Proper Spinning Rod Setup for 2lb test

[MickinMO]

Going to start using 2lb test and trying out some jigs or pink worms. When boat fishing we usually fish from Short Creek down to 65 bridge. 4lb test and powerbait on an 6' ultra light. That is how I have fished from the boat for years. Maybe use some nightcrawlers from time to time. 

If I go to 2lb test and start throwing some jigs and spoons, what type of rod should I be using with a spinning reel?

[Phil Lilley]

Medium/Light to Light action, 6' or 6'6" - even 7' if you find one you like.  The key is finding something that works well for you.

Our rods - Lilley's 30th anniversary rods - are one piece, 6' and a lot of people like them.  But we have some new rods in the shop that are real nice for the money you need to shake - try if you'd like.  Crappie Pro is the brand.

Spinning reels - lots of them out there.  We carry Lews and Pfluger but there's others out there that are good.

[Seth]

I really like the Browning Air Streams in 6-6.5’ paired up with a 20 or 25 sized Pflueger President. FYI, Bass Pro has the Browning air Streams on sale for $45.99 right now.

[Travis Swift]

I use 6'6 SOS trout rods and whatever 1000 series reels I can find that have a nice wide spool to decrease line twist. Most I have currently are Shimano I believe. The rods are 35 bucks. But like the other guys said anything 6' to 6'6 to 7 ft will work great. I want enough backbone to get a good hook set but enough play to not break the 2 pound test.  Don't be scared of it, it's alot stronger line than it sounds and will get you a ton more bites. Good luck and great fishing 

[Gatorjet]

My jig rods are all the Lilley's rods. 6', 6'6", and 7'. All with Phleuger President, or phleuger Purist reels spooled up with 2# Maxima Ultragreen line. All work very well, and I don't deviate from the 2# even when the water is nof as clear, or fishing deeper. 

[Bill Babler]

If I have read the post correctly, you are talking about 2 different setups.  Fishing a straight line jig on 2 lb.  that's great and some really good advice above.  Now if your talking about indicator fishing a power worm, that is a totally different set up.

Most of the guides are fishing rods that are minimum of 7' up to 9' in length.  Reason being you are fishing an extended leader at times in the 9' range and need the rod length to not only cast but land fish properly.  2lb. line here is way to small to be spooled and work this rig properly.  I'm using  mono on my main line to the strike indicator either 6lb Excel or 4lb. Maxima and then using 6X carbon tippet material to the power worm.  You can also spool braid or nanofil on the reel to avoid any stretch, but I like the stretch for my hard hook setting clients it is a bit more forgiving especially when using 6X tippet.

I prefer a 2000 or 2500 series reels for the indicator fishing as it pairs with the longer rods better than the 1000 or micro size reels.  The larger reels also have more drag surface and way better drags, also depending on the reel quality.  Yes, I'm a gear horse and everyone knows it.  Currently all my trout reels are Daiwa Certate and Tatula.  For rods I'm using and Phil has had these in stock for years and I still have not found a better jig and float rod the 7' Rod Shop Signature.  I also use the St. Croix 8' panfish. again this is not a just get by low cost set up.  The pan fish is light as a feather and yet stiff thru the middle with an extremely  fast tip to throw the long light float and tippet.

Hope I understood your post correctly.  No single rod and reel or line combo does both of these applications, they are two totally different techniques.

Good Luck

[Seth]

Good point Bill! For my float and worm/jig setup, I run a 10' BnM Sam Heaton Super Sensitive crappie rod with a Pflueger President 6930 spooled up with 6# trilene XL. For leader, I just use 2# mono. I already had that setup for dipping brush for crappie and then started using it for jig and float fishing after trying Duane's 9' Lew's crappie rod setup. It works very well.

[tjm]

When you guys talk about 1000 series or 2000, 2500 etc. it sounds as though the size is the same regardless of the brand, is there a industry standard of sizes now? (The last spinning reel I bought was @1976ish.)

[Travis Swift]

tjm I don't believe there is an industry standard.  My main thing I look for on spinning reels regardless of size or brand is a good wide spool to reduce the line twist.  That's just my 2 cents on them and it's worked for me for years. 

[tjm]

I've been thinking of a new spin set up for a year or two and most of the smaller reels seem to have very small spools and for the size seem to stand far up off the rod. More I've looked the more skeptical I've become. Antique auction becomes more attractive.