How light can you go on a BC?

[Scorcher214]

Like 1/4oz, 1/8oz? Is that possible? What kind of setup would I need?

[ProCraft Joe]

The lightest bait I fish on a BC regularly is a 3/16 shad rap. I have thrown 1/8 oz crappie jigs but prefer spinning reels for them. I fish t-rigs with a 1/16th oz weight but when you add the hook and worm it weighs about 1/4 oz. I throw shad raps on a 7'MLEF, Curado, and 10lb flouro.

[BASSclary]

Like 1/4oz, 1/8oz? Is that possible? What kind of setup would I need?

Uuber light + Daiwa SOL/Pixy/Alphas

[Maxximus Redneckus]

you can only go as light as the spool clarence will allow between the top of spool and the frame ,i can fit 6lb on my pro max1600,s and 3600, very tight tolerances. On my c-3-4-5,s 10 lb is as far down as i can go.Also has a lot to do with the rod  its has to be able to load up and cast w/e weight your using

[deep]

I never throw anything lighter than 0.5 oz on a baitcaster, because

#1. I haven't got the right reel (Daiwa Pixy/ Curado 50 from what I hear)

and

#2. I love my spinning rigs too much.

But that's just me.

[bilgerat]

The rod itself is an important consideration. If it's too heavy, it won't load the bait properly and casting will be difficult. Line choice (braid, mono, fluro) will factor into this also.

That being said, I've thrown unweighted tubes (heavier ribbed flipping tubes) a good distance with My Falcon LowRider MH and a '09 Revo STX (spooled with 12 lb Sufix Siege mono). Actually spinning is the way to go with baits such as this.

[Vinny Chase]

I throw almost everything on BC's...even 1/16 oz jigs

[hmongkidBee]

Get yourself a pixy reel and you'll see just how light you can go.  Casting distance as opposed to spinning reels but if you're like me and don't like to use spinning outfits then buy a pixy and throw any weight you want without fear of backlashing at all.  I have one of my pixy spooled up with 6lb berkley trilene 100% flourocarbon.

[new2BC4bass]

MH/Fast, 12lb., 1/64 oz., 40-50 ft., hard side arm cast.

Personally...with my limited experience...anything from 1/4 oz. down is impossible to throw with any kind of accuracy. We won't mention the backlash woes these light weights cause me.

EDIT:  Above statistics are not for me!   :

[WanderLust]

3/16th is perfect on my 51e.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

I throw 1/8oz jigs easy with a $70 Pinnacle bc w/ 6'6" Med F rod 20# PowerPro. The reel is 8 years old even, so shouldnt need to break the bank getting a set-up for this weight.

[ChiCityBasser]

I've gone down to 1/4 oz. crankbaits with the daiwa exceler mounted on a kistler mag ts with 12# mono.

[Stasher1]

I picked up a US Reel "Effortless" 700X in the Flea Market a couple weeks ago, spooled it with 30# braid and it'll cast a 1/4 oz practice plug an impressive distance. That's the lightest practice plug I have, so I haven't had an opportunity to try anything lighter. Maybe tomorrow I'll tie on something like an 1/8 oz bullet weight or a weightless Trick Worm and see how it does.

It's definitely not the fanciest or nicest looking reel around, but it does exactly what they (US Reel) claim it'll do, and it's MUCH cheaper than the others mentioned so far.

[Jeff H]

Anything under 1/4 oz and I don't even bother trying.  I have spinning rigs for the lighter stuff.

[Catt]

I throw a zoom trick worm wacky rigged with a 2/0 hook on my Calcutta 50

[Quillback]

I've been tossing 1/8 oz t-rigs with my Sol/Dobyns 702 combo (8 lb Invisix), works fine as far as accuracy, I do get an occasional overrun, but no more than normal with my other BC stuff.  Dobyns also has a 701 which I believe is rated down to 1/16, it would make an interesting combo with a Pixie, Sol or Steez.

[Red]

I throw weightless flukes and trick worms with a Revo S.  No issues, casts a mile.  I do not own a spinning combo for bass fishing.

Cliff

[smbrule]

My primary baitcasters are Chronarch 50 MG and Curado 50 E's. Anything lure less than 1/4 oz is difficult to cast with accuracy.

It is the total weight of the lure that counts. For example I use sweet beavers with a 1/16 oz weight as a surface lure casting into pads. However, the beaver alone weighs 0.37 oz. Even a Baby Paca Craw weighs 0.28 oz.

[Raul]

Like 1/4oz, 1/8oz? Is that possible? What kind of setup would I need?

1/16 oz

But that of course has a lot to do with the reel, the rod power and line test.

[Fat-G]

I throw a zoom trick worm wacky rigged with a 2/0 hook on my Calcutta 50

I can throw a Zoom Finesse Worm with a 1/0 Octopus hook on my Citica. I don't though, because medium action casting rods are for girls ;D. It's not difficult, you just have to know how to set up the reel.

I throw finesse plastics on spinning gear though, just for the fun of it.

Edit- It also has alot to do with the line you are using. When I get a Curado 50e, I'm sure if I spooled it up with 6# CXX or Hybrid I could throw it much farther, especially if I had a M/XF rod. Too bad I never will.

[Stasher1]

Ok, I just tried my 700X on a 7' M/F rod with just a 1/8 bullet weight and the best I could do was about 60', but it was a bit breezy. I may be able to cast a bit farther on a calm day.

I also weighed a Trick Worm and a 3/0 offset round-bend hook and it came in @ ~1/4 oz on my little digital scale. So, theoretically, no problem casting a weightless Trick Worm a respectable distance. Any lighter than that and I'll stick spinning gear. ;D

[A-Rob]

I got a curado and am able to use jigs I never used to be able to pitch before.

So reel makes a big different.

I could throw a weightless plastic on the curado for sure.

[skunked_again]

i can throw an over hand knot 25 yards with a flick of the wrist. under hand knots i struggle with.

8-)

[BassThumb]

If you back off the brakes and spool tension, you can toss just about anything, just as long as you're not using heavy line and your rod tip is relatively soft.

[roadwarrior]

Like 1/4oz, 1/8oz? Is that possible? What kind of setup would I need?

1/16 oz

But that of course has a lot to do with the reel, the rod power and line test.

Spinning tackle is much more appropriate

for most guys fishing lures/ baits under

1/4 oz. I prefer spinning tackle for light

line applications.

Another important consideration is drag

performance. Spinning tackle is so much

more forgiving.  When that 7lb smallmouth

first sees your boat, she is not going to like

it one bit! I attribute much of my personal

success to very smooth and responsive drag

systems.

8-)