John Gillio Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Just wondering what members go to spinning rod would be for hunting our midwest smallies (length, power, action,etc.). Also, do you prefer fishing from a boat, canoe, kayak, shoreline or wading? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skappel1 Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 When fishing from boat, wading or shore, I prefer to use my 7ft Medium, Quantum Superlite PT paired with a Quantum Energy PTi30, spooled with 6-8lb fluorocarbon or 10lb braid with a 8lb fluorocarbon leader. This is a great all around spinning rod for me. I use it for grubs, shaky heads, live bait applications, small crank baits and drop shots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonn Graham Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 6'3" medium power, extra fast action St. Croix Avid. In my humble opinion, it is the best all around spinning rod ever made for smallies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Boat and shoreline. For casting applications I use a medium action 6' baitcaster with Curado reel. Spooled with 12# mono, it casts 1/4 oz and heavier baits easily. Back to the rules of the thread, for smaller baits, I "goto" a 6' med light Garcia spinning rod with a US Reel Supercaster 180. Though I would like to use my longer rods more, the six footers are really so easy to transport in boat or car that I frequently forgo the adavantag of an extra foot on the rod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm M Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 7 ft St Croix Avid Diawa 3000 Coastal Reel one spool 12 lb McCoys Mean Green for day to day other spool 15 lb McCoys Mean Green for fishing amongst flooded trees and such Back when I was obsessed with 20 inch plus smallies I used a 7 ft medium heavy with 17 lb XT or McCoys Mean Green, caught a lot of them with the heavier tackle Heavier line doesn't deter smallmouth and when you have a big fish in the harder flows I fish it's your duty to land them as fast as possible to avoid lactic acid buildup. Heavier tackle is the most ethical way in my opinion. Start with big, aggressive lures and work back not the other way around. edit only wade, don't own any type of watercraft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev-mo Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Currently I mostly use a 7 ft St. Croix Premier med fast. Sometimes it's just a skosh too much rod but overall it's been a great tool. If forced to get a new one I would look for something just a skosh lighter in action and faster in the tip. Not necessarily med light but maybe upgrade to St. Croix's next model or look at a different brand. Even if I owned any watercraft I think I would prefer wading or walking the banks as it seems you are just a little more in tune w/nature. Wading puts you closer and in a more intimate relationship with the body of water you are fishing (jmo). That being said floating silently down a river is pretty sweet and I do miss the old days boat fishing w/my friends. I'm sure in 20 plus years I'll want to be back in boat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted December 21, 2011 Report Share Posted December 21, 2011 Custom spinning rod built on a St. Croix SC III 6'6" one piece blank, medium power, fast action. If the fish tend to run smaller then I often use the exact same rod but built on the medium light power blank. Always Shimano spinning reels but the line is forever changing as I'm continually experimenting with the latest, greatest stuff on the market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanS Posted December 26, 2011 Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 St. Croix Avid 6'3 MLXF. I prefer the ML from St. Croix. Fish from shore, wade, kayak, and sometimes boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gillio Posted December 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Thanks for the input guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapala Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 Tony Bean's Team Diawa Smallmouth Rod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Ferguson Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 I have a custom made 7' medium light spinning rod with a Rogue blank that I have paired up with a Quantum Energy PTi20 reel. I liked the rod so much, I had another built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 St Croix premiere 6'6" medium and Penn Slammer 260 Pretty durable. Phil F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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