Need a spinning rod for someone "baitcaster challenged" 2024
Boomstick reply :
Hey guys,
My girlfriend's birthday is coming up and she's been coming fishing this year and really enjoying it. I was going to get her her own rod that she can use -- she has been using a M/F spinning rod, but where we were fishing, it's a little underpowered for the weeds -- and really will be once they start to grow in.
I have tried to teach her a baitcaster, but she had a very hard time and got really frustrated, so I am looking for a spinning rod that could handle weighted soft plastics, 3/8oz jigs and maybe even a chatterbait or a spinnerbait. Has anyone ever tried any of these techniques on spinning gear? I get the impression that most med. heavy spinning rods are more inline with a medium casting rod that runs slightly heavy as well, and I'm aware it would need a larger reel to help with hooksets. I'll probably also use braid for the same reason.
I almost feel like I should buy her a casting rod (she'd have more fun if she learned it anyway) but I'm not sure if she has the kind of patience to learn and that I won't be buying myself a present.
Dwight Hottle reply :
Dean I would just get her a mhf spinning rod that covers 3/8-3/4 weights. Let her tell you when she wants to upgrade if ever to a casting setup. There are plenty of competent anglers who only use spinning tackle & do very well with it. Most bass fisherman think of spinning tackle as a finesse presentation delivery system but it can cover all the bases for bass fishing.
Boomstick reply :
On 4/24/2019 at 1:14 AM, Dwight Hottle said:Dean I would just get her a mhf spinning rod that covers 3/8-3/4 weights. Let her tell you when she wants to upgrade if ever to a casting setup. There are plenty of competent anglers who only use spinning tackle & do very well with it. Most bass fisherman think of spinning tackle as a finesse presentation delivery system but it can cover all the bases for bass fishing.
Thanks. That's what I was thinking too. I always hear you can't get a hookset on a spinnerbait with a spinning rod, but I would think on a MH spinning rod with a larger reel and braid, it should be more than adequate. I use a MH/MF composite rod and don't have any issues myself!
Also between both my sons and myself, I believe we have a total of 10 casting rods in the house she can learn on as well -- and as of his birthday it will be 11 because he's getting a MH/F for his birthday this year (he has a MH/MF spinnerbait rod because he really likes spinnerbaits and crankbaits so that's the happy medium for both).
Choporoz reply :
My wife has a MHF baitcaster, but she invariably uses her 7' MHF Daiwa spinning rod with 3500 size reel, spooled with 20#PP, more often for the exact presentations you list above. In fact, she was setting the hook just fine with frogs on it last fall....much to my surprise
WRB reply :
I have a Major Craft NAS-WJ-701MH spinning rod for your application, $120.
Tom
d-camarena reply :
You could get her a daiwa aird x mh and a daiwa revros reel. $100 combo that fishes way above its price
LionHeart reply :
Shimano Curado is a pretty stout MH for spinning
Boomstick reply :
On 4/24/2019 at 1:39 AM, WRB said:I have a Major Craft NAS-WJ-701MH spinning rod for your application, $120.
Tom
That's around what I normally spend for a rod too! Thanks
On 4/24/2019 at 2:05 AM, LionHeart said:Shimano Curado is a pretty stout MH for spinning
I was looking at those too, but never got my hands on one to check for myself.
LionHeart reply :
Got a buddy that swore he didn't want to learn to use a baitcaster based on bad experience with his first setup. I cautioned him that spinning rods typically run a little softer so if he wanted one rod to do 'it all,' we'd better go to Cabelas and press a few tips against the floor.
The Curado was definitely the medium heaviest that we tested, and we tested a fair amount of them.
I think it would handle a 3/8 jig especially if it isn't equipped with a big gnarly hook. How does she feel about braid? That would help quite a bit as well.
You don't necessarily need a bigger reel for a good hook set. 10 lbs of drag should be plenty.
MickD reply :
Why not start her on one of yours to see if there is enough interest in getting her her own?
I'm not sure what the reel size has to do with hook sets, but I'm willing to learn.
Boomstick reply :
On 4/24/2019 at 3:29 AM, MickD said:Why not start her on one of yours to see if there is enough interest in getting her her own?
I'm not sure what the reel size has to do with hook sets, but I'm willing to learn.
That's what I've been trying to do, hence why I was looking at buying her a spinning rod due to her having no success with it and getting frustrated. I just figured someone will say buy a casting rod, so now you have context why I don't.
