Favorite Top Water Rods : Poppers & Spooks ?

chrisD46 · May 16, 2021, 06:12:43 AM

Top Water Poppers (Rebel P65/P70 , Booyah Boss Pop , Yellow Magic , Rico , etc.) and larger Walking Baits (Spooks , Sammies , Gunfish , Rovers, Vixens , "woops"y Dawgs , etc.) require two different top water rod set ups . For the above poppers what is your favorite 6' ~ 7" medium action rod and for the larger walking baits what is your favorite say 6'6" ~ 7'3" M or MH rod ? Thanks in advance !

Capt. BassinLou · May 16, 2021, 06:21:15 AM

Quote from: chrisD46 on May 16, 2021, 06:12:43 AM
Top Water Poppers (Rebel P65/P70 , Booyah Boss Pop , Yellow Magic , Rico , etc.) and larger Walking Baits (Spooks , Sammies , Gunfish , Rovers, Vixens , "woops"y Dawgs , etc.) require two different top water rod set ups . For the above poppers what is your favorite 6' ~ 7" medium action rod and for the larger walking baits what is your favorite say 6'6" ~ 7'3" M or MH rod ? Thanks in advance !

For the smaller poppers like the booyah boss pop, I use a 3 power. 703/734. I don't use rods shorter than 7ft. For the big walking lures like the big spook. I use a 735 rod. You can get away with a 4 power, but I personally prefer a little bit more back bone on heavier lures treble lures.

coldfront · May 16, 2021, 07:35:59 AM

since I have limited space in my boat, I tend to use rods that are pretty versatile.
love tossing my 1/4 ounce KVD splash, PopR's on a powell 755CB. it's a composite rod. 7.5 foot. 5 power, but has a more moderate action. tosses those 1/4 ounce baits a long way. and handles the bigger baits with ease as well. plus, it's great for square bills, t-rigs, spinnerbaits... even lighter jigs. was using this past weekend to toss weightless superflukes.
if you like longer rods; a great choice. plus, if you know the history of the rod designer... with that being said: don't fixate on the company name, think about the design, the model number.suspect you can find it in the Dobyns stable too.

oh, and throws my normal DLNs with no 'helicoptering'. just a great all-around rod.

loomisguy · May 16, 2021, 03:16:00 PM

I have a old All Star Zell Rowland TWS that I'm sure as good as anything else built today.
The Sierra 703 is really good also.

Smallie_Stalker · May 16, 2021, 06:16:38 PM

Quote from: loomisguy on May 16, 2021, 03:16:00 PM
I have a old All Star Zell Rowland TWS that I'm sure as good as anything else built today.
The Sierra 703 is really good also.

^ Exactly!

I really regret having sold my All Star TWS.

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apenland01 · May 16, 2021, 07:05:29 PM

I use a Dobyns Champion 635 for all my topwaters. I prefer a shorter rod for tops....

chrisD46 · May 16, 2021, 09:08:14 PM

I have a Dobyns Sierra 733c , 734c & 735c that I would not have considered using for top water ... I may experiment by working the rod up and to the side then lower the rod as the top water lure gets closer . For smaller poppers I have a older 6' M/F All Star rod with a split grip handle that is only 10.5" long , light and that I can work straight down with subtle pops and twitches ... Not good for larger Spooks over 1.2 oz. though .

Capt. BassinLou · May 17, 2021, 06:02:43 AM

Quote from: chrisD46 on May 16, 2021, 09:08:14 PM
I have a Dobyns Sierra 733c , 734c & 735c that I would not have considered using for top water ... I may experiment by working the rod up and to the side then lower the rod as the top water lure gets closer . For smaller poppers I have a older 6' M/F All Star rod with a split grip handle that is only 10.5" long , light and that I can work straight down with subtle pops and twitches ... Not good for larger Spooks over 1.2 oz. though .

I know many prefer a short rod for these walking baits, I have always used longer rods and have since adapted walking these lures with my rod down and slightly to the side. I have the same 3 Sierra's and they work great for top water applications. Good luck.