Preferred rippin rap rod?

I have a question for all you veteran rippin rap fisherman. Do all of you prefer to throw them on a spinning rod? I notice that Mr. Holst and all of us fishing partners are always fishing them with spinning rods and wondered if there was a specific reason for that. Reason I ask is because I have fished a similar style for quite a few years for bass but have always used a bait cast combo. Is there something I’m missing out on? Being new to the whole walleye power fishing game just something I noticed. Thanks

I have used both baitcaster and spinning gear. My preference is for the spinning gear because I can rip with my right hand. After a couple hours of ripping ’em gets fatiguing and seems to help to use my right hand.

I also went from using a 6′-8″ Medium XF spinning rod to a 7′-2″ Medium-Heavy XF Daiwa Tatula. Longer length seems to help, again a shorter rod gets more fatiguing to me. More leverage on hook-sets too with the added length…

Open water i prefer a spinning rod. Eyecon 7’6″ MXF.
Hard water i prefer inline reel and stiffer rod.
Fun when walleyes hammer those jigging raps.

Disclaimer
I’ve never used a “Rippin Rap”
I own every size and color of live forage rippin shad and have found absolutely no reason to switch. The bonus is that i can find them on shelves because everyone fell for the rippin rap craze and forgot about the older sister rippin shad

I like my AS68MXF for rippin raps (with braid) but the idea of the 7′ 2″ tatula is intriguing.

I use Rippin Raps and I suggest having both a baitcaster and spinning IF your budget allows. This goes the same for all my lipless baits and blade baits. I see everyone, including myself, work baits differently between the two rods. It can be speed, lift,…. any of the subtle di8fference that make a difference. If have someone fishing lipless baits with spinning gear, I often opt for my baitcasting. See what the differences are and how the fish respond

Trolling with a cane pole!!!

@RandyW1

What do you recommend for a bait caster?
I have many big bait casters for those larger baits/fish but nothing to throw smaller baits.

I like your response as I imagine both rod/reel setups will in fact bring different presentations with the same bait. Not something I’ve thought about.

My #1 baitcast reel of choice is the Quantum EXO 101. However this reel has 1 downfall for hardcore walleye guys that are accustom to hugging the bottom of the water column. The flipping switch. I love the flip switch in the Energy and the Accurist. For those not familiar, as soon as you release your thumb from the center button, the reel engages / and vise-Vera. Very quick and comfortable way to let line out when vertical jigging. I also prefer the 6.3 to the highspeed.

The Accurist is a very good entry level and suits well for most. The Energy is obviously a few steps up in quality and costs more.

http://www.quantumfishing.com/products/2962/Energy-PT–A.aspx
I have that on a 7′ Med. Lt Smoke rod. Sweet set-up
http://www.quantumfishing.com/products/3301/Smoke-PTA.aspx

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

I like your response as I imagine both rod/reel setups will in fact bring different presentations with the same bait.

Would someone be able to explain how a bait/spin would differentiate?

Other than faster reels on the bait, and line over/under I can’t picture any appreciable difference. Maybe the way your wrist is angled?

Not doubting it, just curious to details.

nhamm wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:</div>
I like your response as I imagine both rod/reel setups will in fact bring different presentations with the same bait.

Would someone be able to explain how a bait/spin would differentiate?

Other than faster reels on the bait, and line over/under I can’t picture any appreciable difference. Maybe the way your wrist is angled?

Not doubting it, just curious to details.

Not to be a smart , but seriously, nearly EVERYONE handles a spinning and baitcasting rod differently. This has been years of observation. I’m sure it is the combination of how they hold the rod, cranking speed, left Vs right hand, angle of wrist, tip kept up vs tip down low….and so on. I personally use both a spinning rod and a baitcasting rod in my right hand and crank left handed. I fish fast and more aggressively with a spinning rod. I slow WAY down with a baitcaster. If I want something in the middle, I go to a right handed baitcasting reel. All three enable me to present differently

Not to be a smart , but seriously, nearly EVERYONE handles a spinning and baitcasting rod differently. This has been years of observation. I’m sure it is the combination of how they hold the rod, cranking speed, left Vs right hand, angle of wrist, tip kept up vs tip down low….and so on. I personally use both a spinning rod and a baitcasting rod in my right hand and crank left handed. I fish fast and more aggressively with a spinning rod. I slow WAY down with a baitcaster. If I want something in the middle, I go to a right handed baitcasting reel. All three enable me to present differently
[/quote]

x2

I thought I was the only one crazy enough to have thought this through like this.

FDR

Interesting.

Randy Wieland wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>nhamm wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:</div>
I like your response as I imagine both rod/reel setups will in fact bring different presentations with the same bait.

Would someone be able to explain how a bait/spin would differentiate?

Other than faster reels on the bait, and line over/under I can’t picture any appreciable difference. Maybe the way your wrist is angled?

Not doubting it, just curious to details.

Not to be a smart , but seriously, nearly EVERYONE handles a spinning and baitcasting rod differently. This has been years of observation. I’m sure it is the combination of how they hold the rod, cranking speed, left Vs right hand, angle of wrist, tip kept up vs tip down low….and so on. I personally use both a spinning rod and a baitcasting rod in my right hand and crank left handed. I fish fast and more aggressively with a spinning rod. I slow WAY down with a baitcaster. If I want something in the middle, I go to a right handed baitcasting reel. All three enable me to present differently

Randy, I find it interesting you hold both a baitcaster and spinning rod in your right hand and crank left. I know this has been debated before on many sites… but I have heard that if you are right handed, that most people have approximately 70% of the strength and dexterity in their left hand. Thus more challenging to fish as strong or accurately, or finesse-fully, etc with your less-dominant hand. I thought that might be the angle you were going with the different retrieves between bait caster and spinning because one way is weaker and forces you to slow down.. but maybe not?

