budget swim bait gear

barse41 · Post by **barse41** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 4:56 pm

what are some good swimbait rods n reels that arent too expensive $100 range. I tried to get by using my heavy jig rod, on my third cast my huddleston went about 60 yards and the end of my line went ten yards. abu garcia c3? shimano cardiff? shimano corvalus? daiwa millionare? rods?

TTCal · Post by **TTCal** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:19 pm

for rods, I'd give Okuma a real close look. Very good value for their swimbait rods.

DeltaDan · Post by **DeltaDan** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:28 pm

DeltaLuke got a Punker for his Birthday this last 27th. I have an older ABU 6300 he can use -- Or an ABU ProMax 6500. The reel is his chice -- as well as an ABU C3 to put on #80 braid.

Still looking for a rod for him to spend his monies on for a rod to match and work that bait correctly .... I just dont know what would be best for him yet with that bait and the line that we will be putting on it.

He really wants a Steve Birckman Custom rod for Jig's .... If I can talk him into using one of my Berkely PowerPoles for the Punker .. He is only $40 away from purchasing one.

..... But DeltaLuke will be broke again and my wife is trying to get him to save. -- I told DeltaLuke that that strategy has not worked on me at all this past year.

blkdog812 · Post by **blkdog812** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:20 pm

300 size cardiff for the reel and the heavy action from okuma for the rod

bassindon69 · Post by **bassindon69** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:11 pm

Yep, Okuma H or XH 7'6 or Okuma 7'11" XH and a Cardiff 300 or 400 For the buck I am not sure if it can be beat. If so good luck with that rig too

.
Hmmmmm the price is the only thing budget. These rigs will get it done just fine for sure.\
Best of luck!

Don.

myrtle · Post by **myrtle** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:56 am

I am currently using a gander mountain musky rod that I bought for $60 and a C3 and it works fine. Especially after I put some of the extreme gear + lube in it.

ash · Post by **ash** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 5:21 am

+2 On the Okuma XH matched with my Abu Garcia 5600C and its a killer setup complete for under $200.00

SethB · Post by **SethB** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:17 am

'nother vote for the Cardiff and Okuma.

BIG DADDY BLUE RANGER · Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:37 am

Okuma 711 XH
ABU C3 5500 or 6500,,,,, these r some of the most durable/reliable reels on the planet and cheap too.......spend $15 more and put a power handle on em,,, you'll definately appreciate the handle when you stick a toad

Tin Can · Post by **Tin Can** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:06 am

Love the Okuma. I have the 7' 11" XH. I've used a Corvalus and a Abu C3, the Corvalus will wear out pretty quick. I still use it over the C3 just because it's more comfotable to me, but it's not going to last that long being beaten up like this.

When I first started getting into SB's I got a 8' 6" inshore casting rod, it worked ok but wasn't quite enough for some of the bigger soft baits. I would definitely get a SB rod, it makes it way easier to toss these giant baits for any long period of time. The Okuma's are right around 100 bucks. Very good rods for the price.

bpm2000 · Post by **bpm2000** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:49 am

dont sleep on the okuma induron reels as well.

Sacto John · Post by **Sacto John** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:54 pm

I agree with bmp, the Okuma Induron are very nice and inexpensive jut like the wonderful swimbait rods that they build.

bassenvy · Post by **bassenvy** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:31 pm

Go with Okuma XH for hudds they have some of the best customer service in the business.

if you need a reel pm me I've got some extra's for sale

sean alarid · Post by **sean alarid** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 2:47 pm

Sacto John wrote:I agree with bmp, the Okuma Induron are very nice and inexpensive jut like the wonderful swimbait rods that they build.

+1
I have two of these setups and love them!!!

deltabassangler · Post by **deltabassangler** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:22 am

Looks like Okuma is the unanimous choice rod for swimbait!!

Greg_Cornish · Post by **Greg_Cornish** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:27 am

barse41 wrote:...my huddleston went about 60 yards and the end of my line went ten yards....

Curious to what would cause this that would be rod or reel specific!

davetNitro · Post by **davetNitro** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:14 am

you may want to check out the Matt Newman swim bait rods,
$10 bucks cheaper than okuma, and Matt Newman may have caught more swim bait fish than anyone...

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descpageRIGSBR-FMNR.html

Josh St.John · Post by **Josh St.John** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 7:06 pm

I checked out one of the Matt Newman rods This week and they look and feel great.
They have a real nice moderate bend to them and they are pretty light as well. They seem like they would load up reel nice.
I will be buying one this coming week for sure for a new 8" Hudd rod.
Josh
http://www.thewiredangler.com/

RogerB · Post by **RogerB** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:14 pm

You want a budget swim-bait outfit (rod & reel) for $100? Hereâ€™s what Iâ€™ve been using for the last several years:
Bass Pro Shops Graphite Series 7 Â½ foot flipping stick, Heavy actionâ€¦â€¦â€¦$19.95 (on sale, theyâ€™re normally $29.95 but if you wait, theyâ€™ll be offered at $19.95.) This is a glass-graphite composite that is virtually unbreakable. I got two of them and modified them as follows:
On one, I cut 6 inches off the top and mounted a new tip-top. This makes a 7â€™ rod that handles mid-size swim-baits very well.
On the second, I cut 12 inches off the top and mounted a new tip-top. This makes a 6 Â½ foot rod that handles the heavy swim-baits very well. Does it provide the leverage and casting power of a 7'11' heavy action Okuma...certainly not. Does it enable me to cast heavy swim-baits far enough to make effective casts and retrieves...yep.
Because these are inexpensive (read â€“ cheap!) rods, they have fewer-than-normal guides. I solve that by adding similar-sized guides between the originalsâ€¦a simple, quick task if you know how to wrap and finish guides on rods.

Do either of these cast as well as the Okumaâ€™sâ€¦probably not. Have they enabled me to effectively cast a wide range of swim-baits up to and including the 12â€