Ok, now that I've been fishing for bass for a few

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-dave

New member
Ok, now that I've been fishing for bass for a few months and I'm starting to find my "groove", I'd like some advice on fishing tackle that may be better suited to the way I fish.

Firstly, I must say that I much prefer fishing cranks/poppers/etc than soft plastics or anything else. So far all of the bass that I've caught have been from crank baits, despite having persevered with plastic worms, brush hogs, etc for many hours.

So, with that said, I'm currently using a cheap 6 foot Elbe fishing rod that's got a really nice light feel to it. I had an 8 foot spinning rod that mysteriously happened to "break itself", but found it was a bit too rigid for my liking. I'm using an Okuma 340 Topaz (if I remember the name correctly) with whatever light line it came with (was a cheapie).

Now for the big question - I'd like to know what (reasonably priced) set-up all of you seasoned anglers would recommend for me.


*** Should I be using a light 7 or 8 foot spinning rod, or is the 6footer enough?
*** What strength line should I be using? I really don't want to hook a decent size bass and end up losing it because my line snapped :p


Please note that I am shopping on a budget and cannot afford the top-of-the-range stuff :(

Eagerly awaiting your advice!
 
S

SmokingToe

New member
I'm in a very similar position tackle wise. Only caught one off a plastic, the rest were all of one spinnerbait. And I do really try my plastics cranks the works, but only spinners have worked for me :(

I went and got myself a 6'6" rod, shimano scimitar. It isnt AWESOME but I can do anything except weightless plastics with it.

Reel i got was a Shimano Callisto, I wouldn't really suggest it to someone else because I personally would go for the crestfire or a quantum knowing what i know now.

I did see a nice combo at fishing pro shop, shimano crestfire and i think a nexave for R750. My combo was R790 at solly's. I got 10% discount so like R711 actually but for the R40 id go for the other combo in a flash.

I haven't used anything more than 12lb yet, if you going to go the braid route you may aswell go for 20lb in my opinion. At the moment im using 10lb fluorocarbon, although I'v never hooked a piggy :) 1.2kg max.

Hope this helps.
 
L

Little Green Fish

Sealiner
I again seeeeeeeee the neeed for this thingy to become a sticky post.

Kay so here's the low down on what you're asking? Get me a good rod and reel for mainly cranking and the likes with the occasional soft plastic thrown into the pond and you want this on a budget?

Two questions, 1. spinning or baitcaster?

2. what is this Budget of your's (what ammount can you spend)?
 
D

-dave

New member
Little Green Fish wrote:
I again seeeeeeeee the neeed for this thingy to become a sticky post.

Kay so here's the low down on what you're asking? Get me a good rod and reel for mainly cranking and the likes with the occasional soft plastic thrown into the pond and you want this on a budget?

Two questions, 1. spinning or baitcaster?

2. what is this Budget of your's (what ammount can you spend)?
Click to expand...

Answers:
1. Spinning

2. Anything below R750ish
 
B

Billaridoo

Senior Member
Try to start cheap. Baitcaster, anything with bearings to learn with, you'll find a use or someone to donate it to when you upgrade, med action baitcasting rod. heavy actions will grind you when you start baitcaster school.

Don't shun the soft plastics yet. Winter fish are not easily caught on reaction baits and cranks. You'll have to take it slow in the cold and softies are perfect to get close to deep structure.

Keep this in mind, now that you are fully addicted to bass fishing, all your money will be well spent on tackle from this day forth. Wait for specials,try out as many guys' gear possible(that'l let you). Get a feel for Shimano, Daiwa, Quantum etc. Then invest in expensive tackle.

Read this forum every spare minute. Alot of great "reviews" of tackle have beendiscussed here in the past.

VERY,VERY, VERY important. Don't believe a single thing you hear about tackle on TV. The sponsored mouth bears a fickle tounge.

Happy shopping bazo!
 
D

-dave

New member
Hi Billaridoo.

I haven't given up on soft plastics, it's just that I'll always throw a crank where I can...

I think I'll be looking at getting a rod and reel for mainly cranking and the likes with the occasional soft plastic thrown into the pond (like Little Green Fish said). I think the important thing for me at the moment is that I can get something that can do the job that I want it for.
 
L

Loams

Sealiner
Monster wrote:
Loams iets a shimano slade
Click to expand...

Nah, not thinking of a Slade, but damn I cant remember.... I think Slades only go down to 2500??

