ChrisD46

According to the web site I saw - Kistler rods handle length were approx. 10 inches while others I listed were 13 ~ 14 inches ...Also not real fond of Kistler's limited warrantee . I'm sure though Kistler is a fine rod company with many fans ...As they say " your mileage may vary" .

I appreciate the replies ... So far I am interested in the following for Skinny Dippers , Keitech Impact FAT , Gambler EZ (3.5" to 5") on either a weighted EWG hook or up to a 1/2oz. swimbait head : 1. Pennicle Perfecta 7'3" MH or H (not sure which is better for the application) 2. St. Croix Avid 7'0" MH 3. Powell Max 3D 7'3" H 4. Phoenix M1 7'2" MH or H (not sure which is best for my application) . 5 . Dobyns Savvy 734 I wanted to consider the Kistler - but handle length is just too short for me to be comfortable with .

Thanks for the replies for the auction as well as Kistler suggestion ...Basically I am game for any good rod suggestion I can get at TW (or comparable) . I would consider the Savvy if the feel and action are similar to the Champion . Perhaps slightly slower doesn't hurt if using braid. Again , applications are for finesse swimbaits in that 3.5 to 5 inch range (either on a weighted swimbait hook or up to a 1/2oz swimbait head) and swim jigs .

The above rod from Dobyns is wonderful (by most accounts) especially for smaller swim baits , swim jigs , spinner baits , etc. due to the forgiving tip , sensitivity and solid backbone . That said , my budget is currently in the $159 to $189 range and the Dobyns 734c Champion is $260 and a bit out of my reach ... Do you have any experience in a rod similar to the Dobyns 734c qualities ( forgiving tip , good sensitivity and solid backbone) that will better meet my budget ? This rod will primarily be for smaller swim jigs such as Keitech Impact FAT , Missile Shockwave , Gambler EZ and assorted 1/4oz. to 3/8oz. swim jigs . *I'm hopeful some of the name brand bait cast rod companies have something comparable in <$200 however if you feel nothing beats the Dobyns 734c Champion up to it's $260 price point - then let me hear that as well .

It appears the Swing Impact , Swing Impact FAT and the Shiner versions from Keitech all excel over most of the competition - they simply score the highest in all the reviews by fishermen and fishing writers alike ... After considerable research , my paddle tail swimbait choices begin and end with Keitech - nothing matches their color selection and soft swimbait action .

A 3" to 5" paddletail swimbait even with a likght 1/8oz. weighted EWG hook is going to weigh 3/8th oz. ... Add a 3/8th oz. ~ 1/2 oz. swimbait jighead for a open hook setup and you will be in that 1/2+oz. to 1oz. lure range . All swimbait rods have in common the need for a sensitive , lively tip with solid backbone deeper in the rod . The kicker is most all swimbait rods start out at at 1oz. lure rates and go up to 8+ oz. and beyond . The way I see it - the smaller paddle tail swimbait set up need is not really being addressed in : "technique specific" rod development (that I could find) mainly a 7'+ rod length lively , sensitive tip transitioning into a solid backbone which handles from 3/8th oz. to 1 oz. lure weights (MH , Moderate Fast Action) . So far , the only thing I have really found close to this under say $150 is : Abu Garcia Veritas 2.0 Frog Casting Rod 7'6" Med Hvy , Medium Action . Abu Garcia touts this rod (TW) as having a sensitive tip with solid backbone able to handle 12lb to 25lb. line (on-braid ) and lure weights from 3/8th oz. to 1.25oz weights . * Would this rod have the right requirements ? Anything else (under $150) that could meet these smaller paddetail swimbait requirements ?

TorqueConverter & Others : I'm thinking of a paddle tail swimbait rod with the following "wish list" set up : * 7' to 7'6" MH Moderate Fast to Fast action rated up to 3/4oz. ~ 1 oz. ... Rod needs to have some tip to it but adequate backbone as well . * For a reel , I already have a unused BPS PQ 6:4:1 reel and would "most likely" use a #30lb. ~ #40lb. 8 strand braid . Based on the way a bass "usually" stuns a swim bait then takes it head first - a slight delay (after the strike) then just reel down on it should seal the deal with the above set up ... Comments ?

Thanks for the additional replies ! Roadwarrier : I have got to buy & try those Moaner weighted swimbait hooks - The Buckeye jig heads look good as well (many swear by both !)

Spinning 2500 Shimano Reel , 7' Medium / Fast Rod : 15lb. braid to small Spro swivel then 20" of 10lb. InvizX tied to Gama EWG 4/0 and finally Zoom Super Fluke .

Thanks for the replies ! ...Current plan would be to fish open , shallow water out to about 15 ft. with occasional structure (docks) ...In the Spring these same waters will have grass growing up .... Other areas of the same depth (1 ft. to 15 ft.) have bare , hard bottoms with scattered rock piles .

