Rod Advise

[Presco]

In the market for two new casting rods. I'm replacing two older rods, and would love some advise from this board's seasoned anglers. I currently have a Chronarch 50MG and a new Curado for my reels. I was thinking of going with the Loomis MBR843 for one as I've been told thats a great do everything rod, but wanted some advise on the second rod. My plan was to put the Curado on the 843, but what rod would fit well with the Chronarch for a second rod? I mostly fish smallmouth so I'm pitching lighter cranks, jerk-baits, and spinners. I already have some 6'6'' and 7' spinning reels for tubes. Would love some advise. Thanks.

[TonkaBass]

That mossyback loomis is the ticket IMHO! I fish a lot of smallies and I really like the St. Croix Sweeper spinnerbait (7' mh fast) but they are also coming out with a finesse jig rod new for this year (7' MH xfast)... My partner also had a Kistler Magnesium 6'9" MH that was money for general purpose, it was an awesome jerkbait rod... Good luck and like I said that mossyback is a joy to fish with!

[grab the net]

I would consider looking at a 7-6 cranking rod to compliment your arsenal. You will love the 843, but you would also love the Avid 7-0, MH. I think some of the Shimano rods are great and should be looked at. So many choices. I am waiting on a chance to look at the Tessera's from Skeet and to look at the 7-6 KVD tour cranking rod. I know I will have a 7-10 KVD before the start of the 2010 season.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Ive got a Kistler MG/ chronarch 100mg combo and that setup is so light/sensitive.

The new kistlers with the small guides seem like an interesting concept.

[Presco]

Thanks for the replies...keep them coming.

I've heard great things about the Mossyback, I assume you mean the 7'5''. To be honest, I've shied away from rods that are more than 7', but don't have a great reason. Maybe I need to reconsider. I've looked at their Bronzeback series rods a lot. Need to hit up Thorne and give each rod a feel.

Also, TonkaBass, nice smallie in your profile pic. Is that from the Big Pond? Looks like a hog. What was length/weight?

[RK]

Hiya -

The 843 is a fantastically versatile blank. I use mine for a little bit of everything for LMB and SMB both. Great rod for lighter football heads and Carolina rigs, good jig and pig rod, etc.

For the second rod, I'd consider a 7' Medium power in either a fast or mod-fast action. You'd be able to throw smaller cranks or jerkbaits, spinnerbaits or buzzbaits, walk the dog topwaters, swim jigs, and probably smaller soft swimbaits... With smallies you aren't really hauling fish out of thick stuff very often, so a medium power with 10# or 12# mono or fluoro gives you another pretty versatile rod that's a bit lighter than the 843. And it'd be great with that MG.

My $.02.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Presco]

Rob, thanks for the reply. Are you saying something like an 842 for the MG or are you suggesting something else? I've used a few and feel that'd be too light for even the smallest jerk baits. Not sure, its been a few years. I really only know Loomis' spinning rod arsenal well, have never owned any of their casting rods. This 843 will be my first, can't wait to try it out.

[RK]

Hiya -

I'm not super familiar with Loomis blanks (I'm too cheap) but the one rod in their lineup I have used a little that is sort of what I'm talking about is the SMR822C-SB from their Bronzeback series - it's a Medium power X-Fast, 6'10". Falcon makes a rod somewhat similar - I think it's a Cara. The one I have is a Diamondback, which I love, but sadly they quit making them a few years back. (I'll break it someday, and I'll cry when I do...).

I wouldn't be too concerned about the 842 being too light. Like I said, with smallies it's not like you're hauling them out of the slop very often, and if they do poke their noses into the rushes now and then or something, you have the 843. You'd be surprised at home much power even a medium power rod has, and the lighter tip is great for long casts with light baits. I have a 7'6" medium light baitcasting rod I use a lot for smallies...

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[TonkaBass]

Thanks Presco, I got that smallie out of Green.

Too each his own on rods, but I like a jerkbait rod with a little more backbone... I like it to be tippy, but I hate it to be noodley at all... Also I like a longer rod more and more these days. There are very few techniques where I wouldn't mind fishing with a 6'6", jerkbaiting is one of them.

Stuff I have used the Loomis 7'5" for this summer is...

carolina rig

Rollr Jig

Slow roll Spinnerbait

Finesse jig

T-rig

CRANKBAIT! <---pure sexiness! don't knock it til you try it, only on diggers though...

[cjac]

Presco,

I'm FAR from being a skilled bass stick with 10+ rods on the deck like some of these guys, but when I do fish bass I like decent stuff and try to get the most out of what I do have. So, you sound somewhat silimar to me in that respect....

I have a Scorpion MG 1000 (basically a Chronarch 50) on a 7' MF St Croix Tournament blank and love it for the lighter stuff and away from the thick cover. Great set-up that serves many purposes and is really light and sensitive yet has the power when needed. Brand aside, I do like the 7'MF rod and it's versatility. I think 12# fluoro was what I mainly ran on it last year.

I also like longer rods, but on occasion I duck into little river inlets and the longer rod can almost be a hinderance, so I stick with the 7'.

Good luck with your purchase.

Chris

[Bassinbob84]

I own a few loomis rods and they are awesome but I just picked up some carrot stix for $126 each off that big auction we all know and love. They are lighter than a loomis and almost as sensitive for less than half the price. They look stupid and I wasn't a fan til I held one. I can't wait for open water to try them. I have a 7'6" H glx with a zillion and a 7'6 H carrot stix with a zillion and just playing in my livingroom I think I like the carrot better. I can't wait til summer to put it to the test.