The Perfect Smallmouth Bass Rod

[bobbyg]

OK, I know the perfect rod doesn't exist; however, I would appreciate suggestions for a close-to-perfect rod for smallmouth river fishing.

I'm thinking a 8 1/2' for a 7 weight. Open to other lengths and line weights.

The water I'll be fishing is approximately 150' wide and naturally the best water is on the far and inaccessible side.

I'm a bamboo fisherman and would appreciate any help in that medium as I would favor a bamboo rod for this fishing. Medium to medium fast taper.

Although, I'm beginning to think it might be best to go with a fiberglass or graphite rod for this fish and water?

Anyway, I ask for you smallmouth fishermen to give an old trout fisherman some guidance.

Thanks in advance!

Bob

[Marco]

Bobbyg,
After all, we're not talking playing a Stradivarius at Carnegie Hall. That rod ( whatever) will work REAL well in catching the fish you stipulate. No need to fine tune any more. Don't lose any more sleep, GO FISHIN!

Mark

[DarrinG]

After going thru several rods chasing smallies, I've settled on two main guns:

St Croix Legend Ultra 898-4 "Bob Clouser" signature series 8'9" 8wt. More of a med-fast action. St Croix is not producing these rods anymore, so one may be hard to find.
Or
Temple Fork Outfitters TiCrX 9ft 8wt. Really fast rod....for when I need extra distance or in windy condtitions, or really need to chuck a big, heavy fly.

I also like my St Croix Legend Ultra 906-4 9ft 6wt for throwing topwater poppers and such.

[Buddy Sanders]

Bob,

If you like cane, fish one.

A 7 wt. cane rod will handle any river smallie you happen to come across...

I like the intrinsic 'power' of a loaded cane rod for those larger flies anyway. They may not really 'be' more powerful, but they sure do feel like they are.

I try to do my smallmouth fishing with lighter sticks, but I seldom catch many over five pounds and a three weight does the job for me most times...and I have several six weights if I need them...

Buddy

[fly-chucker]

You can still get the SC "Clouser rod", they just don't call it that anymore since Bob started working with TFO. Just look for their U898-4. It's a great rod for big water smallie fishing like we have here on the Mississippi. I always have it, as well as, my legend ultra 7wt rigged up when fishing my smallies. Since I'm never throwing anything under a #6 hook and often times tossing poppers or streamers on an 8089 #6 (2/0 equivelent), the 7 wt is as small as I go.

Kevin

[airbornemike]

For SMB only I fish a 7wt on my waters wich are aprox 100+ yds wide, I have a couple 6's for creeky stuff and an 8 for big wind but 80 percent of the time I grab the 7wt. I just got a used TFO Ticr 9' 7wt and love it, I'm play'n around with a few diferent lines to see what fits. This is a medium/fast rod that looses any minor stiffness to it when I throw 8wt lines with it.

[BobC]

A 7wgt is a great all around rod for smallies. Plenty of power when you need it, and if you get a medium action smaller pans and so forth still feel good in the hand as well.

[bigbadbrent]

i purchased the Sage Smallmouth Bass last year, as i needed a rod that would chuck 'big uglies' all day, and do it better then a typical rod.
And it succeeded on all accounts. The rod is a gun, and makes easy work of 80 foot casts with monster flies...(and it comes with it's own fly line, which is great)

[DBenner]

I use a St. Croix avid 9 foot 8 weight, it is perfect for chucking bass bugs, poppers, etc. as far as you want to. Although a 7 wt would be fine as well. Tie up some poppers and have at them.

Dwight

[crcaddis]

I like a fast rod...usually a 9' 7wt, sometimes a 6wt, or an 8 or 9wt. It really depends on the size of the fly your casting....small flies, a 6wt is OK..Bass bugs the size of parakeet at 75'+...a 9wt is nice.