Hi everyone,

I am planning on obtaining a new swimbait - specific rod. The rod will be used with a variety of soft and hard swimbaits and wake baits, and as all my fishing is shore based, casting and backbone are important factors.  At this time, the heaviest lures to be cast are up to 4oz, but this could increase in the future. After some research, I made a short list (well, sort of) with the following models:

Daiwa L&T 8ft hvy

G. Loomis Swimbait rod 955 7ft 11"

Kistler Graphite Plus Hvy 8ft

Lamiglas Certified Pro XC767 7ft 6"

Okuma Big Bait 7ft 11" Hvy

Shimano Crucial 7ft 11" Hvy

Any feedback - both positive and negative - on any (or all!) of the above models will be very welcome....

There is only one answer to this question:

Whatever Fish_Chris uses! 8-)

Well, on second thought...You'd have to be NUTS to throw spinning tackle!   :

I have been very very happy with the Okuma Guide Select 7'11 H. It will throw baits a country mile.

Heck, I've even used it to do a little flipping with a 3/8 oz. jig.  Throws that just as well as it throws the big baits.

I am a BIG fan of the Crucial rods.  Give them a shot!

Wow!!!! I'm impressed! Three replies in ten minutes!

Thanks a lot folks - this is what makes the BR forum such a great place! Keep 'em coming!!!!!

Okuma Big Bait 7ft 11" Hvy

For an all around swimbait rod, I'd with the Okuma.

I'll recomend one that you did not list, because I know you fish from shore and are used to long rods that cast farther.

Look into the  8'6" Dobyns rod.I have never thrown one, but is seems to be what you need they are hard to find right now though. Triton mike might have experience with them. here is the link. http://www.dobynsrods.com/champion.htm

of the ones you mentioned though, the Crucial is my favorite. my number one swimbait stick...for now, i've got a little something in the works

I like the Okuma 7.6 MH to fish the Mattlures, to me the best. I have the Crucial EH for a few weeks to fish the big swimbait.....it was rapidly replaced by Powell 7.11 H. Setyr and Rogue make very nice ones too.

Anxious to get the Dobyns 7.95 Mike Long series.

Look into the 8'6" Dobyns rod.I have never thrown one, but is seems to be what you need they are hard to find right now though. Triton mike might have experience with them. here is the link. http://www.dobynsrods.com/champion.htm

I'll be getting mine as soon as they make it for me. The Mike Long Rods should be great.

The Mike Long and Dobyns Rods (same company) will be available in September. From speaking to several folks at Icast these are probably going to be the most sought after swimbait rods ever. LOL. Get them while they are HOT. I was blown away by the balance and lightness of all 4 swimbait rods.

Mike Longs will have EVA foam for grips while Gary's version will have cork The 4 rods on the far left are the swimbait rods..

Here are pics of the rods at ICAST

Mike

d**n how long is the rear on that last rod??

bpm,  I thought the same thing until I got one.  The one thing you will notice is how much easier it is to throw the big baits over the course of the day.  I was blown away by what I experienced with those longer rods to the point that all of mine will be extra long.  I personally thought the longer handle would get in the way but it is just the opposite.

Mike

Would like to see them split the grips on those rods.

Split grips on swimbait rods are uncomfortable to me.  Reason being is you tuck that handle up under your armpit vs have them out in front of you like with other applications.  I like it just the way it is.  It also helps to balance the rod.  Mike Long agreed as well when he designed it.

Mike