How To Set Up A Surfcasting Rig

There are two types of rods and reels used to cast lures and jigs. These are spinning and casting setups. Spinning reels cast the furthest and are the most mutual among novice anglers. However, accurateness and control can be greatly improved, with a casting setup which is too chosen a baitcasting rod or baitcaster. These are very popular with bass fisherman that similar to jig and have control of the lure as information technology enters the water.

When you compare the two types of poles with their respective reels, it might be obvious equally to why this is. A baitcaster reel and rod are positioned opposite that of a spinning rig. On a baitcasting setup the reel and line guides both face up skyward, while the spinning reel and guides both run along the bottom, underneath the pole. The baitcaster expels the line-fishing line by spinning the spool, while the spinning reel spool does not add much resistance every bit the line un-coils. The spinning method works very well for pocket-sized, lightweight lures and allurement. A baitcaster commitment allows for heavier tackle, which is nice for fishing larger species, in heavier comprehend, and deeper h2o.

The top-sitting guides on casting rods are besides much smaller in diameter than spinning rods. There is a lot less billowy effectually of the line as it flies through a casting rod'southward guides, and their minor diameter is more efficient at putting your lure more precisely where you lot aimed at.

The construction of rod blanks for casting rods can be a lilliputian different than those of spinning rods, as well. Typically, they offset off longer in length, equally is probably expected, just they tend to get-go off in college modulus and tensile strengths, too. This all goes towards their key purpose for bigger fish and heavier lines. With their enhanced casting precision and fish-fighting control also comes the demand for more balance not only in how much graphite or fiberglass is in it, but in its unabridged construction. From the cloth on the grips to the flex at the tip, the resin to the guide wraps, everything must exist fine-tuned in society to deliver sensitivity, power, and activeness.

Here Are the Best Baitcasting Rods
- one. St Croix Mojo Bass Baitcasting Rod
- 2. Abu Garcia Vengeance Baitcasting Rod
- 3. St Croix Triumph Baitcasting Rod
- 4. Lew's Custom Lite Speed Stick Baitcasting Rod
- 5. Okuma Nomad Inshore Travel Casting Rod
- half dozen. Team Lew's Custom Pro Serial Casting Rod
- 7. Cadence CR7B Baitcasting Line-fishing Rod
- 8. KastKing Crixus IM6 Baitcasting Rod
- nine. KastKing Perigee II Baitcasting Rod
- ten. Piscifun Torrent Baitcasting Rod
- xi. Lew'south American Hero IM6 Baitcasting Rod
- 12. Berkley Shock Baitcasting Rod
- xiii. KastKing Blackhawk II Telescopic Baitcasting Rod
- 14. KastKing Brutus Two Piece Baitcasting Rod
- 15. St. Croix Mojo Yak Casting Rod
- 16. Ugly Stik GX2 Baitcasting Rod
- 17. Ugly Stik Elite Baitcasting Combo
- 18. Lew's Mach Pro Baitcast Combo
- 19. Bass Pro Shops Signature Baitcast Combo
- twenty. G. Loomis IMX-Pro Bass Casting Rod

Here Are the All-time Baitcasting Rods

1. St Croix Mojo Bass Baitcasting Rod

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Estimated Price: $140 – $160

Specifications
Length: 6'viii″, vii′, 7'1″, 7'4″, seven'v″, vii'6″, 7'x", 7'11".
Ability: Medium, Medium Heavy, Heavy.
Action: Moderate Fast, Fast, X-Fast.

The St. Croix Mojo Bass series casting rods are of loftier-stop quality at a reasonable toll. Each option delivers a superior performing technique-specific rod. Their crankbaiting models are synthetic with high-quality Southward-drinking glass for the perfect flex and action. Every rod bare in the line is made with SCIII graphite for improved sensitivity.

These are designed for the serious angler ready to brand an investment in improving their angling skills. Ranging from iii.7-6.1 ounces depending on which rod you use, the calorie-free-weight goes a long fashion in keeping you less fatigued when putting in long days on the h2o. Other key features include beautiful, premium-grade cork handles, three-D guides with aluminum rings, and Fuji reel seats. If you're fix to take your bass line-fishing to the next level, the Mojo baitcasting rods by St. Croix are a fantastic option.

2. Abu Garcia Vengeance Baitcasting Rod

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Estimated Toll: $49-$84

Specifications
Length: 6'6″, 6'9″, seven′, 7'6″.
Power: Medium, Medium Heavy, Heavy.
Activeness: Fast.

Abu Garcia'due south Vengeance baitcasting rods are neat mid-level poles. The available lengths, powers, and actions are kept simple while providing suitable specifications to fit a wide diverseness of line-fishing techniques. Their 24-Ton graphite blanks make for an fairly lightweight and sensitive fishing pole.

Other features that make the Vengeance series stand out from lower-end rods are its EVA foam grips, which are high-density for extra comfort and tough plenty to last nether the beating dominicus and water saturation. The line guides, too, are corrosion-resistant stainless steel, while their inserts are titanium, making them swell for employ with heavy braided lines.

Although 24-Ton graphite is the base-bespeak material for a skillful rod blank, it withal provides amend sensitivity than many fiberglass rods at a similar price. At that place is only one activity available, also, merely the fast tip is great for throwing jigs and wrenching bass out of heavy cover, and will however provide good success for other techniques that are more than ideally used with a moderate action, like crankbaits. If you want some expert fishing without paying a fortune, Abu Garcia's Vengeance baitcasting series are a good value.

