what rod do you use for smallmouth fishing?

[ww2farmer]

I have 2 go to Smallmouth techniques which I use on Erie. Drop shotting and tube dragging.

For Dropshotting I use a St Croix Avid AS70MLF, w/ a Pflueger Supreme 8030MG spooled w/6lb Trilene 100% Flurocarbon.

For tube dragging, an Avid AS70MF, w/ a Pflueger Supreme 8035MG and 8lb Trilene 100% Fluro.

[Jig Thrower]

call me crazy but i use a baitcaster with a medium heavy rod i cant use a spinning reel setup i became too used to baitcasters and they work great for me

[jack1]

I'm using a 7'2" Shimao Cumara rod with a Shimano Stradic 2500, spooled with 20 lb Power Pro.  Great setup for me for tossing tubes and other light lures.

[redskinsfan360]

6' 3" G-Loomis Bronzeback with a Abu Garcia Cardinal.  One spool with 30lb braid and another with 10lb P-Line fluoro.

[SissySticks]

I use a 6'4" G-blanks Light/Fast tennessee handle w/ a Cardinal 401 and 6lb. BPS Excel Green.  I use it to throw 1/16 oz. tubes,  1/32 oz. finesse worms, etc.  I also use a 6'6" Rapala Tournament series MF w/ a Cardinal 252 and 8lb. excel to throw dingers, 1/8 oz. jigs, topwater.  I mostly use jighead baits for smallies.

[justfishin]

Without going into rod brands I will suggest some actions. I have to agree with RW though, in my opinion a rod that is 6'6"-7' and in a medium power with a fast action is my choice. I like a spinning rod for tubes to be rated as medium fast action with a line rating of 8-17lb test or 6-15lb test. I tend to lean more and more to the 7' rod the last few years. I mostly use Gator Rods and All Stars. Its funny how things change. I always used 6' rods in the older days but my preferances have changed. There are times along the bank in the eddy's a 6'er is better but, in open water on channels and points where it tends to be deeper I think a longer fast action rod gets you a better hookset. My opinion mind ya. Use what feels the most comfortable to you is the real way to judge a rod.

[285xl]

i use a G.Loomis 6'8" bronzeback spinning rod with a Shimano Sahara 2500 reel with suffix 8lb mono.

[BARON49_Northern NY]

I use the same rods and reels I use for fishing Largemouths.  Here in my area of Lake Ontario the Smallmouths are running bigger then the Largemouths and we are catching them in the same areas.

[roadwarrior]

I use the same rods and reels I use for fishing Largemouths. Here in my area of Lake Ontario the Smallmouths are running bigger then the Largemouths and we are catching them in the same areas.

Too cool...

If I had your choices, I wouldn't waste an hour hunting green fish!

[U.W BronzeBack Hunter]

BPS Bionic Blade 6'6" (trigger)

BPS Johnny Morris Sig. (spinning)

In the future, i'm planning on getting myself a G Loomis (trigger).  Maybe once spring time and once i have enough money saved for it.

[fishin hole]

Last year I used a St Croix LTB 6'9" Drop Shot Rod and a Daiwa Pixy Reel spooled with Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon and 3 1/2" tubes. I really love this combo.

[jack1]

I love my Shimano Cumara CUS72M spinning rod with a Shimano Stradic 2500 for tubes.  Light, sensitive, and a strong back to get a good hook set.  Simply awesome!

[BARON49_Northern NY]

I use the same rods and reels I use for fishing Largemouths. Here in my area of Lake Ontario the Smallmouths are running bigger then the Largemouths and we are catching them in the same areas.

Too cool...

If I had your choices, I wouldn't waste an hour hunting green fish!

The exception to this rule is dropshotting.  Just started fishing with it the past couple years using a St. Croix 6'9'' dropshot rod and have had a blast hooking up with big smallies with this light tackle.  Also last year picked up a St. Croiz 6'8'' M XF and started wacky jigging with it.  Lots of fun!

[WV_Eagle]

6"6" Browning Midas med spinning with a Daiwa Regal XiA 2500 and 10 lb Power Pro braid.  

7" Rapala Tournament series med spinning with a Mitchell Avocet 2500 and 10 lb crystal braid.

5"6" Ugly Stik Light M/L with a Pfleuger President 6730 and 8lb braid (the most fun!)

