Swimbait Rod

[stcroix]

What is the best swimbait rod for the money? I'm new to the swimbait thing and don't want to spend a bunch of money on a rod, I'm not sure how much I will use it.

[185vsfrog]

I would have to say for the money that the Okuma Guide Select series 711H is the best swimbait rod for the money. $99 bucks you cant go wrong and the quality on this rod is nice. Action is almost perfect and the nice long butt section makes long distance casting easy. Or try the same rod in the 711XH fro the heaviest of applications. Great for the chuck and wind........

[JRock]

I second both of the above mentioned rods. I tried to get bye with my flipping sticks but after seeing one of my flipping sticks start to fall apart I purchased the 711XH. I was so impressed with this rod for the price I immediately went out and got the 711H.
As you can read I'm very happy I made both purchases, these rods even come with alconite guides.

[biggyd]

You can't go wrong with Okuma. Also check out the anticipated Dobyns Swimbait rods when they come out....middle of August last I heard. They'll be more expensive but I'm sure they'll be nice too.

[bassindon69]

Can't beat Okuma. I use 7'6" and 7'11" XH. Thats all I use.

Don.

[MaddMaggs]

My $.02...nothing new from above. I just recieved my first SB rod and at the urging of my fellow NutCases I went with the Okuma 7'6" Heavy Guide Series. Let me tell you this rod is AWESOME.

PS Thanks guys this is one heck of a rod.

[froteur]

okuma

[L Dub]

I think I'm going to bite the bullet also... Which one though? I'm looking at the 7'6" Heavy. Any reasons I should get the XH?

Probably gonna pair it with a Cardiff 300.

[Sacto John]

Depends on what you are planning to throw. If you are going to primarily toss Hudds then go with the XH. Mainly wake baits then the H should work. Here are the suggestions from the Okuma website

GS-C-761MH - Smaller hardbaits and swimbaits (Mattlures Bluegills, Rago hard Raptor, 5-7 inch Triple Trout and 6-8 inch Castaic Platinums, 9 inch MS Slammers, Megabait LA Sliders)

GS-C-761H - Medium sized swimbaits and hardbaits (Huddleston Deluxe, 10 inch Triple Trout, 12 inch MS Slammer, 10 inch Castaic Platinum)

GS-C-761-XH - Large swimbaits (9 and 10 inch Stocker Trout, 12 inch Castaic Baits, Huddleston Deluxe, Rago Live Trout Softbait, Mattlures Trout)

GS-C-7111MH - Smaller swimbaits and hardbaits (Mattlures Bluegill & Bass, 7 inch MS Slammers, 6 inch Castaic Platinum, 7 inch Stocker Trout, Rago Bluegill, Megabait LA Sliders)

GS-C-7111H - Medium sized simbaits and large hardbaits (9 & 12 inch MS Slammers, 10 inch Triple Trout, 10 inch Castaic Platinum, Rago Hard Raptor)

GS-C-7111XH - Large Swimbaits (9 & 10 inch Stocker Trout, 12 inch Castaic Baits, Huddleston Deluxe, Rago Live Trout Softbait, Mattlures Trout)

[L Dub]

Thanks John... I think I'm primarily throwing Hudds, but I'm probably gonna get a BBZ and maybe a few other things (mission fish).

[bassindon69]

Good points John
I take 5 rods with me too 7'6"XH , 7'6"XH, 7'6"XH, 7'11"XH and 7'11"XH. I think my next one will be 7'11"XH LOL!!
How ya been buddy?

Don.

[L Dub]

see, you guys are Cr-AZY! I just can't bring myself to get that many dedicated rods for one type of bait! Plus I'd have to get the reels to go with each one?! Damn... If only I had tommorows paper today! Anyone ever see 'Daily Edition'?

Maybe when I get a boat, it'll be a different story. But we'll have to see if I have any money leftover from gas, insurance, storage and other stuff...

[Sacto John]

I only have two dedicated swimbait rods a H and XH (both 7'6), but I also have a 7'3 MH rod that I use for smaller swimbaits most of the time. I will most likely be buying a 7'11MH Okuma soon.

[ONTHETHING !!!]

Bassindon when you go out are thoose the only rods on your deck ? I would assume with diff types of baits depending on the flavor of swimbait fishing your doing. Personally I own 1 srod and still working on my confidence to throw it longer . I dont get out a lot so catching fish takes over wanting to get that hog. How many trips did it take you to not pick up another rod other than a srod ?When you go out now is that all you throw? I have a nice sbait collection but not the fish to match it ! ONTHETHING !!!

