About two years ago I put together my first nicer rod and reel combo. I got a package deal through *** on a SLX XT in 8.1-1 and a 7'2 H/F SLX rod with 60lb braid mainly for frogging and ive thrown an A Rig on it as well. I love the setup and want to use it more but where I fish doesn't always call for frogs and I dont throw the A Rig too often. 

 

Ive thought about using it for jigs but I rarely throw jigs and when I have they were smaller finesse jigs and I used a 7' MH/F for them. 

 

I'm bank bound and fish ponds mostly, is there something to I could be doing to better utilize this setup because I really enjoy using it. 

I was going to say jigs, but since you don't throw them often, I will say 1/2 oz weight with a 10" or 12" worm.

9 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

I was going to say jigs, but since you don't throw them often, I will say 1/2 oz weight with a 10" or 12" worm.

Ive thought about throwing big worms but pond fishing I didn't think I would need that heavy of a weight, is there reason to go up to 1/2 oz even if the relative shallow water of a pond? I feel like the SLX rod is sensitive enough for me since I'm still a novice. 

4 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

Ive thought about throwing big worms but pond fishing I didn't think I would need that heavy of a weight, is there reason to go up to 1/2 oz even if the relative shallow water of a pond? I feel like the SLX rod is sensitive enough for me since I'm still a novice. 

Those big worms have some weight to them. You could throw a 1/4 oz weight on it and get away with it. 

 

8 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

Ive thought about throwing big worms but pond fishing I didn't think I would need that heavy of a weight, is there reason to go up to 1/2 oz even if the relative shallow water of a pond? I feel like the SLX rod is sensitive enough for me since I'm still a novice. 

Even in a pond, I'm going to throw them in the junk and I want them to go to the bottom so I can hop them and have them land hard.

Jigs, a big soft swimbait, punch rigs, heavier texas rigs.. a H/F is pretty versatile as well. I think it's a really good excuse to start getting comfortable with jigs since the rod does not get much use. 

Think of the rod and reel as 2 separate items. You can use the reel for nearly any bait casting use. The rod being a Heavy Fast action 7’2” has limited use where you fish. 

I would get another rod for presentations you use often and put the reel on the HF rod for frogging occasionally. 

Tom

20 hours ago, WRB said:

Think of the rod and reel as 2 separate items. You can use the reel for nearly any bait casting use. The rod being a Heavy Fast action 7’2” has limited use where you fish. 

I would get another rod for presentations you use often and put the reel on the HF rod for frogging occasionally. 

Tom

I do have other rods and reels for other purposes and dont have a spare rod to put the reel on. So I was just going to keep it together and try to branch out of my comfort zone and throw some lures what would utilize the rod better. 

Hog Farmers 1/2 & 3/4 Scrounger with Lunker City 6” Slug-O in Baby Bass is fairly weedless on the retrieve and can be fished at several depths from near surface or bottom.

Tom