Big Bait Fishing

another line to really consider is Gamma Co - Poly , the line is the strongest per diameter( yes , stronger than CXX and Yo-Zuri Hybrid ) and very manageable !! i used to use Izorline XXX for my swimbaits but have since changed to Gamma and am sold on their strength , reliability , and low stretch . i also have 4 lb. on my spinning rod and 8 lb on my casting rod .

contrary to what Tom has said , i prefer fast action swimbait rods and have no problem casting big baits , it all comes down to personal preference . i get very long casts with my rod , but it being 9 ft. , it does aid in casting 8 - 12 oz. baits . i prefer a fast action rod with a strong backbone for good hooksets on long casts . i also prefer fast action rods with strong backbone because i feel that while making hundreds of casts through the day , it's much less taxing on you . as a moderate action rod flexes more towards your wrists causing a lot of stress and fatigue on them as i first started throwing swimbaits on a moderate fast rod but soon learned that i did not like it and will now only use a fast action rod .. my opinion , from my experience , the longer the cast , the fast action rod is so much better on hook sets where as short line casts ( short flipping and punching ) i want a more of a moderate action rod to aid in line shock from hook sets with only 15 - 25 ft. of line out . as far as treble hooks compared to swimbait jig hooks (top hook ) , a hook is a hook is a hook . same hook sets , i don't treat them any different ....

Fuji SK2 reel seats are all i use on all my rods including my swimbait and spinning rods , just no way i would use that butt grip . i make long two handed casts and with the size of that butt grip , there is nothing to hold onto . probably be great for a kids rod or some one with very small hands ..

that's why i use Citristrip !! i also don't care for painted blanks ( as i mentioned in several other posts , i stripped the colbalt blue paint off my St. Croix Big Nasty ) i just now (15 minutes ago ) stripped my Phenix 707ML blank down to raw graphite ....

purchased this for my Phenix Ultra 707 ML build thinking i'd change it up a bit since i use only the EB-1 eva fighting butt in the big size for all my rods. but when i received this with my other components i busted out laughing at this pathetic butt grip by Fuji !!! they must have intended this for an ice rod or something !!! Mudhole doesn't give specs on it but i was hoping it would somewhat look like the ones i usually use but this thing is tiny .....

the best copoly line i've used and use now on my casting rod , spinning rod , and swimbait rod is Gamma co-poly (polyflex) i use the moss green . the line is super strong and has a lot less stiffness than CXX and has minimal stretch . i use 8 lb. on my casting rod , 4 lb. on my spinning rod , and 25 lb. on my swimbait rod .....

have no idea some one would say St. Croix blanks look ugly stripped down to raw graphite , mine looks like any other raw blank , beautiful !! just my opinion but i think raw blanks look way better than cheesy paint jobs ...

a Phenix 707MH would be fantastic for your needs . nice tip that loads great for jigs around 3/8 oz. and good backbone for solid hook sets plus the blanks are pretty light ....

you guys are lucky ! the two DSG stores out in my area of San Diego , Ca . both don't sell ANY fishing stuff , the stores are worthless .....

HISRod Shop/Joe Kassuba Rod Repair, Custom Rod Building, Rod Parts, Reel Repair 3208 West 21st Avenue Kennewick , WA , 99337 Phone: 509-948-4747 www.hisrodshop.com Kerry Hansen Custom Rod Building, Rod Repair rodesigner@aol.com 7147 Tracyton Blvd. NW Bremerton , WA , 98311 Phone: 360-692-5291 Larry Faneuf Custom Fly Rods, Fishing Rod Repair lsfaneuf@aol.com Gold Bar , WA , Phone: 360-793-3905 Nirvana Fish Company Custom Rod Building, Rod Repair grantd@olypen.com 51 Sierra Place Sequim , WA , 98382 Phone: 360-683-8478 Ralph OQuinn Rod Repair ralfeeroddoc@gmail.com 11710 Airport Road Everett , WA , 98204

0 - never fished them ...

check out Tackle Industries

try some flocked rubber shrink tube , check it here - http://www.mudhole.com/Flocked-Rubber-Shrink-Tube

keep fishing the 8'' Hudd , drag it really slow along the bottom , should take at least 2 minutes to retrieve after a long cast ....

another option is to have your reel painted by a professional air brush artist ...

i have a Rainshadow ISWB 945 , it does have a moderate action , meaning that casting a ROF 12 or 16 8'' Hudd , it will flex up to the handle on the cast , i used it for awhile but wanted something that will handle big baits so i retired that rod . it wil handle up to 6 oz. baits as stated in the specs . it's a great blank for some one looking for a moderate action blank , it weighs only 4 oz. so my only advice is to have at least a 16-18'' handle to combat the stress on your wrists during casting . as of now , my 945 is used for catfish , i extended the handle to 19'' , works great !! good luck with the build , i'm sure you'll like it ...

as most people know that St. Croix's rods are underated , my rod's lure weight rating is 3-8 oz. but should be more like 5-16 oz. , and that's two handed casting , not lobs . i never have had a use for a fore grip and i totally agree with you that rods look alot better without them .

with the rod i use and Gamma poly flex , hooksets are pretty good to say the least !!

my 9' Big Nasty weighs the same as a Dobyns 795ML

what about hooksets on a long cast with 8-10 oz. baits ?? so is this rod under rated or have you just not thrown bigger baits on it ? i know every one has their own preferences on rod action , for me , i like a stout rod with a fast action and numbing backbone for hooksets on long casts with rubber baits , but said rod has to be light weight for it's power , cause like you said , it sucks to have an overwhelmed rod when fishing big baits !!!

the Hudd rod sounds good ecxept for the moderate action .

two handed casts all the time for me as i fish highly pressured waters where long casts are mandatory .....unless i'm punching and flipping thick mats , then it's one hand on the line , one hand on the rod/reel .

Mike is a great guy , very knowledgable , and always answers all my questions with plenty of patience !!! if i need a reel worked on , i would have no problem sending him my reels as i have complete confindence in him ...

very good article by the way !!! another thing i would like to add for any one interested in getting a custom swimbait rod , don't limit yourself to bass swimbait rod blanks as i have found that muskie rod blanks make the best blank for chucking big baits ...

that's why a custom built rod is pretty mandatory !! almost every " swimbait " rod has way too short of a handle , i've experimented over the years and have found that an 18'' handle is perfect ! but again , most of the baits i throw are 4 oz. + , mostly in the 7-13 range , but do throw the ROF 16 Hudd a lot too