Wanting to get a large swimbait, but unsure if my setup can handle it

[Rocky998]

So I'm a budget fisherman and I'm very careful on where I spend my money.

The most expensive thing I got was my baitcaster rod and reel and I can't really get a different specific setup which is why I tried getting an "all in one" setup.

 I'm really not sure if my rod can handle a large swimbait though.

 

Currently I have a 7.1 gear ratio reel on a medium heavy rod with a lure weight recommendation of 3/8 - 1oz. I have easily casted down to 1/4oz on it which shows the range going down, but I'm not sure how much I can overload it really.

 

I was planning to get a 2pk of the 6" Megabass Magdraft swimbaits (un-rigged) and pair it up with a size 6/0 owner beast twistlock hook (1/4 oz weight).

 

How much would that weigh all together, apx.? And do you think my rod could handle it?

I really want to use a larger swimbait and gain confidence with it without having to spend a lot on another rod and reel combo 😆

 

[softwateronly]

2 minutes ago, Rocky998 said:

So I'm a budget fisherman and I'm very careful on where I spend my money.

The most expensive thing I got was my baitcaster rod and reel and I can't really get a different specific setup which is why I tried getting an "all in one" setup.

 I'm really not sure if my rod can handle a large swimbait though.

 

Currently I have a 7.1 gear ratio reel on a medium heavy rod with a lure weight recommendation of 3/8 - 1oz. I have easily casted down to 1/4oz on it which shows the range going down, but I'm not sure how much I can overload it really.

 

I was planning to get a 2pk of the 6" Megabass Magdraft swimbaits (un-rigged) and pair it up with a size 6/0 owner beast twistlock hook (1/4 oz weight).

 

How much would that weigh all together, apx.? And do you think my rod could handle it?

I really want to use a larger swimbait and gain confidence with it without having to spend a lot on another rod and reel combo 😆

 

 

It will be over an ounce, probably in the neighborhood of 1.15-1.25oz.  But most of my rods can lob cast something like this no problem.  My guess is the hardest part will be setting the beast hook when you do get bit.  If you like braid, it's no stretch would probably help.  Regardless, a reeling sweep set is probably needed when the rod is slightly underpowered.  You might be best off with the regular mag draft that has the treble hook.  Should get a much better hook up ratio.  I think you should give it a try and don't forget the speed of your retrieve is everything with this bait.  It's worth practicing in view to see the limited range.

 

scott

[Bass Rutten]

I found the 6in magdraft to be extremely finicky, fragile, and way overhyped. As an alternative you could try the 5.8 keitech which is slightly smaller and will weigh in at almost exactly 1oz with a 6/0 beast hook and just as effective, imo.

[MediumMouthBass]

3 hours ago, Bass Rutten said:

I found the 6in magdraft to be extremely finicky, fragile, and way overhyped.

The Daingerous (Bass Mafia), and the Whale (6th Sense) are my preferred 6" Magdraft alternatives.

I too think the original is way overhyped, overpriced too.

Which is why i like these knockoffs better, so much cheaper and they swim better.

 

 

Keitechs are an option as stated, but i think they completely miss the point for 6"+ swimbaits. They are just too thin in profile. But it really depends on what a bass wants at that time.

 

6" Freestyle/Unloaded's both come in at around 1.2oz from what i could find, before adding a 1/4oz Beast. I throw mine on a rod rated up to 2oz, wouldnt want to throw them on my other rods. Because they may be able to handle them, but i wouldnt want to break one of my all around rods.

[Bass Rutten]

I agree the keitech is more finesse relatively speaking, but I only recommended it  because of the op's setup likely not being sufficiently powerful for the magdraft class of baits, and much lower cost per bait, he mentioned he's a budget fisherman.

[Rocky998]

13 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

 

It will be over an ounce, probably in the neighborhood of 1.15-1.25oz. 

That's not too bad! Definitely overloading, but only by a 1/4oz or so...

