cliffhall59

Thank you! I will definitely check out those rods and will try out going with a monofilament leader. I love the idea about using a jig with fine wire hooks. Never would have thought about that but thats exactly why I come on these boards.

I honestly can’t remember but the email was cliff@givinghopenola.org. I don’t work for that non profit anymore so I lost the email

Hello, fellas. Ive come here before (cant access my old account) with technique and tackle questions for inshore applications. The bass world takes things far more serious and you guys have much more experience with questions like this compared to the leaders of the inshore world. Having said that, I am looking for a rod to address a very specific way of fishing for speckled trout in Louisiana. I fish bridges in lake pontchartrain in 12-14ft of water with significan tidal movement. 75% of the time I am using 3/8oz jig heads with paddle tail lures and the other 25% I will use up to 1/2oz jig heads if the tide or wind are making things difficult. Accurate casts are very important as the fish sit within 12" of the pillings and overhand casts are impossible because the bridge only sits about 10-12 ft above the water. You also need a rod that is very sensitive because the bites are very subtle and speckled trout will spit the lures very quickly. Another variable to consider is that speckled trout have soft mouths and come unbottoned very easily. That last factor is what is currently presenting me some problems. I have been using a Lews Custom lite SLP with 20lb braid to 20lb fluro leader on a 6' St. Croix Premier rod that is very accurate and sensitive. I have no problem getting off accurate casts and feeling bites. The problem is the stiffness of the rod lends itself to not being the best during the actual fight. Its also possible I am not getting the best hook sets with a shorter rod considering there is usually a good bit of slack in line when they bite. So, I am looking for help in upgrading this set up while prioritizing things in this order: Handles 3/8-1/2oz jigheads Accurate casting (Ideally 6'3"-6'6") Sensitive (bites are very subtle, especially when the current is rolling and wind is ripping) slow enough action (soft mouth speckled trout easily throw 1/2 jigs)

Hey there, Fellas! I lost access to my previous account after losing my email so I started this one. I mainly go after inshore species (speckled trout) but I find that I can learn a lot from the bass world and all of the member's on here. Thanks for allowing me to tag along!

Thanks for all of these suggestions! I was actually eyeing up the IMX 723 but I have heard mixed reviews on the IMX sensitivity? I figured it would be a great rod I am going to reach out to some of these builders as well. I appreciate everyone’s suggestions!

Accurate casts are extremely important and you have to do mostly roll casts off the bow of the boat to keep from hitting the bridge. Ive fished them with a 6'8" Avid and i didnt feel I had as much control as with my custom 6'3" or when I used my buddies 6'0" Triumph. Casts are generally no longer than 30ft and most are within 20ft away so distance is not necessary. It will be for two bridges in Lake Pontchartrain, LA. The first one has no snags so pulling fish out of the pilings is no problem. You can see how short the bridge is in the second picture. Accuracy is paramount because the fish usually stack up right up next to the pilings.

Hey there, fellow fishermen. I just snapped my 6'3" custom rod built on a SCV blank. Man, is that a horrible feeling. Anyways, I now need to find something to replace it. I will be using it to fish paddle tail lures on jig heads. I will mostly be using 3/8oz jig heads but that sometimes varies between 5/16-1/2oz. Sensitivity is my main priority as I will be be fishing for speckled trout that produce very light bites. I would also like something with enough backbone to cast up to 1/2oz jig heads but still have some give to fight those aggressive fish when the water warms up. I am willing to spend up to around $400 for a new, custom, or used rod. -Sensitive -6'-6'3" -Can handle 5/16-1/2oz jig heads (Mostly 3/8) Thank you for the insight!

I misspoke but I believe, it I interpreted his post correctly, pressured fishing clarified. I think it’s ideal to hold the rod in your dominant hand. I am right handed but I use a left handed retrieve. I don’t have to switch hands after a cast and I have much better coordination in my right hand to work lures. I should have said make sure he gets a reel that is the opposite of his dominant hand. Probably not that big of a deal but I’m definitely glad that’s how I learned to fish.

I could loan you some gators from SELA. We have seen a steep drop in our nutria numbers down here as the alligator population is getting out of control. I hardly see nutria in some of the places I duck hunt/fish anymore.

Some of these replies made me chuckle lol. I will say that I would start him off on a left handed reel regardless of his dominant hand. I am right handed but I must have picked up a left handed reel for my first fishing experiences and I am glad I did.

Great fish! That one is worth fishing 60 years for.

Hey guys, thank you for all of the replies. I should have mentioned this in the OP but I am looking for a spinning rod. I actually just bought a tatula elite in 7'3 M/Extra fast. That was going to be my topwater/bigger jerkbait rod. The rod I am currently looking for would throw some of the smaller jerk/twitchbaits like the 17mr. I am going to check out some of these options yall listed.

Hey there, guys. I am an inshore fisherman from South Louisiana who likes to get insight from the bass world to use in saltwater applications. I am trying to find the "perfect" jerkbait rod for targeting speckled trout down here. My priorities would be: 1. Long Casts 2. Moderate Fast-Fast action 3. lighter I am looking for something that can make long casts on shallow flats but has a little give when fighting those bigger fish. Lighter/stiffer would help because my shoulder gets a little tired after ripping a jerkbait all day. I guess I am trying to find the sweet spot between soft enough to handle treble hooks but stiff enough to be able work the bait efficiently. Maybe that is impossible but what else does a gear junkie have to think about lol The jerkbaits I mostly use are Shadow raps, Shadow wrap Shad, mirrodine 17mr, 27mr, Jackal rerrange 110, etc. Thanks for the help!

Thanks a bunch for all of the replies. I feel like I’m basically wanting a larger profile fluke. I may try the 5” egret wedge tail. I’ve heard that has a slow sink rate. I caught plenty of trout on ripstops, 17/27mrs , kvd2000, and Corkys. I would throw large jerk/twitch baits 90% of the time for big trout but the grass in Louisiana makes fishing trebel hooked lures almost impossible.. Do you guys know of any companies making really big flukes? I’m thinking like a 6” bait with a 1.5”-2” profile? Again, I really appreciate all of the responses.

Fluke is not a bad idea. Maybe a fluke shape with a larger profile. I was thinking of something that’s like 1”-1.5” diameter.

Hey there, fellow anglers. Inshore fisherman here who is always appreciative of the creativity of bass fisherman. I’m trying to think of a lure I can use to target big speckled trout in shallow grass flats here in Louisiana. I have had success with jerkbaits but I need a weedless rig considering how much grass we have in our ponds. I was wondering if there were any weedless swim baits that could suspend/be worked erratically? Maybe something that could somewhat mimick the action of a rip stop. Maybe a floating swim bait that I could counterbalance with a weighted swim bait hook? I would like for it to have a larger profile as well and maybe be 4.5”+. Am I dreaming here or might this exist?

My only problem with waiting is I have to send in whatever unit I get to my boat builder by the second weekend of may. If I wait too long then neither may be available and they would not be able to rig it up for me. Are the transducer's the same on the g3n and g4n? If so, maybe I could just use the g3n for a couple years and upgrade the monitor if necessary?

That is kind of what I was thinking. It looks like, as of now, I will just get the first of what becomes available. Thanks for the insight!

Hey there, fellow fisherman. I wanted to see what you guys thought about the Humminbird g3n vs g4n units? From what I have gathered, the only difference is that the g4n has wifi capabilities and a direct NMEA 2000 connection. Are there any other reasons to wait for a g4n to come in stock? I am wanting to get a Helix 9 Mega Si. Should I just buy the first one that becomes available whether that is a g3n or g4n? Thanks a bunch for the help!