What are your favorite rods (brand and model) and reels for poppers and walking topwaters

G. Loomis GLX PR844C/ Core 100Mg/ Sunline Super Natural #12

 

 

 

 

Powell max 704 cranking (discontinued) with 6.8:1 lews lfs.

Megabass Evoluzion Jota paired with a Zillion...a Pop Max machine.

I use lightning rod and falcon pistol grips for my TW fishing,5'6" and 6' med actions. Ive tried long rods they just dont do it for me i can finesse or pop,walk the dog way better then having a handle in my way.And way more accurate close and mid range

For target fishin, I like a pistol grip on a shorter rod and my favorite is an old Browning 5'6". For most open water or sparce cover situations, my 6ft. Quantum Tournament Grade TCG60M gets  the call for most of my Spooks and ChugBugs. I've been using a Lew's LaserPro since last May and 14lb. Original Stren for as long as I can remember.

Lighter Topwater: Lews Tournament MB 7.5:1, Falcon Original FC-4-17 Mansfield (use this mostly for my poppers)

Heavier Topwater: Lews Tournament MB 7.5:1, Falcon Cara CC-7-1611S-T7 (use this mostly for my walking baits as I typically throw 3/4oz-1oz walking baits)

 

After much trail and such I have settled on Lews and Falcon. However, I do like the Cousins rod brand as well. The Cousins IM8 Graphite Series 7' MH F is another great topwater rod that is rated for lures 1/4oz-3/4oz.

Spinning only, no rod preference except to match the rod to the lure weight.  I can use a 1/4 oz up to 1 oz.

St.Croix Avid AVC70MF.

G Loomis SMR 702C TW / Calais 200DC and Antares HG......

G Loomis SMR 702C TW / Calais 200DC and Antares HG......

I use the same rod as Maico 1, (I bought it because of his recommendation) but I now have a Curado 50E mounted on it.

I'm with maxximus and Papa Joe. I use an old 6 foot Lightning rod with pistol grip handle for topwaters like spooks , poppers , minnows.. .Shorter rods work these lures better for me .

Dobyns 705 cb glass. Use it for a whole host of things including topwaters.

Top water strike are visable, no need for a fancy rod, IMHO. My TW rod is a 6'6" M Berkely Lightning Rod Shock, with a Daiwa Exceler 100HL spooled up with 20lb braid. My previous TW set up was a 6'6" St Croix, LTB witha curado 51E.....guess what I catch just as many fish with the cheaper stuff.

Megabass XX Flat Side Special/Daiwa TD-Sol

For poppers my favorite is a 6' 2" M/XF Avid with a Curado 50E and 10lb Big Game. Walking baits I fish on a 6' 8" M/F Ethos/Mettle combo with the same line. 

For poppers I use a old allstar Zell Roland TWS . For spooks,vixens ect. a Loomis TWR 802.

Spooks and the like - Dobyns 734c - daiwa tatula type r 8.0:1 with braid

Poppers - Dobyns 704cb - daiwa tatula with braid

Megabass destroyer phrase 3 super destroyer

Shimano core

12 pound suffix seige mono

Megabass destroyer phrase 3 super destroyer

Shimano core

12 pound suffix seige mono

Huh?

That's what I would prefer. But for now I'll have to be stuck with a phenix x10 and a shimano chronarch and the same line.

Small stuff, and Ambassadeur 2500c, 10# mono, on a 6'6 crankbait rod med.mod. action. For standard size baits, an Ambassadeur 4500c, 12# mono on a pistol grip IM 6 rod.  More and more lately Im find that spinning gear works better for me with a Daiwa Ballistic 3000 and a med. St. Croix LTB.

I use a 6'3" Cabelas XML that I bought for $25 a couple of years ago, with a Revo S, and 10# Trilene XT. I also may use spinning gear.

7' avid ml/mf spinning 1000 size spinning #6 line

for pop r's ( 1/4 ) around here.. In Florida, I use a 6'6" heavy with large cedar prop baits.( BC & #15 line..

I had a TFO 6'6 Medium, until I lost an guide on a "20min until the weigh-in" bass. Had it paired with a Lew's TP 7.1:1.

Going to buy a Dobyn's Champion D634/5 in a few weeks, will eventually pair it with a Lew's Lite.