Swimbait Setup

[bweave09]

I am looking to start doing some swimbait fishing. I'm in college and pretty much broke. Does anyone have any suggestions for a decently priced (if not cheap) swimbait setup. I'm talking rod, reel, line: the whole deal. I don't think I'll be throwing anything heavier than about 2 oz. (I think Mattlures Bluegill Ultimate is around that weight) Thanks for the help!

[BMoore]

Just how much are you lookin to spend? The okuma rods are pretty cheap and a lot of people love em. For a reel you could use just about any regular baitcaster for those size baits. An e7 would work pretty well as would a zillion. If you want to spend a little more pick up a used or new curado 300e off one of the forums and wait and find a used Dobyns 795. You can throw anything short of the biggest baits with this setup. The 300e/dobyns setup is what I have on the way. I've got about 350 in the whole setup and that's a heck of a price for that gear.

[Chris at Tech]

BPS Extreme 7'6" H action rod w/ Cardiff 300

I throw 2oz and under with this setup and it works just fine.  And if I ever get above 2 oz, I'm confident this rig can handle another 1/2 to 1 oz.

[Hammer 4]

For 2 oz baits, the Okuma guide serries in a 7'11" mh and a curado 301 would make a nice inexpensive rig.

The 795 Dyobens is  a good rod, if you opt for the 2nd. generation, some of the 1st generations had some failures.

You can spend alot on a good swimbait rig, but it won't nessesarrly catch more fish imho

BTW, I have thrown a few bait's including Matt's hardgill with a low pro reel (Chronarch).

[bweave09]

Thanks for the help everybody. I gotta get some cash together and pick one up...and when you say you have thrown some swimbaits on a regular low profile reel, do you think a basspro extreme would work well? I have the 6.4:1 sitting in my truck

[Randall]

My swimbait rods that I use for Mattlures bluegill size swimbaits are the Bass Pro Shop Walleye Series Trolling rods. They are 69.99 and rated for baits up to three ounces. You can get a 7'6" or 8 foot rod. The model numbers are WA76T-T and WA80T-T . If you want one for heavier baits you can get the 8'6" and cut off a few inches from the tip and replace the tip top guide. For a reel you can get the wide spool model Extreme just for the extra line capacity but you could use a regular model as well. Find them both on sale and you can save a ton of money.

[Hammer 4]

BPS reel would work, depends on which line you use..And, if most guys want more line capacity due to using heavier line, i.e. 20 to 30 lb mono, again depending on the weight of the baits, or type of fish targeted, like Stripers...which can make long runs, and spool a smaller sized low pro reel in the 50 to 200 size...that's why I suggested the 301..holds way more line that the 101..yet is a low pro.

If your just fishing for lmb..and you use say, 15 to 17lb test for baits under 2 ozs..you shouls be o.k. with your bps reel.

Thanks for the help everybody. I gotta get some cash together and pick one up...and when you say you have thrown some swimbaits on a regular low profile reel, do you think a basspro extreme would work well? I have the 6.4:1 sitting in my truck

[Big Bait Fishing]

Thanks for the help everybody. I gotta get some cash together and pick one up...and when you say you have thrown some swimbaits on a regular low profile reel, do you think a basspro extreme would work well? I have the 6.4:1 sitting in my truck

that reel will work , put some P-LINE CXX in 12# on it , i throw up to 2.5 oz. lures on that line with no problem , 17 and 20 lb. line is a bit overkill with CXX . i throw my smaller swimbaits with my REVO INSHORE , wich has more line capacity (12/175) but is the same size as the SX, STX ,etc..and i use 12 lb. CXX ...

btw, for those size lures , a decent flippin' stick will work , some times i use my 7' XH carrot stix .......