So, I have absolutely no clue how to work a bait caster, and I don't really feel like throwing around the money for a high end reel. Would something like the Tigerlite ugly stik work for throwing smaller swimbaits in the 1-3 oz range? This will be primarily for striper, and the occasional large mouth. What are your thoughts?

 

http://www.basspro.com/Shakespeare-Ugly-Stik-Tiger-Lite-Spinning-Rods/product/71840/

So, I have absolutely no clue how to work a bait caster, and I don't really feel like throwing around the money for a high end reel. Would something like the Tigerlite ugly stik work for throwing smaller swimbaits in the 1-3 oz range? This will be primarily for striper, and the occasional large mouth. What are your thoughts?

 

http://www.basspro.com/Shakespeare-Ugly-Stik-Tiger-Lite-Spinning-Rods/product/71840/

 

 

the heavy power says it handles 1-5oz so I would say yes.

Guys around here toss heavy swimbaits in outlets for wipers on spinning gear all the time. The bad thing is a heavy spinning setup tends to be quite a bit heavier than a casting combo that handles the same sized baits but if that doesn't bother you then you'll be fine. 

I'm not aware of how much they weigh unfortunately. I also haven't been able to lay my hands on one in person. Have you personally used a spinning setup for swim baits? I'll take any rod recommendations I can get. The tiger just seemed like a decent value.

What price range? I have an 8' Avid Inshore that I use for slinging big bait to stripers. It's much lighter than glass rods. It wasn't cheap, but it's awesome. I can't really speak on the Tiger. I have an 8' Heavy cattfish ugly stik, but I don't even use it because it has no backbone.

I'd prefer it to be under 100.

Most of the swim baits that I throw are around an ounce and I have a spinning rig that I throw them on most of the time.  I use a Fenwick HMG 7' MH spinning rod.  I got it for around $100, several years ago, I don't remember if it was a close out or not, I think not.  I use a US Reels 240 Supercaster spinning reel and 20 lb Fireline.  I have another spool of heavier line that I don't use very often.  Maybe I'll use a fluorocarbon leader and maybe not, most of the time I do.

Abu Garcia Volitile. They have a few that will fit the bill, 100 bucks.

What kind of baits do you plan to throw, hard or soft?  A lot of Ugly Stik's are fiberglass and probably wouldn't work well with single hooked soft baits.  The rod in your link didn't say what it was made of.  If it's graphite, it would probably work fine.

I've got a 7'2 shimano sellus Mh worm and jig rod I throw soft swim bait and big flukes on but they are nowhere close to 3 ounces

See if you can find a Shimano sojourn, about 30 bucks, this rod is a reel sleeper.  I have hvy spinning 25 lb rod that I use for barracuda.  Have a friend with a Van Staal on the same rod as mine, he must think a lot of it to put an $800 reel on a $30 rod.

I'd like to try to use both hard and soft lures with it, as I found a few kicktail shad  lures at a yard sale for a buck a piece. But it will be mostly for soft plastics I suppose. I'll be sure to check out the sojourn snook. What range of lures do you normally throw with it? As in type/weight. As for the ugly stik tiger, I know it has more graphite in it than a normal ugly stik, but I'm sure it's still got some bend to it. It's rated as a saltwater rod.

Mine is model sjs 70 h, 1/2 oz - 3oz 12-25 line, it's a freshwater rod, at least that's where shimano puts it on their website.

http://www.tunafishtackle.com/shimano-sojourn-spinning-rods-127p/

http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/index/products/rods/freshwater/Sojourn_Spinning0.html

The Soujourn looks like a nice rod. I'll have to look into getting one.

Check LL Bean for their light saltwater spinning rods. Long handle, faster action and I think they're about $80. I've used mine for 1-5ish ounce baits as well as frogs on occasion. It will LAUNCH a hudd or Punker.

Take a look at Okuma rods & reels for stripe bass coastal rods rated for 1-3 oz lures.

Tom