My New Casting Setup

[ArcForce]

Hey guys

 

So I've got a new casting set up, it's my first mid range rod and reel and I have a few questions for you guys on whether or not you think it will work the way I'm hoping. I tried to post this several times in another thread, but I'm brand new here so my messages need to be approved by a mod. It makes it impossible for me to participate in my own conversation bc by the time my messages post, the chat has made it to the next page. 

 

So in an attempt to buy a rod that would excel at throwing chatterbaits, the setup I ended up with is:

 

7'2 MH Moderate Fast Fibreglass Shimano Poison Adrena

Daiwa Tatula SV @ 8.1:1 

 

I was intending to buy a 7.3:1 reel and didn't realize until yesterday when I took it out of the box that the ratio was higher.

 

I'm wondering if you guys think this rod will work well as a chatterbait rod? I'm still pretty new to fishing, just a couple of years in so I still have a lot to learn and fishing season is a few months away so I can't just go fish the set up and see. 

 

Essentially what I'm asking is, is the rod tip too slow? Is the reel a bit too fast? What else would you guys throw on this setup, if anything?

 

Thank you in advance to anyone who replies to this question 

[PBBrandon]

Looks like a good chatterbait setup. I’m not one of them but some people use 8 speed reels on everything. If you don’t like it, you might be able to return it and get a slower speed reel.

 

Id throw chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, buzz baits, and lipless cranks on something like that

[softwateronly]

There's so much personal preference and type of fishing involved that there's nothing definitive about my comments except for this....that set up will fish a chatterbait and you'll have no problem catching fish with it.  Just my opinions below..

 

For me, your rod is best for a chuck and wind approach to chatterbaits.  It's got enough give for them to get a hold of it while you're reeling without pulling it away from them.  It's about perfect for this technique.

 

I have gotten used to and now prefer most 7:1 reels which is 28-30 ipt.  I feel like I can slow down enough to get bites with open water swimming techniques while still be fast enough to catch up with them if they bite it swimming directly at me.  So I only use 8:1 reels for bottom contact, where I move the bait with the rod and reel up the slack.   Being a faster reel gets me back into position sooner for a hookset. 

 

Now on a 8:1 if you fish your chatterbaits with constant reeling, you might need to slow yourself down so that you're able to get bit.  And if you fish your chatterbait more like a jig, dragging and hopping, you might need to be excellent at driving that hook home with a slightly softer rod.  A sweeping reel set or move to braid can help this issue if you encounter it.

 

All in all, if it were me, I'd prefer a 7:1 reel.  Others a 6:1 and still others are probably fine with an 8:1.  We're all different.  You bought nice stuff, you'll find a way to make it work.

 

scott

[MediumMouthBass]

100% of the time i fish bladed jigs in water less than 10' covered in grass and other vegetation.

An 8 speed reel would probably be great for this, (i know some guys love fishing bladed jigs slow) but the only way i can get bass to bite them is to rip them out of weeds. Got to have a fast reel to make sure it doesnt fall too far into it however, because then you wont be able to rip them out. Youll be reeling back 5lbs of green slime and grass.

 

Also this combo would make a very great lipless setup too. Again a bait that excels being ripped out of grass. For reeling straight back an 8 speed would be great for those really fast reaction strikes, for just yo yo ing it like most do a lipless the reel is just there to pick up line. Another thing this reel would do great.

 

something else it might be good for is speed cranking, if you dont have ice on your lakes or ponds try it this winter.

 

For the rod id say thats middle ground between most guys preferences.

I prefer a stiff fast action, others cannot fish them on anything but a moderate/glass rod. Should be a very good combo for a wide variety of baits and lures.

[casts_by_fly]

Its not my preference, but its doable.  I prefer faster rods for chatterbaits but have used slower ones and know they work.  You'll have to slow yourself down if you are just chunking and winding.  With an 8 speed reel and not paying attention the chatterbait is going to ride up in the water column.  Not bad if you're fishing 1-4' of water.  Not great if you're trying to fish 10 but you're lure is 1' down.

[ArcForce]

Thanks a lot for your replies, I know preference plays pretty heavy into setups and how you fish them. I think slowing down will take some getting used to for me but it's nice to know where the strengths and weaknesses on an 8:1 reel lie. I don't tend to burn my bait back to the boat but this may slow me down a bit more. When the water is warm, sometimes they prefer a faster moving bait as well. 

 

I'll stick with the setup I have for now. If I end up not liking the reel on this rod i can replace it on this rod and throw the reel on a different rod meant for a different technique. I'm assuming I'll be able to adjust my fishing style to what the rod needs, though and I'll be very happy with it in the end

[ArcForce]

15 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Its not my preference, but its doable.  I prefer faster rods for chatterbaits but have used slower ones and know they work.  You'll have to slow yourself down if you are just chunking and winding.  With an 8 speed reel and not paying attention the chatterbait is going to ride up in the water column.  Not bad if you're fishing 1-4' of water.  Not great if you're trying to fish 10 but you're lure is 1' down.

This is a great thought. This might be a good thing on days I'm just fishing from the bank where as the water shallows, you need to get the bait closer to the surface to avoid hang ups.

 

I'm sure every set up has its advantages and disadvantages and we all just kind of have to play into what works the best in our bodies of water and the equipment we have available at the time 

[LCG]

In the summertime I fish a chatterbait in and around grass with an 8 speed reel and braid. I slow the retrieve enough to hit the top of grass and various vegetation. Then I have plenty of power and speed to get them out of that stuff quickly. My rod is a MH Regular action (moderate fast). Catch a lot of pike in my area doing this too. 

[ArcForce]

On 1/8/2025 at 12:04 PM, PBBrandon said:

Looks like a good bladed jig setup. I’m not one of them but some people use 8 speed reels on everything. If you don’t like it, you might be able to return it and get a slower speed reel.

 

Id throw chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, buzz baits, and lipless cranks on something like that

I took this advice and did some research on these techniques. Ive never fished a lipless before, and never was a fan of crank baits but turns out, I was fishing them wrong. I went and bought some lipless cranks, and mid depth crank baits and I can't wait to get out and try both of these techniques. They don't sell buzzbaits around here for some reason, never seen one in store so I might have to make a tackle warehouse order for one of those to give it a try but I appreciate your feedback man. Thanks again 

[JN94]

Will be a great setup. Rod is perfect for moving baits. Don't worry too much about the gear ratio. Just slow down your retrieve speed and you'll be good to go

[GRiver]

3 hours ago, JN94 said:

Will be a great setup. Rod is perfect for moving baits. Don't worry too much about the gear ratio. Just slow down your retrieve speed and you'll be good to go

I think it’s a very versatile setup too, I think it will work out for what you want and a lot more. 

[Tennessee Boy]

On 1/8/2025 at 3:48 AM, ArcForce said:

I'm wondering if you guys think this rod will work well as a bladed jig rod?

Of course it will work well as a bladed jig rod.  Now is it the perfect bladed jig rod?  That depends on the weight of the bait you are throwing,  how far you intend to throw it,  and how you retrieve it.  Personally,  I throw lures with different weights,  I make cast of different lengths,  and I try different retrieves to try to get the fish to bit.  So there is no perfect bladed jig rod for the way I fish.  Everyone is different so only you can decide if a particular combo is the perfect bladed jig setup for you.   Since you are pretty new to fishing,  it may take you a while to know exactly how you like to fish chatterbaits or if you're like me and like to be versatile.  Till then enjoy your new setup and the learning process.