Best spinning rod for tubes

[fishingcreekoutdoors]

hey all,
i wanted to get a opinion on the best rod action and power for tubes. i have a personal opinion that a 7'-7'1" medium extra-fast is a great rod for casting tubes for smallies in fast moving rivers and stream (susquehanna river) Let me know what you guys think i would love to get some opinions!

[tracker01]

I fish the Susqy, north and south of Harrisburg, and my go to rod is a St Croix Avid X spinning, in a 6'6" Med.. I like it better than the regular Avid. Enough back bone to pull them smallies out of the current seams and still have fun doing it. If I was fishing from shore I would probably up the length of the rod.

[Canga-]

dont know if its the best out there, and i usually fish a bit lighter than most, but im loving the 6'10" ml xf 2016 legend elite. i have a certate 2000ha on it and it balances great and has more power than most medium-lights. also works good with about and jighead and plastic. i havent fished a drop-shot on it yet, but i think it would do good at that as well, just seems like a great all-around finesse spinning rod.

[cndbasshunter]

Nrx852S

[RGMatt]

The croix medium powered fast action rods are fairly popular tube rods for river smallies. I personally prefer the 68MXF though.

[Hulkster]

I caught the biggest smallie of my life on the classic G. Loomis SJR842 GL3. The 7 foot 2 power loomis is a classic tube/smallie rod that is also now available in E6X and NRX versions. however, this beast was caught on a crankbait (rippin rapala) and not a tube..

not sure how the classic tapers/powers hold up to the more modern X fast tapers etc..

[jpmoney]

NRX 872S

[fishingcreekoutdoors]

thanks for all the replys!!!

[Bassineric93]

NRX 872S

Agreed. Get yourself a NRX 872s and don't look back.

[big_gee]

I just recently got the 7'3"M Cronos and I'm loving it for tubes and small jigs. I like the extra length and it has plenty of back bone.

[fishingcreekoutdoors]

Im stuck between the 852S and the 872S......

[cndbasshunter]

Im stuck between the 852S and the 872S......

Get both....

[RGMatt]

Are you fishing the main stem or the north branch? I consider these two different rivers and fish tubes on each quite differently alot of the time. On the north branch most of my tube fishing is done in deeper water and a more vertical jigging technique is used when the smallies are on the walls or in the trough just off the walls. Not much distancecasting is needed up there as we stay on top of the fish. In that case i personally think a 7' plus rod is not needed. In late fall and winter we fish in a similar way when we get into the pool at ft hunter on the main stem. Though there alittle more casting out is used but nothing id call "for distance". There are times when fishing current seems and behind islands where i can see the benefit of the longer rod to keep your line off the water

Curious to hear other pros of the longer rod for this technique specifically to free flowing rivers. Ive often thought of building another spinning rod for general purpose plastics in the 7'3"-7'6" range for the times when keeping line off the water/current is key to keeping baits in the slack pockets or eddies. Sometimes ill have 2 or even 3 rods rigged with tubes on the deck

Matt

[fishingcreekoutdoors]

Im stuck between the 852S and the 872S......

Get both....

Eventually I will....

[fishingcreekoutdoors]

Are you fishing the main stem or the north branch? I consider these two different rivers and fish tubes on each quite differently alot of the time. On the north branch most of my tube fishing is done in deeper water and a more vertical jigging technique is used when the smallies are on the walls or in the trough just off the walls. Not much distancecasting is needed up there as we stay on top of the fish. In that case i personally think a 7' plus rod is not needed. In late fall and winter we fish in a similar way when we get into the pool at ft hunter on the main stem. Though there alittle more casting out is used but nothing id call "for distance". There are times when fishing current seems and behind islands where i can see the benefit of the longer rod to keep your line off the water

Curious to hear other pros of the longer rod for this technique specifically to free flowing rivers. Ive often thought of building another spinning rod for general purpose plastics in the 7'3"-7'6" range for the times when keeping line off the water/current is key to keeping baits in the slack pockets or eddies. Sometimes ill have 2 or even 3 rods rigged with tubes on the deck

Matt

I fish the main stem mainly areas around Harrisburg (including the hole above FT Hunter) and my preferred technique is to make long cast and bounce them down current edges or fishing them behind grass patches and islands so for me a long rod would be beneficial.... And when I fish the deep pools behind the "statue" I usually drag a ned rig through there or in the winter a 2.75" tube... But as soon as I get into current I go up to a 3.5" tube