What equipment to use

[Dillarda]

So what rod and reel is best for fishing smallies

[LgMouthGambler]

Ones that wont break. 

[Mike Cork]

We'll need more information. What part of the country are you in, what type of lakes will you be fishing, are you looking at grassy lakes, rocky bottoms. A little of everything.

In general a MH action with a fast tip will cover many applications. But things vary, if you plan on doing a lot of drop shotting that rod will be different than a rod for fishing crankbaits.

So we'll also need to know what kind of techniques you'd like to use.

[Dillarda]

I'm in ohio I'm gonna be fishing hocking river and raccoon creek they are a little bit of all rock sand and grassy I drop shot and use crankbaits I like finess techniques

[Donald Garner]

I use a 7ft MH w / Fast tip, Abu Garcia Revo S Low profile reels; Berkley Big Game Clear Mon > 12 - 20lb test.  The baits I use for Smallie fishing here in Central Texas are the 'Same Ones' I use for Largemouth Fishing 

[Dillarda]

Thank you

[Smallie_Stalker]

Hey Dillarda. Welcome to the Ultimate Bass family! Pleasure to have you with us. Pull up a chair, make yourself right at home and jump in wherever you feel comfortable.

My question is are you looking to use only one rod and reel for everything or are you considering a few different setups to cover your bases? That may also help with recommendations since as Mike pointed out a drop shot rod would be different than a cranking rod.

Now for some fun stuff. 

If you would like to win some free gear from some of the great companies that sponsor our site be sure and put your name in for the New Member's Contest and the Weekly Contests .

In the meantime if I can be of any help with anything please don't hesitate to contact me. Looking forward to seeing you around the boards and to learning from what you share with us.

Once again, Welcome!

><> Smallie_Stalker  <><

[Dillarda]

I'm looking to get 2 or 3 setups

[Mike Cork]

Donald's suggestion is probably perfect for your bait caster needs

I would then look for a spinning rod in the Medium power range with a fast tip for drop shotting and shakey heads fished in the river. A spinning rod of this nature can double as a light tube bait rod as well, which can be a favorite of river small mouth. Small crankbaits and spinners can also be thrown with a medium spinning rod. It's just a good all around small mouth tool. Choosing your favorite brand I'd look at a 1500 to 2000 series spinning reel.

Those two should have you set up great to get started. Fish with them some and see if you are needing more power, or a different action for baits you end up using most and make that your third rod purchase.

[Dillarda]

Thank you for all the help I already had the abu Garcia now I just have to get my spinning rod

[Mike Cork]

If you like ABU, they make fair spinning equipment as well.

[Dillarda]

Ok thank you

[Dillarda]

What would u all recommend on line  for my spinning setup

[Gwamba]

I am a guide in the northern Midwest/Great Lakes...Our Smallies are as big as anywhere in the world.
We have crystal clear water and mostly wood and rock/gravel...not heavy grass or weeds. I use med-light and med power spin rods of 7-7 1/2 ft, XF actions for wacky worms, tubes, grubs, bucktails and drop shot. Dobyns DX 742 & 743 for long casting and better hook sets. 6# Gamma fluoro for DS and Bucktail jigs, 8# Fluoro for the rest.
Spinner baits and jerkbaits, 7' MH Crankbait rod...Dobyns 705CB Glass...8# Flouro-Jerk baits, 10# for Spinnerbaits. Caught em up to 8 lbs with these set ups.

Good Fishing!

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[Oldfart9999]

If you're fishing rivers and creeks you probably won't be real long casts, I would tend toward 6'6" rods, a medium and a medium/heavy, xf tip. You'll be more accurate with your casts and still be able to handle any smallie that lives. I would probably look at the same with spinning and use a 3000 reel, the larger reel in spinning gives smoother casts and less tangling than smaller reels. The rod and reel recommendations by manufacturer you've been given are good. I use BPS Carbonlite rods with Pro-Qualifier reels, I've used their rods for years and have done well with them.
As far as line one baitcaster would be set up with mono, 15-20 lb test for top water and the other would be flourocarbon around 14 pound test for vertical and horizontal baits. The spinning would be 8 pound florocarbon on one spool and 10 pound braid on the other, the braid would be for weeds mostly but you can also use it for topwater.
Rodney   

[jwfflipper14]

I'm in ohio I'm gonna be fishing hocking river and raccoon creek they are a little bit of all rock sand and grassy I drop shot and use crankbaits I like finess techniques

You may want to stop by Schwartzel Marine in Coolville and talk to Blaine if you are close by, he'll get you going in  the right direction. I fished the Ohio river for many years and the best equipment is a med action spinning rod with a good spinning reel and lots of tubes! Using a spinning rod and reel gives you a lot of different options in baits you can use. But do forget a good casting rod and reel will work as a crankbait and spinnerbait rod.