13 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

But most of my rods can lob cast something like this no problem.  My guess is the hardest part will be setting the beast hook when you do get bit.  If you like braid, it's no stretch would probably help.  Regardless, a reeling sweep set is probably needed when the rod is slightly underpowered. 

I use 50lb braid with a 20lb mono leader connected with an FG knot. I'm pretty confident in setting the hook if I need to.

Thank you for the tip on the reeling sweep set! I'm definitely going to keep that in mind!

13 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

You might be best off with the regular mag draft that has the treble hook.  Should get a much better hook up ratio.  I think you should give it a try and don't forget the speed of your retrieve is everything with this bait.  It's worth practicing in view to see the limited range.

I'd like to, but it's about $20 just for one bait that looks like it has the possibility to snag. 

 Im wanting to use this in grassy areas where the there is also sometimes wood structures. I thought the owner ewg hooks would be perfect for this. 

 

Thank you for the tips!! 

I usually always practice with new baits in view to know exactly what it looks like to better present it!! Helps a TON lol.

2 minutes ago, Bass Rutten said:

I found the 6in magdraft to be extremely finicky, fragile, and way overhyped. As an alternative you could try the 5.8 keitech which is slightly smaller and will weigh in at almost exactly 1oz with a 6/0 beast hook and just as effective, imo.

That's a good idea! Thanks! I'm just not sure if the keitech 5.8 will really give me the profile I'm looking for

11 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

The Daingerous (Bass Mafia), and the Whale (6th Sense) are my preferred 6" Magdraft alternatives.

I too think the original is way overhyped, overpriced too.

Which is why i like these knockoffs better, so much cheaper and they swim better.

I've seen those, but the bass mafia costs 12 something for just 1 unloaded bait whole I can get 2 magdrafts for 14 and rig them myself.

11 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Keitechs are an option as stated, but i think they completely miss the point for 6"+ swimbaits. They are just too thin in profile. But it really depends on what a bass wants at that time.

Yeah, exactly.

I already have a 4 ¼" EZ swimmer and a pack of 4" paddletail zakos. So I'm good on those type of baits for now. Lol

11 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

6" Freestyle/Unloaded's both come in at around 1.2oz from what i could find, before adding a 1/4oz Beast. I throw mine on a rod rated up to 2oz, wouldnt want to throw them on my other rods. Because they may be able to handle them, but i wouldnt want to break one of my all around rods.

Yeah I definitely don't want to bread my rod lol. 

[MediumMouthBass]

3 hours ago, Rocky998 said:

I've seen those, but the bass mafia costs 12 something for just 1 unloaded bait whole I can get 2 magdrafts for 14 and rig them myself.

3 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Its 2 in the Bass Mafia's, they go on sale alot around $8-10 a pack.

 

Check out the newish 6th Sense Whale if you want to save the most money, pack of 3 on sale currently at a few places as low as $6.

[softwateronly]

20 minutes ago, Rocky998 said:

That's not too bad! Definitely overloading, but only by a 1/4oz or so...

I use 50lb braid with a 20lb mono leader connected with an FG knot. I'm pretty confident in setting the hook if I need to.

Thank you for the tip on the reeling sweep set! I'm definitely going to keep that in mind!

I'd like to, but it's about $20 just for one bait that looks like it has the possibility to snag. 

 Im wanting to use this in grassy areas where the there is also sometimes wood structures. I thought the owner ewg hooks would be perfect for this. 

 

 

I do my best slow rolling the magdrafts near the bottom on a 3/4oz 8/0 beast hook on the deep weedline in 15' fow post spawn.  My preferred rod is an expride XH with braid to leader because hooking up with all that plastic, cover, and most fish only being in the 3-4lb range means the bait can ball up and it takes a lot to get the hook home.  A 5-5.5" scottsboro might play nicer with your weight limitations and still have a nice big profile.  Has better range of speeds available and cheaper too.

 

scott

 

 

[Rocky998]

21 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Its 2 in the Bass Mafia's, they go on sale alot around $8-10 a pack.

