Native trout style rod for small bass and panfish?
Native trout style rod for small bass and panfish?
My wife has never been super interested in fishing but likes to come wading for smallmouths with me a few times a year. The other week she stumbled on the Enjoy Fishing Channel on youtube and though it was the coolest thing ever and that she wanted to learn to cast like that. She really wants a tiny round reel and did not seem excited about using one of my Pixys. Of the UL-capable round reels out there the Conquest BFS seems like the most reasonable choice and she likes the raw metal look. We went to a pond the other day with my Teton UL/Pixy and she was getting into it but is really fixated on getting a round reel and it's not like I would be sad to have a Conquest BFS around the house.
This leaves me with what to do about the rod. Most of the places we will be fishing will be smaller rivers for smallmouths and panfish. Most of the smallies will be in the 8-12" range with the lower end of the spread being far more common. She seems into the idea of using spoons and inline spinners and maybe, once she "masters" casting, using some small plugs. I use a ton of 1/8oz spoons and spinner already for white perch fishing so would like to stick to those sizes. Am I off-base in thinking most any native trout rod will work for small bass and panfish using these lures, or do they really work better with heaver plugs? I have been hunting around for the "perfect" 1/8oz spinner rod for a while but never really settled on anything.
This leaves me with what to do about the rod. Most of the places we will be fishing will be smaller rivers for smallmouths and panfish. Most of the smallies will be in the 8-12" range with the lower end of the spread being far more common. She seems into the idea of using spoons and inline spinners and maybe, once she "masters" casting, using some small plugs. I use a ton of 1/8oz spoons and spinner already for white perch fishing so would like to stick to those sizes. Am I off-base in thinking most any native trout rod will work for small bass and panfish using these lures, or do they really work better with heaver plugs? I have been hunting around for the "perfect" 1/8oz spinner rod for a while but never really settled on anything.
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Re: Native trout style rod for small bass and panfish?
I can't comment on "almost any" but all the native trout rods I've fished with would do just fine for small bass and panfish. One eighth ounce lures are in the range for all them. Right in the sweet spot for some and on the lower end for others, but all I've fished with could cast them well.
Chris Stewart
(affiliations: TenkaraBum.com, Finesse-Fishing.com)
(affiliations: TenkaraBum.com, Finesse-Fishing.com)
Re: Native trout style rod for small bass and panfish?
Ok, cool. I was looking at ones in the $200ish range with the Trout One and the Wise Stream rods being the two I am most interested in. I think a mulitpart rod would be a good idea as she uses hiking poles so being able to easily store the rod in her pack would be nice and would keep me from having carry it across rough ground.CM_Stewart wrote:I can't comment on "almost any" but all the native trout rods I've fished with would do just fine for small bass and panfish. One eighth ounce lures are in the range for all them. Right in the sweet spot for some and on the lower end for others, but all I've fished with could cast them well.
Re: Native trout style rod for small bass and panfish?
Those might be fine, not sure I would recommend my Smith rods for that kind of use. What length are you looking for?
Re: Native trout style rod for small bass and panfish?
I think something in the 5' range would be ideal. I am wanting the easiest casting experience possible for her, so I think shorter will be better. I have been looking for a similar rod but for light inshore fishing and it's hard to find videos of a given rod being used with lures at the lighter end of the range.Craigthor wrote:Those might be fine, not sure I would recommend my Smith rods for that kind of use. What length are you looking for?
Re: Native trout style rod for small bass and panfish?
I would like to be able to cast like the gentleman from Enjoy Fishing Channel.
I have a Conquest BFS, which I love. For very lightweight lures, a light aftermarket spool helps (I use the KTF).
I also have a Wise Stream, the 62LB-3, which I am also very happy with. Still, maybe Enjoy Fishing Channel guy uses some even softer rods for his particular casting style. I haven’t really noticed which rods he uses.
I have landed around 3 sea run brown trout of about 6.5 pounds from streams on the Wise Stream, which was no issue. I have never had the joy of catching smallmouth bass, but I definitely feel that searun trout fight harder than largemouth bass, so I think the rod will be up to the challenge.
I have a Conquest BFS, which I love. For very lightweight lures, a light aftermarket spool helps (I use the KTF).
I also have a Wise Stream, the 62LB-3, which I am also very happy with. Still, maybe Enjoy Fishing Channel guy uses some even softer rods for his particular casting style. I haven’t really noticed which rods he uses.
I have landed around 3 sea run brown trout of about 6.5 pounds from streams on the Wise Stream, which was no issue. I have never had the joy of catching smallmouth bass, but I definitely feel that searun trout fight harder than largemouth bass, so I think the rod will be up to the challenge.
Re: Native trout style rod for small bass and panfish?
I’d recommend the Tenryu Rayz Spectra would work great though it is only a 2pc rod.Houndfish wrote:I think something in the 5' range would be ideal. I am wanting the easiest casting experience possible for her, so I think shorter will be better. I have been looking for a similar rod but for light inshore fishing and it's hard to find videos of a given rod being used with lures at the lighter end of the range.Craigthor wrote:Those might be fine, not sure I would recommend my Smith rods for that kind of use. What length are you looking for?
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Re: Native trout style rod for small bass and panfish?
The Rayz Spectra is a wonderful rod but it only comes in spinning models.
The Daiwa 45 ULB-3 is very convenient to pack because it is a 3 piece rod, but it is nowhere near as flexible as the rods she saw on the Enjoy Fishing channel. It is also out of stock, probably until early March.
The Shimano Trout One NX B50UL is a bit softer (and I think it is nicer in every way except portability) and is in stock.