3. St Croix Triumph Baitcasting Rod

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Estimated Price: $130-$140

Specifications
Length: 6'8″, seven′, 7'6″.
Power: Medium Calorie-free, Medium, Medium-Heavy, Heavy.
Action: Moderate, Moderate Fast, Fast.

The St. Croix Triumph casting rod series comes in different options for different types of fishing, including inshore, salmon, steelhead, and musky fishing. Their good range of ability and action ratings, nonetheless, means they are applicable for many other species, like panfish and bass, redfish, snook, and many more. They are made with St. Croix's SCII carbon blank technology for lightweight and strength.

Aluminum-oxide guides are stiff enough to handle complect while existence very good at resisting saltwater corrosion. All models feature a reel seat and claw keeper past Bounding main Guide, equally well as cork-gripped handles. While all of this is meridian-of-the-line, the SCII blanks are slightly junior to the SCIII of the St. Croix Mojo serial, and with the Triumph just ranging 10 to 60 dollars cheaper, depending on what specifications you're looking for it might brand sense to go with a Mojo.

four. Lew's Custom Lite Speed Stick Baitcasting Rod

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Estimated Price: $170 to $180

Specifications
Length: 7'four″, 7'6″, 7'11".
Power: Medium Heavy, Heavy, 10-Heavy.
Action: Moderate, Moderate Fast, Fast.

Lew's Custom Low-cal Speed Stick baitcaster rods are tournament-grade, technique-specific custom sticks. Made with HM85 85-1000000-modulus graphite, they could pull a machine out of a lake while still being highly sensitive and, as the name implies, extremely light.

Lew's uses their proprietary Ability Core blank construction of several layers of graphite lain running in multiple directions, which equates to less material for the lighter weight, merely without sacrificing strength. The stainless steel guides with titanium inserts provide fast and smooth castability, and vibrations from the line are felt significantly on your finger through the SoftTouch skeletal reel seat.

Polymer grips on the handles are extra durable and give y'all a sturdy hold no matter how wet the conditions. The butt-stock is too shortened, which makes for easier frog-walking and jig-pitching. The toll is upwards there, but for professional-grade fishing, these rods are worth every penny.

five. Okuma Nomad Inshore Travel Casting Rod

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Estimated Price: $160

Specifications.
Length: vi'6″, 7′
Power: Medium-Light, Medium, Medium-Heavy.
Action: Moderate.

The Okuma Nomad casting rods allows you to easily travel with the quality of a good one-piece cleaved down into a iii+1. Information technology is actually ii rods in one because each model includes a 2-tip choice, letting you go from either light to medium light, or medium to medium-heavy power very speedily.

Not but practise the ferrule connections make the three sections come together for a very durable rod, it gives it surprising sensitivity for a travel pole. The blank is graphite with a carbon wrap, which gives it these qualities. The zirconium guide inserts are good for any fishing lines and along with an aluminum reel seat, fights off corrosion while keeping overall weight downwardly.

Okuma'south Nomad rods can be found in EVA or cork-gripped handles, which forth with the 2-tip combination make these ones of the nigh unique and versatile products in the travel rod category. If you travel a lot and want to spend the money on one of the best fabricated and performing rods for that, you'd be hard-pressed to find better than ane of these.

6. Team Lew's Custom Pro Series Casting Rod

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Estimated Price: $230 to $250

Specifications
Length: half dozen'8″, 6'10", seven′, 7'3″, 7'four″, 7'6″, 9′.
Ability: Medium, Medium Heavy, Heavy.
Activity: Moderate Fast, Fast.

Each and every Lew's Custom Pro Series rods is ensured to be precisely made to the highest standard. The blanks are made with LFS-X5 Nano-Technolgy and an 85-million-modulus outer core. This ways that they are on the very upper-cease of rod blanks that evangelize maximum strength and sensitivity with the lightest weight. The wide variety of lengths, power, and activity couplings are ideally suited for all major bass fishing techniques.

All of its features are designed for the best possible fishing experience. The SS316 stainless steel guides assist lines resist tangling, and the zirconium inserts let it cast smooth and far. Skeletal graphite reel seats have a great connection with the blank for extra sensitivity. A-grade cork handles also take EVA inlays for superior comfort and durability, and a claw keeper is conveniently placed on the trigger.

This is a professional level rod designed past, and used by professional person tournament anglers. If you've never used one of this caliber, the precise deportment on these volition completely change your standards.

7. Cadence CR7B Baitcasting Fishing Rod

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Estimated Price: $80

Specifications
Length: 6'6″, 6'9″, 6'10", 7′, 7'iii″, seven'4″, 7'6″.
Power: Medium, Medium Heavy, Heavy.
Action: Moderate, Moderate Fast, Fast, X-Fast.

The Cadence CR7B Baitcasting Rod series offering a serious rod at a reasonable price. Light and sensitive, the blanks are made with 40-Ton carbon in a carbon wrapped veil. The line guides are durable and corrosion-resistant stainless steel with SIC inserts for shine casting, and with Fuji reel seats and cork with EVA foam handles you might be asking yourself why you spent twice equally much on a rod with the same materials.

It's rare that you meet a line of casting rods in and so many varieties at this price, but the Cadency CR7B has a bigger variety of technique-specific rods than other loftier-end brands. Non but that, but a forty-Ton bare is comparable to a high-quality rod at twice the price of this i, for its sheer force and weight, besides.