Oh ok! Weird they don't specify that on the site I'm looking at...

21 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Check out the newish 6th Sense Whale if you want to save the most money, pack of 3 on sale currently at a few places as low as $6.

Sadly not on the site I'm shopping on, but I believe I've seen these in stores near me, so I'll look into them! Thank you!

 

16 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

I do my best slow rolling the magdrafts near the bottom on a 3/4oz 8/0 beast hook on the deep weedline in 15' fow post spawn.  My preferred rod is an expride XH with braid to leader because hooking up with all that plastic, cover, and most fish only being in the 3-4lb range means the bait can ball up and it takes a lot to get the hook home. 

That's a good plan and setup! 

 

I was planning to use it near grass shallows and IN them (I'm a bank fisherman) in areas about 1-5 ft deep for pre spawn and spawn

 

Maybe sometime in the future I'll have multiple baitcasting rod and reel combos, but for now I only have one with 3 spinning combos lol.

16 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

A 5-5.5" scottsboro might play nicer with your weight limitations and still have a nice big profile.  Has better range of speeds available and cheaper too.

 

scott

 

 

That does look pretty cool! I'll look into it! Thank you so much for the suggestion!

 

Either I do that or the prerigged 6" swimbait that comes in just under 1oz... Not as weedless, but the fins deflect some things from what I heard

[Rocky998]

Finally finding and looking at a review of 3 different soft body swimbaits (Bass Mafia, megabass, and Berkeley cull shad), I was able to see the "unweighted weights" of each swimbait.

(These weights are only for the 6" baits)

The bass mafia AND cullshad swimbait are both 1oz, while the megabass bait is 1¼ oz.

 

So I'm thinking that I'll try the cullshad with a ¼ oz 6/0 owner hook so it comes out to be just above 1¼ oz which I'm praying my rod will be able to handle loll.

[Rocky998]

So I was looking on TW to see if I could find any "all purpose" type rods that might work for me with the weights I want to use and found these that I put in the cart to save them for reference:

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/workingorder.html?o_l=vCqE2WPTSrU~U_2K

 

I found many rods with the lure weight ratings being: 

1/4 - 1 1/2 oz

1/4 - 2 oz (this one is only the pre-order onex so I'm skeptical of performance, but that lure weight rating is literally perfect)

3/8 - 1 1/12

1/2 - 2 oz 

And I believe there is also one with the range of 1/2 - 3 oz on there too.

 

All mostly being either fast action or extra fast.

 

Basically every lure I use on my baitcaster is 3/8 oz or larger, although there are the very rare occasions I use something less than that. (Usually always a 1/4 oz if I go under and my rod and reel handle that amazingly)

I want something where I'm able to still use all my 3/8 oz+ T-rigs, jigs, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, frogs, ploppers, and stuff.

But I so badly want to use large (to me) 6" swimbaits and stuff that are around the 1.25 - 2 oz range! I don't plan on going above that really.

 

I know it's not the BEST to get a rod to use for almost everything, but I'm trying to do it in the most careful way.

 

 I don't really use crankbaits on my baitcaster anyway, I usually leave those to my spinning rod. So I don't need to worry MUCH about this rod handling treble hook baits except for the whopper ploppers and jerkbaits.

 

If you noticed, all those rods I found are under $200.

There are a few at the $180 mark, but that's REALLY scratching the surface for me even. Ideally I want it to be under $150.

[Bigbox99]

Your local Walmart may have the Vengence 76H for $20 on clearance.  It'll throw 2 oz baits with ease.

[Rocky998]

1 hour ago, Bigbox99 said:

Your local Walmart may have the Vengence 76H for $20 on clearance.  It'll throw 2 oz baits with ease.

Thank you for the recommendation!!

Sadly that rod won't work for me due to the length. I want to keep it under 7'4 for transportation reasons.

 

But $20 would definitely be a sweet price lol.

Thanks again!

