As said in the title, I want to buy a casting rod specifically for soft plastics (finesse tubes, flukes, swim baits). I will be pairing this rod with a brand new 2021 Daiwa Zillion SV TW. I will be using this set up for river smallmouth on the Shenandoah and Potomac river. If you have any recommendations or advice to give me, it would be greatly appreciated. I prefer a cork rod, but I am not too picky.

the mmh daiwa rods work well for the 3/16-1/4oz range for me.  i picked up the tatula elite version i have used for $175.

 

 

Shimano Zodias 6' 10" Model ZDC610MHA $199.   Lightest most sensitive casting rod I have ever used.  Makes me smile every time I use it.

For river SM, I'd like to use mod-fast rods, and Dobyns has my vote. The action of their rods is perfect to keep those feisty SM pinned. They're not fancy looking like those JDM rods, but well balanced, sensitive, and durable.

I fish smallies in a local river or two a lot... and I have more expensive rods but the one I use most often there is a Phenix Feather 7'1" MHXF. I use 12 lb fluorocarbon and always have something tied on it - tube, fluke, Caffeine Shad, etc. It is light and extremely sensitive, and feels somewhere between a medium and medium-heavy. Great tip, but enough backbone to be able to get fish out and away from laydowns, rocks, etc. in current.  

Light and balanced, good hardware, and the mod fast taper does a great job of keeping those acrobats pinned. They have this blank in several series at different price points. I throw small swimbaits, grubs, jerks, small cranks, tubes, and topwaters on it. I'm gonna pick up a second one. These Tharp series are a heck of a value IMO. I think they fish well above their price point. I'm up to six with more to come.

Dobyns Sierra series.