looking for good smallmouth rod

[chopper29]

i fish the new river alot and im looking for a good smallmouth river rod. any sugestions. i use some shallow crankbaits in early spring and buzzbaits later. maybe a tube or grub mixed in. i was thinkn the bronzeback but at $210 not sure. thanks. gona use it only for river i think. we fish out of rafts.

[roadwarrior]

St. Croix Avid AVC or AVS,  66MF or 70MF would work well for the techniques you stated.

8-)

[Irish_Bassman]

Not to steal the OP's thunder, but I'm wondering the same thing. When I do go back up north for smallies, I usually throw fat ikas and other weightless plastics. Also throw spinners and plugs. Is there a good all around rod that will allow me to throw light weight tackle and still have a solid enough backbone to get a good hook set using texas rigged plastics?

[roadwarrior]

Not to steal the OP's thunder, but I'm wondering the same thing. When I do go back up north for smallies, I usually throw fat ikas and other weightless plastics. Also throw spinners and plugs. Is there a good all around rod that will allow me to throw light weight tackle and still have a solid enough backbone to get a good hook set using texas rigged plastics?

St. Croix Avid AVC or AVS,  66MF or 70MF.

:

[Irish_Bassman]

Thanks  :

[The Yankee Fist]

Hello, after alot of searching I did decide on the Bronzeback GLX simply because it fits alot of applications and species for this mostly shore bound goat ;D

I like that I can fish down to 6lb, which I use mostly or 8 when the going is rugged on the rivers. Looks like it will be here Friday and I will file a full report after next weekend.

I did fish an SMR750S-SP this past week and that rod was not worth 220.00 IMHO. Not even in the league of an IMX or those St Croix's mentioned above.

I have a friend with the 66mf that lives in Texas and he uses that rod for EVERYTHING a casting rod can't be used for.

Good luck!

[Dave T.]

Seems like most folks like the "MF" in the St Croix line of rods for smallies. I've been trying to decide between the Legend Elite 70MF or the 70MLF.

[coffee]

Hello, after alot of searching I did decide on the Bronzeback GLX simply because it fits alot of applications and species for this mostly shore bound goat ;D

I like that I can fish down to 6lb, which I use mostly or 8 when the going is rugged on the rivers. Looks like it will be here Friday and I will file a full report after next weekend.

I did fish an SMR750S-SP this past week and that rod was not worth 220.00 IMHO. Not even in the league of an IMX or those St Croix's mentioned above.

I have a friend with the 66mf that lives in Texas and he uses that rod for EVERYTHING a casting rod can't be used for.

Good luck!

I'd like to know what you think of that Bronzeback rod, I am thinking of one too and don't want to be dissapointed.  I really like the idea of the 9' float and fly model.

[The Yankee Fist]

Will do!

I am going to be river fishing 80% of the time from shore and the other 20% will be lakes and ponds this weekend from shore as well.

I am going to try and review all aspects, good and bad, from my perspective on the banks. Casting, current performance, sensitivity and the thing I'm most curious about.....LIGHT baits below even what the rod recommends.

Casting in tight quarters will be interesting too....I'm hoping that GLX blank allows for quick, tight "wrist flick" casts. At 6'10" I know it will be tough but I bet this rod probably has a little mojo going on due to the GLX and I should see some of that helping on those quick flicks.

I'll post it in the "Rods" area in the forum....high hopes over here!

[roadwarrior]

Seems like most folks like the "MF" in the St Croix line of rods for smallies. I've been trying to decide between the Legend Elite 70MF or the 70MLF.

The ES70MF is my soft plastics rod, you'll like it, too!

8-)

[thetr20one]

I like the Bass Pro Shops extreme in 7 foot medium action. It's a nice smallie rod. I just got a Jhonny Morris elite series in the same action and lenght this year but i have yet to test it vs our Lake Erie smallies. Though it feels great and I have caught a few decent largemouth so far this year with it and it is outstanding!

[Dave T.]

The ES70MF is my soft plastics rod, you'll like it, too!

8-)

Yea, I'm leaning towards the LE70MF too. Most of our fishing is done by wading the river with lures in the 1/4 oz to 3/8 oz range. Sometimes a little lighter (around 1/8 or 3/16 oz).

I need one rod (can only carry one) that will get me the maximum casting distance with those weight lures. I think the LE70MLF would be better if we were doing more finesse fishing.

[midnighthrasher]

6'8 shimano cumara medium fast. cus68m

I have one with a shimano sustain 2500. Its awesome. I spooled up one spool with 8lb yo zuri hybrid and the other with 20lb power pro.

[rjg]

Just way too many really nice rods out there for me to recommend any one. Find one YOU like and fish the heck outta it!  

[The Yankee Fist]

Boy, you ain't kiddin'...TOO many choices and the sad fact is alot of stores in my area seem to lack those core Croix models like what road warrior mentioned...also with Loomis. Tough to buy without wigglin' the stick until you fish one and then you can confidently order online.

Out for delivery says UPS on my Bronzeback GLX spin rod...can't wait to hopefully fish it all weekend...the weather is crap but a nice new rod should part the skies

I'm interested to see after 25 years of wanting a Loomis if it was worth the wait......that SJR721 was GREAT(crooked handle/seat and had to go back) and I'm hoping to kick that up a notch in power, length, sensitivity and that NICE handle on the Bronzebacks. Gotta touch the blank...finger on the money ;D ;D ;D

[iceintheveins]

I'd go with a good high quality medium fast graphite spinning rod in medium action. Usually enough backbone for plastics and enough flex for cranks and buzzers. The St. Croixs mentioned are good choices, but some of the Berkley Lightning's are good lower cost choices.

[green]

go st croix and you will never go wrong

[bigfruits]

if youre thinking about spending $210 for a rod, id get the st croix avid in M or ML. i had a bronze back (non glx) for some time that i bought from a friend and i prefer my avids. if you end up getting a loomis i'd get IMX or GLX