Good Combo For Live Bait Fishing

[TMF89]

Hey guys, I do a lot of live bait fishing in the summer. Honestly in the local little metro lakes I fish, I feel like it's a waste of time to spend all day casting when the fish are only in two or three spots. My old stand-by is a float and quick-strike rig.

Since the lack of casting I'm thinking a spinning reel. Since most lack a bait clicker, I'd always just turn the drag down to nothing, use that as one, then flip the bail while I tightened the drag back up to set the hook.

I'm thinking since it'll be a hard hookset, maybe a fiberglass rod, like a 7' MH Ugly Stik? And a relatively cheap $30-40 reel?

As far as line, would you go with braid or mono? Lb test?

[Random guy]

Good question, I'm curios to see the replies.

Myslef I would look at baitcaster with clicker and a LONG rod for lobbing out heavy live baits and HUGE forgiveness, MH heavy would be a good class with a slower tip. Load it up and drive the hooks home no matter how bad the head shakes are.

I actually use my Berkely glow sticks and E-cat rods for live bait.

[carpmanjake]

i personally like a medium action to heavy action ugly stik spinning rod. i always use abu garcia reels now days. i use to be a shimano fan when i was younger and couldnt afford a reel over $20. lol

[carpmanjake]

I'm thinking since it'll be a hard hookset, maybe a fiberglass rod, like a 7' MH Ugly Stik? And a relatively cheap $30-40 reel?

As far as line, would you go with braid or mono? Lb test?

i didnt read that part sorry. that would be a perfect setup. go with 12lb mono (because you will want some strech when pike fishing) , and add a 3 foot 20lb flourocarbon leader straight to a hook (great for bigger and finicky fish)

[TMF89]

Oh one other thing, I'll be honest and say I'll probably catch a few muskies as well, the particular lake I'll be hitting most has them (pike and skies) running 30-40" that we've caught, but I know there's a good chance of a few 40+, and I know one 51" musky came out of the lake a few years ago. I only know of one or two spots on the lake, so I hope you guys understand why I'm refusing to name it. If I did half the guys in the metro would know exactly what lake I'm talking about, lol.

[carpmanjake]

Oh one other thing, I'll be honest and say I'll probably catch a few muskies as well, the particular lake I'll be hitting most has them (pike and skies) running 30-40" that we've caught, but I know there's a good chance of a few 40+, and I know one 51" musky came out of the lake a few years ago. I only know of one or two spots on the lake, so I hope you guys understand why I'm refusing to name it. If I did half the guys in the metro would know exactly what lake I'm talking about, lol.

i mould definatly go with a heavy action ugly stik if there are muskies in the area. i would use an abu garcia or a quatum spinning reel in a size that will match the rod. i will still stick with 12lb line for managability but if you want you can go to 20 lb braid or 40lb braid. but i highly recommend a flourocarbon leader. maybe 20 to 50 lbs. use a plain hook. not a quick strike rig. usually with pike and muskies that size just wait about 5 seconds before you set the hook and you should be fine.

[steffanf]

I think I would definately go with heavier gear here. Unless you are targeting only hammerhandles, you will definately benfit from using braid line, like Spiderwire Stealth. The low-stretch will help in hook-setting. 20 lb minimum, 30 lb or 50 lb recommended. The florocarbon leader should have at least the same strength as the line. When it comes to spinning reels, I would never recommend Abu Garcia or a glorified Zebco (Quantum). Stick with a mid to higher end Shimano 4000 series, like a Symetre or better. Getting the rear-drag model may also be a good idea if you are going to do alot of live-bait fishing, as changing drag settings becomes simplified.

[carpmanjake]

I think I would definately go with heavier gear here. Unless you are targeting only hammerhandles, you will definately benfit from using braid line, like Spiderwire Stealth. The low-stretch will help in hook-setting. 20 lb minimum, 30 lb or 50 lb recommended. The florocarbon leader should have at least the same strength as the line. When it comes to spinning reels, I would never recommend Abu Garcia or a glorified Zebco (Quantum). Stick with a mid to higher end Shimano 4000 series, like a Symetre or better. Getting the rear-drag model may also be a good idea if you are going to do alot of live-bait fishing, as changing drag settings becomes simplified.

if you wat a rear drag reel. get the abu garcia cardinal MODEL # C53RT reel for only $20. its very good quality for the price. that would be great for that. i got it a year ago and i just love it for float fishing, and bottom fishing, and freelining. basically any form of live bait fishing.

here are some fish with it

also got my first muskie on it. 38lbs 5oz.

[itchmesir]

^^^ my buddy bought a cardinal series a couple years back.. broke like a week later.. if you want cheap gear.. go for the companies known for making well working cheap gear.. Zebco.. Eagle Claw.. Shakespear..

buying cheaper rods/reels by companies that make good higher end rods and reels usually ends in a disappointment.. like Diawa.. bought a Diawa rod/reel combo from FF for like $30.. the bail on the reel broke off like 2 days after i had it

[Muddog]

Okuma and shimano both make a bait runner type reel that would work well with what you have in mind.

I guess your Q is what kind of line. Braid or mono? I'll say Super braid. You didn't say what kind of cover you were taking them out of so I will also go with 30 -50 lb line. With the quick set rig I don't think another leader would be needed. You may want to use a larger Dia, line for a leader if you fine the fish are doing a death roll and getting cut up by the line.

[AaronM]

Originally Posted By: TMF89

I'm thinking since it'll be a hard hookset, maybe a fiberglass rod, like a 7' MH Ugly Stik? And a relatively cheap $30-40 reel?

As far as line, would you go with braid or mono? Lb test?

i didnt read that part sorry. that would be a perfect setup. go with 12lb mono (because you will want some strech when pike fishing) , and add a 3 foot 20lb flourocarbon leader straight to a hook (great for bigger and finicky fish)

I would not go with mono for northern unless it was over 20# test. I use 14# fireline and have never lost a northern to a break off. If you get a good reel with good drag, you'll find it'll take a freight train to break it. I also would recommend going with a steel leader or something similar, not flouro. I've boated many northerns over 40" and have never had a problem.