I am about to buy my smoke spinning reel, but i am undecided on what rod i should get. I am thinking about getting the Quantum Smoke spinning rod. Any other suggestions?

The rod is not the best for the price. IMO. You shouldl look at the Dobyns Savvy series. They are the same price but perform way better.

I have abu garcia vertias spinning rods and have had good luck with them personally.

What are you intending to fish with it? Techniques? Types of cover?

Ive been extremely pleased with my Smoke rod (casting 7'MF) It gives my Avid some competition sensitivity wise. Dont know about the balance of the spinning but mine even with the light JM Carbonlight reel balances well feels very nice in hand.

I LOVE my "newish" Pinnacle Pefecta. I got the 70mlf and it rocks! Plus they are a site sponsor.

Jeff

What are you intending to fish with it? Techniques? Types of cover?

I plan on fishing it with soft plastics and crankbaits. Probalby around brush piles and trees

I would suggest the DHC5-721SPM. It is a little heavier than the one I have but JFranco loves his!

Jeff

I think you're doing the right thing in getting suggestion if you are undecided but I will give you some tips on what to look for and my opion on what to get. First is consider what you are going to fish for with the rod and what kinds of baits and presentations, this will lead you to the power and action of the rod you'll need, you also have to consider the size of the reel. The Smoke comes in the 25 and 30 size , for bass the either will work but the line capacity on the 25 is more than enough. All the suggestions you got were good ones, the Smoke rod would be a good choice and a matched combo but depending on your budget and whether you're buying online of in a store will make a difference as a store may not carry certain rods. My pick would be to go with a new Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth spinning rod, the 6'9" M-XF is a great rod for shaky head fishing, wacky rigs, soft jerkbaits, tubes and light jigs and even has the sensitivity to use for drop shotting. I recommend these rods as I'm highly impressed, I still have no clue as to why they aren't selling for over $200 because it is a high quality and high performance rod. But any of the rods mentioned above are more than capable so it really comes down to a choice, good luck on you new set up.

I think you're doing the right thing in getting suggestion if you are undecided but I will give you some tips on what to look for and my opion on what to get. First is consider what you are going to fish for with the rod and what kinds of baits and presentations, this will lead you to the power and action of the rod you'll need, you also have to consider the size of the reel. The Smoke comes in the 25 and 30 size , for bass the either will work but the line capacity on the 25 is more than enough. All the suggestions you got were good ones, the Smoke rod would be a good choice and a matched combo but depending on your budget and whether you're buying online of in a store will make a difference as a store may not carry certain rods. My pick would be to go with a new Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth spinning rod, the 6'9" M-XF is a great rod for shaky head fishing, wacky rigs, soft jerkbaits, tubes and light jigs and even has the sensitivity to use for drop shotting. I recommend these rods as I'm highly impressed, I still have no clue as to why they aren't selling for over $200 because it is a high quality and high performance rod. But any of the rods mentioned above are more than capable so it really comes down to a choice, good luck on you new set up.

Thanks for the tip, can you fish with crankbaits on that rod?

Thanks for the tip, can you fish with crankbaits on that rod?

If you are looking to fish cranks with a spinning rod I think you need to look at something else. I do throw a #5 shad rap with mine but that is it and only when it is too windy that I can't use casting gear since it is such a light lure. In fact the Vendetta as well as the Smoke spinning rods are all too stiff to be used as crankinging rods but this is where I can't help since I use casting gear and only use spinning for finesse presentations most of the time. It sounds like you are spinning only and need an all purpose rod which most spinning rods are but when you throw crankbaits into the mix it makes it tough because while you fish cranks with just about any rod, it really isn't great because you end up losing most of the fish you hook simply because the rod has more backbone than flex and that tends to overpower small treble hooks and pull them free from the fish. You need to look for a more moderate action spinning rod, take a look at the new Tourney trail rods from Cabelas, these are now being made with more moderate actions and will work with crankbaits.

If you are looking to fish cranks with a spinning rod I think you need to look at something else. I do throw a #5 shad rap with mine but that is it and only when it is too windy that I can't use casting gear since it is such a light lure. In fact the Vendetta as well as the Smoke spinning rods are all too stiff to be used as crankinging rods but this is where I can't help since I use casting gear and only use spinning for finesse presentations most of the time. It sounds like you are spinning only and need an all purpose rod which most spinning rods are but when you throw crankbaits into the mix it makes it tough because while you fish cranks with just about any rod, it really isn't great because you end up losing most of the fish you hook simply because the rod has more backbone than flex and that tends to overpower small treble hooks and pull them free from the fish. You need to look for a more moderate action spinning rod, take a look at the new Tourney trail rods from Cabelas, these are now being made with more moderate actions and will work with crankbaits.

I use baitcasters. i'm just looking for a spinner for the lighter crankbaits and soft plastics

I use baitcasters. i'm just looking for a spinner for the lighter crankbaits and soft plastics

At dick's sporting goods they have split-grip field and stream spinning rods made for light cranks and worms:)