What brings all of these features down to reality is sensitivity. Also, a picayune stiffer in the actions compared to a loftier-cease model such as St. Croix, their sensitivity is not quite on par. Still, it is a good rod and fun to fish with. It has no problem lasting, either, and can concord upward as a day to 24-hour interval rod for a long time. Very dainty for the value-conscious angler.

8. KastKing Crixus IM6 Baitcasting Rod

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Estimated Price: $40

Specifications
Length: half dozen′, 6'6″, 7′.
Power: Medium, Medium Heavy, Heavy.
Action: Fast.

The ever popular KastKing has a value-oriented product with their Crixus IM6 two-piece casting series. Made from IM6 graphite blanks, the KastFlex engineering has proven to be able to mix durability and performance without hurting your wallet. There are express options available in length and actions, but the few have been chosen for good accommodating technique specifications.

Golf game-manner grips made from polymer provide your hands with practiced leverage and comfort. They are in the dissever-handle design with EVA textile on the butt, so your grip volition stay sure during the cast, hook fix and fight. The guides are the same great quality you'll find on much more expensive rods, made from stainless steel and zirconium inserts. All of these features on top of a durable bare brand the Crixus casting rods good not just for freshwater but the corrosive elements in saltwater line-fishing, too.

The 2-piece design is a nice characteristic for travelers who want to use a casting rod versus the more than abundant two-piece spinners on the market. Although the specs are limited, information technology's a durable, budget-friendly option.

9. KastKing Perigee II Baitcasting Rod

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Estimated Cost: $52 to $73

Specifications
Length: 6′, 6'6″, 6'7″, 7′, vii'1″, 7'four″, vii'6″.
Power: Medium-Lite, Medium, Medium-Heavy, Heavy.
Action: Fast.

There is a lot going on with the KastKing Perigee II Baitcasting Rod serial, but get-go, the blank material is 24-Ton carbon fiber using their KastFlex technology for strength and durability. This is used on both the one-piece and 2-piece models. They as well come with Fuji O-Ring guides, which is overnice on a rod at this price, as well as lightweight and tough graphite reel seats. EVA grips, a hook keeper, and a really handsome carbon-wrapped cease and cosmetics contribute to making this rod actually well put together.

The price compared with the number of options really makes these rods stand up out. They're available in a jumpsuit or two-piece, but the two-piece really comes with a TwinTip bonus to alter out the power rating, from medium-low-cal to medium, or some other choice from medium to medium-heavy. This is highly efficient if you like to travel with a casting rig. KastKing'southward Power Transition System in the connectable joints helps make them feel like a one-piece.

The deportment are unfortunately limited, but a fast tip is the all-time overall fit to the styles of angling most people will utilize these rods for, whether in fresh or saltwater. Everything else is a really cool concept, and KastKing delivers great value with the Crixus series.

x. Piscifun Torrent Baitcasting Rod

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Estimated Toll: $59

Specifications
Length: vi'8″, half dozen'x", vii′, 7'i″, 7'two″, 7'vi″.
Power: Medium, Medium Heavy, Heavy.
Action: Moderate Fast, Fast.

Piscifun'south Torrent Baitcasting serial features IM6 carbon blanks. They offer a proficient range of technique-specific rods for anglers who know what they're doing. The features information technology boasts are familiar on more than high-stop rods, like titanium-oxide guides, graphite reel seats, and foam EVA handles.

At the price-betoken, Piscifun's Torrent series gives good competition to its peers with the precision wrapped guides. Their estimator wrapping process binds them down at four different angles, which are strategically placed forth the rod for a better transition of ability while it bends. This gets the force of the otherwise basic IM6 cloth more than spread out where it needs to be, and gives the rod some exceptional durability. With a limited lifetime warranty, Piscifun shows they stand behind their product.

11. Lew's American Hero IM6 Baitcasting Rod

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Estimated Price: $seventy

Specifications
Length: 7′.
Power: Medium.
Action: Fast.

A great all-around rod that supports a groovy cause, Lew'southward American Hero Baitcasting Rod is fabricated with their exceptional IM6 graphite blanks with multidirectional structure technology. Not only stiff and durable, but their astute sensitivity allows you lot to feel the slightest of nibbles and then yous catch more fish.

The guides are tough stainless steel all around, from the frames to the inserts. It likewise has a graphite reel seat for lighter weight and durability, as well as a claw keeper. The handles are split-grip design with high-density EVA, and so you'll e'er take a firm grip in any conditions. It'due south limited in specs, but it's a true i-size-fits-most. Plus, some of the gain from your purchase volition go towards an American veteran's organization. A Lew's rod at this price, especially if it's in the specifications you're looking for, is a cracking deal.

12. Berkley Shock Baitcasting Rod

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Estimated Price: $43 to $57

Specifications
Length: 6′, 6'half dozen″, 7′, 7′,half-dozen″
Power: Medium, Medium Heavy, Heavy
Action: Moderate Fast, Fast

The Berkely Shock Baitcasting rods are designed specifically to resist the damaging backdrop of a braided fishing line. Braid having no stretch, the tip is supposed to be more than accommodating during your hook set up, and the stainless steel guides accept titanium inserts to cease it from cutting grooves into them. The bare is a carbon blended that provides a lot of durability with some decent sensitivity.

Information technology is surprisingly light, and this is helped by its reel seats existence made out of plastic. The plastic, unfortunately, is non a skilful cloth for reel seats, and yous can bet that too many strong hook sets are going to have bad consequences. The handgrips are condom, which maybe goes into the whole shock-assimilation philosophy, but condom tends to grab clothing and skin more than than EVA or cork, which can exist a problem during a fish fight. It's not the greatest pick or overall value, but you might appreciate it if you lot use a lot of complect.

xiii. KastKing Blackhawk II Scope Baitcasting Rod

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Estimated Price: $54 to $60

Specifications
Length: 6'8″, 7'one″, vii'3″, seven'vi″, 8′.
Ability: Medium, Medium Heavy, Heavy.
Action: Moderate Fast, Fast.

