Rod/Reel/Line Question on Tube Fishing

[ABA CAST CHAMP 2006]

    I fish a lot on Kentucky Lake, which doesn't have much cover, mostly just rocks.  Throughout the year, I throw tubes and other soft plastics using small weights, mostly 3/16th oz. weights.  I have been using a 7' MH Team Daiwa-V baitcasting rod teamed with an Abu Garcia 4601 C3 reel and 14 lb. test Trilene XL.  The rod is very sensitive, and the reel and line have plenty of strength to pull up the big ones, but the reel gets backlashes a good bit of the time due to the distance the light lure needs to travel.

    My question to any tubing aficionados out there is, what type of rod (brand/length/action/spinning/casting), reel (brand/model), and line (lb.test/mono/flouro/copolymer) would you recommend for making long casts with extremely light lures.  Also, for the rod part of the question, how sensitive is this rod in comparison to other rods that you have used for the same type of application?  Thanks everyone!

[roadwarrior]

I fish Pickwick Lake and below the dam, technically Kentucky Lake. I fish Micro Munch Tackle El Gordo Tubes and Mizmo 3 1/2" tubes (Kent's Classic). I fish all soft plastics on a 7' MF spinning rod, St. Croix Legend Elite ES70MF/ Shimano Stella 2500FB and #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft.

[justfishin]

I throw 3 1/2" tubes for smallies on a 6 1/2' rods specified for 8-15 test, Lure-1/8 to 1/2, Extra Fast Taper on #8 test 90% of the time.

I use a 6 12' rod specified for 6-10 test, Lure 1/8-3/8 , Fast Taper when fishing #6 test.

All of my spinning reels are Stradics.

[Hot n Tot]

Like RW, I use a Legend Elite spinning rod in 7'. Mine's a medium light (ES70MLF), and I have a Shimano Sustain with 6" Yozuri Hybrid.

[Shadcranker]

Finesse tubes- 3" prowler tube- I fish on 8lb McCoy lineo n a 6'8" MH fast tip spinning rod- a custom rod (using a 3/16 or 1/4 oz tube head - BPS Gammie WG XPS head). I use this rig when targeting fish on flats or in open water, especially for smallies and spots. I also have a 6'6" Shimano Crucial MH action spinning rod that works well with these tubes.

Flippin Tubes - 4" Prowler flippin model- I fish on a Powell 683C Baitcaster with 14 lb P-line. The rod is a fast action, MH 6'8" general purpose rod. TX Rig the tube using a Gammie EWG 3/0 hook; and usually a 3/8 or 1/2 oz weight (use this to flip the bushes, laydowns on KY / Barkley)

[ww2farmer]

I like a 6'6" MH spinning rod w/ 8-10lb Trilene sensation for 3.5" tubes with less than 1/4 oz weight.

[CJ]

I use BPS 3 1/2 tender tube(you should really check these out)and a Mizmo 4" tube.I use a 6'6"med/fast spinning outfit.I use no more than 10#test flouro.

[.ghoti.]

I think you'll want a lighter rod and line. A medium power rod will load up more with the lighter weights you're using. You could easily go down to 10lb test, since you're not fishing a lot of heavy cover. The combination of lighter line and less powerful rod will give you the distance you're looking for. It's all about balance. You need to match the rod and line to weight of the bait.

Cheers,

GK

[Bud]

I use a SJR IMX 783  Med Heavy with a Stradic 2500 MGfa for tubes.  I go no heavy than #6  Yo-Zuri

Ultra Soft Line.

Backlashes are cause by the user not the reel.

I don't know what part of the lake you are fishing but the lake has a lot of cover in the form of grass and crappie bushpiles.

[heathen]

6'6" MH Fast Action, 2000 series daiwa reel, 20/6 braid

[ABA CAST CHAMP 2006]

I use a SJR IMX 783  Med Heavy with a Stradic 2500 MGfa for tubes.  I go no heavy than #6  Yo-Zuri

Ultra Soft Line.

Backlashes are cause by the user not the reel.

I don't know what part of the lake you are fishing but the lake has a lot of cover in the form of grass and crappie bushpiles.

Thank you for helping with the rod, reel, and line question, Bud.  Also, it was not my intention to get anyone fired up about the cover situation in KY Lake.  When I mentioned the lack of cover on KY Lake, I was referring to the main lake, where I'm sure you'll agree that there is a lack of crappie traps.  Most of those are in the creeks from what I've observed, and there are a few scattered crappie traps throughout the main lake.

Also, the part about who "backlashes are caused by"...I'm not sure exactly how to take that.  So I won't dwell on it, but the backlashes on very long casts using a big baitcaster with 3/16th oz. tubes is a problem for me.  That is why I posted this topic, so that I might find a way to do away with the problem altogether.

[Bud]

                        Also, it was not my intention to get anyone fired up about the cover situation in KY Lake.      

Well you did not get me fired up. I don't let this forum get me fired up.  I am to old for that.    I was only saying their is a lot of grass and crappie brushpiule in Ky lake. Yes their are more in the bays and on the creek channel than their are in the midedle of the lake.

Backlashes are caused by not having the reel set correct or by casting into the wind will also do it. It is cause by the man using the reel not the reel. I can cast a 3/16 oz tube with any of my BC with no backlash problem. My sugession would go with a spinning rod. Hope thiis helps. Bud

[Rob G.]

Champ,  Try using a medium powered rod or changing to lighter, limper  line, maybe 12 lb..  This should help to cure your backlashes.  I am not going to recommend brands, that is personal preference.  There is a ton of really great equipment on the market.  The saying, you get what you pay for stands strong with occassional exception of course.

[Bankbeater]

My first rig I used for throwing plastics was a baitcaster on a MH 6'6 rod w/ 12 LB line. I could get the tube 20 to 25 feet if I was throwing with the wind. Each time when I tried to muscle it out farther I would get a nasty bird nest in the reel. Now I use spinning reel mounted on M 6'6 rod with a fast tip for all light plastics. Senko type baits and carolina rigs still get the baitcaster.

[ABA CAST CHAMP 2006]

Finally got my rod, a 7' medium light Shimano Compre.  Also got a cheap Abu 102 spinning reel and some 8 lb. test line for it.  It feels and casts 100x better than the setup I previously used for the tubes.  Thanks for the help everyone!