I struggle with the right/left thing as I have had 3 wrist surgeries and am scheduled for my 4th this winter. I have HAD to switch off between left/right handed retrieve for healing purposes – but once back to full health next year, I’m unsure if I will have right or left handed baitcasters.

I guess I have the winter to figure it out, but curious to get you .02

-Fry

Honestly for me the reason I use spinning for this is because I let the lure fall on the cast. I may fish ripping raps differently then most. I am targeting bait balls in the summer and trying to pitch it right in the middle of the ball.

For me spinning reels are much easier to manage the slack line from the fall.

For the rod I use a 7’6″ ISP Inshore Popping Redfish rod. It is ML saltwater that is extra fast. It gives me more tip control than anything I have ever used. Took 3 years to develop this one.

But really any rod that is over 6’10” for me works. I like the length because I can control the drop so much better and feel the lure falling for longer than I can on say a 6′ rod.

Just my two cents on both questions.

Fry – I’m a freak of nature. No dominant eye or hand. I do most things right handed, but can fish, shoot, swing a hammer,…right or left handed. Like you said, its been debated so much. I don’t understand people casting with their right arm, switch rod to left, and reel with right – unless there is a specific reason for it.

John, I agree with the slack line and spinning. Most anglers can control the slack much easier with spinning gear. I do a lot of ptching and vertical jigging with them

Randy Wieland wrote:

Fry – I’m a freak of nature. No dominant eye or hand. I do most things right handed, but can fish, shoot, swing a hammer,…right or left handed. Like you said, its been debated so much. I don’t understand people casting with their right arm, switch rod to left, and reel with right – unless there is a specific reason for it.

John, I agree with the slack line and spinning. Most anglers can control the slack much easier with spinning gear. I do a lot of ptching and vertical jigging with them

I agree. “left-handed” bait caster for me — Doesn’t make sense to switch hands.

Another method to change speed and lift is simply in rod legnth. Utilizing a 6’4 and a 7′ rod can make a difference

Randy Wieland wrote:

Fry – I’m a freak of nature. No dominant eye or hand. I do most things right handed, but can fish, shoot, swing a hammer,…right or left handed. Like you said, its been debated so much. I don’t understand people casting with their right arm, switch rod to left, and reel with right – unless there is a specific reason for it.

John, I agree with the slack line and spinning. Most anglers can control the slack much easier with spinning gear. I do a lot of ptching and vertical jigging with them
[/quot

Randy, that’s the only way I cast and retrieve be it spinning or baitcast. It’s the only way I feel comfortable. I’ve tried reeling on the left side and it’s way too awkward for me.

Been having this debate internally last week as I plan to pick another medium action rod that I will primarily using for pitching rippin raps, but also for deep vert jigging in the current with heavy jigs.

I’ve narrowed down to these two models in my price range.

St. Croix Eyecon 68MXF ($120) or Fenwick HMG 7′ med fast ($100)?

Either option would be spinning, I like the feel better with my hand over the top of the rod vs. under like with a baitcaster.

Or St. Croix Premier 70MFS

I prefer the feel of some of the rage series rods to the eyecon, but I would highly recommend going up to the legend tournament series, my favorite out of all, little bit more money, but I have found some nice deals on eBay if you know what you are looking for.

Dusty Gesinger wrote:

I prefer the feel of some of the rage series rods to the eyecon

X2. At $150 they are more spendy though. Wouldn’t trade my Rages for anything. The Bass series from Fenwick is phenomanal as well, again $150. The $30 difference is much noticeable IMO.

Watch for fleet farm clearance on the rage series, 99.99.

Tim J

I have the eyecon 6’8″ and it is an ok rod for the 5 and 6 size but I feel it is a bit maxed out for 7’s so i went to a 7′ fenwick MH Aetos and it is a bit of a pool cue but works great for the 7’s. I would try the rage in 6’10’ MXF if you can find one and think it will work better than the eyecon.

Checked out the rage online, looks nice and worth the extra $30. However, I don’t recall ever seeing them in retail stores (cabela’s, gander, joe’s, or thorne)

I am now a big fan of the Fenwick HMG line of spinning rods. I’ve used a lot of different brand rods. And for the money I can’t find anything better. Very comfortable and their actions seem to be spot on.

I use Avid X AXS70MF for blades, rippin raps, jigging raps with an EXO 30 series spinning reel. 10lb suffix… Works great. Not a cheap setup, but got the the rod on a warranty upgrade and got the reel for $100

Tim J wrote:

Checked out the rage online, looks nice and worth the extra $30. However, I don’t recall ever seeing them in retail stores (cabela’s, gander, joe’s, or thorne)

Should be at FF, and Cabelas and Gander.

The micro guides aren’t suited for below freezing weather FYI. One reason I went with the Fenwick for winter use, otherwise I’d have the MLXF Rage as well.

If you can’t get your hands on one I’m usually running around town during the week and carry the rod with me. Just give me hollar