[MediumMouthBass]

3 hours ago, Rocky998 said:

Thank you for the recommendation!!

Sadly that rod won't work for me due to the length. I want to keep it under 7'4 for transportation reasons.

 

But $20 would definitely be a sweet price lol.

Thanks again!

Theres a few places currently that have the Lews KVD CC5 (cranking rod) rated up to 2oz on sale around $88. This is what i use for 6" Magdraft/Daingerous/Whales paired with either a 1/4 or even a 3/8oz Owner Beast. Its 7'4" and called a "moderate" action, which is odd since its got a bunch of backbone.

 

17 hours ago, Rocky998 said:

So I was looking on TW to see if I could find any "all purpose" type rods that might work for me with the weights I want to use and found these that I put in the cart to save them for reference:

 

I would stay away from an all purpose rod that does double duty for swimbaits.

Most rods rated up to 2 oz will suffer greatly casting and fishing lures 3/8-1/2oz, depending on how stiff and strong the rod is maybe even 3/4 too.

 

I have a few rods rated up to 2oz, these things couldnt load a 1/2-3/4oz lure if money was on line. They can cast them, but its very poorly done.

 

And for the amount of strength and power these rods made to cast bigger baits have you will be ripping hooks out their mouths trying to set the hooks on stuff like Chatterbaits, lipless cranks, jerkbaits, crankbaits, T rigs, etc.... Since the hooks on bigger baits are often very thick, these need alot more backbone to drive that hook into their mouth. 

Now all around fishing can be done with these type of rods, but it will be like driving a V10 Lamborghini all day on a road limited to 10mph traffic....

17 hours ago, Rocky998 said:

1/4 - 1 1/2 oz

 

Skip this, aim for 2oz atleast. Or you will be severely overloading the rod if done many times.

 

On 2/8/2025 at 2:31 PM, Rocky998 said:

So I'm a budget fisherman and I'm very careful on where I spend my money.

The most expensive thing I got was my baitcaster rod and reel and I can't really get a different specific setup which is why I tried getting an "all in one" setup.

 

17 hours ago, Rocky998 said:

Basically every lure I use on my baitcaster is 3/8 oz or larger, although there are the very rare occasions I use something less than that. (Usually always a 1/4 oz if I go under and my rod and reel handle that amazingly)

I want something where I'm able to still use all my 3/8 oz+ T-rigs, jigs, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, frogs, ploppers, and stuff.

If the all around rod you have now is working for these i would keep that for them, and get a dedicated big baits rod in that 2-3oz maximum weight range just for swimbaits and glides.

[softwateronly]

14 hours ago, Rocky998 said:

So I was looking on TW to see if I could find any "all purpose" type rods that might work for me with the weights I want to use and found these that I put in the cart to save them for reference:

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/workingorder.html?o_l=vCqE2WPTSrU~U_2K

 

I found many rods with the lure weight ratings being: 

1/4 - 1 1/2 oz

1/4 - 2 oz (this one is only the pre-order onex so I'm skeptical of performance, but that lure weight rating is literally perfect)

3/8 - 1 1/12

1/2 - 2 oz 

And I believe there is also one with the range of 1/2 - 3 oz on there too.

 

All mostly being either fast action or extra fast.

 

Basically every lure I use on my baitcaster is 3/8 oz or larger, although there are the very rare occasions I use something less than that. (Usually always a 1/4 oz if I go under and my rod and reel handle that amazingly)

I want something where I'm able to still use all my 3/8 oz+ T-rigs, jigs, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, frogs, ploppers, and stuff.

But I so badly want to use large (to me) 6" swimbaits and stuff that are around the 1.25 - 2 oz range! I don't plan on going above that really.

 

I know it's not the BEST to get a rod to use for almost everything, but I'm trying to do it in the most careful way.

 

 I don't really use crankbaits on my baitcaster anyway, I usually leave those to my spinning rod. So I don't need to worry MUCH about this rod handling treble hook baits except for the whopper ploppers and jerkbaits.

