijacked strolling was slowly dragging a split shot rig or swimming a dart head jig worm rig using the trolling motor, popular in the west during the 80’s.

today’s strolling is very similar to a 1/8 ox dart head jig/4 1/2” finesse worm.

I have been using dart heads / finesse worms since Dick Trask* introduced the presentation in late 70’s-early 80’s.

Strolling is now swimming a finesse soft plastic precisely at a specific depth the suspended bass are hold at using FFS to find them.

45 years ago our FFS was metering bait schools under Grebes with a flasher. The birds found the bait the flasher determined what depth to swim the dart head/ Flutter Craft worm to catch suspended bass.

Rods back then were 6’8” Phoenix MF “split shot” fast tip spinning rods w/ Daiwa TD SS 1300 and 4 or 5 lb Max UG mono.

Today I suggest using SC Victory 7’3” MXF rod and 7 lb Sniper FC or 5 lb Max UG.

Tom

* the late  Dick Trask was a magician at catching suspended LMB, worth looking him up.

[djhands]

I go really finesse I have a steez 66ul with a airity sf2500qd .6 x-braid.  I normally use 4 inch plastics with a .9 gram head.  

[Born 2 fish]

I’ve been using a Daiwa KAGE 7’ med with a Daiwa Tatula 3000 CHX Spinning reel. I mostly use 1/8. -3/8 jig heads on 3-5” baits. It works great for this.

[FishTank]

I picked up a Megabass P5 Whippet and a Shimano Twin Power C2000S for this technique and so far it's been a blast.  Dispite being a 6'6'' rod, it casts a long way and is also super sensitive.  The Twin Power might as well be the previous Stella. It's just a pleasure to fish. 

 

I use this combo for all finesse swimbaits.  There just seems to be a time and place where the fish hone in on the smaller swimbaits and minnows. 

 

I don't get caught up in the specific technique names but I use four different approaches with the correct bait and head.... a straight retrieve, a darting action,  a rolling side to side action,  and a bait that is meant to fall and be popped.

[F14A-B]

19 hours ago, WRB said:

Before the term strolling was hijacked strolling was slowly dragging a split shot rig or swimming a dart head jig worm rig using the trolling motor, popular in the west during the 80’s.

today’s strolling is very similar to a 1/8 ox dart head jig/4 1/2” finesse worm.

I have been using dart heads / finesse worms since Dick Trask* introduced the presentation in late 70’s-early 80’s.

Strolling is now swimming a finesse soft plastic precisely at a specific depth the suspended bass are hold at using FFS to find them.

45 years ago our FFS was metering bait schools under Grebes with a flasher. The birds found the bait the flasher determined what depth to swim the dart head/ Flutter Craft worm to catch suspended bass.

Rods back then were 6’8” Phoenix MF “split shot” fast tip spinning rods w/ Daiwa TD SS 1300 and 4 or 5 lb Max UG mono.

Today I suggest using SC Victory 7’3” MXF rod and 7 lb Sniper FC or 5 lb Max UG.

Tom

* the late  Dick Trask was a magician at catching suspended LMB, worth looking him up.

I can always count on you for reminding me of the history of our sport, & I’m not being smart. I learned a lot as a kid fishing creeks, ponds, small rivers, took what we learned and applied that to BASS bigger waters. Then BASS MASTER magazine came out, more ideals. Then by about 84 or so IN Fisherman magazine was out. Way more exact rigging methods shown, many from the northern fisherman but also from the west. There isn’t much that is truly new, oh sure baits etc different spins on old methods etc. but mostly just someone thinking they have discovered something no one else ever has. The real advances in our sport is in the electronic sector. Swim baits etc

[softwateronly]

I've been making it work with casting gear and now love it, catching loads of fish this year.  Figured out a rod tip down and to the side with a choppy reel cadence that seems to hold a counted down depth.  No FFS to verify though, but lots of open water bass.  All sorts of weights and baits, none of them respond the same and a .5g difference in head weight can totally change the action, I have to test every new combo near the boat to get the rhythm.  The only thing I'm certain about is a small clip or loop knot makes rolling much easier.

 

7'3 ML/F Abu Garcia Kurodai (BFS w/ stinger tip)

6'10 M/RF MC Days 360

7'8 M/RF MC Black Porgy

 

 

scott