Home Forums Fishing Freshwater best spinning rod?

I am starting to do a lot of crawler drifting in larger rivers for rainbow trout that average 2 1/2 pounds and range quickly upwards from there. There bite is often subtle and I need a rod that will detect those subtle strikes, yet have the backbone to handle 6 to 8 pound fish in heavy current.
I have been using an ultra light rod and reel with 4 pound test, which is more fun than a person is probably supposed to have, but loose a lot of big fish.
Thinking I will probably go to either 6 or 8 pound test on a new rod and reel. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for the input.

Fred

Give the fish a sporting chance and get a flyrod.

LOL

Got one

Go with a longer rod and a reel with an ultra smooth drag and you'll lose fewer fish on light line. A 7' med or med/light IM7 graphite rod rated for 4 to 10lb line is my choice for what you're describing.

I've caught hundreds of trout and many steelhead up to 12 lbs using just 4 lb test line and leader. It's challenging but it can be done and 4 lb test will get you more bites than heavier line.




If you invite me to go fishing I'll show you how it's done.

I'd love to get into some big trout.

fish head
On that same ultra light, I have played 4 steelhead in the 8 pound range, but these rainbows are something else right now. Must be the cold water.

Fred

What length is your ultra light?

I'd look at the lightest available rods built for Steelhead. Something 8'-10' in length, for lines 4-10 lbs.

G. Loomis, Lamiglas and Fenwick all make 'em, from about $100-$400.

Dittos on getting a good reel.

Scott

The rod I was using yesterday is a fenwick HMX, 6 footer- I thought I was was using my Loomis GX2, which was the rod I played the steelhead on, but I just checked and I was mistaken.
Any suggestions on reels?

Thanks

Fred

6'6" or 7' Med or ML bass rod with an XF (extra fast) tip designed for senkos or dropshot rigs. Basically a rod with backbone and a light sensitive tip. You should be able to find a good imported rod for a C-note.

n the interest of research, I went fishing again today and took the Loomis GX2 rod and my Shimano reel- Worked much better than the 6' Fenwick, and landed one 22 inch rainbow and 9 other smaller fish without feeling under equipped. Still using 4 weight line, but the Loomis has enough spine to handle the bigger fish. I wasn't aware how different those two rods are.
Thanks for all the input- Learned a lot on this thread, even though I had to suffer almost an entire day on the river to verify.

Fred

know alot of the walleye guys on this end of the state love Loomis rods......havent got one myself but have used friends' rods and do like them......had i actually gotten more fishing in this summer i prolly would have upgraded one of my rods to one....maybe next summer....

I like the 6'6" 1 piece (they come in 2 piece too) Light action, Fast tip, St. Croix Premier Spinning Rod. I use them for perch (up to 14+") and small mouth (up to 20") on Lake Erie, but have caught up to a 9 1/2 pound catfish on one. They really have a sensitive feel to them, which makes it easier to feel the hits.
They run around $110.

I use the Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Signature Series Spinning Reel size 10 with 6 pound Fireline, and 6 pound Seaguar Fluorocarbon leader. I like this reel because of the large OD of the spool for fast retrieve. We fish 50 to 75' deep in Erie for perch, and this reel gets them up quick. These reels are on sale right now for about $80.00 (normally $100)

The Loomis rods are state of the art for me. I have a 5 1/2' ultra light than can feel a crappie fart in 30' of water. It was a birthday gift from my wife about 30yrs ago. It is still outstanding.

Decide on your length and weight, and then go the extra mile for the Loomis. You won't be sorry.

Shimano rods are built in the same factory on the same machines as the G Loomis rods and carry a no hassle lifetime guarantee.....

+1 on Shimano...

Daiwa's Airbail leaves Shimano spinning reels lacking. Daiwa baitcasters are probably twenty years ahead of Shimano's technologically, but I think Abu may be ahead of them all in the baitcaster dept.

Shimano rods are made in China. They are great rods, regardless.

Shimano owns G. Loomis, but G. Loomis rods are made in Woodland,WA.

You know what? your right..

I remember someone saying that to me about 3 yrs ago and just had to google it up...Shimano is made in China but off of G loomis machines and technology.

Still Shimano's warranty blows G loomis's warranty away.

I have always been partial to Fenwick.

Doc

I'm a fan of the mag-light offerings from Loomis for trout, but it seems you are into a little bit bigger fish than me.

I recently saw where Shimano has expanded their Clarus line to include some rods that may fit your bill. These are great rods at a good price. Based on the info you gave, I think you'd be pleased with the 7' light/fast Clarus.