(updated)

[mackkie]

The 5'6 ugly stick is fun!  What do you throw for lures with it mostly?

[WV_Eagle]

All kinds of stuff with the Ugly Stick...inline spinners, tubes, Gulp! minnows...whatever is working!

And if the smallies aren't biting, I can always have some fun with panfish...  I'm not proud..  

[OIFBasser]

I fish out of a kayak, so I prefer a longer rod for smallies

I use a 7'6" ML Avid, and a 6'8" MXF Avid both with symetre 2500's

6lb trilene maxx, 10lb. mean green

[Bronzefly]

I like my Loomis BSR 852 GLX - it's super sensitive and a blast to catch smallies on.  I also really love my SJR 722 GLX, too!

[kevin07]

A like BPS's Extreme spinning rod, it is a fairly light rod with good sensitivity and its not to expensive($100) when it goes on sale you can get it for 60 which is a steal. I use the 6' light action its great for tubes, t-rigs and jigs.

[thetr20one]

I don't use any specific rod for smallies. I use specific rods for certain baits. Would I change out a rod to fish a crankbait to target smallies over largemouth? No. The same applies to any other technique. And I know I will get some heat for this but G.Loomis rods are good but not worth the coin they ask for them. There are other rods with similar characteristics with more comfortable handles, better guides, etc. for less. And I think technique specific is very important but, bass species specific is a complete gimmick used by G.Loomis. I would buy a Johnny Morris Elite Series or Browning Midas over a G.Loomis ANY DAY!

[Ern]

For me it depends more on what type of water. I love stream smallmouth fishing. And depended on what section of water I am fishing is to what I will be toting.

If I know that an area has an abundance of rock bass and smaller smallmouth say under two pounds I will be tossing an ultra light. Moderate action on this rod to protect the line too. A 5' rod and a good reel with a great drag. I spool this one with 4 lb line. The same rod sees duty on trout waters.

If I move up to a section where the the fish are a little bigger and I could be throwing bigger stuff at smallies in the 1- 3 lb range I like my 6' rod. Light power and Fast action on this rod. I use a 2000/2500 size reel on this one. Mine has a 6.0:1 ratio. Combined this with 6lb line. The larger reel gives me speed in current, wieghs roughly the same as a smaller reel, and spools enough line for the entire day.

Now if a trophy stream smallmouth is the target, say 5lb plus, I have learned to leave the light stuff in the vehicle. I carry a Medium power fast action rod. Something 6'(personal favorite) to 7'. Baitcaster on this one and the high speed gears (7:1) are nice. I spool this one with 10lb high impact abrasion resistant line as minumum. As summer comes in and the weeds get thick the line goes up. Pulling a 5 lb smallie through heavy weeds in current is all brawn.

[ripalip]

When it comes to smallies, I like using the lightest tackle possible. 4lb flouro on a 9ft noodle rod makes for some real fun. And as long as my drag is set just right, I rarely have breakoffs. Unfortunatly, the only baits I can use on such a setup are smaller plastics, like tubes, texas rig craws, etc.

[SmallieFever]

I doubt many have even heard of B&R Outlaw Rods, but they are certainly worth a look...especially at $130. That was my primary rod for tubes last year in 6'6" med/fast with Quantum E30PTi-A. The B&R is quite light and Sensitive with great backbone and is IMHO probably the best bang for the buck out there. It was rumored that an ex designer from G-Loomis joined up with B&R to create their awesome blanks. Check em out on the web. Last week I ordered the St. Croix Legend Tournament 7' Tube model because of all the great reviews on this line of rods. Not sure on what reel to match it up with at this point. But anyways best of luck! Hope you find a rod that suites you

Here is a couple pics... 5lb LM and my buddy with a nice smallie on our 6'6" Med/fast B&R's. also another 3lb+ Sm from same day, same rod. all on tubes.

[fishnjohn]

One of my favorite rods I have is a Shimano Compre, 6'-6" medium action cost $90.00 I use a Shimano Symetry 2500 reel cost $80.00 this is a very good setup. And the Shimano rod has a lifetime guarantee. For the price and warranty this is the best thing on the market.

[bassin46lbsmallies]

I throw st croix legend touny 6 8 finesse, for tubes 1/4 or heavier, the new shimanio cumara 7 2 med xtra fast for anything lighter, has anybody used the drop shot special carrot stix ?