Hi, I've read some of the posts on here about topwater rods and I still don't feel comfortable purchasing a rod.

I'm hoping you guys can help me out with my predicament.

Currently, I have a Daiwa Triforce Medium 7ft spinning rod, and I love the rod for fishing the larger Rio Rico poppers that I love to throw.

Yes, it is a very cheap rod, but it hasn't let me down yet in over 50 topwater fish this year and the soft tip has my hookup percentage over 95%.

The only issue i have with it, is that it just doesn't have enough backbone. 

The 3lber I caught this year on it pushed it to the limit and I don't want to be caught overmatched with a 3lb+ hawg on the line.

 

So I'm looking for a Casting rod this time, with a soft tip, that's around 7 feet long..  I'm 6'2", so I prefer longer topwater rods.  6'6" and 6'8" length rods feels like I'm fishing a pencil and it feels terrible.

It's amazing what a few more inches on rod length can do (yikes, just re-read that line....).

I fish the larger Rio Ricos for the most part (yes, it's funny my lures cost about as much as my current rod), and sometimes frogs and spooks.

 

I had a hard time finding a rod that would be good for this application due to having a longer than usual length and a good backbone.

Has anyone else had a hard time finding a rod like this?

Please let me know if you have any suggestions for me.

 

My price point is around $100 and I'm willing to wait for sales, so $150 rods are not out of the question.

 

Thanks and Merry Christmas!

-Mike

 

Do you want a heavier power or a faster action (or both)?

If having a beefier rod means heavier power, then yes.

If faster action is good for topwater hook sets and prevents me from ripping the lure from the fishes mouth, then yes.

I don't care about sensitivity, as I can see all the bites. 

I mainly care about hook sets, and then being able to play bigger fish.

thanks.

Theres going to be a lot of guys that disagree with me and swear by their fast or extra fast actions, but for my topwaters I use a a MH cranking rod. It has the backbone that I want but with a softer tip. Its that softer tip and slower action that keeps you frop ripping trebles out of a fishes mouth, and keeping them pinned.

Check out Fenwick Elite Tech bass spinning rods, the medium 6'9" Moderate action looks good for your application.

There are very few spinning rods with moderate action and good power. G.Loomis PR844S-GL3 is perfect however outside your price point, may find it on E bay within your budget.

Another choice is have a custom rod builder use a baitcasting rod blank made up as a spinning rod, could be done within your budget, contact site sponsor DVT.

Tom

Thanks for the reply Tom. I have some contemplating to do. 

So this doesn't exactly help you because it's $200 over budget, but I use an XX Flat Side Special for large poppers like you describe. It's pretty much what you want.

 

My on-budget ideas are a Dobyns Fury 703c or a new generation St. Croix Mojo 7' MHMF or 7'1" MF. If you can get your hands on any rods in store, that would be ideal. Some of your desires are subjective from person to person.

The G.Loomis Classic Popping Rod series would be absolutely perfect for you. Go onto Ebay and grab one for around your budget. The prices on Ebay are always ridiculously low for these rods compared to MBR and other series. For some reason people in Florida don't know how to use the internet or the prices you usually get them for would be a lot higher

Thanks Cgringer, I checked out the dobyns fury 703c and it looks like one of my top choices.  Let me ask you, are the Dobyns tips softer than average?  Is that why the MH rod would be good for my larger topwaters? Normally MH rods are not soft enough for topwaters. 

 

I can't get over the purple color on the Mojo, so I'm going to pass on that one.

 

Thanks for the reply hawk, but the lowest I found on ebay was $185.00, which is too much for my budget.