 

If you noticed, all those rods I found are under $200.

There are a few at the $180 mark, but that's REALLY scratching the surface for me even. Ideally I want it to be under $150.

 

Out of what's in your cart; I think the Phenix feather 7'3XH is the best bet.  The feather series is pretty dang high on the "bang for the buck" rod series.  They're really sensitive and have a versatile mod/fast feel even if they are labeled differently.  You could do everything you listed pretty well.  They run a little light, so the only option is the XH, you'd be very unhappy with the H power imo.

 

scott

[softwateronly]

PS-

 

I have this one as well, and think it's better for the heavy stuff while still being good at the 1/2oz jig weights.  It's 2 piece, travels well, good sensitivity and is $166 w/tax and shipping.

 

Major Craft Days - 702x 3/8-3oz

https://north-one.jp/products/4573236260358?variant=42236178235649

[Rocky998]

10 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

Theres a few places currently that have the Lews KVD CC5 (cranking rod) rated up to 2oz on sale around $88. This is what i use for 6" Magdraft/Daingerous/Whales paired with either a 1/4 or even a 3/8oz Owner Beast. Its 7'4" and called a "moderate" action, which is odd since its got a bunch of backbone.

I might look into that rod! Thanks!!

10 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

I would stay away from an all purpose rod that does double duty for swimbaits.

Most rods rated up to 2 oz will suffer greatly casting and fishing lures 3/8-1/2oz, depending on how stiff and strong the rod is maybe even 3/4 too.

Yeah, I kinda figured that would be the case but I also figured it was worth a shot to try to find a rod that could handle both sides of the spectrum lol

10 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

And for the amount of strength and power these rods made to cast bigger baits have you will be ripping hooks out their mouths trying to set the hooks on stuff like Chatterbaits, lipless cranks, jerkbaits, crankbaits, T rigs, etc.... Since the hooks on bigger baits are often very thick, these need alot more backbone to drive that hook into their mouth. 

Now all around fishing can be done with these type of rods, but it will be like driving a V10 Lamborghini all day on a road limited to 10mph traffic....

Skip this, aim for 2oz atleast. Or you will be severely overloading the rod if done many times.

That makes sense. Thanks for the explanation! 

10 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

If the all around rod you have now is working for these i would keep that for them, and get a dedicated big baits rod in that 2-3oz maximum weight range just for swimbaits and glides.

Yeah I could TRY to but I'm on a very very limited budget so it'll be a while lol.

 

BUT I could try a different route. 

I have a baitcaster from a previous setup that still works. It's a Daiwa Lexa 100, but it's an older model. 

Here's the link to what it is:

https://www.tackletour.com/reviewlexa100.html

What if I get a rod rated for swimbaits and A-rigs and then use that baitcaster? I know that reel is a bit small, but it should work, right? Maybe put 40-50lb braid on it or something and then a 17-20lb mono leader?

10 hours ago, softwateronly said:

Out of what's in your cart; I think the Phenix feather 7'3XH is the best bet.  The feather series is pretty dang high on the "bang for the buck" rod series.  They're really sensitive and have a versatile mod/fast feel even if they are labeled differently.  You could do everything you listed pretty well.  They run a little light, so the only option is the XH, you'd be very unhappy with the H power imo.

 

scott

That's the one I was eyeing as well! I really liked the look of those specs. 

That and one of those Daiwa Saltwater rods... I forget which one

 

Thank you for your input! I appreciate it!

10 hours ago, softwateronly said:

PS-

 

I have this one as well, and think it's better for the heavy stuff while still being good at the 1/2oz jig weights.  It's 2 piece, travels well, good sensitivity and is $166 w/tax and shipping.

 

Major Craft Days - 702x 3/8-3oz

https://north-one.jp/products/4573236260358?variant=42236178235649

Thanks!! That looks like a cool rod! I've just never really heard of the brand so I'll have to do some research...