Help Choosing Finesse Baitcasting Setup

[pondassasin]

I'm looking to add a new baitcasting setup for throwing light jigs and plastics. I was looking at the Powell swim jig rod and a Shimano 50. What are some of your suggestions? I'm trying to keep it under 400

[new2BC4bass]

What do you consider light? Total weight, jig and trailer.

[Midnight Splash2]

Word is that Academy will have the 50E's for $99 on Black Friday if you want to go in that direction for the reel.

[pondassasin]

Well for a jig I guess light would be 3/16 total weight. Plus whatever a weightless fluke or speed worm would weigh.

[John G]

Well for a jig I guess light would be 3/16 total weight. Plus whatever a weightless fluke or speed worm would weigh.

I just weighed a weightless Fluke w/a 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu hook and it weighed just under 5/16oz. My Curado 50E will easily throw that as will my Calcutta 100B. That is using a heavy action rod too. The rod that I eventually want to get for the light stuff is a Loomis BCR803. You can get the Mosseyback model on ebay for just over 200.00 shipped or the GLX model for 300.00 shipped. Get the 50E for around 100.00 and you have a great outfit.

[pondassasin]

I just weighed a weightless Fluke w/a 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu hook and it weighed just under 5/16oz. My Curado 50E will easily throw that as will my Calcutta 100B. That is using a heavy action rod too. The rod that I eventually want to get for the light stuff is a Loomis BCR803. You can get the Mosseyback model on ebay for just over 200.00 shipped or the GLX model for 300.00 shipped. Get the 50E for around 100.00 and you have a great outfit.

Thanks John. I was looking at the new GL2's last night (specifically the 7' medium action), I'll have to look at the one you specified.

[.ghoti.]

Here's an example of what finesse means to different people.

My lightest finesse baitcast combo is a StCroix 6'9" ML-XF, Daiwa Alphas 103 and #8 line. I use it for drop-shotting and wacky jigs. The wacky rig I use most is a 3X french fry and a 1/32oz Gamakatsu Wacky jighead. The whole thing is about 1/16oz.

My next step up finesse rig is a Helium LTA, 7' ML-MF, another Alphas and #10 line. This is my dedicated fluke rod.

Next up is a Loomis 852 GLX, Alphas and #10 line. This is my tube rig, and is for me maybe a step out of finesse territory.

[.ghoti.]

OOPS. I just noticed where your from pondassasin. In your neck o' the woods, a 3 power Loomis is definitely a finesse stick. What I suggested is way too light for your area. Sorry. I should pay a bit more attention. :o

[new2BC4bass]

As Mr. Ghoti said, area makes a big difference as to what constitutes 'light'. What you are throwing is not finesse in my area either. A Shimano 50 will handle that weight with ease. Like Mr. Ghoti, I like my Alphas for lighter stuff...using 8 lb. mono. When I visit Florida, I don't use 8 lb. line! But when fishing with my Bro-in-law, we throw into lily pads and reeds all day. Our finesse bait is a weightless 10 in. worm on a 5/0 EWG hook.

My Fuegos will throw 5/16 oz. no problem.

Only got to use my new Patriarch XT one day so far, and had a 1/2 oz. lure on it. However, I have a feeling it will do very well with a 5/16 oz. weight. I'm already in love with this reel.

Used my new Curado 51E on a Falcon Elite Medium the same day with a 3/16 oz. spinner bait. It was getting longer distances than my Alphas ito/Zillion Medium XF combo had in the past. Both are 6'6" rods, and both reels have 8 lb. mono on them.

Given the weight you will be using, I'd say your reel selection is pretty wide open. Lots of decent reels out there that should handle that weight just fine. You might consider a Sol also. Specs for that Powell rod look to be ideal for what you want to do. I think the combo you selected is a perfect fit. Let us know what you decide on, and of course a review later on would be real nice.

[kLuo]

I am in the same boat as pondassassin, but I am having trouble deciding between a light baitcasting or a spinning reel. What are the advantages of a light baitcasting reel over a spinning?

[.ghoti.]

kLuo, I don't think there is any advantage a light baitcaster will have over a spinning rig. A decent ML spinning rod, 2500 size reel and 6lb test combo will toss 1/16oz baits with ease. And you won't have to spend a lot to do so. To get a baitcasting combo with the same capability, you will spend a lot more.

Go less than a 1/16oz bait, and spinning gear is your best bet. For most, less than 1/8oz means spinning gear.

