I posted once before on these forums, as I have recently returned to the sport. Got lots of great advice on braided line. So here's another newbie question. Background: in the (distant) past, I fished exclusively with medium-light rods, smaller spinning reels, and light tackle, and was able to get big casts from shore by really loading the rod and whipping it. Since I've started fishing again after a long layoff, I have upgraded my equipment and gone heavier at the advice of the local fishing dude.

 

I have a Pflueger President XT SP40 spinning reel (which is fantastic) paired with a Daiwa 702MHFS 7' spinning rod. Reel is loaded with 2- lb braid, spooled properly. The rod and reel are perfectly balanced, feel great, and I have managed to pull a couple of decent small months out of rocks and heavier cover with them. I am using some heavier lures than I used to, matching the wight to the rod recs (1/4 to 1 oz). I'm throwing mostly old school spinners, which seem to be working well.

 

However, I simply cannot get the distance on casts that I used to, especially if I am using the smaller size lures (1-4 or 1-3 oz). Obviously the NHFS is just not as "whippy" as ML rods, and the rod does not really load. I was expecting the braid to "make up" for rod, but it's not happening. I've tried all different techniques to get more distance: snapping the cast, slowing the cast and using a big arc, longer or shorter line hanging at the start of the cast, etc. Every once and a while the line shoots out like rocket, but mostly not. Otherwise, the only way to get distance is to load up the weight, which is not always ideal. I don't think the line is digging into itself on the spool. I'm starting to think that this is simply the product of the rod. If so will make shore fishing pretty difficult especially as summer wears on and the fish retreat further from the bank.

 

I guess my question is, then, am I missing something? Is there a different technique I should be using with a MH rod to get some more distance on the cases? Given that I am generally targeting smaller fish (my biggest bass this summer was about 2 lbs), should I go even lighter with the line, like maybe 12 lb braid on top of cheap backing line?

 

Any advice from the seasoned vets will be appreciated!

 

 

1/4 oz. is on the light side for a MH power stick.  Your post says 2# braid.  Do you mean 20# braid?  That should be fine.  How does it cast with baits 3/8 oz and up?

10 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

Sounds like you need a M rod for those baits.

Ya, I'd go Medium if you want new gear - or haul out the old ML. I don't go MH until the total weight reaches 1/2.

yeah, I meant to write 20# braid. 

 

The rod is "rated" (according to the label on the side) for 1/4 to 1 oz, and I do like to use lighter lures (like Mepps #3 spinners, which are 1/4) given the fish I target. But from the sounds of it, 1/4 oz really is on the far lower end and probably not practical to use with this rod. It certainly does cast farther with heavier lures, or if I am using a worm (or nightcrawler) with a heavier weight (3/8 or 1/2).

 

It's such a great pairing otherwise, but maybe the solution is to find a medium that pairs with the reel or save up for a second pair next year (wife will love that!).In the meanwhile, I'll try upsizing my lures at least to 3/8. The 1/2 oz lures tend to be pretty chunky for the kind of bank fishing I'm doing.

 

Thanks for the advice!

I run a President 30 on a 7’1” MH spooled with 10# PowerPro and I can fling weightless plastics quite far. Maybe try a different braided line, a thinner diameter or a different coating. 

 

For what it’s worth, the President 40 on my 7’1” rod would not give me the casting distance that I get with the 30, simply because the center of the 40 spool doesn’t line up through the guides as well as the 30 spool. 

Good thought about the spool size on the President 40. I took a look and it seems to line up well with the first guide, but I'll inspect more closely. 

 

I'm using Sufix 832, which (I read) is supposed to be good for casting distance. I have no idea, really, as I just switched to braid this year after a long time away from fishing. I will admit that getting used to braid has been challenging. On the one hand, it is so much more sensitive, and of course stronger by diameter. But it also just feels...thicker...than mono even though the diameter is the same (8 lb mono is about about the same as 20 lb Sufix 832).

 

It's funny; I feel like I am learning to fish all over again. The good news is that this summer of experimentation has not been unproductive: I've managed to land a few good size bass, plus other species. Recent trip to the lake had bass and big blue gills pounding the inline spinners.

 

Now, if I can only figure out soft plastics...

Try letting a little more out of the tip before casting.  Sort of a poor man's longer rod with lighter tip.