On 4/24/2019 at 2:31 AM, LionHeart said:Got a buddy that swore he didn't want to learn to use a baitcaster based on bad experience with his first setup. I cautioned him that spinning rods typically run a little softer so if he wanted one rod to do 'it all,' we'd better go to Cabelas and press a few tips against the floor.
The Curado was definitely the medium heaviest that we tested, and we tested a fair amount of them.
I think it would handle a 3/8 jig especially if it isn't equipped with a big gnarly hook. How does she feel about braid? That would help quite a bit as well.
You don't necessarily need a bigger reel for a good hook set. 10 lbs of drag should be plenty.
Thanks! She has used braid on the M/F rod that she's been using, and definitely prefers that over the M/F which I have 8lb mono on. The braid generally handles better on spinning gear, so I use it on almost all my spinning gear.
Pickle_Power reply :
I use spinning gear 95% of the time. I only use casting gear when fishing serious slop. I should mention that I bank fish probably 75% of the time, so casting distance is important to me. I also fish for nearly everything that swims around here, so I like to have setups that are versatile.
I don't have any problems hooking fish and keeping them pinned with medium power spinning rods. The only issue I ever run into is having a lack of leverage to keep fish out of cover when they head for a blowdown or thick weeds.
kschultz76 reply :
Dobyns aren’t typically my go to rods, but was looking for the same thing for my wife. Landed on the Dobyns Sierra 705sf spinning rod. Haven’t fished it yet but test casting it handled a 3/8oz swim jig with rage menace trailer really well. Only complaint - handle needs to be longer.
d-camarena reply :
Thats dobyns sierra rod is the bomb. I have one and its perfect for jigs and frogs
Boomstick reply :
On 4/24/2019 at 10:09 AM, d-camarena said:Thats dobyns sierra rod is the bomb. I have one and its perfect for jigs and frogs
Based on Dobyns recommendations, the 704SF and 705SF both look like they would do nicely, the 704SF is better for Texas rigs and the 705SF is better for frogs, both for jigs and spinnerbaits. It's a little more than I normally spend on a rod, but I can probably find a Daiwa BG in 3500 size for $70 or less again and save on the reel. I did the same thing with my drop shot rod and couldn't be happier.
gnappi reply :
On 4/24/2019 at 12:56 AM, Boomstick said:Hey guys,
>>SNIP<<
I almost feel like I should buy her a casting rod (she'd have more fun if she learned it anyway)
Jeez, after 60 odd years of using spinners just think how much fun I missed out on ????
Seriously the danger of getting her a casting rig is as you said, it W-I-L-L look like a gift to yourself should she find it unusable and you wind up buying her a spinner anyway and "trading" her for the casting rig. You may have a nice new reel AND girlfriend then! ????
Take the high road and go for a spinner.
There's just too many decent rigs at a fair price but I like my sub $50 Daiwa and Shimano reels.
kschultz76 reply :
On 4/24/2019 at 10:17 AM, Boomstick said:Based on Dobyns recommendations, the 704SF and 705SF both look like they would do nicely, the 704SF is better for Texas rigs and the 705SF is better for frogs, both for jigs and spinnerbaits. It's a little more than I normally spend on a rod, but I can probably find a Daiwa BG in 3500 size for $70 or less again and save on the reel. I did the same thing with my drop shot rod and couldn't be happier.
I tried the 704, it has a really soft whippy tip with a lot of backbone. Good for weightless senkos around cover but in my hands a 3/8 oz swim jig n trailer were overloading the rod on a cast.
Joshua van Wyk reply :
On 4/24/2019 at 10:17 AM, Boomstick said:Based on Dobyns recommendations, the 704SF and 705SF both look like they would do nicely, the 704SF is better for Texas rigs and the 705SF is better for frogs, both for jigs and spinnerbaits. It's a little more than I normally spend on a rod, but I can probably find a Daiwa BG in 3500 size for $70 or less again and save on the reel. I did the same thing with my drop shot rod and couldn't be happier.
A 3500 BG is a massive spinning reel for bass fishing, personally I'd stick with a 2500 size, it holds more than enough line and has plenty of drag too.
d-camarena reply :
Get her a aird x medium heavy and a 3000 revros. Trust me
GeekFisher reply :
On 4/24/2019 at 11:13 AM, Joshua van Wyk said:A 3500 BG is a massive spinning reel for bass fishing, personally I'd stick with a 2500 size, it holds more than enough line and has plenty of drag too.
That was my thought as well. I'd go with a 2500 with 6ish ratio. A smaller, lighter reel will be less tiring for her as well!