I just discovered another 2-piece rod in the same length and price range but I have not actually seen one. I may have to order one for myself to see what it's like. I'll keep you posted.
The Daiwa 45 ULB-3 is very convenient to pack because it is a 3 piece rod, but it is nowhere near as flexible as the rods she saw on the Enjoy Fishing channel. It is also out of stock, probably until early March.
The Shimano Trout One NX B50UL is a bit softer (and I think it is nicer in every way except portability) and is in stock.
I just discovered another 2-piece rod in the same length and price range but I have not actually seen one. I may have to order one for myself to see what it's like. I'll keep you posted.
Chris Stewart
(affiliations: TenkaraBum.com, Finesse-Fishing.com)
(affiliations: TenkaraBum.com, Finesse-Fishing.com)
Re: Native trout style rod for small bass and panfish?
Man I have not caught anything that big on mine yet. She is one of my favorite rods since I got it from Chris. I can't wait to put some smallmouths on it in the spring.Dalleinf wrote:I would like to be able to cast like the gentleman from Enjoy Fishing Channel.
I have a Conquest BFS, which I love. For very lightweight lures, a light aftermarket spool helps (I use the KTF).
I also have a Wise Stream, the 62LB-3, which I am also very happy with. Still, maybe Enjoy Fishing Channel guy uses some even softer rods for his particular casting style. I haven’t really noticed which rods he uses.
I have landed around 3 sea run brown trout of about 6.5 pounds from streams on the Wise Stream, which was no issue. I have never had the joy of catching smallmouth bass, but I definitely feel that searun trout fight harder than largemouth bass, so I think the rod will be up to the challenge.
Re: Native trout style rod for small bass and panfish?
I just bought a Daiwa Wise Stream 45UL3 and it is a broomstick for an "ultralight". Actually prefer the action of my 20 dollar Bass Pro Microlite 4'10 glass rod more.
Re: Native trout style rod for small bass and panfish?
I have a BP Microlite casting rod that's rated down to 1/32 oz. It's so stiff I think a 1/16 rating might be to low. Could the Daiwa Wise Stream actually be stiffer?Wpeart7 wrote:I just bought a Daiwa Wise Stream 45UL3 and it is a broomstick for an "ultralight". Actually prefer the action of my 20 dollar Bass Pro Microlite 4'10 glass rod more.
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Re: Native trout style rod for small bass and panfish?
Houndfish wrote:I think something in the 5' range would be ideal. I am wanting the easiest casting experience possible for her, so I think shorter will be better. I have been looking for a similar rod but for light inshore fishing and it's hard to find videos of a given rod being used with lures at the lighter end of the range.Craigthor wrote:Those might be fine, not sure I would recommend my Smith rods for that kind of use. What length are you looking for?
Houndfish, The Trout One CM_Stewart suggested would be a safe choice. Although I have not used it, I have done a ton of research on it. It is priced pretty darn well at 200 bucks. Another plus is that it can be shipped from the US. This is the next BFS rod I will get if I decide to add yet another BFS rod to my lineup.CM_Stewart wrote:The Rayz Spectra is a wonderful rod but it only comes in spinning models.
The Daiwa 45 ULB-3 is very convenient to pack because it is a 3 piece rod, but it is nowhere near as flexible as the rods she saw on the Enjoy Fishing channel. It is also out of stock, probably until early March.
The Shimano Trout One NX B50UL is a bit softer (and I think it is nicer in every way except portability) and is in stock.
I just discovered another 2-piece rod in the same length and price range but I have not actually seen one. I may have to order one for myself to see what it's like. I'll keep you posted.
The rods the guy on Enjoy Fishing Channel uses are high-end JDM rods like Casket. His rods are usually a VERY high quality glass or at least glass blend. He tends to overload the rod wen he is casting. Operating at the high end of whatever rod you plan on getting will be key to those casts as well as having a slower tapered rod.
I have an XUL BFS rod that I use for small trout. I absolutly love it but, it is pretty limited because it is so weak. I do not suggest it because a smallie bigger than 6in will treat that rod like Bluto treats Popeye...with no spinach in sight. That Trout One should be a killer rod for the small spoons, plugs and even jigs that you plan to use.
On a side note, you are lucky to have someone demand a highly refined round BFS reel such as the Conquest.
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Re: Native trout style rod for small bass and panfish?
Is yours the graphite version or the yellow glass one? The new series with unpainted blanks ate said to be over powered compared to the previous gen IM6 blanks.Knotty wrote:I have a BP Microlite casting rod that's rated down to 1/32 oz. It's so stiff I think a 1/16 rating might be to low. Could the Daiwa Wise Stream actually be stiffer?Wpeart7 wrote:I just bought a Daiwa Wise Stream 45UL3 and it is a broomstick for an "ultralight". Actually prefer the action of my 20 dollar Bass Pro Microlite 4'10 glass rod more.
This is the way.
Re: Native trout style rod for small bass and panfish?
It's a newer graphite, purchased Spring 2018. The MIL60MLTpoisonokie wrote:Is yours the graphite version or the yellow glass one? The new series with unpainted blanks ate said to be over powered compared to the previous gen IM6 blanks.
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pr ... 10302233-1
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Re: Native trout style rod for small bass and panfish?
Ah, yes. It's a bummer about the changes they made to those. These were much nicer IMHO. This is the 66ML, but I also have the 66UL and it's an awesome rod for $60.
Here's a kicker I caught with the UL...
Here's a kicker I caught with the UL...
This is the way.