A expert travel rod, especially a telescopic baitcasting 1, is hard to observe. KastKing makes ane of the most popular models on the market today with their newly redesigned Blackhawk II Scope Baitcasting Rod. With their options for powers and actions, as well equally variety in lengths from six'8″ to 8′, this line of rods, are applicable from the creek to surf fishing and can be brought forth hands as you travel so you won't be express no affair your destination.

The 24-Ton carbon-graphite composite blanks also feature a solid fiberglass tip, which goes a long style in enhancing the durability of a sectional rod. The snug-fitting ferrules and floating line guides similarly assistance eliminate "expressionless spots" along with the bare, which is a common hindrance of power in scope rods. When packing, the Blackhawk II compacts downward to 21 inches, and then tin be literally taken with you everywhere whether past plane, railroad train, or motorcar. It's as well light on weight likewise as durable, thanks to the stainless steel guides, graphite reel seat, and EVA cream handles.

Related Article: All-time Scope Rods

14. KastKing Brutus Two Piece Baitcasting Rod

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Estimated Price: $35 to $twoscore

Specifications
Length: 5'vi″, 6′, 6'6″, 7′.
Ability: Medium, Medium-Heavy, Heavy.
Activity: Moderate Fast, Fast.

The two-slice Brutus Baitcasting Rods by KastKing are made "Animal Tuff" by a carbon cobweb graphite fiberglass blend in the blanks. The guides are all stainless steel for durability confronting corrosion, while the guide on the tip has a zirconium band for improve resistance from line grooving.

Other features are a chartreuse-colored strike tip for better bite visibility when lighting is depression, and some fairly handsome criss-crossing wrap design on the blank finish. With the price and other features, it'due south obvious that this is KastKing'south competitor to Shakespeare's Ugly Stik line, albeit in strictly two-slice construction. It has a bit of the same weight problem, with the largest of the casting rods weighing in at over one-half a pound. Information technology is yet an extremely durable rod with some interesting length options, and as well the attractive toll, you'll have a lot of fun with information technology for years to come.

15. St. Croix Mojo Yak Casting Rod

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Estimated Cost: $150 to $160

Specifications
Length: 7′, 7'6″
Ability: Medium, Medium-Heavy
Action: Fast

If yous need a kayak rod with a lot of mojo, you've plant it with St. Croix'due south Mojo Yak Casting Rods. This elegant and mighty rod is fabricated with St. Croix's light and tough SCIII graphite blanks. They accept Kigan Master Hand 3D guides with aluminum rings which are bang-up for casting and slim enough to fit in the kayak without worrying about being damaged, and reduced weight in the tips provides first-class maneuverability that yak anglers require.

There are more premium features designed for kayak line-fishing, too, like a shorter split in the split up-grips to make casting easier and more accurate sitting in your watercraft. The handles are super-tacky and shock absorbent, made in partnership with Winn grips. Fuji reel seats and a Keegan claw keeper also come equipped. These yak rods will highly ameliorate any fisherman'due south performance, their materials and technique-specific specs existence finely tuned and great quality. Fifty-fifty at areund $160, you lot'll know y'all got a fair deal.

xvi. Ugly Stik GX2 Baitcasting Rod

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Estimated Price: $40

Specifications
Length: 5'6″, 6′, 6'6″, 7′, 7'6″
Ability: Medium Light, Medium, Medium-Heavy, Heavy
Pieces: one and 2

The Ugly Stik GX2 Casting Rod by Shakespeare are redesigned models of the original iconic Ugly Stik. They withal utilize a mixture of graphite and fiberglass to make their blanks as stiff as the legendary ones, but in a refined process to brand the GX2 more than sensitive with less weight. So no more than back-breaking labor casting an Ugly Stik on a fourteen hour fishing day. Plus it still comes with a 7-year warranty like the old one, which shows Shakespeare believes these will hold upwardly just as long.

Some of the original Ugly Stik features remain, like the Ugly Tuff one-piece guides fabricated in stainless steel for corrosion resistance, and the Articulate Tip on the end of the rod made of solid fiberglass for added force and sensitivity. The 1-piece steel guides work best with a monofilament line. What is new is a improve rest in the blank blueprint, reducing weight, and more than modern and stylish cosmetics. The options are also available in jumpsuit or two-piece structure. At such a depression price and a name that'due south iconic for force and durability, the Ugly Stik GX2 is ane of the best values out in that location.

17. Ugly Stik Elite Baitcasting Combo

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Estimated Price: $eighty

Specifications
Length: 6'six″.
Ability: Medium Heavy.
Included: i rod, 1 baitcaster reel.

The Ugly Stik Elite casting rod by Shakespeare features 35 percent more graphite in the blank than an Ugly Stik GX2 rod, making it weigh less and be a whole lot more sensitive. The fiberglass mix in the blank construction is however at that place, retaining a lot of the strength that the original Ugly Stik is famous for. Also left the aforementioned from the older models are the Ugly Tuff one-piece stainless steel guides without inserts for added durability, and the Clear Tip, solid glass end for more than sensitivity to strikes.

Besides the added graphite in the rod blank, Ugly Stik adds to the value by including a baitcasting reel with your purchase. It has two ball bearings plus an anti-contrary bearing, an aluminum spool, and magnetic breaks for more command during casting.

