Looking to buy a new setup

[Adam]

What is everyone using rod and reel wise for fishing soft plastic swim baits like gambler ezs and such?

[Capt. BassinLou]

What is everyone using rod and reel wise for fishing soft plastic swim baits like gambler ezs and such?

Great question. You are going to get a lot of answers. What's your total budget?

[SFL BassHunter]

Reel: Tatula CT or Tatula Type R
Rods: Cabelas Arachnid 7'2" MHF or Dobyns Savvy 734C

Basically, the same rods and reels I use for my other soft plastics.

[LgMouthGambler]

Lee Smith Customs Rod built Point Blank rod, and a Daiwa SV103XS fully modded with SLP spool and ZR bearings. #40lb Power Pro.

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[Capt. BassinLou]

Lee Smith Customs Rod built Point Blank rod, and a Daiwa SV103XS fully modded with SLP spool and ZR bearings. #40lb Power Pro.

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Great setup right there, but that's why I was asking for his budget first. Lol!!

[LgMouthGambler]

Great setup right there, but that's why I was asking for his budget first. Lol!!

He just asked what we were using. Lol

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[Capt. BassinLou]

He just asked what we were using. Lol

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True, I forgot that was the question... Lol
I'm used to seeing "What I should be using questions"....

To answer the the question, my swimbait rig is a 734 Champion with a Shimano Scorpion.

[Deadeye]

For most of my Swimbaits (like EZ Swimmer or a Bitters) I use a Skeete Reese Jig Worm Rod, 65 lb Braid, Lew's Speed Spool.

The Reese Rod  is made by Wright & McGill and is NOT the micro guides model. It is rated as Medium Extra Heavy.

For a good outfit at a great price, right now Sam's Club is offering a Lew's MH Rod matched to a 11 Bearing Dual Braking Speed Spool Reel for $99.00.

[SFL BassHunter]

He just asked what we were using. Lol

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lol reading comprehension fail.

[Capt. BassinLou]

lol reading comprehension fail.

I guess... 

[FD]

FDX custom 7-6 MH-F with a Revo SX HS and 50 lb power pro.

Since you are around the corner I've got some good used stuff for sale if you're interested.


Sent from the end of the paved road.....

[Adam]

So what I am getting is a 7'2"-7'6" medium heavy rod with a 6:3.1 reel?

Also, do you guys really use that heavy of braid for the setup?  I was thinking of going with flouro but it seems like everyone is using braid.

[Capt. BassinLou]

So what I am getting is a 7'2"-7'6" medium heavy rod with a 6:3.1 reel?

Also, do you guys really use that heavy of braid for the setup?  I was thinking of going with flouro but it seems like everyone is using braid.

The 7'2"-7'6" is a great rod range for those applications imo, as far as the line,  I throw 40lb braid. 40 lb diameter is equivalent to 10lb mono. We use these heavier braids because we throw these baits into dense cover. The braid helps saw hits way out when hook setting or fighting a fish out. FC line stretches too much in thick cover to pull out the fish effectively.

[Deadeye]

I have used Mono, Floro and Braid. I have just about completely switched to all braid.

I personally use 65 or 50 lb braid. 65 is like using 15 lb mono as far as size goes, and that is what MOST Baitcasters are set up for.

[Tressbasser]

So what I am getting is a 7'2"-7'6" medium heavy rod with a 6:3.1 reel?

Also, do you guys really use that heavy of braid for the setup?  I was thinking of going with flouro but it seems like everyone is using braid.

Adam, let me add my two cents.
If this is your only rod, your go-to, all purpose stick, you are on the right track with the rod: MH for sure, and that length range is right on. I would recommend at least a 7:1 reel ratio, or even 8:1 or 9:1. You don't use your reel to work the bait, so, even though these are fast reels, you can still be slow and methodical. But when you want that bait back to cast again, it's there in just a few turns of the handle. And when you hook a fish, you can take up slack much faster.
Floro and braid are two entirely different animals. Floro sinks, is clear, and allows for better action on your soft plastics. In open water and light cover, that is what I use. It has low stretch (not like braid, but not nearly as stretchy as mono), and provides good sensitivity for light bites.  Spend the extra dough on high quality floro. There is a huge difference in the cheap stuff and the expensive. I've become a big fan of Yozuri Top Knot, 16lb. It's actually not that pricey, a good combination of price and quality. If you want to go big, get Tatsu- just be prepared for sticker shock!
When you first start using floro, it is easy to tie a bad knot that burns the line and breaks off, even as you are tying it. I use the Trilene knot, and have found it to be practically fool proof. It doesn't cut itself like an improperly tied Palomar will. Also, floro is known to snap off on the hookset. I used to hate it for that reason alone. That is, until I became educated enough to realize you don't have to try to kill the fish with your hookset. Always reel down until you feel the fish, then don't jerk it, pull it. With a longer, MH rod, sharp hook, and relatively stretch-free line, that's all you need - the hook will penetrate.
If you do decide to use braid, I see no reason to mess around with anything less than 65lb. Lower diameter braids will cut into itself on the spool too easily (it happens with 65lb too, but not as bad as say, 30 or 40lb). Braid is very easy to manage on the reel, and casts great, but on a baitcaster, thin braid can become a pain. Remember also that braid, like mono, floats, which makes it somewhat less than ideal for soft plastics, unless you are punching heavy cover.
I would say, go with that MH 7-2, a fast reel, floro line 16-17lb. Then, start saving for another setup that you can spool with braid.

