Light Lure Baitcast Setups

[Jeremi414]

On the recent hair jig thread. Mitch f said he prefers baitcaster setups even down to 1/8 once. For those of you that through light lures on baitcasters. What is your set up? Rod, reel, line. I think I need one lol! I saw Bass Pro makes a Tourney Special casting rod that is 5'6 ML. But the St. Charles store did not have one to look at.

[Ham]

I'm sure that MItch does very well with his setup, but I suspect he is an exception to the rule. The majority (vast majority?) of folks would fish that deal on a ML or M spinning rod for a reason.

I'm all about having a casting rod that can throw light baits like 3/16's or 1/5 th oz, but 1/8 oz is in the relm of spinning rods to me.

Don't let me stand in your way of buying another rod and reel combo, but it seems like an expensive wild goose chase.

[Jeremi414]

Agreed. 1/8 ounce I would throw on a spinner. But whipping out a small topwater around 1/4 ounce would be the bees knees!

[Ham]

Heck Man, That ain't hard at all.

I use a Browning Medallion GT 6' Medium. It'll throw that crap all day long. Put your choice of decent bait caster on it with 10 or 12 lb mono and get after it. Great all around rod for cranks and top water baits.

Cajun Angler found this and I copied after him. I have three new ones unused in my rod rack because they are my go to ccreek rod and stuff happens to creek rods. I think they are about $80 now. They used to be dirt cheap. We bought the first generation ones for $30.00. Watch for them to go on sale at BPS during the Spring Classic. Maybe they'll drop them to $60 if you get a little lucky.

[Mitch f]

I know it's on the bleeding edge of it's usefulness, but by the time you combine an 1/8th oz head with a trailer and whatever material you tie on, it makes it better. You need to really match the equipment correctly to make this happen. It took years to find a rod that was suitable to do this. High winds will definitely put a damper on this rig though. I just really like throwing bait casters and I will only fish a spinning rod if I have to. Just a personal preference. I think the majority of people should fish a spinning rod for this application.

[Ham]

AT THIS TIME, I really don't want anymore than a "M" spinning rod BUT I apparently can't have enough "L" and "ML" spinning rods. The BassCat is going to have about as many spinning rods as bait casting rods on board which is NOT a trend I saw coming. That's what happens when you fish for everything and you want to throw everything possible at them.

Yeah you're right Mitch. an 1/8 oz jig can easily weight a lot more than 1/8 oz. the head weight vary and the extras add up.

Heck a 5 inch Senko and a hook throws a ton.

[RSBreth]

I've been really throwing my own little 1/8-ounce jig a ton this past year - I would love to get a casting setup more for the river than the big boat, but it's really a delicate balance between enough flex in the tip of the rod, and enough backbone to set the hook if there much of a weed guard - I haven't found the right rod yet.

Spinning is easy - the same old 7' Medium/Fast action rod I've been using for years.

[Old plug]

I think it just depends on how far you have to cast and the test line your using. I pitch,and can flip a 6" unweighted plastic worm about 30 ft on a 7 ft mh baitcasting rod with 12 lb test on it. The reason I use that outfit is to fish in back of docks and over cables often pitching all the way under the ramp. I need the power to keep them out of all that stuff.

[Al Agnew]

Depends upon what you want it for. Hair jigs and soft plastics is tough, because you do need some backbone to set hooks. My usual jig rod for fishing from the jetboat is a Kistler Z-Bone 6.5 ft. medium power fast action, paired with my old Shimano Scorpion reel. It casts 1/8th ounce jigs well if I make sure to leave about a foot of line hanging off the rod on each cast so it loads the rod well, and it sets hooks beautifully, but it's a very expensive rod (which I would not have payed full price for...fortunately I made a deal for it). My canoe jig rod is a 5'6" St. Croix Premier, medium power fast action, with the first version of the BPS Prolite Finesse reel. It does the job very well. (But unless they've improved them for this year and it doesn't look like they have, I wouldn't recommend the present version of the Prolite Finesse. I bought one; it felt very nice out of the box, but within a half day of fishing it got really rough and the spool started feeling like it was sticking. Took it back and got another, and the same thing happened. That was year before last, and it was the third version of the Prolite Finesse. The second version was good, the first version was excellent. I'm afraid to try them again.)

If you're fishing small crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and topwaters, the BPS Tourney Special you mentioned will work well with any good, small reel, but I think I'd get the 5'6" medium power if I was going to be throwing a lot of little crankbaits. It's on the light side of medium power, and the moderate side of fast action, and makes a good stream crankbait rod.

[Mitch f]

This rod is a casting rod. It loads very well. Look at the rating...it's very sensitive, with a fast tip and with a little practice casts well with an 1/8 oz lure. It is on the border for the backbone power I'm used to when setting the hook , but it does the job regardless. These rods are $150. Al picked me up another light jig rod at the Classic last year that has better hook set power and loads well, it's a Razr rod 6 ft medium with a fast tip. These are my go to light jig rods. They require a little practice to get used to but I can stand in my driveway and cast in the middle of next door neighbors yard with an 1/8 oz jig and trailer, a Lew's speed spool, and 8 lb test line. That distance is 40 yards, which is more than you'll ever need on the river.