Favorite rod for soft plastics rigged weedless

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Mak
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Favorite rod for soft plastics rigged weedless

Post by Mak » Fri Jul 01, 2022 12:10 pm

Would appreciate your input and suggestions. I’ve gone through a lot of rods looking for the perfect combo. I’ve certainly have some that are perfectly adequate, but it’s fun trying new ones right?
Inshore fishing for Reds, Snook, Trout and Flounder. Typically throwing a 4” Z-man paddletail on an 1/8oz grip-pin weighted hook, or Texas-Eye for total weight of about 3/8-5/16 or so. 5” unweighted flukes, lightweight artificial shrimp. Almost always fishing weedless/Texas style on various plastics, so getting that hook penetration through the plastic on the hookset has been a problem on some rods that I otherwise love. Would like 7’ thru 7’-6”.
So far I haven’t found any “inshore” specific that I care for. All are too soft or more moderate action for my preference.
Current favorite baitcasting rods for my Zillions or Metanium are the St. Croix Legend Tournament (7’-1”, 4.2oz, Medium power, Fast action, 1/4-5/8oz, 10-17lb line). I’m pretty happy with these and am looking more for spinning suggestions.
For Spinning I’m usually using a Daiwa Certate 3000cxh and my favorites are probably the Falcon Expert (7’-6”, 3.9oz, medium, fast, 1/4-1/2oz, 6-14lb line). A close second would be the Daiwa Tatula (7’-0”, 3.9oz, medium, fast, 1/8-3/4oz, 6-14lb line). The St Croix Victory (7’-3”, 3.5oz, medium, extra-fast, 3/16-1/2oz, 6-20lb line) would be at the top of the list but it’s “extra-fast” labeled action is too soft. Throws better than the others and fishes great until I need to set the hook on that Texas rigged plastic…
I don’t necessarily have a budget number but if I were to go down that NRX rabbit hole then it would have to be a big jump in experience.
Thanks

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Hogsticker2
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Re: Favorite rod for soft plastics rigged weedless

Post by Hogsticker2 » Fri Jul 01, 2022 12:19 pm

Consider the Poison Adrena 6'10 or 7'2 medium powered models. Most medium light sticks won't have adequate power for solid hook sets. The Adrenas are probably the lightest and most sensitive sticks I've felt in their price range.

Edit - Looks like the prices have gone up quite a bit. For 60-70 bucks more you can get the same model Poison Glorious from Japan.

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Finnz922
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Re: Favorite rod for soft plastics rigged weedless

Post by Finnz922 » Fri Jul 01, 2022 12:44 pm

My favorite for patchy weeds with holes is Irod Genesis 3 733. The Crusher is pretty good too.

For heavier weeds to timber, I like Irod Air 704.

If you like cork handle I am pretty sure the Irod Quercus is available in the 733.

Mak
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Re: Favorite rod for soft plastics rigged weedless

Post by Mak » Fri Jul 01, 2022 1:07 pm

Hogsticker2 wrote:
Fri Jul 01, 2022 12:19 pm
Consider the Poison Adrena 6'10 or 7'2 medium powered models. Most medium light sticks won't have adequate power for solid hook sets. The Adrenas are probably the lightest and most sensitive sticks I've felt in their price range.

Edit - Looks like the prices have gone up quite a bit. For 60-70 bucks more you can get the same model Poison Glorious from Japan.
I would love to find a poison adrena somewhere I could take a look. I’ve heard good things about them.
Thanks for the recommendation.

Mak
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Re: Favorite rod for soft plastics rigged weedless

Post by Mak » Fri Jul 01, 2022 1:08 pm

Finnz922 wrote:
Fri Jul 01, 2022 12:44 pm
My favorite for patchy weeds with holes is Irod Genesis 3 733. The Crusher is pretty good too.

For heavier weeds to timber, I like Irod Air 704.

If you like cork handle I am pretty sure the Irod Quercus is available in the 733.
I had actually never heard of iRod before. I’ll do some more searching for those. Thanks.

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bronzebacks
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Re: Favorite rod for soft plastics rigged weedless

Post by bronzebacks » Fri Jul 01, 2022 1:30 pm

Phenix k2 714 and poison adrena 6'11" m+ are 2 I enjoy

Mak
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Re: Favorite rod for soft plastics rigged weedless

Post by Mak » Fri Jul 01, 2022 1:48 pm

bronzebacks wrote:
Fri Jul 01, 2022 1:30 pm
Phenix k2 714 and poison adrena 6'11" m+ are 2 I enjoy
Thank you

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Re: Favorite rod for soft plastics rigged weedless

Post by WPrich » Sat Jul 02, 2022 1:15 am

I fished inshore salt last fall several days and my St croix MXF Legend Elite 6'10" spinning rod did very well throwing 4" Diezel minnows on Texas eye heads for specks and flounder even wrangled in a 26.5" flounder on it.

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Re: Favorite rod for soft plastics rigged weedless

Post by Mak » Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:32 am

WPrich wrote:
Sat Jul 02, 2022 1:15 am
I fished inshore salt last fall several days and my St croix MXF Legend Elite 6'10" spinning rod did very well throwing 4" Diezel minnows on Texas eye heads for specks and flounder even wrangled in a 26.5" flounder on it.
Thanks. I love my legend tournament baitcasters. I don’t remember holding an Elite before. Nearest place I have with a decent selection of rods is an hour away but they do have a good inventory of various St Croix and Gloomis. I’ve got to make the drive up there again one day.

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Re: Favorite rod for soft plastics rigged weedless

Post by Dink Whisperer » Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:27 pm

I handle all my T-rigs with a Poison Adrena 73mh and 72h depending on weight and cover I'm throwing in/around. If you get them on sale they can't be beat for the money imo.

Mak
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Re: Favorite rod for soft plastics rigged weedless

Post by Mak » Sun Jul 03, 2022 4:36 am

Dink Whisperer wrote:
Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:27 pm
I handle all my T-rigs with a Poison Adrena 73mh and 72h depending on weight and cover I'm throwing in/around. If you get them on sale they can't be beat for the money imo.
The Adrena has come up several times in this thread. I’ve got to get my hands on one. Thanks.

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Hogsticker2
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Re: Favorite rod for soft plastics rigged weedless

Post by Hogsticker2 » Sun Jul 03, 2022 12:46 pm

Mak wrote:
Sun Jul 03, 2022 4:36 am
Dink Whisperer wrote:
Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:27 pm
I handle all my T-rigs with a Poison Adrena 73mh and 72h depending on weight and cover I'm throwing in/around. If you get them on sale they can't be beat for the money imo.
The Adrena has come up several times in this thread. I’ve got to get my hands on one. Thanks.
It's most definitely one of the best rods readily available in the States imo. Without springing for a new NRX or Steez, they really can't be beat. Shimano produces excellent blanks.

Mak
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Re: Favorite rod for soft plastics rigged weedless

Post by Mak » Sun Jul 03, 2022 2:43 pm

Hogsticker2 wrote:
Sun Jul 03, 2022 12:46 pm
Mak wrote:
Sun Jul 03, 2022 4:36 am
Dink Whisperer wrote:
Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:27 pm
I handle all my T-rigs with a Poison Adrena 73mh and 72h depending on weight and cover I'm throwing in/around. If you get them on sale they can't be beat for the money imo.
The Adrena has come up several times in this thread. I’ve got to get my hands on one. Thanks.
It's most definitely one of the best rods readily available in the States imo. Without springing for a new NRX or Steez, they really can't be beat. Shimano produces excellent blanks.
Thanks

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