Anyone have opinions regarding a baitcasting rod and reel  for 1/4 to 3/8 ounce lures (and 1/4 to 3/8 ounce ONLY) that will equal the distance of a spinning setup throwing the same lures? Lures are 1/4 and 3/8 ounce Wally Diver, Deep Baby N, Booyah Pond Magic, 1/4 and 1/3 ounce Little Cleo, #3 Mepps Aglia and 3/8 Thomas spoons. Distance is important because this is shorecasting.  Thnx.   jj 

Any bc reel capable of casting 1/4oz lures should suffice.  With that said and all things being equal, the lure's aerodynamic traits and wind conditions and the overall ability for the angler to execute excellent casting mechanics will far more influence the max distance than the reel.

 

 

Basically, you can expect to cast a 1/4 oz spoon farther than say a 1/4oz spinnerbait or inline spinner.  Equal weight, not equal aerodynamic traits. The spoon should cast much farther.

 

Also, 3/8 oz is nearly 1/2 oz and any bc reel worth its salt should handle 3/8oz and up easily.

 

As a shore bound angler myself, I can identify and relate myself to this constraint. I am willing to reasonably assume that any reel in the curado class (this is the "highest" I have in my arsenal and I'm talking the old greenie and battle ship gray models) or up is more than adequate.  

 

On one of my heaviest powered rods (rated to throw 1/2oz and up) I am able to toss a 1/8oz spinner (so light that this rod won't even bend backward on the cast, lol) with my curados  a very long way. I need to qualify it by letting you know that it is an 8'6" rod, and a longer rod should assist in maximizing casting distance. Go as long as you can get away with for rod length and if the rod's ratings have the 1/4-3/8 lure weight range, you will IMHO give yourself the best chances to maximize your casting distance.

I am using this rod below for 3/16th - 5/16th ounce jigs but it will put a little jerkbait into orbit. You may need to look around online to find one (Amazon, eBay, etc.). For the reel I am using the Lew's Tournament MB Speed Spool. The line you choose will be a critical part of the performance. I get more than adequate distance with 8 pound test monofilament.

 

TEMPLE FORK OUTFITTERS (TFO) GTS DSC 733-1 DROPSHOT CASTING ROD - MEDIUM LIGHT

 

https://templeforkrods.wordpress.com/2013/11/15/gts-drop-shot-series-rods-review/

 

I am sure there are other ML casting rods out there that would do the job and are more readily available. I just have not handled them so I can't comment. I suspect you want 7'3" or even longer if you can find them (for the distance). The TFO Tactical Casting Rod in medium (which seems to be readily available) might also fit the bill.

2 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

    Anyone have opinions regarding a baitcasting rod and reel  for 1/4 to 3/8 ounce lures (and 1/4 to 3/8 ounce ONLY) that will equal the distance of a spinning setup throwing the same lures? Lures are 1/4 and 3/8 ounce Wally Diver, Deep Baby N, Booyah Pond Magic, 1/4 and 1/3 ounce Little Cleo, #3 Mepps Aglia and 3/8 Thomas spoons. Distance is important because this is shorecasting.  Thnx.   jj 

 

I have a Phenix Recon PHX682 light action rod w/ an Alphas Finesse Custom reel I throw hard baits in that range on.  I only recently got a spinning rod around the same length,  but from my very limited testing the casting combo smokes the spinning one in distance.  The JDM company MajorCraft makes a ton of lighter casting rods in the $150-$250 range, but can be found cheaper used.  

   

2 hours ago, Bunnielab said:

 

  I only recently got a spinning rod around the same length,  but from my very limited testing the casting combo smokes the spinning one in distance. 

      

     My nephew on the West coast has a JDM Casitas 100 MGL with a 1/8-1/2 saltwater rod, and he told me the same thing. I just figured he was exaggerating. Maybe not, eh?     jj

I use a Lews Tournament MB on my "All around" setup and can bomb weightless presentations, 1/8oz swimbaits/tubes/grubs with ease. Paired with a MH Bionic Blade, very cheap rod that's actually become one of my favorites to fish because of how it handles anything from ned rigs up to 3/4 oz spinnerbaits. 

I have 3 that'll cast them (baits down to true 3/16 oz) as far as I ever need to. I don't use spinning gear, so I can't compare.

 

7'6" light medium heavy/ fast helium3

7'6" medium/ fast $250 stick from the company that must not be named

7'6" medium/ (fast-ish with a soft tip) bps cranking stick

 

Any 200 size or smaller reel will work. I use 200 and 70 size curados, with 10# or 12# Tatsu.

12 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

   

      

     My nephew on the West coast has a JDM Casitas 100 MGL with a 1/8-1/2 saltwater rod, and he told me the same thing. I just figured he was exaggerating. Maybe not, eh?     jj

 

Again, I have only fished the spinning rod for a handful of hours, but the difference is pronounced.  I am hoping that I can get the hang of it with more use, my trigger finger is way way out of practice compared to my brake thumb.  

Honestly, I throw 1/4oz baits on any M power casting rod I own. I have Revo reels on them and they do just fine. Again, I'm not trying to cast 300 feet, 100 is more than sufficient. 

1 hour ago, Drew03cmc said:

Honestly, I throw 1/4oz baits on any M power casting rod I own. I have Revo reels on them and they do just fine. Again, I'm not trying to cast 300 feet, 100 is more than sufficient. 

Similar setup for me. I throw a lot of 3/16-1/4 jigs and spinnerbaits on a  Medium casting rod with an every day reel. 

