My buddy is looking for rod suggestions for small swimbaits. He uses treble hook swimbaits from 3-4.5 inches. He usually throws them on a medium moderate baitcaster with good success, but he wants to upgrade because it’s a cheap combo. Anyone know what the ideal power, action, length or line would be for this setup?

Do you happen to know a few of the swimbaits he is planning on using and what sort of budget he's looking at? As an example, the slow sink SPRO shad swimbait clocks in at 4" and weights 7/8oz. For something like that I would most likely want something with a moderate fast action that is rated up to 1.25 or 1.5oz but without knowing the lures he plans to throw or what sort of budget he's looking at it's hard to get much more specific than that. If it were me and I was throwing that one or something like it I'd probably just use my 736cb that I use for bladed jigs and bigger crankbaits, but again hard to say without knowing the specifics...on a side note there appears to be a 746cb on amazon right now for sale for 206.54 O.o.

Without knowing the exact bait, we're guessing, but here's a great setup that works awesome for baits like you described and can also work for single hook baits in a pinch. Hard to know his budget too, but this is a med priced setup that would work great: 

- Dobyns Sierra 703c. The 703 is rated as MH/F, but that's nonsense. In real life, it's a stout medium power with a mod-fast action.

- Shimano Curado 200 in the 6-7x range, based on what he likes. 

- 15lb YoZuri Hybrid line. This line is very inexpensive, but works super well. 

 

This will work well and be very manageable. 

It's tough without knowing the swimbait. There are some swimbaits that size that are best on a medium rod, but I have some I throw on a medium heavy. And some can be pushing 1oz as well.

 

I would second the Dobyns Sierra 703C if it ends up a medium rod is appropriate. That rod does everything well.