Swimbait Rod - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Dave Legacy · 08-06-2016, 10:04 AM

Hey dudes,

This is a long-shot, but does anyone have any experience with the newer Okuma Guide Select A-Series Swimbait rods? I'm trying to decide between the Heavy (15-30/1-6oz) or the X-Heavy (15-40/2-10oz). I just got a Curado 300e and I hope to use the rod to get me into swimbaits into the 7-9" range. I weighed some 9" MC Viejos w/1.5oz heads and found them to be 3.5oz overall. I'm not sure I would need to cast more than that, but maybe you guys can tell me. Big swimbaits w/heavier leadheads (2oz+) are for vertical jigging?

I was thinking maybe the Heavy would be a good move, so I could still have enough bend to throw stuff like weedless 7-8.5" Swimbait with weighted wide-gap hooks. Ability to fish a light iron with calicos, cuda, bonito would be cool too, but it's my secondary goal and not as important.

I really don't have enough experience with calicos and the kelp beds to figure it out. Any guidance y'all can offer is appreciated.

Best regards,

Dave

Dave Legacy · 08-06-2016, 10:11 AM

I forgot to mention that I have a heavy bass rod rated to 1.5oz that was designed for frogs and heavy vegetation. This time around I really need a rod that will fill the void beyond 5"-6" paddletails w/1 oz heads, which is pretty much the top end of my 7' H Mojo Bass' ability. That rod would probably suit me fine for weedless baits.

HobieOneCanoebe · 08-06-2016, 03:17 PM

Don't have experience with your rod in particular but when targeting calico you can tie yourself off on kelp fish a dropper loop with a mackie and cast your plastic at the same time. The other way I typically do it is I sit at the top of the kelp line so the current pulls you right through the kelp and then just find casting lanes, try a few casts deep a few mid column and a few shallow. If they aren't biting switch spots and if they still aren't biting go to a smaller plastic I use 4" sardine patterns.

parkermann · 08-06-2016, 04:14 PM

I own both of those rods. Go with the xheavy. Both rods are great but the x heavy is more versatile. I also have the medium heavy and that is a great calico rod. It's rated 1/2 ounce to 5 ounces

08-06-2016, 10:04 AM	#1
Dave Legacy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Hacienda Heights, CA Posts: 427	Swimbait Rod Hey dudes, This is a long-shot, but does anyone have any experience with the newer Okuma Guide Select A-Series Swimbait rods? I'm trying to decide between the Heavy (15-30/1-6oz) or the X-Heavy (15-40/2-10oz). I just got a Curado 300e and I hope to use the rod to get me into swimbaits into the 7-9" range. I weighed some 9" MC Viejos w/1.5oz heads and found them to be 3.5oz overall. I'm not sure I would need to cast more than that, but maybe you guys can tell me. Big swimbaits w/heavier leadheads (2oz+) are for vertical jigging? I was thinking maybe the Heavy would be a good move, so I could still have enough bend to throw stuff like weedless 7-8.5" Swimbait with weighted wide-gap hooks. Ability to fish a light iron with calicos, cuda, bonito would be cool too, but it's my secondary goal and not as important. I really don't have enough experience with calicos and the kelp beds to figure it out. Any guidance y'all can offer is appreciated. Best regards, Dave

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08-06-2016, 10:11 AM	#2
Dave Legacy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Hacienda Heights, CA Posts: 427	I forgot to mention that I have a heavy bass rod rated to 1.5oz that was designed for frogs and heavy vegetation. This time around I really need a rod that will fill the void beyond 5"-6" paddletails w/1 oz heads, which is pretty much the top end of my 7' H Mojo Bass' ability. That rod would probably suit me fine for weedless baits.

08-06-2016, 03:17 PM	#3
HobieOneCanoebe Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Encinitas Posts: 200	Don't have experience with your rod in particular but when targeting calico you can tie yourself off on kelp fish a dropper loop with a mackie and cast your plastic at the same time. The other way I typically do it is I sit at the top of the kelp line so the current pulls you right through the kelp and then just find casting lanes, try a few casts deep a few mid column and a few shallow. If they aren't biting switch spots and if they still aren't biting go to a smaller plastic I use 4" sardine patterns.

08-06-2016, 04:14 PM	#4
parkermann Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 63	I own both of those rods. Go with the xheavy. Both rods are great but the x heavy is more versatile. I also have the medium heavy and that is a great calico rod. It's rated 1/2 ounce to 5 ounces