While the philharmonic deal is a bit limited, (only one length and power rod bachelor), information technology has expert specifications for use in many techniques. A shorter rod allows for more than accuracy when casting, and the medium-heavy power rating is what's needed for pitching and flipping jigs, too as topwater frogs. Especially for a beginner in these techniques, a casting rod and reel combo around $eighty could exist a smart starter-kit.

18. Lew's Mach Pro Baitcast Philharmonic

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Estimated Price: $180

Specifications
Length: seven'2″
Power: Medium-Heavy
Action: Fast

The Lew's Mach Pro Baitcast Philharmonic pairs two professional-grade pieces of equipment at a very reasonable price. The rod is made from Lew'south high-quality IM8 graphite blanks, which provide the excellent kind of strength and sensitivity that tournament anglers look for. It has the famous American Tackle Microwave Air guides for smoothen, efficient casting, a skeletal reel seat to get you closer to the vibrations coming through the pole, and Winn Dri-Tac polymer on the handles in the split-grip design for condolement and reliability.

The first-class baitcaster reel that is included features a 10-bearing system, including an anti-reverse clutch bearing, all stainless steel, and double shielded construction. The reel sidings are graphite for toughness and depression weight, with magnetic decision-making, Rulon drag, and Winn Dri-Tac polymer on the knobs. The chief gears on the within are contumely, and the spool is high-grade aluminum, ensuring every component of the reel is professional-grade and able to last for years under some tough fishing. For one high-terminate cost, y'all get ii high-finish angling tools, of which the investment will definitely take your fishing to the next level, and make information technology a lot more fun.

Related Commodity: Best Rod and Reel Combos

xix. Bass Pro Shops Signature Baitcast Philharmonic

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Estimated Price: $320

Specifications
Length: 6'9″, 7'i″, 7'4″, 7'six″, 7'x".
Power: Medium, Medium Heavy, Heavy.
Activity: Fast.

This Bass Pro Shops baitcasting setup is the Johnny Morris Platinum Signature serial. It comes every bit a combo that is pro-level equipment. The available reels come in either a lightning-fast recollect gear ratio of 8.three:1, or some serious torque for wrenching bass out of heavy weeds at 6.8:1, in either right or left-handed retrieval positions. All are constructed out of the accented best materials, with aluminum frames and side plates with an indestructible titanium finishing, aluminum spool, Duralumin fabric drive gear, and Duralumin crankshaft. The savvy components in this 11-bearing arrangement include double-shielded balls and Powerlock anti-reverse and handle also made of durable aluminum with soft, EVA grips past Recurve.

The super lightweight Johnny Morris rod is made from blanks they call the RTX5, which has five layers of carbon-graphite composite to make this Platinum Signature series much stronger than the models that came before. The line guides and reel seats are Fuji, and Winn grips circular out this near-perfect rod for superior comfort and treatment.

Many fishermen accept been swayed to the Bass Pro Shops brand, and with the quality inherent in this rod and reel combo, information technology's like shooting fish in a barrel to see why. At a fourth dimension when you tin easily expect to pay $150 for a high-end rod, and over $200 for an equal quality reel, this price tag of just under $320 might make a lot of sense.

xx. 1000. Loomis IMX-Pro Bass Casting Rod

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Estimated Price: $345 to $355

Specifications
Length: 7'one″, vii'five″.
Power: Medium, Medium Heavy, Heavy.
Activeness: Fast, Actress Fast.

The new IMX-Pro Bass Casting Rod Series from G. Loomis has reduced the weight by upwardly to 18 percent compared to its widely pop E6X line. You don't need to worry strength has been compromised, notwithstanding, as the innovations from G. Loomis are e'er on the cutting-edge of technology and blueprint, and these new high-modulus blanks definitely evangelize. Their 7'one″ and seven'5″ Jig and Worm rod are chosen here for existence amid the accented all-time on the market in that application, but the insanely good flex and tapering of rods throughout the new IMX-Pro series are superb technique-specific poles, for topwater, bottom-fishing, and everywhere in-between.

Every characteristic is maximized for performance and comfort included. The cute, AAA-course cork carve up-grip handles are narrowed slightly at the butt-end, improving residual and command. Fuji K-Guides offer superior corrosion-resistance and durability, eliminating all the common reasons for line tangles.

1000. Loomis has always been a name at the front in modern rod construction. The IMX-Pro series is 1 of the best designs to ever come out of their factories and undoubtedly will become legendary in time. If you are looking for a casting rod in the upper-tier of the elite category, this ane is there and will gear up yous apart.

Information on Baitcasting Rods

Baitcasting Rod Activity

You lot may take heard of a rod'south taper used interchangeably with its action, and that'southward because how much of the rod's fabric diminishes from the butt to the tip affects its stiffness and how information technology bends. This tapering is the principal cause of rod flexing, with the material of the bare and how tightly wound together being contributing factors, as well.

Dissimilar actions in baitcasting rods are platonic for different techniques, and peculiarly for hook sets and how you're going to fight a fish in society to land information technology. Activeness ratings typically range from boring, moderate, and fast, with some combinations similar moderate-fast, and extra-fast. They may make more than sense to remember of how soon a rod snaps back into being straight when you bend information technology and permit go, and are measured similar this.

