Hello every, I am looking to buy a rod and reel setup for my bud for christmas. This guy LITERALLY only fishes a 5 inch weightless senko and i'd love to get him a kick butt setup. If you guys were to get a rod and reel for the MAIN purpose of fishing weightless senkos what would you get?

I'm looking for spinning gear and a $175 max

SHIMANO Compre 6'8" M/XF ~~ $110

Pfleuger President ~~ $70

Thats about 5 dollars over your mark, but prices fluxuate depending on where being bought.

I recommend buying from ***.com, you get free shipping on all orders over $50. 8-)

I think it depends on the types of places he fish's and the size of those fish. For example, Id never throw a senko on anything less then a 7'4" MH rod on the Cal Delta or Clear Lake. Big Fish and heavy cover I want more rod to control a big fish. Open water lakes and smaller fish on average and Id go with a 7ft MH. I dont use anything smaller then 7ft.

So you know more about how and what he fish's. So select length based on that. A MH rod with a fast tip is what I prefer. There are so many brands that are nice. In my area they have alot of good sticks on clearance specials. Fenwick, Abu Garcia, Shimano, Lamiglas are just a few to consider.

id get him a St. Croix Avid 6'8" M/XF rod and let him use the reel he has now. he can later buy a nice reel and have a great setup.

I think i would either ask what kind of rods and reels he likes and go with that brand or get sneaky and check out what he is using now. Equipment varies from person to person as you will soon see and even though you may spend a couple of hundred and a setup it may not feel good in his hands therefore either will exchange it or never use it. Case in point you will see alot of Shimano stuff but personally i don't like it and would exchange any Shimano gift i got for something else not because it isn't a good product but rather i have my trust and confidence in another brand.

id get him a St. Croix Avid 6'8" M/XF rod and let him use the reel he has now. he can later buy a nice reel and have a great setup.

Great advice!

   

Powell Max Spinning rod, 7'3", medium power, extra-fast action. That's what I use, and it'd be an understatement to say that I am in love with it.

... and whatever reel he's got.

I have the St. Croix Mojo "senko" rod, its 6'8" medium with an extra fast tip and I have been very happy fishing mostly senkos with it.  At $100 it would allow you many choices of reels to add to it.  I just bought my first Avid series rod but didn't get a chance to use it before winter, but I would expect the 6'8" m x/f in that series to be an outstanding senko rod like others have suggested.

I have the St. Croix Mojo "senko" rod, its 6'8" medium with an extra fast tip and I have been very happy fishing mostly senkos with it. At $100 it would allow you many choices of reels to add to it. I just bought my first Avid series rod but didn't get a chance to use it before winter, but I would expect the 6'8" m x/f in that series to be an outstanding senko rod like others have suggested.

The AVS68MXF is a good everything rod.

SHIMANO Compre 6'8" M/XF ~~ $110

Pfleuger President ~~ $70

Thats about 5 dollars over your mark, but prices fluxuate depending on where being bought.

I recommend buying from ***.com, you get free shipping on all orders over $50. 8-)

  looks like great minds think alike on the rod. A choice of reel however can be made to mak your price point. Either a compre or an excel would be my choices at this price point for the rod.

Be sure to get him a spool of 20# PowerPro and some 3/0 EWG hooks.

thanks everyone! I have decided to go with a st croix mojo rod and a shiano symetre.

thanks for the imput everyone!

thanks everyone! I have decided to go with a st croix mojo rod and a shiano symetre.

thanks for the imput everyone!

He'll love it. Trust me! ho ho ho.

This is easy. 

G-Loomis GLX BCR893 and Shimano Chronarch 50mg.

good choice now go catch some fish... as long as you dont have the hard water problem >

This is easy.

G-Loomis GLX BCR893 and Shimano Chronarch 50mg.

I agree with that, but I'm not sure where you will find this set-up for less than $175 that is not hot.

I'd be looking to get him a multi purpose rod that will be nice to throw Senkos.  That way, when he's getting his butt handed to him by you on some other bait, you can share that new bait with him.

I'd be looking to get him a multi purpose rod that will be nice to throw Senkos. That way, when he's getting his butt handed to him by you on some other bait, you can share that new bait with him.

Oh so you know some of these Senko-tards too ;D

I have a buddy who lives and dies with a 5" wacky rigged senko, he won't even try a 4" or 6" let alone another bait. One day we were in a creek and they were hammering jigs in laydowns, I had a dozen fish in the boat to his zero before he started complaining that I was picking all the fish off because I was in the front of the boat.  So, we made another pass with him in the front, still fishing a senko, and me with the jig.........6 more fish for me none for him. He never had a clue. I love senkos as much as anyone, but man..........time and place............time and place.

Back to the original post.............. buy him some jigs and crankbaits ;D

I love senkos as much as anyone, but man..........time and place............time and place.

unfortunately (fortunately?), time and place occurs very often with senkos and some people never get more versatile than that.

Yea. Shoot I bet a blind man could see Berkleys Tracer braid. So Im sure a fish could.