To make a long story short, I am looking for maximum casting distance. I typically fish 1/2 oz to 3/4 oz crankbaits, carolina/texas rigs. My current setup is a 6' medium-light, line weight 4-10lbs, lure weight 1/16-1/4 oz rod with a spinning reel and 10lbs flourocarbon line. I can get about 40 yards when I cast a 3/4 oz carolina rig, I am looking to hit 60 yards.

 

Can some of the more knowledgeable guys on here please give me some suggestions for a new rod/reel combo? The lake I fish does not allow boats, I catch plenty of bass, but the real big ones are out in the middle of the lake out of reach. If I could hit maybe 60 yards I think I would be good, but I would like to stick with my 1/2 oz 3/4 oz lures/rigs and bass fish rather than just chuck some really heavy weights out with bait. 

 

Thanks for your input. 

 

 

Spinning or casting?

Just one rod for everything you've mentioned?

Price point target?

I have a hard time imagining that you're already getting 40 yards on 3/4oz c-rig with that rod.....I'd say you're doing ok distance-wise....I'd have snapped that rod by now.

I get why you've set your sights on a certain casting distance....and that isn't unimportant....but, I'll admit that I don't think I ever made distance a primary factor when considering new rods....though getting the right length, tip, etc certainly have a great affect on getting good distance.

I agree with Mr. Choporoz.  3/4 oz. is grossly overweight for that rod.  Look into 9'-10' rods.  Don't know what is available, but the saltwater guys should know a lot more about what you need. Rods like that should easily give you 100 yards. 

Definitely get a different rod if you're tossing 3/4 oz lures...which is only the lead weight BTW - add hook, skirt, trailer for the full weight.

 

There's good rods out there that will handle the heavier lures at a decent price. I've been happy with my H/F Aird-X tossing my WP-110 (1 oz) and other heavier lures.

13 hours ago, Choporoz said:

Spinning or casting?

Just one rod for everything you've mentioned?

Price point target?

I have a hard time imagining that you're already getting 40 yards on 3/4oz c-rig with that rod.....I'd say you're doing ok distance-wise....I'd have snapped that rod by now.

I get why you've set your sights on a certain casting distance....and that isn't unimportant....but, I'll admit that I don't think I ever made distance a primary factor when considering new rods....though getting the right length, tip, etc certainly have a great affect on getting good distance.

 

yeah, the reason im so concerned with distance is the lake I fish does not allow boats, its a private community lake, good bass fishing, but the really big ones are out in the middle of this one cove, thats out of casting distance, I want to get into range and gotta do it from the bank. Anyways I grabbed a 8'6" rod from bass pro shop today, did the trick, not sure on how far Im casting it but definitely farther than my previous setup. Regarding the 40 yards, made some casts in the yard, and then measured it. Not sure how professional my casts are, as I am really lobbing them for max distance. But my new setup kicks ass regarding the distance now. Can you make a suggestion on what pound test line to use? I got my new setup with 15lb mono, but it feels like its a bit much, not sure if dropping down to 10lbs would be advisable or not with this longer rod and the 1/2 oz or 3/4 oz weights.

Switch to 30 pound braid. 8 pound diameter. 

Thinner line should give a bit longer distance.  Be careful tho.  I have a 9' glass rod that I used to fish live nightwalkers back in the day.  I could snap off a small Beetlespin or Roostertail on the cast.  Tied on a 10# leader and no more lures flying across the lake never to be seen again.

Just my opinion here and maybe a few others. A 3/4 oz weight on  ( a true) 10 lb line is asking for break-offs unless your using something like Trilene big game, Yozuri hybrid or another brand that has a much higher breaking strength then the package rating.

FM

4 hours ago, Derek1 said:

Switch to 30 pound braid. 8 pound diameter. 

gonna run through this new roll of mono and give the braid a try, what pound test leader?

1 hour ago, Fishingmickey said:

Just my opinion here and maybe a few others. A 3/4 oz weight on  ( a true) 10 lb line is asking for break-offs unless your using something like Trilene big game, Yozuri hybrid or another brand that has a much higher breaking strength then the package rating.

FM

yeah if you guys cant already tell im new to bass fishing, bassed fish a lot as a kid, but now really getting into all the "tactical" aspects of it as an adult. Anyways the fish I am catching are definitely not 10 lbs, but I figured I should upgrade to the 15lbs test with the new longer pole and heavier weight lures due to the force and whipping of the longer pole. Fished my new setup yesterday, it worked great but the 15lbs test felt a bit like overkill. 

