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Posts: 585
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland | I will be fishing the Kennebec River (Maine)for Smallmouth's (sorry - no Toothycritters there) about the third week in May. Interested in purchasing a couple of two-piece spinning rods. I want a rod for throwing small jigs (up to 3/8 ounces and another rod for throwing minnow-type lures (Rapala types in the 4"-6" size). I have several one-piece rods (I prefer them to two-piece), but need the two-piece rods for storage purposes. I want rods that will match up with the Shimano 2000 sized reels. Something in the $50-100 range each. Any suggestions? Thanks |
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Posts: 1046
| Mkid,I my self am an avid(diehard)Smallie fisher and for the past several years have been using the 7'med. LightingRod 2pc. coupled with a Shimano 4000 Sedona for crank`in.I don`t like the 2000`s spool size for cranks,alot less distance and less line pick-up.This set-up in a typical season catches more then 100+ smallies and preforms flawlessly on up to 22 1/4" 6+# last season on a bandit w/10# Trilene XL,cheaper set-up,but a great one! For jigging I still like my St.CroixPreimer 6'0" MH 1pc Shimano 2000,6#purple Stren for jigging,gotta have that good feel.I myself can`t wait as our pre-spawn smallie fishing will start in a couple weeks!As Al Linder says,The best fisherman are muliti-sepecies fisherman! Good luck! Handy |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | I'm also a smallie junky(happen to fish the same waters as handyman), and would fish them more here, if they hadn't surpassed their awesome peak in the early nineties. I agree with jeff that a 6'6" is a good spinner. I just picked up one of the new Rapala rods(6'6"), and it is a sweet rod for the money(about 30-40 bucks depending on sales and it does come in a two piece). It was a toos up between that and a lightinin rod, and they didn't have the lighting rod in the weight I wanted there. I also use the 2000 size reels, and love them(I respool alot, so it is a bit cheaper), but the 4000 do cast further as Jeff said, and hold more line(the only thing that keeps me using the 2000 more is the cheapness of respooling a few times a spring on the god forsaken rocky terrain I fish). I however like a baitcaster quite often for cranks(bandits, fat raps, rebel craws, and manns hot lips are some of my favs) and pre rigged worms(bills, The worm etc.). I use a curado reel spooled with 10# on a 7' medium light action cabelas fish eagle II. I've been using Strens new magna flex line this year and really like it so far(don't pay the big bucks for it though, as I've found it for 6 bucks a 330 spool).
Edited by Reef Hawg 3/29/2003 2:56 PM
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Posts: 585
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland | Thanks. I also have the Stradic 4000 (I think it has been discontinued) and will give it a try for the crankbaits. |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | I don't fish for smallmouths, but I do fish for largemouths. I really like my 6'6" all-star medium action. Mine is a 1-piece, but i'm sure they make 2. I have caught many bass on it, and even a muskie on it. I believe they retail for around $100. (i got mine for $14 at a closing kmart) |
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Posts: 585
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland | Great - I know the All-Stars are good rods. |
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| If you don't want to spend a bundle but want a nice rod go for the low end St. Croix. I have a 2 piece 6'6" casting rod that I love for bass (even used it for spring steelies)Fast action, medium power, 10-17 lb line, 1/4-3/4 oz lures. PC66MF2 St Croix Premier (about $90). Hard to find good quality rods in two piecers these days. |
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Smallmouth Rods Suggestion