Looking Around For A New Live Bait Rod??

[Pete-K]

Thinking of getting my wife a new Rod LOL It would be used for live bait fishing below Pickwick dam and Wilson dam drifting Split shot. Then in the fall to pitch the same rig to known spots that Hold the Bigger Brown fish.

Rod will be custom built so just looking for info on what would make the best rod?

length? Also boat fishing with it...

Weight ?

Backbone?

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Pete

[Bass Junkie]

7' Medium Light action spinning rod. Softer tip, but get some good backbone in the lower half of the rod. 4-12lb. test rating on the blank should do nicely. I used to use a setup exactly like this on a couple of rivers locally and it was absolutely perfect for the live bait application. Just my personal preference, but if I was doing what you're doing that's how I'd be doing it.....

[00 mod]

My rod is a 68mxf st croix legend elite paired with a shimano stradic 2500.......but I love RW's rod more....glx something or other paired with a shimano stella! He will chime in here sooner or later!

Jeff

[roadwarrior]

G. Loomis GLX PR844S/ Stella 2500FE/ Yo-Zuri Hybrid #4 (blue smoke)

The rod is a "popping rod" designed for saltwater fishing.

http://www.gloomis.c...pping_rods.html

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[Steve K]

Were I fish we use a lot of live bait and the rods I have favored are in the 7-7'4ft ML spinning category. The length helps get the line and bait farther away from the boat and the ML still has a good back bone when you hook into a monster cat or in most cases a northern pike. I personal like 2 rods: St. Croix, Mojo Bass, Drop Shot (6'9ML) Use it for for casting splitshot rigs, and for dragging or drifting I like my Quantum KVD Tour Signature Spinning 7'4M. This rod has a really soft tip and a solid back bone with a comfortable length. Both of these are paired with Quantum Energy PTi30's with 8-10lb P-Line fluorocarbon.

[Pete-K]

Thanks guy's been doing some searching for the right blank and the search is still on. But with the above its closer then before.

Pete

[S Hovanec]

St. Croix:

3S69 MLXF

4S610 MLXF

3S70 MLF

3S76 MLXF

Pick your favorite length, all will fit the bill.

[Pete-K]

St. Croix:

3S69 MLXF

4S610 MLXF

3S70 MLF

3S76 MLXF

Pick your favorite length, all will fit the bill.

Thanks I have been looking rthough my merrick tackle catalog and seeing what the blank or blanks will cost me. So hope to have 1 or 2 new rods soon.

Pete

[S Hovanec]

I think all of those blanks are a "special order" from Merrick. I've waited over 3 months for a special order from them before. Give Karen at Bingham Enterprises a call. Some of those blanks she stocks and if she doesn't, she'll have it drop-shipped from St. Croix. I assume you're a wholesale customer since you mentioned Merrick. St. Croix wholesale cost is the same no matter where you get it. Retail price is too, unless it's a discontinued model, then there is a deeper discount.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I like St Croix blanks a lot too. As an alternative though, check out the popping rod MHX blanks fron Mudhole. The MHX are outstanding blanks for the money.

[robdob]

i agree with most everyone else.. something medium light action for live bait.. i prefer a 6'6" myself but the only place i use livebait is a river so casting distance isn't that big of a deal

[bryand82487]

I use the Loomis Smallmouth GLX rod and love it. The action might be a little light for some people's likings but it's handled plenty of big fish for me.