Description of Rod Deportment

Tedious: also known as "parabolic" just like the graphs you saw in high schoolhouse algebra, these rods will bend easily from the tip to the butt-terminate. This activeness is dandy for casting small lures long distances, and fighting fish that brand difficult runs toward you or the boat, assuasive you more "play" without much risk of the rod breaking from sudden bending pressure. What will exist a problem, however, is having enough pressure to set a large hook easily into the fish'southward mouth.

Moderate: bends at the middle of the rod and loads upward well with modest to medium-sized lures. This activeness goes well with crankbaits with tree hooks. The moderate activeness is slow enough to permit a bass go its lips effectually those gummy trebles before y'all've pulled the rod away in a claw prepare- a common frustration using a fast action rod for this technique.

Fast: begins angle closer at the tip, and therefore the rod straightens much quicker when pressure is released. Fast activity rods have a lot more backbone support behind the flex, providing good claw sets and strong lifting capacity. In bass angling, this is a adept all-effectually rating, providing much more than sensitivity, too.

Baitcasting Rod Power

Likewise known as rod weight, power ratings indicate how much pressure applied to a rod it takes in society to go far flex. They range from ultra-calorie-free to extra-heavy and correspond primarily with the weight of the line, lures or baits, and boosted tackle your rod is designed to throw. There is no exact industry standard, and so the power rating and its corresponding lure and line weights vary slightly from brand to make, merely on nigh rods, yous volition observe both printed somewhere along the stick.

Advantages of Baitcasting Rods

The main advantages of using a baitcasting rod as opposed to a spinning rod are more accurate casting, heavier line-fishing line, and control. Lures can exist set up softly into the water exactly where you want them to be placed.

Line comes off of a baitcaster with more control than a spinning reel, in a straight motion towards your intended target off the spool as opposed to united nations-coiling. The casting rod's line guides are therefore much smaller in diameter, assuasive for a more accurate controled cast. With the stiffness of a casting rod and the mechanics of casting reels, heavier lines tin can exist used with reduced risk of breaking offline or snapping the pole while fishing.

Your control of the line on a casting rod is much improved versus a spinning rig. Unlike casting techniques can exist employed at brusque distances, like "pitching" lures into dense embrace where fish are suspected to be, silently and accurately. Likewise, while fighting a fish, a single finger can manage the amount of drag past placing it over the spool, minimizing the time you demand to brand last-second adjustments.

Best Length for Baitcasting Rods

Long-distance casting is synonymous with long rods, and you will rarely find a baitcasting rod shorter than six feet. But the huge amount of specific line-fishing techniques out there still ways a wide range of rod lengths to cull from. Lakes, creeks, oceans, on a boat, on a banking concern, wading in the surfcasting rods offering the angler to cast a reasonable altitude and accept better control of the line mail service-cast. And then where and how you lot'll exist fishing determines if a 6'6″ or nine′-fourteen′ pole will be more efficient.

If you are a surf fisherman, a longer pole will be advantageous to be able to cast beyond the breakwaters where a lot of ocean species of fish similar to hang out. Surf fishing rods are mostly the longest of the bunch, in the nine to the fourteen-foot range.

When targeting a species like bass at the lake, most anglers have on hand several rods of unlike lengths (likewise as ability and action ratings), because the fish can oftentimes exist found in different locations, deep and shallow, in the open or hidden in the cover. Most of the fourth dimension a range of vi to viii-human foot poles is used. A shorter rod, in the low six-foot surface area, is adept at permitting the fisherman to take amend control in techniques like walking a frog and skipping lures under docks and low hanging branches. Both crave the rod to be worked close to the water'south surface, so a longer rod might be more than prone to inadvertently hitting the water and ruining the lure's action.

Many things are taken into business relationship when selecting the rod length, but ane of the about important is the fisherman'southward own preference. Your height might hateful you lot can wield a long pole in close quarters more finer, or a shorter one. Depository financial institution fishermen often have to contend with tree branches directly to a higher place them, and all around them, making too long of a pole impracticable to cast. Trial and error are the main keys to determining which size rod is best for y'all.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the all-time baitcasting rod for bass?

The best baitcasting rods for bass are made with high modulus graphite and should have a power rating anywhere from medium to heavy with an activity rating of fast. A power from medium to heavy is most efficient for the lifting and hook setting ability required for this lively species. That is non to say that bass, and even big-sized ones, cannot exist caught on light or ultralight rods. However, you take a chance losing a off-white amount of claw setting power.

A fast action rod will exist useful for bass fishing the bulk of the time. The way a fast rod flexes closer to the tip of the rod provides a lot of support from the rest of the pole for hook sets, lifting ability, and overall control of the fish. The general consensus for i particular technique, however, is that a slower action is better when using crankbaits. A moderate to moderate-fast flex happens more than at the middle of the rod, allowing the bass to get better contact with a lure that is being retrieved (and normally in an erratic pattern of movement) before the angler pulls the rod for a hook set.

What type of lures work best with a baitcasting rod?

The basic rule is that baitcasters are used with fishing lines that are ten pounds and upwardly, and spinning rods when casting distance is nigh of import. This would mean that heavier lures, likewise, are used for baitcasters. But all basic "types" of lures can exist used on both, whether topwater, jigs, Carolina and Texas rigs, cranks, spinners or jerk baits, etc. Almost bass fishermen prefer using a baitcaster for its control and castability, so if they can get abroad with information technology, that is what they'll choose.

It is all nigh efficiency. Smaller lines are less visible to fish, and in many circumstances, it is necessary to reduce visibility and increase stealth equally much as possible. On low visibility weather condition, even so, like cloudy days and murky water, yous might be able to get abroad with using a heavier line or even straight complect for many techniques you'd usually go about with more finesse. What baitcasters definitely accept over spinning rigs, though, are speed and power. Big topwater lures like frogs, buzz baits and spooks, and pitching and flipping jigs, on their ain these techniques should be reserved for baitcasters.

