So I’m in the market for a new baitcaster for this coming summer. Right now I have an okuma fuel 7’ medium baitcaster combo. It’s not a bad combo but it doesn’t really fit my needs. My biggest complaint on it is that it’s a little to light and I find it difficult to set the hook and maintain tension while reeling. I would like recommendations on a combo I should get and what kind of line. I’m in the North Dakota/minnesota region and I fish mostly for smallmouth but I’m trying to get more into largemouth. I like to throw lighter baits so something like a ned rig, a texas rig, wacky rig… etc, but occasionally I’ll throw a crank bait or chatter bait or something slightly heavier, but nothing super heavy. As for the size of fish I catch, in my area we have a lot of 16”-20” smallies so somewhere in the 2.5 to 3 ish pound range. I fish shallow water usual with lots of weed cover. I would appreciate some advice on what combos you guys would use given that info. Thanks!

A true medium is pretty light unless it’s a fast or very fast action and has some power up the rod. 
 

that said, you’re talking about throwing a Ned rig. Unless you mean a trd with a 1/5 oz head, you need something with a lighter tip. Most medium heavy won’t throw a 1/15 head plus a trd.

 

my suggestion would be to go for a medium heavy to cover the heavier end of what you’re talking Barbour and keep the medium for the lighter stuff you use now. 

Okuma Fuel casting combo is $99 entry level outfit.

Do you like the reel and want yo upgrade the rod? What is your budget?

Tom

13 hours ago, WRB said:

Okuma Fuel casting combo is $99 entry level outfit.

Do you like the reel and want yo upgrade the rod? What is your budget?

Tom

I’d like to stay under $200 if possible. And essentially yes it’s more so the rod I don’t like but I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to upgrading reels either.

14 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

A true medium is pretty light unless it’s a fast or very fast action and has some power up the rod. 
 

that said, you’re talking about throwing a Ned rig. Unless you mean a trd with a 1/5 oz head, you need something with a lighter tip. Most medium heavy won’t throw a 1/15 head plus a trd.

 

my suggestion would be to go for a medium heavy to cover the heavier end of what you’re talking Barbour and keep the medium for the lighter stuff you use now. 

Ok that makes sense. So my options are basically have one light lure rod and one heavier lure rod?

1 hour ago, Laamold said:

Ok that makes sense. So my options are basically have one light lure rod and one heavier lure rod?

 

Maybe not the only option, but certaily the best one.  Based on the things you're saying, I'd suggest the optimal 1-2 punch is a ML spinning rod and a MH casting rod.  A MH casting rod will go down to 1/4 oz or so depending on the rod and reel and will go up to 5/8 pretty comfortably (again, depending on the rod).  A ML spinning rod will throw 1/8 oz pretty well and go up to 3/8 or thereabouts comfortably, maybe more or less depending on the rod.  Both would handle the wackies and texas rigs depending size and weight.  The MH would take the bigger stuff, the spinning rod the neds and smaller stuff.

 

Since you already have a medium, the question is, can it handle the bigger stuff you're throwing on it or can it handle the lighter stuff you're throwing on it?  You said above that its a bit too light to set the hook and that's what I'd expect from a medium trying to throw heavier hooks.  It would be fine for trebles and lighter single wires.  So if you're able to throw the lighter end of your lure spectrum on it, then great- you just need to add a little heavier one.  I'd be surprised if a M baitcaster would go as light as I'd want for neds but YMMV.

 

I'd start by adding a MH baitcaster- something ~7', do it all, 1/4-3/4 type MH/MF and just get to fishing.  

4 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

Maybe not the only option, but certaily the best one.  Based on the things you're saying, I'd suggest the optimal 1-2 punch is a ML spinning rod and a MH casting rod.  A MH casting rod will go down to 1/4 oz or so depending on the rod and reel and will go up to 5/8 pretty comfortably (again, depending on the rod).  A ML spinning rod will throw 1/8 oz pretty well and go up to 3/8 or thereabouts comfortably, maybe more or less depending on the rod.  Both would handle the wackies and texas rigs depending size and weight.  The MH would take the bigger stuff, the spinning rod the neds and smaller stuff.

 

Since you already have a medium, the question is, can it handle the bigger stuff you're throwing on it or can it handle the lighter stuff you're throwing on it?  You said above that its a bit too light to set the hook and that's what I'd expect from a medium trying to throw heavier hooks.  It would be fine for trebles and lighter single wires.  So if you're able to throw the lighter end of your lure spectrum on it, then great- you just need to add a little heavier one.  I'd be surprised if a M baitcaster would go as light as I'd want for neds but YMMV.

 

I'd start by adding a MH baitcaster- something ~7', do it all, 1/4-3/4 type MH/MF and just get to fishing.  

That’s very helpful thank you. I actually do have a nice ML spinning rod that throws the ned rigs well, so I think I’ll just stick with that and test out the range of lures that work on my casting rod and buy a MH if need be. What do you think when it comes to line types? Right now I have fluorocarbon on the spinning rod and braid on the baitcaster. Should I change that? Thanks again

I fish braid to leader on spinning rods and mono on most baitcasters, braid on some. If you’re fishing braid on the medium baitcaster already then that’s where I’d stick with it. 

15 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

I fish braid to leader on spinning rods and mono on most baitcasters, braid on some. If you’re fishing braid on the medium baitcaster already then that’s where I’d stick with it. 

Awesome thank you

For a ned rig, I would probably use a medium light spinning rod. Maybe a finesse medium if you have a lot of weeds to content with. A medium heavy is a bit much for the ned rig.

 

I am wondering if you are simply not getting enough bend in the rod to keep your line tight and the fish hooked, where you don't really need a more powerful rod but a lighter rod?

 

I am in the spinning rod camp for Ned rigs.  7ft Medium Quantum Smoke, fast tip, 6lb mono.  BUT…..lately I have been stepping up the weight on my Ned’s to get bigger hooks to match some of Yamamoto’s new bigger bait offerings and Buckeye lures bigger Ned heads.  I may step it up and go up to 8lb test for smallmouth and a bit heavier rod. 

I'm also a spinning guy for Neds and like lighter rods.

1/8oz+is on a Mojo Bass 6'10" MLXF (upgraded from a Fury 702SF)

If I'm going ultra-finesse and tossing 1/32-1/16oz Neds - that's on a Procyon L/F

On 11/7/2023 at 9:39 AM, Laamold said:

I’d like to stay under $200 if possible. And essentially yes it’s more so the rod I don’t like but I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to upgrading reels either.

Shimano SLX rod & reel combo is at your $200 budget and with Black Friday sales on going should save you 10%-15%.

Tom