Worming Rod Suggestions??

[montanagriz]

Hey Guys -

Traditionally I've done the majority of my bass fishing with cranks, topwaters, spinnerbaits, etc. However, this season after reading of the success many of you have been having with plastics - jigworms, senkos, wacky rig, stupid rig, etc. I've been fishing plastics more and more and have enjoyed some success.

Now that I'm fishing these presentations more and more, I'd like to get your suggestions on a good all-purpose rod I can purchase to use for a variety of worming tactics. I'm guessing I would primarily be using the rod for skipping docks/heavy cover, but would also like a rod that's effective for fishing deeper mid-lake structure.

Some questions you can help answer:

Length and Action?

Brand/Model?

Spinning or Baitcasing?

Spool with PowerPro or Mono?

Your feedback is appreciated. Besides, I have $200 in Cabela's gift certificates I need to burn

[TNFL]

For skipping docks I use a 6ft rod with a whippy tip for casting but enough backbone to get them out (or over) fast. I don't have a specific brand, but if you have an idea what you think is comfortable just grab different rods at cabelas and shake them.

Right now I have a 6 1/2 MH spinning out-fit that I use for weightless worms in slop/reeds/pads/ and sometimes docks. I also use this rod out deep but am looking to get a 7 or 7 1/2 M for deep water.

[RK]

Hiya -

Boy, really depends on what you mean by 'worming.' Soft plastics cover a lot of ground.

I basically rely on 4 different set-ups for plastics - a mix of spinning and baitcasting.

- A 7' Medium Light power, fast action Diamondback spinning rod, which I usually rig with 8 lb mono. I use this for stuff like 4" grubs, tubes and jigworms for smallmouth. It's a rod for things away from cover - lighter action and light mono aren't enough beef for rooting fish out of heavy weeds but great for long casts with swimming grubs or tubes. (With 10# fireline this is an awesome walleye jigging or slashbait rod too - I just switch spools.)

- A 6'9" All Star spinning rod. I don't think they even make this rod anymore. It's a wierd rod - tons of backbone but sort of a buggy-whip at the top 1/4 of the blank. Great rod for soft stickbaits like Dip-Sticks or Senkos. Can fish them on 14# Fireline and the tip is soft enough to not pull it away from them when they hit on the drop, but enough backbone to haul them out from under docks, etc. Whippy tip is great for skipping under docks too. Like I said, it's a strange rod. Perfect for what I use it for, but not much use other than that frankly. Odder still, the rod is great with superline, but horrid with mono. Between the whippy tip and mono's stretch, hooksets are a miserable deal. It's a blank that's just plain meant for superlines.

- A 6' Medium power fast action Diamondback spinning rod with either 8# mono or 14# fireline for jig worms and tubes on weedlines. I use this rod for 1/16 to 3/8 oz jigworms and tubes. Fast tip for snapping jigs off cabbage or coontail, and enough backbone to root fish out of the weeds when I need to. Also not a bad rod for texas-rigging tubes with fairly light sinkers, or for split shot/mojo rigs.

- A 6'8" MH fast action Shimano baitcasting rod with 14# or 17# Fluorocarbon for Texas rigs, bigger creature-type jigs, carolina rigs, etc. This is a pretty stiff rod with a fast tip for hauling fish out of coontail or rushes or out from under docks. I like Fluoro for the durability and low-stretch. If I'm in REALLY heavy stuff like thick rushes I'll use a flipping stick with 20# mono though...

Now, I'm not saying you need four combos to fish plastics. You might have rods already that will do well enough as you get your feet wet with the techniques to give you and idea of what suits your needs best. I think a guy could easily get by with two combos: A medium power, fast action spinning rod between 6 and 6-1/2 feet like the 6'3" Shimano Compre is a pretty good multi-purpose rod that can handle a lot of the lighter plastics like jigworms, soft stickbaits and tubes. For texas rigs, big mudflap jigs like Brush Hawgs, etc., a MH baitcasting rod in the 6'6" - 7' range will cover the bases too, and probably double as a pretty decent spinnerbait rod. A good example would be the Compre 66M.

I'm calling out specific Shimano rods here because that's what I'm familiar with, but several rod companies make similar rods pretty much across the range of prices. Which direction you go is between you and your wallet

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[montanagriz]

TNFL and RK,

Thanks for the input guys, really appreciate it. I ended up purchasing a 6'6" Medium-Heavy Berkley Series One spinning rod. I had a chance to fish with it on Friday out on Tonka, and really liked the feel. Even managed to break it in with a few nice fish! Thanks again for the feedback.

[Deitz Dittrich]

congrats on the new rod.. good choice and action!!!