Tired of catching all these 3-5 pounders...

It's time to start going after the big girls. I need to get a combo for throwing swimbaits.

Right now I'm looking at a Cardiff 200A, I really need a reel that can double as a catfishing reel as I've been really into them lately. Will the Cardiff 200 hold enough 17# CXX?

As for the rod, I'm looking at the Loomis 904c or the Dobyns 795. I'm afraid the Dobyns will be alittle too powerfull for what I'm gonna be throwing. It'll mostly be 1-2 oz baits.

Matt's Tournament Series (Bass)

U2 Bluegill

6" Huddleston

Matt's Baby Bass

Any experience with either rod would be a big help.

The only swimbait rod I have experience with is the Mattlures rod. I have used it for Tru-Tungsten Tru-Life, Little Creeper Trash Fish, Spro BBZ-1, and Wave Worm Anaconda's. Those are all in your weight range and I can get enough distance on it. I got mine for $50 on ebay. I have used mine for drifting for catfish and have caught a few nice ones. My biggest on it was a 20lb flathead out of the Shiawassee river.

If you're looking at the Dobyns 795 rod, I suggest you get the mike long version. If I could only have one swimbait rod this is it. The tip on it is unbelievable. As for the reel you could get away with the cardiff 200A reel, but I would suggest upgrading to the 300 size in case you want to upgrade to throw bigger swimbaits and need the higher line capacity in the future. Anyways hope this helps.

Definitely agree that the 300 size is the way to go. Either rod will work for what you're talking about.

You definitely need a 300 size reel, especially if you're using 17 lb CXX. I use 15 lb Yo-zuri hybrid (20 lb true test), and even then I almost spool my Curado 301E throwing an aerodynamic bait like a 6" plastic Punker.

Since it seems you reel right hand, your options are basically endless, and depends totally on your budget. I don't have a Cardiff, but the Cardiff 300A is a pretty good starting point as I hear from the discussions I read on the SBNation forum. I'm currently on the lookout for a second swimbait set-up for soft swimbaits upto 2.5 oz, and the Cardiff 301A is one of the reels I'm seriously considering.

No experience with either rod, but once again I'm looking at the Dobyns 795ML among others.

Good luck!

Dude 200 is a small reel drop by tackle Express and ask to the the cardiff 200a we have a 200a and maybe a 300a.

Man for the baits your going to be throwing I would go with the lamiglas excel XL 735C. The rod was designed by Bill Siemantle to specifically throw 6in baits and I have to say it really performs well. Bill built the rod around the currado/chronarch 300. This is exactly how I have mine set up and I can cast baits a country mile.

The biggest complaint I have had with rods that are made for 6in baits is they do not load properly on the cast and it will feel like your arms are gonna fall off after a bit. This rod has just the right amount of parabolic bend and back bone. There are several good rods out there for the bigger baits but this is the first rod I have come across designed specifically for 6in baits that really performs well. You should be able to pick up this combo for about the same price as what you were originally intending to spend.

Tired of catching all these 3-5 pounders...

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