I would like everyone / anyone's input on what kind of rod + reel works best for casting lightweight minnow baits like Rapala floating minnows.   My MH 6' 6 "  baitcaster is too stiff, won't cast more than 20 feet and often backlashes,   and my 6'6" UL spinning rod is too soft for anything I might hope to catch, anything bigger than about a 1-pound bass would just about snap it in half/


I'm thinking about a 7'  M   fast action rod.  I like all the minnow baits, including the smaller ones,  just need the right tacke to be able to cast them and still have enough rod to land a good size fish. 

Thoughts?

An ultra light rod could be a great challenge with a big bass hooked, but I know plenty of folks that prefer that challenge and do not suffer rod breakage in the doing of it. With the drag set right breakage from a fish load ought to be impossible with a UL power rod. However, a light rod like that isn't a good choice if intending to boat a bass quickly as in tournament competition where fish playing time is limited. In general increase rod POWER as fish sizes go up, unless you like playing fish more than boating them. ULs are a lot of fun if lipping the fish is not a priority. That rod would be best for the lightest 1/16 and 1/8 oz Rapala Floating Minnow, overall lure range 1/32-1/4 oz, but with a moderate tip action. I'd also say a spinning rod would also be better than a baitcaster rig. For the lightest lures you need a more flexible rod tip action, so look at a Moderate ACTION. That gives a much better whip in the back swing and supplies plenty of snap to give a light weight lure enough energy to get distance. Heavy ACTION rods are good for heavy lures that don't need a lot of whip and snap to propel them. POWER doesn't really have much effect on casting distance, not nearly as much as the ACTION.

A Medium Light to Medium POWER rod with Medium/Moderate ACTION is a good rod for the Rapalas in 3/16 to 1/4 oz for bass up to about 3 pounds. Longer rods tend to get more distance. If you mostly chunk the largest two Minnows, 1/4 and 11/16 oz, then consider a Medium or Medium Heavy POWER with Moderately Fast tip ACTION. You probably won't like that one for the lighter Rapala Minnows.

If you plan to fish all sizes of Minnows then you ought to consider two rod combos rather than trying to find one rod for all.

Jim

It all comes down to individual preference. I really enjoy using my St. Croix Priemere 6' in light power and fast action. I use it for everything from trout to bass fishing. I've cuaght good size carps of within 15 lbs with it and many bass of under 20 inches. It's a joy to throw those floating rapala minnows on it. I really like working my Yozuri Pins minnows on this rod as well. I also like to use my Shimano Crucial dropshot rod of 6'8" ML and XF action. It gets more distance in the cast but doesn't have the finessing ability of the shorter 6' St. Croix rod.

Remember the rod's first priority is for working the lure. Landing the fish is up to the individual to apply the strengths and limitations of the rod. The rod is not to lift weight nor is the reel is to winch up weight. It takes a combination of leveraging the rod and reel to work for you. I personally don't like UL in moderate actions. Makes me feel like I'm fighting the fish from my hands instead of from the rod. I might give an UL in fast action a shot, but I'm liking my Light and fast action rod to much to try something else.

I have a (medium action) Daiwa 7 ft. spinning combo (with 8 lb. Trilene) that works great with the Floating Rapala (etc.).

A medium light spinning rod with a moderatly fast action is probably the most versatile rod you can own. As to length, a shorter rod improves accuracy at the expense of distance and the reverse is also true. I have medium light rods ranging from 5'6" to 7', and use them all depending on situation. If I could only own 1, it would be in the 6'6" range. Tom

OK thanks for all the input. I ordered a 6' 6" Medium-Light / Fast Action based on everyone's comments.

A really big largemouth in the lake where I fish most of the time would be 4 pounds. I usually catch 1 to 2 pounders.

OK thanks for all the input. I ordered a 6' 6" Medium-Light / Fast Action based on everyone's comments.

A really big largemouth in the lake where I fish most of the time would be 4 pounds. I usually catch 1 to 2 pounders.

OK thanks for all the input. I ordered a 6' 6" Medium-Light / Fast Action based on everyone's comments.

A really big largemouth in the lake where I fish most of the time would be 4 pounds. I usually catch 1 to 2 pounders.

Whoa......triple post. Not sure how that happened. Sorry.

The repeater bot of NAFC has been at it again...LOL's

and its been doing it allot lately on both their sites........the hunting and fishing sites........i wonder if the other 6 or 7 sites that they have do the same thing?

in accordance with the above comments I also find the heavier rods tend to absorb and defen the lure action, ( especially due to heavier rod usually means heavier line used). and also changes the characteristics of certain baits, ( dive depth tends to peter off as you go up in line and rod weight). I personally use as everyone said a 6'6" ML and use it from crappie 1/64 oz all the way up to 1 1/2 spoons for pike. My biggest change in the game though is the style of connection to the line you use, for the stick baits you are discussing, I tend to use the rapala or loop knot, for maximum action on these more sleek and gentle rolling side to side baits. when switching to a heavier action bait, I tend to reduce some of the "wiggle" by going to a sinching type not like a trilene knot.. Seems to make a lot of difference especially when you are using the hot bait, (knowing that the fish you are going for has probably seen the same bait 15 times that day alone) a slight difference in action really makes it a new bait, in the end it is all the way you fish, you find a rod you like, with todays composite and tight wrapped graphite and advancements in drags, you should with some skill and effort on the fisher-persons part be able to haul in 80% of all fish you could go after. Just something to think about, even in my humble opinion you made the right choice on the rod.

It's amazing at the subtle differences two exact identical lures can be presented through the various combination of line and rods. Even the choice of how one ties their connecting knot to the lure or using certain types of split rings or swivel and snap combination. Then swapping out the treble hooks for larger heavier ones to slightly alter the lures performance and more favorable hook up ratio.