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Posts: 6
| I am a bass guy, not many musky swimmin around in Georgia, but I throw alot of "big baits" as far as us bass guys are concerned. My main bait is the 8" Huddleston trout. It is a soft plastic bait with a stock single jig hook, tho I sometimes use 1/0 trebles on top. They weigh between 4 and 5oz. They make some swimbait rods, but I am looking for something longer than 8' and it seemed natural to ask the musky experts.
So basic wish list:
8'6" or 9'
enough back bone to set and handle the bait and fish
I have looked at the Okuma EVX 861t heavy, but i am wandering in the dark here.
Thanks
NGaHB |
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Posts: 578
| If you are looking for a musky rod, I would suggest you to look at Tackle Industries rods. For the money, they are hard to beat. I am sure you will hear others on here say the same. Muskies will eat those Huddleston baits too! |
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Posts: 578
| Sorry, I have been drinkin some tonight. Check out Tackle Industires for a rod that will handle bass swimbaits.
http://www.tackleindustries.com/
Good luck! |
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Posts: 6
| Thanks for the late night reply
I have seen them, and though they sounded decent. I dont see a heavy, only a MH and a XH. I know the hudds would be on the low end of the XHs range, but would it handle 4.5oz alright? itd be nice to have the headroom to handle some of the larger baits I have too.
Thanks again
NGaHB |
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Posts: 286
Location: VA | Tackle Industries 9 ft 3-12oz Hard to beat |
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Posts: 6
| I'd hate to see a hudd after a musky got dont chewing on it! |
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Posts: 6
| Mullhead - 2/8/2012 11:28 PM
Tackle Industries 9 ft 3-12oz Hard to beat
So you figgure it would throw jst 4.5oz alright?
not trying to question, you know better than me. Just trying to get an idea about these rods as the ratings on musky rods seem to be alot wider than with bass rods.
Thanks
NGaHB |
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| The XH would work beautifully. The MH will work well too. It really depends on how stiff of a tip you want to have and how you want the rod to load on the cast.
Judging by reading all of the feedback from everyone on here I would guess the XH is by far the most popular. |
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Posts: 286
Location: VA | You will like the 3-12 oz for a 4.5 oz Swimbait bait better than the 1-6oz rod IMO. Send James an email at [email protected] see what he thinks. |
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Posts: 469
Location: MN | 3-12oz Tackle Industries would be good option for you. |
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Posts: 6
| Thanks guys, I really appreciate yalls help. When I first started getting into big baits it seemed a natural progression to talk to some musky guys, as our "big baits" are small for you guys.
Now, to find a way to try and get on some of these real big fish yall chase regularly.
NGaHB |
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Posts: 461
| I don't think the XH is what your wanting for bass fishing. True your throwing a large bait for a bass, but an XH in 8'6 to 9' seems a little over kill. Most guys are throwing pounders and double tens with these rods and larger reels. I don't know what type of reel your using, but a typical low profile bass baitcaster is going to be way out of balance with a xh rod. I would go MH |
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Posts: 311
Location: Ontario | Five ounces is low end/light weight for just about all muskie rod brands. A very common 'power' of rod, like the size 10 shoe, so to speak. Getting a rod to handle that weight will be easy. In an 8-9' length, Tackle Industries has lots. The 9s are also available in telescoping, down to 7'6. If you check their website you'll see a lot of choice. There's no beatin the prices, I don't think anyone would argue there. Shimano and St.Croix are two other companies. The advantage you'll have with Tackle Industries is the level of responsiveness you'll get when asking questions and ordering. Expect to get answers in a timely fashion. He also sells some nice swimbaits like the ones you're using, like the Nibbler. I've always figured that Mini Ds would be awesome for giant bass, they're another one of his swimbaits. Handling bass big enough to work a 9' muskie rod must be awesome, a big one up here is a five pounder. Sounds like a lot of fun, and good luck with getting geared up. |
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| There are lots of companies make rods specifically for throwing the large bass swimbaits that you describe. IMHO you'll be better off looking at one of those than trying to adapt a muskie rod which tend to have much faster actions.
