Calling Bass Experts - Finding A Sensitive Rod

[Feathers and Fins]

Mic, I have used many rods over my life for bait casting, From live bait to plastics. The most sinsitive rod in the world is a well trained forefinger. I am not joking if you take the time to train your finger you will feel more long before a rod detects it. When running a baitcaster I keep my left forefinger on the line before the spool and will detect the slightest bump or twitch and after awhile you will know a stick from rock from fish. I learned it Live Baitfishing but was able to do it for plastics. I use St Croix rods but have used Customs and so many other and found it true on all rods I have used, that the Finger is mightier than the Rod.

[OzarkFishman]

The last 7 words of F&F's post are definitely "that's what she said" material ...

[rhondafish]

I'm with Feathers on this one....I always, regardless of tackle being used keep my finger on the line..and I'm also a line watcher...Sometimes they swim toward you when they pick up a bait, which cannot really be "felt" so much as seen.

Watch where your line enters the water...You gotta pay attention...I've even hooked fish outside the mouth, but near the mouth from watching my line move.

"Tight " lines...no Pun Intended

[hoglaw]

The finger is a for sure must...just make sure you move it out of the way before you set the hook on heavy braid. Otherwise you'll be using the next finger down. I dang near hit bone a couple summers ago fishing big live crawdads for big drum on the Ouachita River. It's a very soft bite and they don't pick it up and run with it, so you have to drop the hammer quickly. 30lb braid cut me like a knife.