I tend to use baitcasting gear almost all the time. I'll pick up one of those first two combos I mentioned when most folks would pick up a spinning rod. But there are times when I would be better served with a spinning rig. I know that; but that little Croix/Alphas combo is so much fun. A one pounder gives me a good fight on that rig.

You'll have to decide for yourself how much cash you want to put into a very specialized piece of gear, if you want a baitcast rig.

The other question is; what are your other combos now? Will a spinning rig give more versatility? Probably so.

[kLuo]

kLuo, I don't think there is any advantage a light baitcaster will have over a spinning rig. A decent ML spinning rod, 2500 size reel and 6lb test combo will toss 1/16oz baits with ease. And you won't have to spend a lot to do so. To get a baitcasting combo with the same capability, you will spend a lot more.

Go less than a 1/16oz bait, and spinning gear is your best bet. For most, less than 1/8oz means spinning gear.

I tend to use baitcasting gear almost all the time. I'll pick up one of those first two combos I mentioned when most folks would pick up a spinning rod. But there are times when I would be better served with a spinning rig. I know that; but that little Croix/Alphas combo is so much fun. A one pounder gives me a good fight on that rig.

You'll have to decide for yourself how much cash you want to put into a very specialized piece of gear, if you want a baitcast rig.

The other question is; what are your other combos now? Will a spinning rig give more versatility? Probably so.

Interesting thoughts, thanks for the reply. I was thinking about picking up a Curado 50e, so it is not too expensive. Right now, I bring 2 spinning rods and 3 casting rods with me when I'm fishing from a boat. Both spinning rods are M power, and I use a XF action one for a dedicated drop shot rig and a F action one for shakey head. I REALLY don't like using ML rods. Tried it once, and hated not having as much control of the fish.

That being said, I'd like to pick up another medium action rod so that I can have a dedicated weightless plastics rod. I have absolutely no problem chucking a weightless fluke on my F action spinning rod, so I was considering picking up a M action casting rod and a 50 sized baitcasting reel to make my dedicated shakey head/swim jig rig. I would then make the spinning rod my plastics rod.

Would a M power baitcasting rod with a 50 sized reel be ok for throwing 3/16 oz shakey heads, or would I be better off getting a spinning rod? I prefer casting with a baitcasting rod, but would be willing to give it up if a spinning set up is clearly a better choice.

Edit: Also, sorry for kind of thread jacking, pondassassin. I hope you have some of the same questions that I do and that this helps you out as well! And an answer for your question: I myself am looking at a Curado 50e paired with a Fenwick EliteTech Smallmouth rod.

Edited November 17, 2011 by kLuo

[.ghoti.]

kLuo, I use a medium power, fast action rod for shakey heads; mostly 1/8oz Gammy skipgap shakey jigheads and 3X worms. I use a tuned up Fuego. With the 50E you could go down to an 1/8oz jighead and plastic with no problems.

You have two spinning rigs now. That's all I have. I'd add the baitcast rig your talking about.

[pondassasin]

Edit: Also, sorry for kind of thread jacking, pondassassin. I hope you have some of the same questions that I do and that this helps you out as well! And an answer for your question: I myself am looking at a Curado 50e paired with a Fenwick EliteTech Smallmouth rod.

[38 Super Fan]

I was in a similar situation, went with a Lew's TP, great reel, I like it a lot. I just ordered a Falcon Wendlandt 6'10" Finese Jig Rod to go with mine, worth consideration at $99 shipped from TW. Novice talking, probably wise not to take my advice too seriously.

[pondassasin]

I was in a similar situation, went with a Lew's TP, great reel, I like it a lot. I just ordered a Falcon Wendlandt 6'10" Finese Jig Rod to go with mine, worth consideration at $99 shipped from TW. Novice talking, probably wise not to take my advice too seriously.

Thanks from one novice to another! I've been burning up the internet looking at everything so I will check out the Falcon. Any and all advice is always appreciated

[BigMoneyGrip]

I have the Falcon Cara Micro in the finese jig paired with the 50E. I like it and it'll cast the light stuff easy. This is my favorite combo.

[JIGFISHERMAN.]

Other than the ease of throwing lighter baits, one of the areas that a spinning combo has an advantage over a finesse baitcasting setup is the slack line fall.

To me most finesse presentations I would consider truly finesse, I feel the slack line fall is pretty important. In which case the spinning outfit wins out.