ItsHardwick reply :
This is basically what I did for my wife and my 11 year old son. They both have medium heavy fast spinning setups that cost around $100-$120 total and they fish most everything just fine and have lots of fun. Got my son a casting setup last year and he just doesn’t have the patience to learn it yet at this point. He did get upgraded to a st. Croix mojo bass m/Xf rod this year for throwing wacky rigged senkos which is like 80% of his fishing haha.
Boomstick reply :
On 4/24/2019 at 11:13 AM, Joshua van Wyk said:A 3500 BG is a massive spinning reel for bass fishing, personally I'd stick with a 2500 size, it holds more than enough line and has plenty of drag too.
Oh right the 3500 probably is a little big, it runs larger than some other reels. I have a 3500 sized Pflueger President and that's about the perfect size. The 2500 or 3000 (which are about the same weight) look like they'd be perfect.
new2BC4bass reply :
The BG2000 holds more than enough line for bass if you go with 30# or less braid. It will be a touch lighter and should also be a bit smaller which should make it easier for her to handle. I've only handled the BG1500 which is on my Ned Rig rod. Lovely reel. 
As you know, Daiwa makes a few reels in that price range that are a bit lighter. I've also read good things about the Okuma RTX.
I see no problem with setting the hook on a spinnerbait. I've caught many fish on a smaller Beetlespin, 8# mono and a 6' Lightning rated 1/8-3/8 oz. Last year I used an older 7' MF HMG Jig & Worm rod with braid to fish lily pads while visiting Florida. Lure of choice was a 10" unweighted ribbontail worm and 3/0 hook. Pretty sure every fish was caught on this rod. No problem setting the hook on this MF spinning rod.
I'd agree not to push her about a baitcast reel until she shows interest in them. I bought my oldest grandson a baitcast reel on closeout at TW and a 6' MH Lightning on sale at Wally world. It is my dedicated short(er) range spinnerbait rod. He never picked it up. No desire to move from a spinning reel whatsoever.
Boomstick reply :
On 4/24/2019 at 9:47 PM, new2BC4bass said:The BG2000 holds more than enough line for bass if you go with 30# or less braid. It will be a touch lighter and should also be a bit smaller which should make it easier for her to handle. I've only handled the BG1500 which is on my Ned Rig rod. Lovely reel.
I see no problem with setting the hook on a spinnerbait. I've caught many fish on a smaller Beetlespin, 8# mono and a 6' Lightning rated 1/8-3/8 oz. Last year I used an older 7' MF HMG Jig & Worm rod with braid to fish lily pads while visiting Florida. Lure of choice was a 10" unweighted ribbontail worm and 3/0 hook. Pretty sure every fish was caught on this rod. No problem setting the hook on this MF spinning rod.
I'd agree not to push her about a baitcast reel until she shows interest in them. I bought my oldest grandson a baitcast reel on closeout at TW and a 6' MH Lightning on sale at Wally world. It is my dedicated short(er) range spinnerbait rod. He never picked it up. No desire to move from a spinning reel whatsoever.
Thanks! I actually went with the 2000 for my ned rig and drop shot rod, partially because the slightly wider spool and also because I can run 10lb line on that if I ever used it for something else -- and it was $15 cheaper. Great reel (and it also doesn't loose line loops and gets great hooksets!)
But in this case, I'll definitely step up to the BG2500 for the extra 9lbs of drag if nothing else.
J Francho reply :
I'm gonna toss in another option, a good spincast, like a Daiwa Goldcast. I got one for my queen, and she loves it. It's on a SC LTB rod.
Boomstick reply :
On 4/24/2019 at 10:49 PM, J Francho said:I'm gonna toss in another option, a good spincast, like a Daiwa Goldcast. I got one for my queen, and she loves it. It's on a SC LTB rod.
She is actually good with a spinning reel.
J Francho reply :
It was just an idea. You could use an extra casting rod that you already have. That's what I did. She tried a few lengths and powers, and likes the 7' MF.
Boomstick reply :
On 4/24/2019 at 10:51 PM, J Francho said:It was just an idea. You could use an extra casting rod that you already have. That's what I did. She tried a few lengths and powers, and likes the 7' MF.
That would be great if I had an extra casting rod. Mine are all paired with reels with appropriate line 
Boomstick reply :
So I just got one hell of a deal (from a reputable seller) on a Ballistic LT, size 2500. Actually, cheaper than I could find a Tatula LT for, so I bought that. The girlfriend is one who would probably appreciate the light weight and it was way too good to pass up
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