Hey all, I want to start tossing some swimbaits, sub-2oz. I have acquired some smaller than 1.5oz, but was curious what rod, reel and line you'd recommend. Is a flipping stick sufficient for these without incurring the expense of a whole new rig? I was thinking 7'4-7'11 H rated for up to 3oz...like the 7'6 H Lightning Shock, 1/2-3

The Shock would be a great choice since it is designed for braid so it has a little more flex than a flippin' stick. Plus it is very budget friendly and a very underrated rod IMO.

 

That's what I was thinking. Think I'll try to find it locally.

I went with the Daiwa DXSB swimbait rod. 8ft and rated for 1-4oz lures. It really chucks em. Action is great on baits at 1-2 oz. 

If you want a all around rod the Irod IRG754F works good up to 2oz, or look at Dobyns Fury FR795SB as long as you aren't going over 3 oz.

Tom

I have the Fury 795, I'd recommend it for sure for what you are doing. Although I disagree with @WRB on 3oz being it's upper limit, I fish a lot of baits in the 2-4oz range on it and don't feel like I'm maxing out the rod. I think it's 1-5 oz rating is pretty accurate, at least for treble hook baits. I'm not fishing 8" hudds on it by any means. 

If you go much over 3 oz, use FR806SB for ease of casting and hook setting.

Tom

I have the irod that Tom mentioned. Nice rod for a good price.

Depends what baits you're wanting to fish. Treble hooked baits you'd do fine with that Shock but if you're going to fish a weedless 68 you'll be lucky to ever hook a fish. 

Well @Bluebasser86, what would you recommend? I've also been considering a muskie rod for 2-10oz, 7'6" long.

30 minutes ago, Drew03cmc said:

Well @Bluebasser86, what would you recommend? I've also been considering a muskie rod for 2-10oz, 7'6" long.

I'm telling ya man, give a serious look at the Daiwa DXSB if it's any way possible in your budget. I misspoke earlier when I said it was 1-4oz, mine is actually 1-6oz. 

2 hours ago, Drew03cmc said:

Well @Bluebasser86, what would you recommend? I've also been considering a muskie rod for 2-10oz, 7'6" long.

Okuma Guide Select "a" Series Swimbait Rod 7'11" XH.  I have this rod, and it will do what you want it to do better than most other $125 options.

3 hours ago, Drew03cmc said:

Well @Bluebasser86, what would you recommend? I've also been considering a muskie rod for 2-10oz, 7'6" long.

What type of baits are you fishing? Like I said, treble hook hardbaits and line thrus you can get away with a little undersized gear, but not with jig hooks or seedless baits. The Guide Select from Okuma is great for the money.

I'm looking to throw 6 to 9" soft baits, Citizens, Rising Sons, etc along with some SWaver 168, 7" Shine Glide, etc.

41 minutes ago, Drew03cmc said:

I'm looking to throw 6 to 9" soft baits, Citizens, Rising Sons, etc along with some SWaver 168, 7" Shine Glide, etc.

IMO you need two different rods for what you described. An 8" WRS and a Hudd are in a completely different ballpark than a 168 S-waver. I use the 795 Fury for those smaller treble baits and a "brand that must not be named" 8'0" Heavy Fast 4-8oz for stuff like WRS, Hudds, bigger Real Prey's etc. because it is stiff and can ram home those jig hooks or big Owner Beast Hooks. The Fury is a bit more forgiving and I use it mostly for treble hook baits like slammers and s-wavers. 

1 hour ago, MassYak85 said:

IMO you need two different rods for what you described. An 8" WRS and a Hudd are in a completely different ballpark than a 168 S-waver. I use the 795 Fury for those smaller treble baits and a "brand that must not be named" 8'0" Heavy Fast 4-8oz for stuff like WRS, Hudds, bigger Real Prey's etc. because it is stiff and can ram home those jig hooks or big Owner Beast Hooks. The Fury is a bit more forgiving and I use it mostly for treble hook baits like slammers and s-wavers. 

Thank you! You have given me more to think about. I appreciate it.

The Okuma Giude Select A series swimbait rods are more moderate action and under powered for their rating IMO.

I owned a XH and sold it, replaced with a Irod 8' XH Swimbait Rod for 8" Hudds and find it's a decent swim bait rod for the price point using 4oz-7oz lures.

Treble hook swimbaits don't require the same hook setting power as heavy wire single hook soft swimbaits so you can get away with less power and a more moderate action rod. What most beginning swimbait anglers do is buy under powered rods that are too short to effectively luanch heavy lures long distances.

Tom

Just now, WRB said:

The Okuma Giude Select A series swimbait rods are more moderate action and under powered for their rating IMO.

I owned a XH and sold it, replaced with a Irod 8' XH Swimbait Rod for 8" Hudds and find it's a decent swim bait rod for the price point using 4oz-7oz lures.

Treble hook swimbaits don't require the same hook setting power as heavy wire single hook soft swimbaits so you can get away with less power and a more moderate action rod. What most beginning swimbait anglers do is buy under powered rods that are too short to effectively luanch heavy lures long distances.

Tom

I can see how they would do that. Honestly, some of the choices are daunting.