Rod Choice For soft platics

[Dan Brelje]

This question is for all you bassers. What rods do you use when fishing different soft plastic rigs.(texas rig, carolina, jig worm, tubes, etc.)(casting, spinning) I am interested in the different actions and lengths different people go with for the different rigs. Or if you only can could use one, what would in be. Thanks in Advance

[PikeBayCommanche]

My choice would be a 7'0 Medium-Heavy Baitcast rod with a pretty sensitive tip. Right now I am using a gander guide series for the price $55 its tough to beat in my opinion. Of course a Loomis or a Kistler 7'0 would be the most expensive but best rods for this. This rig I would use for texas and Carolina.

For tubes I like a shorter rod because I am usually trying to place the tube in some small spaces and it usually works alot better. I like the 6' or under croix's medium.

My 2 cents..

[Wayne Ek]

Dan alot of us will have 8 to 14 rods rigged for various applications. Kinda like a serious golfer will have a bevy of differant clubs. If your going to start collecting a tool-kit of rods I would suggest you purchase rods to fit the applications you want to fish and not the plastics you think you maybe using(plastics are like snow flakes, they are all differant and constantly changing)Also,try not to get caught up in the price of the rod. There are a ton of medium priced rods out there that have great actions and warranty's. If I had to chose just one rod it would be a 6'6' medium/heavy with a fast taper, rated for 12 to 25 lb. lines. WOW, did I just describe a Quantum Tour Edition PT rod (PTC666F), the rod with an over the counter life time

warranty. I think I did...

[Deitz Dittrich]

LOL @ wayne....

Dan- the above advise is setting you in the right direction for sure. Most applications for bass and plastics are presentations in which you impart the action into the lure yourself. A Med/Heavy rod with a fast action seems to work best for most people. On smaller plastics and lighter lures you may need to push her back to a med action rod just for castability. My fave rod for this is the 6'10"XMH Crucial. That length and action is good for me.. On carolina rigs a 7' rod is almost a must.

[Dan Brelje]

I want to start carolina rigging a lot more this summer. Is it best to use a spinning or casting rod? Braid or Mono, or braid with mono leader? Thanks for the advice guys

[Mr Special]

If I could only choose one. I'd say 7' MH FastTip #15-#25, with a nice baitcaster.

Deitz,

Don't tell the cat guys.

[PikeBayCommanche]

I would say casting for sure. As far as line goes I spool a lot of my reels in 50lb. Power Pro and If I know that I am fishing somewhere I don't have to worry about pulling free from Heavy weeds, rocks or trees the I am using the 12# sufix siege in the smoke color.

[Ralph Wiggum]

Quote:

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If I could only choose one. I'd say 7' MH FastTip #15-#25, with a nice baitcaster.

Deitz,

Don't tell the cat guys.

---

Busted, Mr. Special!!! (don't tell them that I was here, though )

[Mr Special]

It was givin to me, I swear.

But as for line goes I 2nd the PP in #30-#50.

You can always tied on a Mono or Flouro leader.

[Deitz Dittrich]

My main carolina rig rod is a 7' MH with braid on it, I do use a mono leader.. However I do a lot of stupid rigging that I use 14 lb mono on the whole thing.

And both of you darn cat guys are busted!!!! just dont tell on me being in the cat forum and we will all keep a secret.

[ikeslayer]

deitz in your opinion why is 7 foot a must for carolina rigging? just curious. ike

[Wayne Ek]

Ikeslayer: Most guys use the 7' or longer rods for C-rigging because you can have a 3 or 4 foot leader at times and a 1/2 ounce weight. You have to have a longer rod to handle all the rigging hanging there. When fishing a C-rig you make a side-arm lob cast. Not alot of accuracy, but you can sure get the distance.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Ike- Like Agape says, with a longer leader its very hard to cast with a shorter rod. Also, many times the fish when they hit will move with the lure. The longer rod helps to collect the slack for the hook set as well. To be honest, I stick with my original saying.. a 7' rod to carolina rig correctly must be 7' minimum. I'm not saying it cant be done, because I know it can. Its just not as effective!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Deitz, I was a bass guy way before I was a cat guy. And I still fish for both regularly. It's cats during the week and bass on the weekends for me!!!

For some reason, I catch a lot of flack for that

[OnTheWater]

Casting: 6'6" MH, great all around rod

-otherwise, my prefered choice when it comes to plastics, especially for finese applications, would be a St. Croix Avid spinning 6'8" Medium power w/ an xtra fast tip- can't beat it.