What rods do pro bass fishermen apply?

The aforementioned ones you can purchase off the shelf. This question has been posed many times at tournaments like the Classic, and people nevertheless have the misconception that professional bass anglers get some kind of suped-up reels and elite rods from their sponsors. Besides the concept gear they are asked to work on with them they accept zippo not available to you lot.

Y'all exercise not see besides many professionals using the lower end models, simply nearly brands offer different products at dissimilar cost ranges, and the more costly setups is what they typically use. Well-known rod manufacturers like St. Croix, Lew'southward, Duckett, Abu Garcia, Daiwa, and Shimano are pop on the tours. Scott Martin, a very well known FLW fisherman, uses Okuma rods. They sometimes switch brands once their promotion contracts are up, but all the rods they employ are bachelor to anyone with a couple of hundred dollars to spend.

Do baitcasting reels cast further than spinning reels?

In most cases spinning reel with bandage further. However, there are several casting leagues and tournaments throughout the world that show baitcasting reel setups casting farther. In 2022, Volition Nash set the American record for casting a 100-gram lead weight 873.06 anxiety, which is almost the length of three football fields. He did it using a Primary Xtreme 530CXS baitcaster, and a rod made by Zziplex at 14 feet and four inches long.

For people who are not practicing tape-breaking casting distances with super technical course gear, a spinning reel will likely bandage further. The technique is extremely of import, as casting a spinning or a baitcaster rod is a little different. Casting a spinner is a whipping motion, while a baitcaster is more of a lob. The kind of line on the spool matters, too, as different weights and frictions can speed up or deadening it down. Braided lines generally bandage the smoothest, and furthest.

Some people will argue which type of reel will cast further. Baitcasters are notoriously difficult to learn how to cast with at commencement, and no dubiousness some people are just always going to be more successful sticking to the simpler spinning gear. The mechanics of baitcasters can be ready up to be superior for casting far.

What type of line should be used with baitcasting rods?

Baitcasters are designed for heavy fishing lines, usually starting at ten pounds and upwards. Every rod has a ability rating, all the same, which indicates how much weight is necessary in social club to make information technology flex, and using a line likewise heavy or too low-cal as specified will either negatively affect its casting ability, or possibly fifty-fifty cause the rod to suspension.

There is no industry standard for power ratings. A medium heavy rod from St. Croix might be noticeably different from a medium-heavy rating on a Shakespeare, but this is why most brands print both a power rating and a line and lure weight on each rod. The line and lure weight should exist followed considering this is the maximum amount of weight the manufacturer has found tin be used with the rod before information technology fails, either in performance or more catastrophically with breakage.

This is but an average estimate, only generally, a rod that has a medium-heavy power will too say its line weight is 12-25 pounds, and its lure weight is i-4 ounces. A heavy ability rod might say information technology's line weight is 20-40 pounds, with a lure weight of 4-viii ounces. As long as you practice non become above the high ends of these specifications, your rod should exist fine.

That said, baitcasting rods can handle all types of fishing lines including monofilament, fluorocarbon, or braid. Braided lines can potentially cause some farthermost damage to line guides, as the thin diameter and heavier weight capacity can crusade grooving into a rod's guide inserts. This is a common trouble when using a rod with cheaper components, such equally stainless steel guides. Better rods use ceramics and other materials for their guides, and resist grooving very well.

How Practise Yous Cast a Baitcasting Rod?

Birdnesting a baitcast reel is extremely frustrating, and even if you become a pro at casting it's still going to happen from time to time. As well learning the proper casting technique, it will salve a lot of trouble if y'all first calibrate the reel with the weight of the lure you are about to throw. It sounds abrasive to have to practice this, but it does not have to be exact and is very simple. The object is to be able to depress the spool release button, and with the rod pointed in the 10 o'clock position, your lure then smoothly, and slowly, descends towards the footing. If it falls besides fast, yous will get a birdnest correct then and at that place, as well slowly and you won't be able to cast as far.

Different models of baitcasters have unlike features, like magnetic and friction brakes, centrifugal systems, etc., and then you'll need to play around with adjusting these until your reel and lure are calibrated correctly. Once that is done, it is safe to try and properly brand a cast. There are different casts you can make with a baitcaster similar a ane-handed curlicue cast, pitching, flipping, but the most cardinal is the overhead cast.

The Overhead Cast

To begin, start with some line already out, so that the lure is hanging well-nigh ix to twelve inches from the rod tip. Ane hand should exist on the rear grip, and your dominant hand goes upfront with function of that pollex simultaneously depressing the spool release push and the line around the spool at the same time.

Your dominant paw is adjacent brought upwardly and dorsum towards that side's shoulder, your elbow is bent in a correct angle pointing directly at your target, and the rod tip tilts a petty past vertical behind you. At that place is no whipping motion as with a spinning rod, but instead, a sweeping move as you jerk the rod frontwards until the dominant arm is fully extended at a 45-degree bending with the reel at eye level, lobbing the lure to its destination.

The tip of the thumb keeping the line against the spool is loosened just enough halfway into this move to plumage the line as it comes out, keeping it in check and so that the lure does not overshoot, or a birds nest does not course as it strikes the water. When y'all are satisfied with where the lure is positioned, a simple hair-plow of the reel handle re-engages the spool release button and locks information technology.