Looking for advice on a dedicated 3.5" to 5" soft paddletail swimbait set up for using : RI Skinny Dippers , Big Bite Cane Thumpers , Keitech Swing Impact FAT , Basstrix , Strike King Shadiicious , etc. Rod length and action ? ...Reel & Gear Ratio ? ...Line & # lb. test ? ...Weighted Swimbait Hook Size or Lead Head & weight ? ...Thanks in advance !!

If neutral suspend is ideal - what is next best ? Slowly rising OR slowly sinking ?

In my back pack : 4" & 5" Senkos ( black with blue flake , green pumpkin and watermelon red flake) , Zoom Finesse worms and Trick worms (same basic colors) , 4" & 5" paddle tail swim baits ( pearl white , watermelon and a sexy shad color) , Zoom Super Fluke and Super Fluke Jr. (white ice and pearl white) Berkely Chigger Craw (black with blue flake and green pumpkin ) . Next - various bullet weights , small Spro swivels (flukes) , worm hooks , EWG hooks , tube of Megastrike scent and lastly needle nose pliers . If I were drop shotting that day instead, I would have various drop shot weights and drop shot worms in smoke , watermelon , green pumpkin and maybe a junebug something with ridges , flappers , etc. on it for moving water in low light or stained water conditions .

There are "Ike flavored" finesse spinning rods in the line up as well ... Sure to have a shakeyhead & drop shot in the Finesse Series .

I just read where pro Keith Combs deep cranks with a 7:1:1 reel !! To heck with it , surely you can crank then with a modern 6:4:1 reel ??

Has anybody tried the new Veritas 2.0 6'9" ML Fast spinning rod as a Dropshot rod set up yet ? If my understanding is correct , the new 2.0 versions are "truer to rod rating" than the original Veritas series which may make the Veritas 2.0 6'9" ML Fast specific rod very good for dropshot at it's price point ... Your thoughts & experiences ?

Steady retrieve on top - water temp above 55 degrees F. Others to try : BPS ("The Egg") , Mann's , Bandit surface cranks and Bomber Long A ... All are quite good ! Throw parallel to the bank from shore or boat - anybody can fish a wake bait , you will enjoy it and when you get bit on top water it's a lot of fun !

I think you quoted the wrong guy - nothing incorrect with saying Mustad hooks ! I like Owner and Gamagatsu hooks for drop shot as well - pick one of the three I mentioned and you can't go wrong !

Thanks A-Jay ... Saw a fishing show yesterday where one guy in a boat was deep cranking while his partner was slow rolling a paddle tail soft plastic swim bait deep ... Both guys were whacking 'em equally good ! ...I'm learning that if you don't have a deep cranking set up - there are other methods that will produce in similar circumstances.

Please allow me to clarify - I don't even own any large , deep diving crank baits , so my question is which one of the other techniques would substitute best for crashing into things on the bottom ? I'm thinking a 1/2oz.+ spinnerbait worked steady the bottom would work , followed by a C-Rig (weight is always on the bottom crashing into things / stirring up debris) then lastly a Football jig worked steady on the bottom causing a commotion . Perhaps a deep diving crankbait is more of a reaction strike - but I would think any of my suggested substitute techniques could be a close 2nd to deep cranking ?

I understand the concept of Deep Cranking (i.e. purposely making contact with bottom structure , deflecting off of objects , kicking up bottom debris, etc. with a deep diving crank bait) . The only problem I have is that I don't own a tecnique specific Deep Cranking outfit (5:4:1 baitcast reel , 7'6" crank bait rod . ) What I DO own are : Football / Wobble Head jig set ups , a C-Rig specific set up (7' jig rods with 7:1:1 baitcast reels) and lastly , a spinner bait set up (6'10" spinner bait rod with 6:4:1 baitcast reel) . * Would any of the afore mentioned set ups I list be a reasonable alternate to Deep Cranking ? Funds are limited at this time for a specific Deep Cranking set up plus a move to South Central Florida is in the works in a year or two and I'm not sure the need for a Deep Cranking specific outfit for places like Lake Toho , Stick Marsh , Blue Cypress Lake , etc. which are not all that deep ... Thanks in advance for the replies !

To word it another way : Other than perhaps deep cranking (a lure with a lot of resistance) , could you not use a 6:4:1 gear ratio bait caster for swim bait / paddle tail baits and slow rolling a big spinner bait ?

Have any used a 5:4:1 baitcast reel for swim baits / paddle tails OR is 6:4:1 better for swim bait / paddle tail applications ?

Thanks , have been looking to add a low gear / LPT reel but not sure exactly of the applications (other than as for deep cranking with bigger baits) to justify it .Most of my applications tend to go the other way - with a 7:1:1 reel getting the Lions share of the work for jigs , wobble heads , C-Rig and the like . 6:4:1 reels have served me well for spinner baits , chatter baits , etc.

My current slowest baitcast reel is a 100 series 26" IPT 6:4:1 baitcaster ... I don't fish deeper than about 15' so , trying to determine if the above low speed gear ratio would still have applications for : Paddle tail swim baits , slow rolled spinner baits and crank baits (again) in 15' or less water ...Your thoughts & experiences ?