[BarryFL]

I have a slightly different opinion on rods, reels and lines. I fish all sizes of braid, only use floro (invisible) as a leader for "finesse" baits, and fish mono or a hybrid line with baits that have treble hooks. My general setups are as follows (but there are exceptions).

- Crankbaits, topwater or jerkbaits (treble hooks). Med power/regular bend rod (7ft-7'7") with 4.9 to 6.3 speed reel. 12-15lb P-line Co-polymer or YoZuri Hybrid line or McCoy mean green mono.  The med/reg rod and line stretch keeps smaller treble hooks from ripping out. Slower reels have more torque for deeper running crankbaits.
- Flukes and stick baits (finesse). Med power/extra fast bend rod (7'2") with 6.3 to 7.3 reel. 20lb braid (suffix 832 or power pro) with 15lb 100% floro (Yo Zuri pink) 4-5ft leader tied with an modified Albright knot. Never had a knot break. Reel with SV spool for casting light weight baits and skipping under stuff.
- Carolina or Texas rig plastics, lipless crankbaits (exception to treble rule), chatterbaits or spinnerbaits. Med heavy/extra fast bend rod (7'2") with 7.3 to 8.1 reel and 20lb braid.
- Medium size swimbaits (EZ Swimmer, Naked Swimmer) and Ultra vide, Bitter's vibe or Gambler Burner worms, and buzz baits. Med Heavy/Regular bend rod (7'4") with 7.3 reel and 30lb braid.
- Big swimbaits (Big EZ or Really Big GZ), solid frogs (Zoom Horny Toad or Culprit) and flipping or punching. Heavy/reg or fast bend rod (7'6"-8ft) with 7.3 HD reel and 40lb braid.
- Hollow body frogs and rats/mice/ducks. Heavy/extra fast bend rod (7'4") with 7.3 HD reel and 50lb braid.

I fish mainly Daiwa Zillion rods and reels, with a few Tatulas mixed in. I've never seen any reason to fish heavier than 50lb braid. You'll be hard pressed to break off 30lb power pro when you get hung up and can't get to it! If you set your drag to just were the braid doesn't dig into the spool, when you pull it by hand, you should be good with any size. Smaller does dig easier.

Something else, I back all of my braid reels with 12-20lb cheap mono and only spool braid the last 40-50 yards (to within 1/8in of top of spool). No reason to waist braid. If I can, when changing out braid, I reverse spool to another reel of same size braid to use the half that never gets wet.

If I were getting one rod/reel for everything I'd go for 7'2"-7'4" med heavy/fast bend rod, 7.3 speed reel, 30lb braid, and learn to tie on floro leaders for finesse/slow baits.

[FD]

You'll be hard pressed to break off 30lb power pro when you get hung up and can't get to it! If you set your drag to just were the braid doesn't dig into the spool, when you pull it by hand, you should be good with any size. Smaller does dig easier.


If I were getting one rod/reel for everything I'd go for 7'2"-7'4" med heavy/fast bend rod, 7.3 speed reel, 30lb braid, and learn to tie on floro leaders for finesse/slow baits.

We have a winner...

Barry is dead on with his "everything" set up.  I never bother with a leader unless I'm fishing super clear water.

[West6550]

We have a winner...

Barry is dead on with his "everything" set up.  I never bother with a leader unless I'm fishing super clear water.

I agree 1000%

Great minds think a like!

[SFL BassHunter]

We have a winner...

Barry is dead on with his "everything" set up.  I never bother with a leader unless I'm fishing super clear water.

Agree with Fishindaddy and TR.

Actually been using PowerPro MaxCuatro in 40lb which is the diameter of regular 30lb braid. It's strong, it doesn't dig into itself as much as regular 30 does and I haven't had any issues with it.

With a 7 gear ratio reel you can do your soft plastics with no issue, and if you decide you want to throw cranks/spinnerbaits/chatterbaits and all the moving stuff you don't need to slow down as much as you would with an 8 gear ratio. It's a perfect all round ratio.

IF you are fishing medium to heavy vegetation then bump up to a heavier braid. Otherwise 30 or 40 will work just fine.

Personally I stay away from a leader. I don't like having that extra point of possible failure.