Mid-strolling rod

[txchaser]

I'm leaning in pretty hard to the FFS, it's tons of fun. But that also means mid-stroll/hover stroll is a pretty key part of those days. The plain'ol 7' spinning rod I have is working fine, but if I'm going to be locked on this as a presentation I should (can? want to?) get a specialized rod. 

I'm seeing a bunch of stuff about solid tips being better because (whatever reason, maybe the shake?). Are they? 

I'm thinking about a little longer than 7', trying to stand off from the fish some and can't see how I could do a 80' presentation the way this is set up. But accuracy matters a lot here. 

 

Anyway, assume I'm fine spending a bit of money, but I'm not trying to buy a conquest either. Just want to buy once/cry once. But does it really matter on this presentation?

 

Is there a bfs deal to be done, or just hush and get another spinning rod?

 

Rod monkey is gonna win, so please help me push him in the right direction.

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

What depth/weights/baits are you throwing?  A 1/16 head with a 3” yum sonar minnow (which you might or might not consider hover strolling) is a big difference from a 5/6” bigger bodied bait with 3/8 ounce. I know those are extreme but size matters…

[softwateronly]

9 hours ago, txchaser said:

I'm leaning in pretty hard to the FFS, it's tons of fun. But that also means mid-stroll/hover stroll is a pretty key part of those days. The plain'ol 7' spinning rod I have is working fine, but if I'm going to be locked on this as a presentation I should (can? want to?) get a specialized rod. 

I'm seeing a bunch of stuff about solid tips being better because (whatever reason, maybe the shake?). Are they? 

I'm thinking about a little longer than 7', trying to stand off from the fish some and can't see how I could do a 80' presentation the way this is set up. But accuracy matters a lot here. 

 

Anyway, assume I'm fine spending a bit of money, but I'm not trying to buy a conquest either. Just want to buy once/cry once. But does it really matter on this presentation?

 

Is there a bfs deal to be done, or just hush and get another spinning rod?

 

Rod monkey is gonna win, so please help me push him in the right direction.

 

 

 

I went the BFS route with it last year and there was a bit of a learning curve, but I think most of that curve would have existed with spinning as well.  The solid tip thing is real in my experience.  You can get a rhythm where the entire rod feels in resonance for a very consistent action.  If you look into BFS for a jighead minnow, this rod has been phenomenal and an immediate favorite combo;  

 

Abu Garcia Salty Stage prototype Kurodai XKRC-73MLS-BF

https://asianportal-fishing.com/products/036282110861?_pos=1&_sid=178890522&_ss=r

 

scott

[5by3]

I bought the Expride solid tip 6’10 medium rod last fall and have really liked it so far. Not saying it’s the best one out there, but it’s a solid option. I tend to fish mostly 3-5 inch baits on 1/8-1/4 oz heads. 

[txchaser]

23 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

What depth/weights/baits are you throwing?  A 1/16 head with a 3” yum sonar minnow (which you might or might not consider hover strolling) is a big difference from a 5/6” bigger bodied bait with 3/8 ounce. I know those are extreme but size matters…

I'd say middle of the fairway is a 1/8 oz head with a 3-4 inch skinny bait. 10-12 ft deep right now. Kinda early to tell though. 

 

5 hours ago, 5by3 said:

I bought the Expride solid tip 6’10 medium rod last fall and have really liked it so far. Not saying it’s the best one out there, but it’s a solid option. I tend to fish mostly 3-5 inch baits on 1/8-1/4 oz heads. 

How's casting distance with that setup? 

[casts_by_fly]

12 hours ago, txchaser said:

I'd say middle of the fairway is a 1/8 oz head with a 3-4 inch skinny bait. 10-12 ft deep right now. Kinda early to tell though. 

 

Ok, so you're largely in the same place as me.  I'm throwing the same sized baits (yum sonar minnow in 3" and 4", tiny flukes, 4 1/4" freeloader, etc and 1/16-5/16 heads).  The past two seasons I've fished the Zodias 6'9" ML for this and neds with 10 lb 131 braid and a fluoro leader.  I've not had any issues with distance, though I'm mostly targetting fish in the 50-60' range.  Casting in that range is an easy wrist flick.  Going further than that accurately or if using the lighter side of the baints (3" and a 1/16) I will swap to an overhead cast to load up the tip.  The sweet spot for this rod is probably a 1/4 oz and 4" bait.  My dad has the 7' medium and it would be a good choice also for that same range, though I think the lighter end would be pretty similar to my ML.  The 7'2" ML+ is what I would order if I was doing what you are talking about and wanted more casting distance with them.  I don't have it, but from what I read of it, its a stretched and little higher powered butt version of the 6'9". 

 

I also have the 7'1" phenix ML casting rod with a BFS reel on it.  I didn't fish it for this purpose last year, but I will be this year.  It's an ML, but rated 1/4-5/8 and that's probably right.  Its a little heavy for true BFS, but 1/8 oz plus plastic and a BFS reel is a good shout (I fished it down to a 1/16 plus a light ned plastic last year).  Its going to be my FFS jerkbait rod also.

 

[FishTank]

I have been using the Megabass P5 Whippet with a Shimano Twin Power 1000. I use 1/16 and 1/8oz heads. Despite this rod being 6'6", it casts a long way. It's also great for light snap casts in close quarters. This rod also sets the hook perfectly for small swimbaits.  Super fun set up. Works for topwater and small jerkbaits as well.

 

 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

You want the best quality blank you can get, and a light guide train really helps too.  The actions should be fairly stiff.  When you use rods that have a soft tip, you lose that slack line sensitivity that you really need.  IMO you don't need a long rod to make long casts and anything over 7'2 you start to compromise some of that slack line sensitivity because of the COG of the blank, especially if its a M power instead of ML.  A light reel, like a Vanford or Taula LT will help greatly with sensitivity too.

A tightlining rod is kind of like a SH rod IMO.  You want to get the best rod you can because the more sensitivity you have the more advantage you have.  I guess with FFS you know what's going on anyway, but weight and casting performance of the rod is vital as well. 

[KP Duty]

Been mid-strolling my slider worms/grubs since '91 (lol). But seriously, my ml Zenon (casting or spinning) is the ticket...or any  of the more powerful ml rods.

[Bandersnatch]

Expride 73xh 

[5by3]

On 2/26/2025 at 11:19 PM, txchaser said:

I'd say middle of the fairway is a 1/8 oz head with a 3-4 inch skinny bait. 10-12 ft deep right now. Kinda early to tell though. 

 

How's casting distance with that setup? 

Casts just as far as my other rods in my opinion. Not much of a difference.