walleyecrazy

I have one of the Leviathan Omega Heavy swimbait rods, and it is perfect for what you are looking for. They have top notch build quality, and are incredibly well balanced. Their ratings are also spot on as far as the weights that they say they are good for. https://www.leviathanrods.com/shop/swimbait/omega-swimbait-casting-rod-8-heavy-mod-fast-action-12-30/

I made my first tackle purchase in quite a while recently. I picked up the newest lure from Golden Belt Customs. This is their new 5.5” swimbait that is designed for throwing on normal bass gear. I got it out the other day for the firs time, and so far I love it. I got this one on it less than 10 minutes into having it on the water.

I think the SLX rods are great for moving baits, but honestly would not use them for baits where sensitivity is needed. I used one last season for a variety of lures and liked it overall, but found that they lacked in the sensitivty department. I ended up settling on using the one I had for jerkbaits, that is until I blew it up while on my kayak while trying to help my daughter to shore in her kayak. Of the other rods you list I also have Dobyns Colt 702 that I used as my drop shot rod for a season. While it isn't the most sensitive rod in the world, I did like it better than the SLX. For what you are looking to do I personally would likely go with the Fury 702 out of the rods you have listed. If you don't mind spending just a touch more though I think the Daiwa Tatula 7'6" ML/M model #TTU761MLMFS would be a better option.

Honestly I would just throw it on that rod, but just lob it out there instead of trying to cast it a mile. You should be fine if you are careful with how you cast it.

I tried reels from pretty much every brand I could find, and after doing a ton of trials I found that I definitely prefer the Daiwa reels over any other brand.

I use the Daiwa Tatula Elite 7'2" MH with their "regular" action which is really a mod fast. It has been awesome so far as my top water rod. The tip is still plenty fast enough to walk baits without an issue, and I have had no issues keeping fish pinned on treble hooked baits.

I have a lake that I fish on a regular basis where I can't buy a crank bait bite to save my life. I have really good luck with all kinds of other lures, but can't get anything on a crank bait. I just leave them at home now when I fish that lake.

I've mostly been dusk/night fishing lately. With that in mind my go to's have been the Spro Rat, Black spinnerbait with single Colorado blade, Strike King Thunder Cricket, and a Zara spook. If I hit the water a little earlier I have also been throwing my Golden Belt Customs Harvester a lot, and have had good success with that.

I find that I seem to fish the Stupid tubes more than any of the other ones that I have.

I've had great luck with them fishing around dusk on fairly calm days. My most productive color has been bone. The only thing I would suggest is swapping out the hooks on them if you get one.

I have been using a Dobyn's Sierra 734c exclusively for my chatter baits and spinner baits this year. To me it is about the perfect rod for those baits. It just seems to have the perfect tip, and my hook up ratio has been awesome. I have been killing it fishing at night with both a chatter bait and a black single blade colorado spinner bait.

7' Medium power, Regular action which really amounts to a mod fast.

Between the two I would go with the Tatula. I absolutely love the handles on the Tatula spinning rods. Also if you are looking for a true fast action you may not like the Sierra, as they are a little slower action than they are actually labeled. I would say that their fast action is closer to a mod fast. They are both very nice rods, I just prefer the Tatula as far as the spinning versions go.

I currently use a Dobyn's SA735C with some of my smallish glide baits like the S-waver 168 and my Golden Belt customs Harvester. While it isn't the ideal rod for it casting wise, it does just fine as long as I concentrate on my casting technique. I would definitely not go any bigger with the lures on that rod though. Those two are pretty much at, and probably past it's limits realistically. I could see this rod doing well with big jerkbaits too, though I haven't used it for that. Anything heavier than those baits and I always reach for my Leviathan Omega swimbait rod.

I have both a Revo SX spinning reel, and a number of the Tatula LT's. The only area where I feel the Abu is close or equal to the Daiwa's is in the smoothness of the drag. Other than that I much prefer the Tatula. It is just a much smoother, and more refined reel. The Revo SX is a good reel, it just isn't on the level of the Daiwas in my opinion. If it were me personally in your situation I would probably go with the Ballistic.

I'll give that an 8, and post up probably my favorite cover of all time.

I do pretty good on them at my local lake when fishing for largemouth. I usually use the Stupid Tubes, naturally rigged stupid style and have my best luck using short 3-4” pops of my rod tip. This really does a good job of imitating a crayfish along the bottom and usually triggers a lot of strikes.

My last two purchase have been by far my most expensive lure purchases ever. The swimbait game is not friendly on the wallet ? I grabbed one of the Bull Gill glides during Buccas recent bait drops. I also recently got a Golden Belt Customs Harvester that I had custom painted

I am an extremely strong swimmer, and a former swift water rescue tech. I have swam and trained in some crazy stuff, and I would never consider going in after a lure. The possibility of being hooked and pinned to the bottom or a tree, though small, is enough for me to know that it isn't worth the chance. I carry a lure retriever with chains hanging off it with me every time I fish. If that can't get the lure back then so be it. I would rather leave the lake depressed that I lost an expensive lure than to not leave the lake at all.

The spot that I like to bank fish the most has been packed pretty much everyday. I haven't found it has effected the fishing too much, and for the most part everyone has been pretty respectful of everyone else's space so it hasn't been too bad. I have however found that pretty much any day it rains or if I go after dark I have the spot to myself which is always nice.

Nice setup for sure! The difference between the Shimano and Daiwa spinning reels and the rest of the companies is pretty amazing. I hate using any of my older ones from other companies since making the switch.

I have been using the 6th Sense divine swimbaits 3.2 this spring matched up with a coolbaits underspin. That combo has done very well for me with the smallies so far.

I've only done it once, and it was on a top water so not really that remarkable. I snapped off a spook due to a backlash midcast while night fishing so I couldn't see where it ended up. I grabbed a rod that had a baby bullshad on it and casted in the general direction of my previous cast and was lucky enough to snag some of the line and then the spook along with it.

Im trying very hard for mine not to do the same ? I have absolutely no need for another one, but the thought keeps creeping into my head.

I’ve caught a ton of walleye over the years on the 4” wildeye swim shads slow rolled along the bottom of one of my local rivers. I haven’t really fished them much when I was targeting bass though.