Hey guys,

I am just wondering what rods you guys use to throw flukes 4-5” and senkos that are 5-6”. I like to throw them on casting gear and was looking at getting a 6’10-7 medium power rod for them. Right now I am using a 7’1 heavy dobyns, but I think something lighter in power may be better. I fish them in open water and around wood/brush.
Thank you in advance,

Bryce

I think you are thinking right for open water.  Price range?  Tons of decent options.  Any brand preference?

Around cover?

 

I'd be in the 7' MH MF range.

 

M F for open water. No cover to worry about fish going into.

 

No shorter than 6'6" and not longer than say 7'6". For me the 7'6" is for long range casts.

 

7' is average.

I’m no expert, but I think M power is perfect for senkos. You can easily toss around a 5” senko with 10-12lb on a MF casting rod, but I also really like running them on spinning rigs for some reason. Either way, I think medium power is the way to go 

2 hours ago, JonB2 said:

I’m no expert, but I think M power is perfect for senkos. 

 

When I said MH it was not referring to what works for best for the technique. I was thinking more in terms of fighting a 4 pound bass heading into cover. A M may not give you what you need in terms of fish fighting ability.

 

Open water M is fine. I love them too. But near any heavy cover and you may want to consider bumping it up a bit just for fishing handling.

5" wacky senko and fluke on a ~3/0 standard wire hook I throw on a Zodias 7M spinning

6" senko T rigged usually on the Zillion 75MHH bottom contact

flukes on a 4/0 superline Expride 610MH

@FloridaFishinFool All good my man, I agree with you on that. He did say he mostly fishes them in open water and “around” brush/logs…so I felt medium would likely suit his situation well. I throw senkos on MH all the time, but just like the lighter feel with the way they typically fish is all.
 

I’ve had a couple close calls on my M this season and mostly carry around MH for largemouth. They’re ready to pull this time of year and if they’re near any cover, they’re definitely headed that way!

Loomis 843C

It’s the most sensitive rod in my hands that I own which for anything weightless is ideal. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

1 hour ago, Brycecover said:

Right now I am using a 7’1 heavy dobyns

If you like Dobyns, just drop down to a 7'3" MH rated up to 3/4oz and you'll be fine. Fishes like a M+ and will throw those baits.

FR 733C

7'3"

Cork-Split

10-17 lb

1/4-3/4 oz

Med/Heavy Fast

Senkos, Flukes, Spooks, Spinnerbaits, Horny Toads

15 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

If you like Dobyns, just drop down to a 7'3" MH rated up to 3/4oz and you'll be fine. Fishes like a M+ and will throw those baits.

FR 733C

7'3"

Cork-Split

10-17 lb

1/4-3/4 oz

Med/Heavy Fast

Senkos, Flukes, Spooks, Spinnerbaits, Horny Toads

I haven't used it for flukes yet but this is my favorite mini max bladed jig rod.

I throw all of those on my finesse jig/topwater Falcon.  6'10", M+ (MH per falcon), Fast action.  Zillion and 14# mono.  

5" Fluke - 13 Fishing Oath, 

7'1", med, fast or

Loomis IMX Pro, med, xtra fast

3" & 4" Fluke - Kistler KLX,

7', ML Fast, bfs reel

Senko - Kistler Helium, 7',

Let. Med Heavy, fast, bfs reel

All weightless.

3 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

I think you are thinking right for open water.  Price range?  Tons of decent options.  Any brand preference?

But what about for around cover? I was looking at Daiwa, Shimano, falcon, and cashion rods. But I’m fine with any. I was going to get the tatula xt but I heard the m/f was like a broomstick.

3 hours ago, Brycecover said:

But what about for around cover? I was looking at Daiwa, Shimano, falcon, and cashion rods. But I’m fine with any. I was going to get the tatula xt but I heard the m/f was like a broomstick.

It isn't. It's just a crisp M. It feels stout compared to a typical medium spinning rod which isn't unusual.

5 hours ago, Peacedivision said:

I haven't used it for flukes yet but this is my favorite mini max bladed jig rod.

Mine pretty much has a 5" weightless fluke tied on full time. Usually, a BBB Jerk Minnow or a SK Caffeine Shad. No problem fighting them out of cover.

 

5 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

I throw all of those on my finesse jig/topwater Falcon.  6'10", M+ (MH per falcon), Fast action.  Zillion and 14# mono.  