 

biggest bass me and my wife have caught so far

 

 

 

and caught this catfish on my old setup, pics dont do him justice, about 2 ft long, pretty fat, he snapped the line, there was enough to still grab but I could not hold the line and pick him up, too heavy. I dont know how to handle catfish so I just unhooked him and let him go.

 

Never say something like "15#", It is meaningless. If you really want 15#, then try the 10# Izorline, It is actually 15#. If you get a 15# Izorline, It'll be far more than 15# and way too thick for you to cast far. Other lines are similar, such as CXX.

 

If casting distance is your main concern, then you should look for the right line and diameter. I suggest Izorline 10# (0.31 mm) or 12# (0.35 mm), don't go any thicker. They are actually 15# and 20#. I have done lots of tests to come to the conclusion. I bank fishing only, so I need distance too. You can go with other lines or thinner, but you'll lose more lures; you can go thicker, but you won't cast far. 0.36 mm is the thickest I'd go and 0.31 is already adequate for most cases, at least for Izorline.

 

If you can't find Izorline in your neck of the woods, then go to walmart and grab a 12# C21. It is cheap, but good, a couple pounds stronger than 12#, about 16#. I have used It for 2 years now. It casts extremely well. It is a little thicker than the Izorline 10#, 0.34 vs. 0.31.

 

You may also try 10# (0.32 mm) Yo-zuri Hybrid, It cast as well. It is supposed to be anti UV and water absorbtion, so you don't need to respool for a year or two. I need more time to verify these two characters with Yo-zuri and Izorline; other than those, Izorline already beats the Yo-zuri on all aspects, especially on abrasion resistance and/or under-water strength.

 

I end up using the hi-vis Platinum of Izorline, because It is extremely supple and still extremely abrasion resistant and strong. Other colors are not as soft and XXX are actually stiffer with poor abrasion resistance and/or under-water strength.

 

FWIW, I also tested CX Premium, Floroclear and others. They cast as well, but not as strong and abrasion resistant as the Izorline. You may try these lines If abrasion is not so big a deal to you, as they are widely available especially the Floroclear.

 

Once you've found the right line, you might no longer need a long rod. That's what happened to me. I use 7' Shakespeare Micro light and Excursion medium.

4 hours ago, govallis said:

Never say something like "15#", It is meaningless. If you really want 15#, then try the 10# Izorline, It is actually 15#. If you get a 15# Izorline, It'll be far more than 15# and way too thick for you to cast far. Other lines are similar, such as CXX.

 

If casting distance is your main concern, then you should look for the right line and diameter. I suggest Izorline 10# (0.31 mm) or 12# (0.35 mm), don't go any thicker. They are actually 15# and 20#. I have done lots of tests to come to the conclusion. I bank fishing only, so I need distance too. You can go with other lines or thinner, but you'll lose more lures; you can go thicker, but you won't cast far. 0.36 mm is the thickest I'd go and 0.31 is already adequate for most cases, at least for Izorline.

 

If you can't find Izorline in your neck of the woods, then go to walmart and grab a 12# C21. It is cheap, but good, a couple pounds stronger than 12#, about 16#. I have used It for 2 years now. It casts extremely well. It is a little thicker than the Izorline 10#, 0.34 vs. 0.31.

 

You may also try 10# (0.32 mm) Yo-zuri Hybrid, It cast as well. It is supposed to be anti UV and water absorbtion, so you don't need to respool for a year or two. I need more time to verify these two characters with Yo-zuri and Izorline; other than those, Izorline already beats the Yo-zuri on all aspects, especially on abrasion resistance and/or under-water strength.

 

I end up using the hi-vis Platinum of Izorline, because It is extremely supple and still extremely abrasion resistant and strong. Other colors are not as soft and XXX are actually stiffer with poor abrasion resistance and/or under-water strength.

 

FWIW, I also tested CX Premium, Floroclear and others. They cast as well, but not as strong and abrasion resistant as the Izorline. You may try these lines If abrasion is not so big a deal to you, as they are widely available especially the Floroclear.

 

Once you've found the right line, you might no longer need a long rod. That's what happened to me. I use 7' Shakespeare Micro light and Excursion medium.

 

thanks for your advice, my thought process regarding line diamaters was the heavier pound test, the thicker the line. I was not aware that different brands would be thinner/thicker in the same pound test. Gonna have to look into these lines you recommended as well, although due to price factor and how quick I burn through line, ill probably go with the c21 from walmart. 

Sportsmans Warehouse has the lowest price for C21, $3.99. Also consider the 10# (0.31 mm) version that breaks at 12# and higher and it casts better than its 12# brother.

A 6’ rod cripples casting distance. Try a 7 or 7.5’ rod.