ideal perching grub rod?

well, I will start a thread on this one.

what is the ideal perch rod for fishing a grub?

I know alien really likes the 12' noodle type rods (steelhead rods?).

I am using a $40 ($25 on sale in november) IM-6 cabelas 8-12lb 8'6" steelhead spinning rod.

it might be a little on the fast-action side, I don't know. also the guides are corroding, green stuff
between the gold toned metal guide and ceramic ring.

however it is reasonably durable, pretty sensitive and accurately
fires a 1oz egg sinker a mile with little effort. a 13" 'slab' bends it okay, but
a dink is pretty overpowered. probably would be a blast with a 10lb striper as that might compare to
a steelhead, but I have not caught anything over about 3lbs with it.

The blank has been re-inforced down by the handle with some graphite wrap or something that makes the
action a lot faster.

I also got a 50% off $20 8' ultralight IM-6 berkely lighting rod to try. the guides are metal tho, probably will corrode.

It is slower action. seems like it could be pretty good, I haven't tried it yet. not sure how it will handle a 1.5oz sinker.
maybe it will just snap?

The zen fly fish perch fish dude interviewed some famous grub fisherman and he liked slow action 8' rods. that guy
fishes mainly the sunset/manressa/zmudowski area I think. fairly protected.

I'm trying to understand when you would pick a faster action rod and when you would pick a slower action rod?

opinions?

seems like you need a long rod that can toss a heavier sinker and have fun with a smaller fish. what rod type does that?
a slower action light action rod?

I'll probably commision erik K to make me one with nickel-titanium flexible corrosion-free guides next winter
but I want to figure out what I like before I do that.

J

John,

I like a 9 ft one piece rod.  But, hard to transport.  I usually just open the little window in the rear of my truck and let it hang out.  But, a 2 piece is OK.  I like to cast out a 2 or 3oz. egg sinker.  I use a 5" to 6" grub....but, only the head.  I cut it off and use a small thin wire hook.  You need to thread the head a few times before the line is all the way though the head and the hook is sticking out of the tail end.

It looks like a sandcrab to the perch and strippers.  You can tip it with a little piece of bloodworms.

I also like a baitcaster reel.  It keeps you in more contact with the grub and give me less fatigue.  Spinning reel are harder to wind in and have a lot of slack after casting out & reeling in the slack.

After, you get the hit you can let the fish hook itself or reel like crazy (I also back peddle up the beach).

Buy, a medium price reel.  Salt & sand does a number on the reels. Casting 8 to 12 lb. mono and can make the leader from 18" to 3 feet. 

Ken kickfish

Ken, that is a cool and unique variation on perch grubbing, thanks! 

My favorite perching rod is similar to yours J.I use a 8 1/4' Seeker 832 steelhead spinning rod rated for 8-12# test.Whippy and sensitive tip,but just enough backbone to play a jumbo perch or schoolie striper if I should hook one.A longer rod might allow casting over larger surf,but I've found that when the surf gets that big I usually don't do as well because I'm not tossing that much weight and I can't hold the grub near the bottom anyway.I like to go as light as possible.

I've found that the Penn SS series of spinners holds up to the rigors of surfcasting pretty well.I just clean them and change the line regularly.The only parts I've replaced on the one I've been using for the past five years has been a $12 bearing.

Mine is a Rainshadow steelhead rod - IST993F which  is 8'3", 2pc, 6-10# line, 1/4-1/2 oz lure rating, fast action. 

Despite the lure rating, it can handle 3/4 oz egg sinkers just fine.  Nice light rod with sensitive tip and a nice amount of backbone.  I also use it for light tackle stripers in Mendo which is a kick. 

I used REC Recoil guides on it, which are nitinol wire framed spinning guides... extremely light weight, corrosion proof, and the guides can't be bent out of shape (shape memory alloy).