 

My first rod was a Scimitar, and I still use it, the reel I have is a Shimano Sedona (that's it!!) FB750 and 8 pound fireline

 

I now have the Sedona on my ultra light rig and the scimitar is paired with a 1000
 
L

Little Green Fish

Sealiner
Loams wrote:
Monster wrote:
Loams iets a shimano slade
Click to expand...

Nah, not thinking of a Slade, but damn I cant remember.... I think Slades only go down to 2500??

 

My first rod was a Scimitar, and I still use it, the reel I have is a Shimano Sedona (that's it!!) FB750 and 8 pound fireline

 

I now have the Sedona on my ultra light rig and the scimitar is paired with a 1000
Click to expand...
And there you have it, Shimano Scimitar 6'6ft spinning rod, with a Shimano Sedona 1000 just not sure about the fire-line, I hate it, but Loams loves it and perhaps you'll too, if not look at some 10lb flurocarbons like P-Line Halo (still the best Flurocarbon on the market)
 
L

Loams

Sealiner
call me bias, but for the same price of the Daiwa you will get better quality kit from Shimano... Well, thats been my experience anyway, and I know Ryan will at least agree with me!!
 
M

Monster

Senior Member
Loams wrote:
Monster wrote:
Loams iets a shimano slade
Click to expand...

Nah, not thinking of a Slade, but damn I cant remember.... I think Slades only go down to 2500??

 

My first rod was a Scimitar, and I still use it, the reel I have is a Shimano Sedona (that's it!!) FB750 and 8 pound fireline

 

I now have the Sedona on my ultra light rig and the scimitar is paired with a 1000
Click to expand...

Loams

I have a Slade 1000 on my Ultra Light and so does Ryan.
 
C

cranky

Senior Member
i got into cranking i a big way...started off with a millionare 250 diawa reel and a cresfire 7 foot rod...enjoyed it so much at one stage had 5 different cranking rods on the deck...and even called our team cranky...

from experience i can tell you that choosing a long rod is the best option the longer the better...the further you cast the longer it says in the strike zone...i prefer rods which bend from the handle...the softer the better if you use it for specific type of crank...but if you need to fish a variaty of cranks like small and large cranks it might pay you to get a slightly stiffer rod.

line...i have used 10 lb big game on all my cranking sticks...because it is cheap so when you replace it before every comp it doesnt get expensive...i have manged to land a 24 kg + grass carp i foul hooked at midmar dam with a rattlin spot using this line so there no worries about landing a bass using it...but in saying that remeber that depending on how soft the rod is will determine how light the line you use.

reels for cranking...i have found the callcutta series the best for cranking...if you want it to last...otherwise any slow retrieve reel will do the job 5.1 or less...also if you need to use the rod for all types of cranking it will pay you not to go less than 5.1 because sometimes you want to reel the smaller cranks faster.

2 really great cranking rods...a g-loomis 7.6ft for small cranks or 7.9ft american rodsmith for dd 22s rigged with calcutta dc reels...if you get serious about cranking or win the lotto.

 

 

 

 
 
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cranky

Senior Member
dave i see you are from durban...you should come and join us on a trip to the dam...i have a variety of rods and can show you what to use and why i use the different rods...we fish on kickboats.
 
R

Ryan

Sealiner
In South Africa we need to rethink our fishing Equipment - last year when I Went to Khazakstan all the europeans fish with nothing under 9ft rods they all use superlines (Braid - nothing over 12lb braid either) with these rods these guys can throw the lightest of lures 5x further than we can throw a heavy one.....
Point is a long rods and thin dia line is definately the way to go.
Since my return I have been upgrading the length on all my sticks I now own several 9ft Spinning rigs and some of my new baitcasters are over 7ft and has it helped my fishing - yes.
I am able to make longer casts - this means more lure time in the water = more bites.
I would even go so far as to say that as a bank angler one needs to go long from the start - being able to reach places that are out of casting distance of every Tom Dick and harry means that you are going to access fish that have yet to be caught......
 
C

cranky

Senior Member
if you do decide to use braid make sure the rod and reel is rated for braid otherwise it will cut through the eyes and line guide.

and just becareful of braid it is a little more difficult to cast with a baitcaster especially if you pitch with it...it tends to make nests quicker than normal line...and the nests are a lot more difficult to get out...but worste of all its really expensive to replace.

my favourite braid is power pro for the heavy stuff and viper braid for the light stuff.

i use a 7 ft cherrywood rod with a coffee grinder and 10 lb braid ...this rig casts a weightless fluke further than any cheap baitcaster with a weighted lure.


you also need to becareful using braid on a stiff rod...if you reel down and strike chances are you could injure yourself or snap something and it wont be the braid  unless it is old or damaged.

 


 

 
 
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