A few years ago Tackle Tour did an extensive review of bass swimbait rods using 6-10" swimbaits as the test standard, including many Huddleston models.
http://www.tackletour.com/reviewrodwarswrap.html
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| greetings ngahb,my name id doug dennard,[email protected] have a gunshop in rockyface ga. i also have fishing rods etc. i am a musky fisherman and have the perfect rods for you.i have tackle industries rods&custom rods for musky.i also throw big baits afor bass and have many large baits for sale.you're right about musky being scarce in ga.but,there are some and there are plenty in tennessee.give me a shout on the tele. always good to talk to a man who knows -----------big baits catch big fish.MANY THANKS DOUG. |
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Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | chasintails - 2/9/2012 9:39 AM
I don't think the XH is what your wanting for bass fishing. True your throwing a large bait for a bass, but an XH in 8'6 to 9' seems a little over kill. Most guys are throwing pounders and double tens with these rods and larger reels. I don't know what type of reel your using, but a typical low profile bass baitcaster is going to be way out of balance with a xh rod. I would go MH
+1
MH is what you want. I try tossing small bucktails with my Hvy/XH rod and it feels awful. No whip in the rod. Not too forget you're not trying to pierce solid bone like we are when we set the hook on musky. |
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Posts: 115
| I've thrown 8 to 10 inch soft and hard plastic (resin too) swimbaits using both the St Croix LTB80XHF Legend tournament Bass swimbait rod and the LTM86HF Legend tournament muskie Sling Blade rod. Both did an excellent job with 5 and 6 oz swimbaits. Never tried the LTM90HF Big nasty. It all depends on how you like your rod to load and your casting style.
BTW, caught more bass than muskies on these swimbaits. Fish a lot of shad based lakes. |
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| hey ngahb,doug dennard again,i have a mh&a xh in tackle industries rods tou can put in you're hand.don't have to buy a pig-in-poke.doug |
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Posts: 242
| I have caught several large bass on muskie tackle and I will tell you that these rods will work when throwing the bait, but really takes out the enjoyment of catching. I've had 20+ inch bass hit my bucktail and I just skimmed them across the water like you would catching a bluegill with a bass flipping stick. In my opinion, I would look at rods made for bass swimbaits (i.e., G Loomis, Powell, Dobyns, Shimano, etc.). These swimbait rods are still able to cast the heavy lures you are looking to throw, but don't have that extra heavy butt section that is needed when controlling a large muskie (and is really overkill for any bass). |
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| The only overkill you would have with the XH Tackle Industries rod would be the length. 9' isn't really necessary when you're bass fishing. The new 8' XH (3-12oz) TI rod should work great. An XH sounds really stiff, but it actually has a pretty soft tip.
As far as reels, I would look for a Revo Toro or Toro HS. It would match the rod nicely and be great for large swimbaits. |
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Posts: 983
| If you're thinking the XH may be too stiff that 8'0 MH rod would handle that bait just fine. I am partial to the XH rating in general but all i fish are esox though. I do have both the 9'0 and 8'0 MH as well as a 9'0 XH and the MH will throw that bait with ease. I love the XH but I dont think it will be that necessary for that bait if thats the largest you throw. Thats my opinion |
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| I could use a muskie rod to fish for bluegills too, but I don't.
Get a bass heavy swimbait rod.
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Posts: 1727
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | Get a 8 or 9' Tackle Industries MH rod. That will be plenty heavy for bass up to 20 lbs or so haha. |
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Posts: 6
| Thanks for all the replies, The Hudds are my main bait, but I also have some larger baits in the 6-8 oz range. With a really fast action the MH would probably fit. I currently use an 8' rod for swimbaits, but would like some more length. I know all these rods will overpower the fish, par for the course, but Im more interested in getting the bait out there and being able to set it into em right. I use a 400 sized calcutta, as I like to use 30# mono so the 400 lets me get enough line.
Thanks for the info Doug. Youve got an email coming your way.
NGaHB
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Posts: 1727
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | Why not use braided line then if you are concerned about being able to set the hook? Most of us use 80 lb test if that helps. Heavier pound line is more manageable because it digs less and is less prone to cutting itself on a cast due to it's diameter. |
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Posts: 4266
| St Croix Sling Blade for sure because it has the give in the tip that you need. Take a look at Nates Baits too for a hard, jointed swim bait. The guys in California love them and so do fish in Northern Wisconsin.
Beav |
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Posts: 256
Location: Valpo IN | I`d say any MH muskie rod would work just fine for your large bass lures and get ya some 50lb braid on that reel. |
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Posts: 147
Location: Chesterton, Indiana | Check out St. Croix Mojo Musky Rods in the MH range. Try some braid on that calcutta. |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | I have a LOT of bass guys buy my Tackle Industries MH and XH rods in California and other big bass areas for bass swimsuits. You will be very happy with either depending on your average weight bass swimbait.
JMO
James
http://www.tackleindustries.com/muskypikerods.html
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Posts: 833
| Cost concerns were not stated, so you might consider doing a custom 8’6 Loomis MH Musky blank (not sure on the model). I’m not sure on the specifics of the bait you are considering this rod for, but unless it requires a paddle handle or a very slow retrieve you might consider a 300 Curado. If you want the option of speed, you could upgrade to 300EJ. Both reels will save you money over the Calcutta. I also think such a setup would perform very nice double duty as a heavy slop rod and frogging stick. |
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