How Do You lot Pitch With a Baitcaster?

This is an extremely exciting way to fish for bass hiding in cover, and done correctly it provides a stealthy presentation that tends to catch mostly large fish. It is but difficult at first, and hard to understand the concept and intricacies until you lot endeavour information technology for yourself.

Different fishermen recommend different lengths of rod for this, simply it all comes down to personal preference. The length of a rod yous tin can utilise, yet, the further distance you lot can become with this cast. Information technology tends to work best with a medium-heavy to heavy powered baitcasting rod, vii-pes or longer, and a fast action tip. You lot will do good from a heavier line, either solid complect or braid with a fluorocarbon leader works best when these fish try to bury themselves deeper.

The expectation is pinpoint accuracy and serenity entry. You see an opening through a mat of grass or tree trunks, and you desire to pitch a jig into it without spooking the fish. First, depress the spool release push button and let your lure fall until it is exactly level with the reel when the rod is in the 12 o'clock position.

Then, rotate the pole and so that the reel faces sideways, towards the non-dominant hand which is holding the lure. Of course, your dominant thumb is interim every bit a intermission, preventing any more line from coming out, and it will stay like this until the end movement of the cast. The other hand should be able to pull on the lure without pulling out more line, and this pulling pressure betwixt both the rod and lure are actually going to assist launch the jig into your target, almost in the same fashion a catapult works.

You do not desire to pull too difficult. Just enough that the rod tip almost flexes, but doesn't. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart and slightly staggered, with the dominant side forward. Now, the rod tip is facing downward, reel facing inward, and your elbow up and out at an awkward angle while the hand clutching the lure (beneath the claw, no fingers in front of it, for safety) is down and slightly pulling information technology towards your back.

Both hands so move towards the target, still applying pulling pressure on one another until the release, where you let get of the lure and the spool (feathering the line with the thumb as it comes out) and the rod tip is extended frontwards, all in a fluid, sweeping movement. When perfected, the lure should enter the h2o with minimal splash or racket, and jigged upwardly and downward to elicit activeness and a strike.

Tin can Flipping Be Done With a Baitcaster?

Flipping can definitely exist done with a baitcaster, and with even more control than a spinning rod and reel. Also, flipping or pitching techniques are designed for getting bass out of dense cover in shallow water, like disordered grass and submerged tree branches, so a baitcaster is perfectly suitable for employ with the tough, heavier lines necessary to do this.

The proper length of rod and distance away from the cover y'all're line-fishing depends somewhat on the individual fisherman'south height, and what he'due south comfortable using. A rod somewhere around vii to seven and a half feet works all-time for this application. Twenty-pound braided line or stronger is commonly recommended, but some people find fluoro or braided line with a fluoro leader successful.

To start, you need to take enough line out that yous are able to pull enough in your free mitt straight off of the spool until your arm is fully extended out to your side, and also enough line hangs off of the rod tip until your lure of choice rests in the air evenly with the reel. Unlike people have different wingspans, so how much line this really comes out to will vary.

Your dominant hand volition remain on the rod and reel equally always, with the thumb acting as a break against the spool, while the other hand is holding the excess line from between the spool and first guide ring. Y'all will turn the dominant wrist so that the reel faces inward, towards the mitt holding line, and begin lifting and lowering the rod tip so that the freely hanging lure swings dorsum and forth. As y'all underhand swing the rod tip downward, you the other manus pulls its line out to your side. As y'all underhand swing the rod tip up, that other paw comes in towards the reel while the line slides through its fingers.

Do that motion a few times to warm upward or get the hang of. When you lot actually make the cast and send the lure to the target, it volition exist as you are underhand swinging the rod tip up, so the other hand volition be releasing its line dorsum to the reel, providing more than distance. Information technology works similar to a pendulum, building up enough pressure but with plenty control to ease the lure into the target zone, with minimal splash or noise.

What Materials Are Used To Make Baitcasting Rods?

The best casting rods today are made primarily out of graphite, which was first produced by the Fenwick rod company in the 1970's. Graphite provides the best sensitivity and strength while also being lightweight of all the materials used for rods, just the construction process can be very complex, and not all graphite rods are made to the same standards. Companies similar Yard. Loomis and St. Croix follow a lot more steps than others making graphite rods.

Extreme temperatures are needed to piece of work the graphite, and good rod makers are trying to do 2 things to it, create tensile strength, and tensile modulus, which equate to strain and stiffness. Creating enough heat to exercise this is expensive on its own, but the remainder has to be struck between them, or else you lot get companies offer cheaper rods that advertise as having loftier modulus graphite which breaks easily from lack of tensile strength.

The graphite is then layered, and another balance has to be made between that and the resin added which holds them together. Too much or as well little of either tin can make a rod also soft or besides heavy, and, again, there is non much industry standard so some companies skip steps and cut corners, merely still advertise to the consumer every bit having used the same materials equally a respected rod maker did. Information technology is a very complicated procedure, with the materials used is only part of the story. Someone looking to buy a good casting rod must be very diligent in understanding the finished product.

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Captain Cody has worked on charter angling boats in the Florida Keys, Virgin Islands, and Alaska. Growing up in Pennsylvania Cody has also washed extensive freshwater line-fishing including bass fishing tournaments. Cody strives to provide detailed information about the all-time angling gear and tactics to help both novice and experienced anglers have a more productive and enjoyable fourth dimension on the water. Cody besides has a groundwork in aerospace engineering and neuroscience simply really just takes pride in being good at one thing and that is line-fishing!