Good Medium priced swimbait rod

[jacobhookem]

This coming year I am going to get really in the swimbait deal. I just wanted to know what is the best medium priced rod for baits between 1 and 6 ounces is. The one i was looking at getting is the Okuma guide select 7' 11" Heavy action.

Thanks

[Hammer 4]

I have the Okuma 711H, good rod for the money, But, I wouldn't consider it a medium priced swimbait rod at 120.00, as some rods will be in the 350.00 range. If this is your first SB rod, it would be a decent choice. It will not handle 6oz baits all that well, 4.5oz seems to be about the max for it, as it starts gettin a tad whippy with that weight of a bait.

Anyway, I opted for thee Dobyns 806 Mag. Runs about 270.00.

[jacobhookem]

I would buy the dobyns to if I had an extra 150 bucks laying around thanks for the input about the okuma. What type of swimbaits do you throw most often?

[webertime]

Check ebay (sheldonsclothing) for Quantum PT Swimbait rods.  They have 7'9" and 7'11", rated for 1-5oz.  They do a 2 for $100 deal but every once in a while will have auctions on singles.  I got mine (7'9") for $40+ shipping.  It weighs 5.8oz, and has a really nice action.   

[BigEbass]

Okuma makes some good rods I hear right at 100 bucks for swimbaits, plus I think their warranty is very good..

My first and only swimbait rod at this point was the daiwa heartland swimbait rod - 70 bucks new.  It can handle 1-5 oz's nicely so far...so it probably wont throw a much heavier bait, but it all depends on what you ar throwing.

I have been tossing 6 hudds, triple trout, lunker punker, and an aceademy bluegill 4 inch swimbait - all of which cast fine with the daiwa heartland.

This rod was initially suggested as a good starter rod from Bill Siemantel to me on his website...I paired it with a calcutta 400, and its working great....

Now if you are throwing much larger stuff, I cant help you there yet cause I have not delved into 5+ oz baits YET 

I would imagine (and this is guess only), that when you get into these heavier baits, it may pay to save and buy a higher quality rod to chunk those heavier mothers 

Good luck, let me know how you fair

[grimlin]

I'm seriously considering looking @ the iROD Genesis Series rods. They have a bunch of rods for handling that heavier weight you are looking at.

It's right @ $150 which is the most I will spend on a rod as well. 

[Hammer 4]

I would buy the dobyns to if I had an extra 150 bucks laying around thanks for the input about the okuma. What type of swimbaits do you throw most often?

Depends on the conditions, time of year ect..but I've thrown everything from 6" hudds to 9" lunker punkers. I'd say I most often throw baits in the 4oz range, i.e. 6 and 8" hudds, Mattlures hard baits, and 3:16 freestyles in 6 and 8".