Yeah I wanted to try that one but they are all back ordered on tackle warehouse. 

19 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

It isn't. It's just a crisp M. It feels stout compared to a typical medium spinning rod which isn't unusual.

Mine pretty much has a 5" weightless fluke tied on full time. Usually, a BBB Jerk Minnow or a SK Caffeine Shad. No problem fighting them out of cover.

 

Yeah I might just go with that. I felt it in store and it did feel stout but a little lighter in power than the medium. 

3 hours ago, Brycecover said:

But what about for around cover? I was looking at Daiwa, Shimano, falcon, and cashion rods. But I’m fine with any. I was going to get the tatula xt but I heard the m/f was like a broomstick.

I have too many rods, so I don't need to make one do everything.  I use a MHF for the Senkos.  My flukes are the smaller ones and are fished in open water.  I use a MF for them.

 

Zero experience with the Tatula XT and Cashion rods.  Had 2 Shimano casting rods before one got stolen.  Have several OG Tatulas and like them.  Also enjoy my Falcons.  Most of my Falcons fish a bit light.  Medium powers are rated 1/4-1/2 oz. while most other brand Mediums are rated to 5/8 oz.

 

Like my few older Fenwick HMGs.  Fenwick Aetos and Techna AV are good but no longer made.  The Okuma Helios 7' M (rated to 5/8 oz.) would be ideal as it can also handle MH weights (above the 5/8 oz. rating) but is another rod out of production.

 

I prefer a MH rod for all around use.  YMMV

1 hour ago, Brycecover said:

Yeah I wanted to try that one but they are all back ordered on tackle warehouse. 

 

Fair enough.  Falcon is in the process of moving manufacturing out of China.  the experts moved already but they haven’t gotten stock up.  I suspect all the rest are moving and they are transitioning stock.  

last gen poison adrena medium heavy mod fast spinning rod

 

...on a side note I see the mh dobyns fury mentioned...i also have a 7'3 mh f sierra w/ an ultegra on it that i really like for mag flukes (and bubba shots). Would also probably be fine for senkos and regular flukes too but it's been a bit difficult to not just pick up the adrena.

Kistler Helium LMH/F both spinning and casting, depending on my mood.

I mainly use a 6’6” Med/Fast Veritas for flukes and Senkos.

Either a Kaden or Extreme 743

3 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

Kistler Helium LMH/F both spinning and casting, depending on my mood.

I'll have to try mine.  Should be a good option.

 

The OP didn't give his age in his Profile.  Am going to assume he's fairly young given he mentioned starting fishing 2 years ago.  Didn't give a budget, but I'm going to assume this rod is out of it considering he did mention looking at the Tatula XT.

 

Bryce, if the Lowrider is in your budget, the 6'10" HF (Head Turner 6 power) and 7' MHF (All Around 5 power) are both rated for 1/4-3/4 oz.  I would think either should work.  However, when it comes to Falcon rods, I would suggest listening  to someone like casts_by_fly.  He is much more experienced with them than I am.

7'1 13 Fishing Fate medium moderate baitcasting reel with an Abo Revo SX Rocket on it.

7 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

I'll have to try mine.  Should be a good option.

 

The OP didn't give his age in his Profile.  Am going to assume he's fairly young given he mentioned starting fishing 2 years ago.  Didn't give a budget, but I'm going to assume this rod is out of it considering he did mention looking at the Tatula XT.

 

Bryce, if the Lowrider is in your budget, the 6'10" HF (Head Turner 6 power) and 7' MHF (All Around 5 power) are both rated for 1/4-3/4 oz.  I would think either should work.  However, when it comes to Falcon rods, I would suggest listening  to someone like casts_by_fly.  He is much more experienced with them than I am.

I will put my age on there. I am 18. I could go up to an expert if my rods listed on marketplace sell but the lowrider for 130 seems like a good value. I used to have an expert “Mansfield” the medium fast. I lost it at a pond when I left it behind carrying too much gear. It was very whippy but I loved that rod. Been wanting a falcon since then and just haven’t pulled the trigger 

Traditionally have thrown my 5" senkos on a MH spinning rod, but for the last couple of years I've been throwing them on a 6'10" M/XF casting setup and I have been deeply enjoying it. Still throwing my wacky rigged senkos on a medium spinning rod, though.