What Size Spinning Rod for Paddlecraft?

[ppine]

what size fish? Fit your equipment to fit the fish not the boat.

 

[Keeled Over]

I like to fish with ultralight tackle, it makes small fish a lot more fun to fight. You catch a lot more small fish than large ones, so...

I'm tough on my stuff so I tend to gravitate to the less expensive side of things now-a-days when it comes to rods and reels. I pull them apart, slick everything up and re-spool them with something that will work for the fish I'm after. I fished with hella expensive open face baitcasters on hella expensive rods for years but I prefer spinning reels or spincast reels now, mainly because of the simplicity, but also if I break something, I can drop a hundred bucks and replace it (Zebs for well under $100). I've found over the years I catch as many fish on a $100 setup as I do on a $1000 setup and feel a whole lot better about it if it gets stepped on or dropped over board.

Right now I have 5 different combos that I use. My main two are a couple of really small set ups with heavy line for their size. First is a 5' light action one piece Ugly Stik spinning combo, Bass Pro special. I have it spooled with PowerPro 15lb braid, I throw it more than anything else. It's my main rod for bass and other sport fish. I also have a Zebco Micro 33 5' spincaster one piece combo, light action, spooled with Trilene XT 12lb mono for when I'm in really clear water or want to swap out between a couple of different baits in the same area. I use those two in my kayak (and last weekend in my new-to-me canoe) more than anything else. I like the compact nature of them and I can get close enough in a micro-craft that throw distance isn't an issue. I only use low-vis line, both braid and mono.

I also have an Ugly Stik 7' two piece medium action spinning combo that I use for larger stuff, i.e. catfish, drum, red fish, tuna, grinnel (bowfins) or gar. I have it spooled with PowerPro 30lb braid. Last but not least, I have an 9' ultralight action Ugly Stik spinning combo for white perch (crappie). It has 6lb Trilene XL on it. These two make it on the boat if I'm going after those specific species otherwise it's the kiddie rods for me.

If you can't tell, I think Shakespeare strikes a good balance between value, performance and durability. I have a few other things, I like to fly fish in the spring for perch so I have a Bass Pro White River 9' fly rod setup and I have (3) Zebco 33 5'6" combos I hand out to friends and family when I have company. I also have all my grandpa's stuff, he taught me to fish, they're all wall hangers now though since he's gone.

Please bear in mind Rusty, that your preferred method of fishing ultra-light tackle results in higher mortality rates of fish. They are played too long, lactic acid builds in their system, and while they appear to swim away at fights end it is a descent to the bottom where many die. For many, it is considered un-sportsmanlike practice and should be avoided. I agree. Consider trying to run a foot-race but only being able to breath through your nose. This is a well documented issue with research published world-wide. There is a proliferation of people advocating this practice of late online.

 

[Rusty Ole' Bucket]

Please bear in mind Rusty, that your preferred method of fishing ultra-light tackle results in higher mortality rates of fish. They are played too long, lactic acid builds in their system, and while they appear to swim away at fights end it is a descent to the bottom where many die. For many, it is considered un-sportsmanlike practice and should be avoided. I agree. Consider trying to run a foot-race but only being able to breath through your nose. This is a well documented issue with research published world-wide. There is a proliferation of people advocating this practice of late online.

While I appreciate your concern for our local flora and fauna, I promise you I am not applying undo pressure to our fish population. The scads of giant fiberglass bass boats with the big loud motors ripping up and down the waterways down here might be, but not me. I cover maybe two miles in a day and catch 6 or 7 fish depending on the species.

I believe you made a couple of assumptions in your response also that could change the way you feel about my fishing techniques (or it may not). First, I don't intentionally target small fish, I use full size plastics and crank baits. When I do catch something I don't play it to the boat then let it run out a bunch of line and do it again or set the drag extremely light for especially long fights, that's not the purpose of the heavy line. I fish a lot of cover, heavy line makes sure I get my baits back. I don't intentional extend any fight on the line for any reason. What I love about the small rods is a 4 pound fish feels like a 10 pound fish. I don't catch or fight them any differently than I would with a larger set up.

Lastly, I'm not a catch and release fisherman, I eat what I catch. They don't make a slow decent to the bottom to die, they make a quick decent into a skillet of grease. If I'm not mistaken, our limit for bass here is 8 and 14"/4lb, if they don't make the cut then they're released and I hope they're not dying, but I'm not catching or playing more small fish because of my tackle. I abide by the rules we have here and feel like I harvest the wildlife responsibly, that's my opinion though and you're entitled to yours.

 

[Keeled Over]

While I appreciate your concern for our local flora and fauna, I promise you I am not applying undo pressure to our fish population. The scads of giant fiberglass bass boats with the big loud motors ripping up and down the waterways down here might be, but not me. I cover maybe two miles in a day and catch 6 or 7 fish depending on the species.

I believe you made a couple of assumptions in your response also that could change the way you feel about my fishing techniques (or it may not). First, I don't intentionally target small fish, I use full size plastics and crank baits. When I do catch something I don't play it to the boat then let it run out a bunch of line and do it again or set the drag extremely light for especially long fights, that's not the purpose of the heavy line. I fish a lot of cover, heavy line makes sure I get my baits back. I don't intentional extend any fight on the line for any reason. What I love about the small rods is a 4 pound fish feels like a 10 pound fish. I don't catch or fight them any differently than I would with a larger set up.

Lastly, I'm not a catch and release fisherman, I eat what I catch. They don't make a slow decent to the bottom to die, they make a quick decent into a skillet of grease. If I'm not mistaken, our limit for bass here is 8 and 14"/4lb, if they don't make the cut then they're released and I hope they're not dying, but I'm not catching or playing more small fish because of my tackle. I abide by the rules we have here and feel like I harvest the wildlife responsibly, that's my opinion though and you're entitled to yours.

Your lead off statement - "I like to fish with ultralight tackle, it makes small fish a lot more fun to fight. You catch a lot more small fish than large ones, so..." Your response is the exact same thing every person who admits to using ultralight gear for larger species provides. And as you state, "I'm not a catch and release fisherman, I eat what I catch.", so does this justify causing undue stress to anything as you catch fish with a light drag? Do you also deer hunt with a .22 and hunt ducks with a .410?

You are a study in contradictions. "but I'm not catching or playing more small fish because of my tackle." Really? Please re-read your post.

 

[Rusty Ole' Bucket]

Really? Please re-read your post.

I know what my post says, I'm, also not going to keyboard argue over how I fish. You have your opinion and I have mine. Enjoy your evening, your canoe and eat some fish.

 

[Whit30]

ooh, cajun vs yankee!
I know where my money goes. lol.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

ROB is describing pretty much how I fish for bass (and now, due to illegal planting, walleye). Light rod, strong line, oversize (for the rod) lures. I get some hits from small fish, but they don't usually get hooked. The large ones feel like big game. You can't play them longer than necessary if you want to land them or even recover your lure, because they will quickly find a snag to hang up your line and then throw the lure - which sometimes is unrecoverable.

I find that I can cast more accurately in cover with the lighter rod too, so there's that.

Yeah, it's more fun than using a heavier rod, and no, it doesn't necessarily put undue stress on the fishery. I rarely see any dead fish floating around, and usually that's just a carp.