[bassindon69]

Hey Onthething.
Yes, when I go out 90% of the time that's what is in my boat. The only time there is other stuff is when I take someone who may get bored with the swimbaits. I have found that if you ONLY have swimbait rods and swimbaits to use then you have no choice but to use only them (if you don't use them you don't get them). Because in the last 30 min of the day and you have had it up to your neck with playing toy trout all day, you give up and try to just catch a fish with other baits, right? If that was the time that you would have got a hit on a swimbait, you missed out. I have gone all day and right at the end of the day I get a good one (it's well worth it to me). I have been tempted by the other stuff when its on the boat too LOL!!! It only took one trip, First trip out it took 4 hours of nothing then boated a 5+, That's all it took. Once I got my first Hudd I was done. I Just like the power of the XH with a big fish on the other end. Yes, I am Crazy but that's because the fishing has made me that way LOL!!! That or to much sun LOL!!!
Best of luck!
Don.

[185vsfrog]

L Dubb for the Hudd and BBZ you will be happy with the 711XH. You can throw all day and not get tired.

[L Dub]

Thanks for the input. I guess I'll have to take an extra long look at the XH then. I was planning on getting it this weekend, but it looks like I'm of to Reno for the weekend!!! I guess I have a weakness for bikinis and dice!!! Woohoo!!!

Hopefully I'l be purchasing a (couple) new rods with my winnings!

Has anyone checked out the Airrus Ultra XL? I'm thinking about getting one of those for my crankbaits. Looks pretty sweet!

[George Roth]

It was interesting to read this post regarding swimbait rods. I didn't realize that Okuma was so popular. I hadn't done much swimbait fishing until I fished the Delta this spring. As a custom rod builder, I don't have access to those blanks.

What I have used are the Rogue BB 796 / 807 / 808 blanks. When using the Mission Fish, I used the BB 796 and it worked great. For the larger baits, I've used the BB 807. I've never actually thrown a BIG bait on the BB 808.

My question to you guys is how do the Rogue or Lamiglas BB blanks compare to the Okuma. Is it the blank that is the Okuma strong point, or the price? My intention is to learn all I can about a technique that I don't employ much, in Idaho.

Thank you for your time!

George

[basstamer]

I have a Okuma GSC 761 for sale! It is brand new-only problem is the hook hanger got bent up a bit.....$100.00 rod @ Tackle Warehouse-make me an offer and if your close I will even deliver it! Headed to the Bay area next Saturday even! Tight Lines-
Scott

[Jerry]

I picked up a RFXC 7911 Redington and a Shimano Cardif and absoultely love the combo for around $200. I have yet to catch a swimbait fish but have had many followers, even on my own swimbait size crankbaits. I know a big fish is out there waiting for me, so I won't give up!!

[Phil]

OKUMA HERE $ 100.00 OUT THE DOOR ! ALWAYS ON ORDER CAN'T KEEP ENOUGH OF THEM !!

[JRock]

George,

I chose Okuma because of what I've heard from other swimbait anglers and the price of'course. From what I have heard and from my own experiences while using the rods they fish great and just feel right. I'm a beginner when it comes to swimbaits so I wasn't exactly willing to spend too much money on a specialty rod right out of the gates.
From a marketing perspective I believe there are a large group of guys just like myself who are not ready to spend top dollar on a rod that they are not even sure how much their going to use. My Okuma gives me peace of mind on several fronts, one that I'm actually using a rod designed for the bait I'm throwing, and two that I didn't have to pay over $100.00 for a quality rod. So far I couldn't be happier with my purchase.

Jrock

[big bass beckstrom]

I have heard good things about the okuma but I have the St.Croix Legend tournament series rod. The funny thing is that it will weigh less than some of the baits you will be throwing . If you are going to throw swimbaits all day this is your rod. And pair that with a Daiwa Luna 400 and 65# braid or 25# mono and you are ready to go throw swimbaits.

tight lines,
elliott

[bassfan408]

The Okuma Guide Select is no doubt the best swimbait rod for your buck but if you can spare $60 more you can pick up the Shimano Crucial 7'11" XH rod and to me the lightest but yet strongest rod out of all the swimbait rods on the market. It is very good for throwing Hudds, Ragos and other big baits that weigh 4-7oz. Top that off with a Shimano Calutta 400 or a Cardiff 300 with 25lb Florocarbon and your ready to go. I chuck those big baits a mile with that set up and trust me you don't want to see your rod snap or watch your Hudd fly off on your first cast with the wrong set up. Its a heartbreaker.


Tight Lines,

[big bass beckstrom]

Lloyd what are you talking about . Crucial best rod on the market . You should know better than that. And you cant throw Slammers, AC's, or wakebaits with Flouro.


tight lines,
Elliott