Small Swimbait/grub Rod

[champ198]

I was reading that Mike McClelland was throwing the small swimbait on a 7'3" MH crankbait rod. Curious what everyone else likes to throw the grub or small Keitech swimbait a on. I usually throw the grub on spinning tackle (ML) 6'10".

What do you look for in a rod for this technique? Did he choose the slower action of the crankbait rod so the fish can load up on the rod without feeling the pressure of the rod?

Yesterday I picked up a Falcon 7'0" BuCoo medium casting rod on clearance for $50.00. It has a pretty moderate action and I thought I'd give it a try.

[Ham]

I've done spinning, but prefer a medium action baitcaster with 10 lb fluro for throwing the Keitech 3.8 inch stuff. I use a fast action rod, but that's gonna be a personal preference thing.

For a regular old grub, I love my GYCB drop shot rod. Soft tip, but plenty of backbone.

[bluebasser86]

I use the same basic rod as you do Champ, 6' 10" ML/XF spinning rod with 10lb Nanofil and a couple feet of 8lb fluoro leader. Never had a problem with it but if I was going to fish a little bigger hollow belly or a heavier head I could see the need for a casting rod.

[Old plug]

A 7-3 rod with a light small bait might be a headache for many casters. Its a backlash setup the making unless you have the experience to handle it. From what I have read about McClelland this is something he is accustom to.

[J-Doc]

A 7-3 rod with a light small bait might be a headache for many casters. Its a backlash setup the making unless you have the experience to handle it. From what I have read about McClelland this is something he is accustom to.

Totally agree. Which is why I use a spinning rod. I would like to develope my baitcasting skills though.

[fishingaddiction]

I have used a 7' medium action crankbait rod to throw the small swimmer, but the jig head would need to be at lease 1/4 oz or heavier. Currently using a 7' medium action spinning rod with 10 lb power pro braid with a section of 8 lb fluoro leader. With the zero stretch and feel of this line set up you must wait until the rod loads or you feel the weight of the fish. I prefer the braid due to the fact that you can make supper long cast even into the wind with no back lash, and you can feel is exceptional. I use a 7' medium light spinning rod with 6 or 8 lb fluoro or mono for grub fishing.

[champ198]

Looking to throw the Keitech 3.8 and 4.8 fat swimbaits on a ball jighead or even a scrounger head. I've never done much swimbait fishing other than swimming a little 4inch single tail grub on spinning tackle. I've never even seen the particular rod McClelland was using, but sounds like a fairly robust, slower action rod. I'm curious why he may have chosen the crankbait rod for this technique. My guess is that it may be kind of of "mushy" feeling bite where they might just spit it if they felt the pressure of the rod. I may be way off base on that.....

From what it sounds like, he was slinging it a country mile. Perhaps that is the reason for the slower action rod.

Always looking for an excuse to get a new toy to play with.

[Old plug]

Inuse 10 and 12 on my bait casters with the exception of two that cary 14 for my heavy worm fishing and for the Spro that will be going into action soon. everything else is mostly 8 All of it is Bass Pro Excel Mono. I am used to the properties of it.

[fishingaddiction]

The larger swim baits and heaver heads would be better fishing on the bait caster. I just prefer to fish the small ones on spinning tackle. I have found that they hit the swim bait different at times depending on how aggressive they are. Sometimes they will flat out slam the bait and swim off with it. Other times the bite is just a slight tick like they are hitting the tail. A M or MH 7' moderate flex (crank) bait cast rod would be handy to handle all swim bait applications.

[champ187xr6]

Champ...who had the BuCoo for 50.00..inquiring minds want to know. THX