   Thanks for the help. I'll look around at reels. I have a line on two used rods, though. One is a 7' Tidemaster, ML/F. The other is a 6'6" M/F Fenwick HMX. The Fenwick is less than half the Tidemaster. Any reason to pay more for the Tidemaster for what I want to do? In other words, is it twice as good?  jj

   Well, trusting to what you guys say, I bought a Curado 200 (99.00) today, and put 10 lb. Trilene XT on it. Put it on a junky 29.95 rod, and  ..... man, does it cast great! I never would have dreamed in a thousand years that a regular-sized reel would handle that light a lure so well, especially after what my nephew told me. (He's mad at me, by the way. :)) Now I'll decide on a better rod, and I'm sure things will improve somewhat. Thanks, everyone!  jj

21 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

   Well, trusting to what you guys say, I bought a Curado 200 (99.00) today, and put 10 lb. Trilene XT on it. Put it on a junky 29.95 rod, and  ..... man, does it cast great! I never would have dreamed in a thousand years that a regular-sized reel would handle that light a lure so well, especially after what my nephew told me. (He's mad at me, by the way. :)) Now I'll decide on a better rod, and I'm sure things will improve somewhat. Thanks, everyone!  jj

Congrats, and welcome to "Club Curado", lol.   ?The only thing I can see that is a problem is that the handle is on the "wrong"side, lol. My curado 201 DHSV can cast a 1/8th inline spinner fairly well. I like trilene xt and xl. If your cover allows it, try XL. 

Congrats on the Curado I 200. 

 

And you got the handle on the right side, lol, wink. Next get the Curado 70, it throws the little stuff even better. 

 

Just to say, for light stuff, the little Caenan does pretty darn good. 

The lures the OP referenced are light weight treble hook lures that can be cast using a any moderate action crankbait rod, medium to medium heavy. The rod I use for these type of lures is a Loomis PR845C popping rod, however a PR844C GL2 series maybe a better choice for the 1/4 oz crankbaits. The PR series popping rods have a moderate upper 1/3rd of the rod that launches light weight wind resistant lures with ease, the lower 2/3rds of the lower rod is where the power rating comes in. I have caught bass up to 9 lbs on 3/4 oz structure spoons using this rod, lots of power when needed!

Tom

43 minutes ago, 3crows said:

Next get the Curado 70, it throws the little stuff even better. 

 

    Yeah, that's what my nephew said. But it's twice the price, and I wasn't sure where this whole mishmash was going. Now I know a little better. I seem to hear Santa calling faintly in the distance. We'll see what happens later ......      jj

I sure would love to add a size 70 reel, but one of my personal needs is to ensure my reels be dual function for bass and salmon, hence the preference to 200/201 sized reels. That curado 70 is one bad looking mamma jamma though. 

You guys are depressing me.  I am just getting to where I can cast a 1/8 oz. spinnerbait with a PXL Type R and you are casting 1/8 oz. inline spinners with ease using a standard size reel. 

2 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

You guys are depressing me.  I am just getting to where I can cast a 1/8 oz. spinnerbait with a PXL Type R and you are casting 1/8 oz. inline spinners with ease using a standard size reel. 

Some 1/8 oz lures you are better off using a ML spinning outfit. Most good 100 size casting baitcasting reels can cast light lures if used on a moderate action rod designed for those lures. The rod is more important to me, only so much can be done with a reel and line.

Tom

 

2 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

You guys are depressing me.  I am just getting to where I can cast a 1/8 oz. spinnerbait with a PXL Type R and you are casting 1/8 oz. inline spinners with ease using a standard size reel. 

 

You need a rod that can load with such a light lure.  The Kuying Teton line of UL casting rods are great for the price (iirc $50 or so) and will cast as low as your thumb can handle.  I am not super skilled with a casting reel by any means, but the right rod makes it a lot easier.   

1 minute ago, Bunnielab said:

 

You need a rod that can load with such a light lure.  The Kuying Teton line of UL casting rods are great for the price (iirc $50 or so) and will cast as low as your thumb can handle.  I am not super skilled with a casting reel by any means, but the right rod makes it a lot easier.   

 

I have 2 rods rated for 1/16 oz.  A 7' ML Crankin' Stick and a 6'9" Light Falcon Expert.  I believe it is a user problem.  Not enough practice. 

An Avid AVC70MM with the right reel (I use a Daiwa Alphas) can toss 1/4 oz. baits pretty far.

3 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

 

I have 2 rods rated for 1/16 oz.  A 7' ML Crankin' Stick and a 6'9" Light Falcon Expert.  I believe it is a user problem.  Not enough practice. 

 

Yea, it took me a few trips to sort it out, but my UL rod is rated from 1-4 grams, so an 1/8oz spinner is close to the top of the rating rather than the bottom, which I think helps a lot.  I also spooled up with 4lb mono, which mattered a lot more than I thought it would.  After I got comfortable I switched back to 6lb and my accuracy and distance both suffered.  

My Chronarch 50e and a 6'6" ML Carbonlite loads up

extremely well and will cast soft plastics like 4.75"

Zoom Finesse worms, 3" Stick-Os, etc.

 

It took me while of casting in my yard to dial in the

distance. I'd cast, walk it of or run a long tape measure.

 

That said, casting distance for me is great from my kayak,

not sure I'd be as happy from shore.

   What you guys are saying about rods is correct. Yesterday I used a 6' 1/8-3/8 junky rod, and today I used a 7' MH/MF rod. Big difference. Even tho the lighter rod was shorter, it was whippier, and threw 1/4 oz. lures further.  3/8, not so much difference.     jj