I spool with 6" maxima and am currently shopping for another reel for it that will hold up better in saltwater than the old Abu Cardinal that I have on it currently. 

http://www.kzreelrods.com/images/Rod_Photos/GoldenRodGripsWeb.jpg

well, it looks like my test rods are pretty close to you guys, I'll wear them out a little more and talk to erik next winter.

erik, if you like shimano spinners take a look at the shimano spheros. supposedly a saltwater reel.  about $70. 

http://www.rivermarinesupply.com/xcart/catalog/product_11152_Shimano_Spheros_FA_Saltwater_Spinning_Reel_3000_4000__5000_6.html

I have the 3000FA, the 4000FA might be a better call.

It is real smooth and high end, but not 49 bearings like a freshwater shimano.

probably similar to the penn reel. no gizmos. just the basics done well.

http://www.rivermarinesupply.com/xcart/catalog/product_11750_Penn_Spinfisher_SSM_Reels.html

well, it is nice no question, but I dont know about the saltwater, water proof drag etc, part. It's
better than some reels, but you probably want to take it apart and grease the drag etc
before you start floating around in the surf like I do.

erik, what about the whole question of action?

could you toss a heavier lure on a slower action rod for the same weight of line? seems like less pressure
would be on the rod tip? the casting effort would be spread over the whole rod. maybe I'm mishapen on
that one, but that's how it seems it should be.

J

John,

Abe Cuanang taught me how to fish with just the Grub Head.  Really, the only way I fish for perch, now.

I did take my son and a few of his buddies out a few months ago and we bait fish with bloodworms.

Ken kickfish

John,

Abe Cuanang taught me how to fish with just the Grub Head.  Really, the only way I fish for perch, now.

I did take my son and a few of his buddies out a few months ago and we bait fish with bloodworms.

Ken kickfish

Do you have a photo of the set-up?

CHEERS!

J, this is the exact reel I have.
http://www.rivermarinesupply.com/xcart/catalog/product_11976_Penn_4500SS_Spinning_Reel.html

The gold anodized and graphite parts are very corrosion resistant and I like the deep spool.Of course, I own a few Shimanos too.They're smooth, but a bit more complicated if you plan on servicing them yourself.Shimano has great customer service though and some of the best techs in the business.

J go on E-bay and pick up one on these Great reel don't know why they stopped making them the 4200ss is nice but has a Graphite Body instead of Metal. Ive had mine for 15yrs still looks like new. Almost half the weight of the 4500.

http://www.scottsbt.com/pennparts/reelspecs/penn420SS.htm

Mahi Mahi,

I will fix one up and post it here.

Ken kickfish

I like to grub perch with a 8' 6" lamiglas steelhead rod.  Currently using a Kenai Guide model. It is matched with a Abu Garcis 5601 with 14lb fire line.   I can easily throw 3/4 through 2 oz weight depending on conditions.   

I use an 8'6" Lamiglas Steelhead rod too, but I use a Shimano Sahara 2500 with 8lb mainline.

I also have a trick for the egg sinkers. I use a piece of 35lb coated wire with a split ring on one end, an egg sinker with a bead on each side in the middle, and a ball bearing swivel at the other end of the wire. I tie my main line to the split ring and my leader to the swivel. This works GREAT and you don't have to worry about the egg sinker sanding up your line. The whole wire piece is only about 2 1/2" long and I keep 3 or 4 in my vest with varying sizes of egg sinker.

those penn spinners look like my kind of spinner, old school and no gizmos.

I did once run into a guy in the florida keys that had problems with his bail, but if mickfish
and aaron are happy that makes me a lot more interested in them.

maybe I will go for that after my shimano dies. the spheros has a strange two part spool,
aluminum body, but titanium (I think) lip.

it was erik k searching for a new reel, I'm mainly thinking about the rod, but now maybe I will try
my abu 4601 sometime. probably an egg sinker won't result in too many backlashes?

Here is a photo of the rig.  It has 20 lb test (easier to see the line) instead of 8 to 12 lb test and a thick wire hook.  Thick wire is better if there are strippers with perch.  But, I usually use a thinner hook.

Usually, I cast out and let is sink to the bottom.  Reel back in as slow as possible.  You usually get the hits as you drag up the slope of the hole.  If it is a real slow bite.  I add a little piece of blood worm.

Ken kickfish