Musings on a rod for 1/64 oz baits

Hello, I have been using Trout Magnet 1/64 oz and I need a rod that will cast them farther but provide good performance all around. Can anyone shed light on this? Rod price is all over the map and I don't mind spending if it's worth it, I will buy whatever if it works.

I bought a high dollar (to me) ultralight rod, the only one in my arsenal, and promptly broke the tip just by casting a glance its way, it seems. That seems a ripoff and the rod is out of production, so, I can't buy another top half. I had it repaired with a full fix but I promptly broke it first time out and each time I broke it, I have no idea how it happened. Way too delicate! The 2nd time, I had a different guy fix it but he just stuck a tip on the end and it doesn't cast worth a hoot.

Recently, I broke my B 'n' M 8 ft rod bringing it into the house, the screen door slammed on it AS I CAREFULLY CLOSED THE DOOR TO PREVENT THIS VERY THING! (LOL, I thought the rod was fully in the house. Wrong. Dang it!) That rod is in for repair (just a new tip) and I wonder how bad it's going to mess it up, lol. (The door whacked off probably 8 inches of it.)

This is what I have...

Shakespeare Micro series MGSP 70 2 UL 7'0" (this is a bargain rod, cheap!)
Uncle Buck's Crappie Rod Light Action UB50LC 5 ft
B 'N' M 8 ft Sam Heaton Super Sensitive (broke it in the screen door, being fixed)
Major Craft, $200+ (the one I broke twice), shortened due a break, new tip
2 fly rods

I also thought I would ask... I have also used a flyrod and I find that the whipping action (I assume) causes the plastic to tear on the Trout Magnet. Do any of you super glue it and does it hold? What is your super glue process? Do you have a favorite glue? Richard Gene on youtube wraps dental floss around the hook, then super glues his plastic bait; I might try that. I wonder if Mend It glue is any better than super glue.

I'll end with another question, lol. I watched a Trout Magnet home office video. Their spokesman is really good at what he does, he has a real good delivery. He mentioned having the entire spool of your reel with 2 lb test for the Trout Magnet. What if there is line on the reel, and you take off, say, 100 feet, and tie on 100 ft of 2 lb test to whatever you have remaining on the reel? Once you get the 100 ft of 2 lb test on there, how does the reel know it's not all the same line? Why would you need to have the 2 lb test on the entire reel? I don't get that.

When I bought that 8 ft Sam Heaton, I recall someone telling me that he casts long casts using very light baits, like 1/64 oz, on it. Maybe I already had a good rod, lol. I don't recall how good it threw light baits, or if I even tried something like a Trout Magnet on it; I only recently got back into panfishing.

I am thinking I need 7 ft to 9 ft for casting 1/64 oz. Plus, I like to fight fish on a longer rod than a shorter one. Advice appreciated on any of this stuff!

The trout magnet mounted on their 1/64oz jig actually weighs 1/32 oz. Lots of rods and lines will cast this very well.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

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Originally Posted by z520tom

The trout magnet mounted on their 1/64oz jig actually weighs 1/32 oz. Lots of rods and lines will cast this very well.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

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I am glad you mentioned that; I have been considering weighing that on my fancy kitchen scale out of curiosity!

I would like to cast farther. Yesterday, I was fishing a bream bed where I needed to get about ten feet or so past my max cast! Anchored down, lots of wind, didn't want to move the boat, lol! I actually put the smallest little beetle spin grub that I had on there, as I thought it looked like it would weigh a little more. Plus, the plastic seems tougher.

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Originally Posted by livemusic

I also thought I would ask... I have also used a flyrod and I find that the whipping action (I assume) causes the plastic to tear on the Trout Magnet. Do any of you super glue it and does it hold?

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I'm sure it would. Another option is to not use a jig head. Just use a hook and pinch on a small split shot next to the hook eye.

Another option: small marabou jigs cast fine on a fly rod.

The TCB rod sold by BnM will handle small baits well and is not that expensive.

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Originally Posted by livemusic

He mentioned having the entire spool of your reel with 2 lb test for the Trout Magnet. What if there is line on the reel, and you take off, say, 100 feet, and tie on 100 ft of 2 lb test to whatever you have remaining on the reel? Once you get the 100 ft of 2 lb test on there, how does the reel know it's not all the same line? Why would you need to have the 2 lb test on the entire reel?

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You don't. Put on 4# mono as backing and then top it off with 2#.

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Originally Posted by livemusic

He mentioned having the entire spool of your reel with 2 lb test for the Trout Magnet

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I didn't see the video, but maybe he's just emphasizing the need to fill the spool completely for better casting distance. Since he was using 2# line, he said to fill it up with 2#. :twocents

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Originally Posted by livemusic

I also thought I would ask... I have also used a flyrod and I find that the whipping action (I assume) causes the plastic to tear on the Trout Magnet. Do any of you super glue it and does it hold? What is your super glue process? Do you have a favorite glue? Richard Gene on youtube wraps dental floss around the hook, then super glues his plastic bait; I might try that. I wonder if Mend It glue is any better than super glue.

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Mule Jig has 1/80 and 1/64 oz. Jigs heads that have a wire keeper built into them so the plastic won't come off.

Mule Jig (1/80oz)
– Mule Fishing Supply Co

Abu Garcia Eradicator Realfinesse ERFS-67SULT-ST-TZ Slow Taper Special – JDM TACKLE HEAVEN

By for the best rod I've ever fished for throwing small jigs and fun factor is off the charts. Spool a good reel with 2# gamma and your good to go. Trust me it's worth the money. I have 2 of them. Scott

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Originally Posted by ultraslab

Abu Garcia Eradicator Realfinesse ERFS-67SULT-ST-TZ Slow Taper Special – JDM TACKLE HEAVEN

By for the best rod I've ever fished for throwing small jigs and fun factor is off the charts. Spool a good reel with 2# gamma and your good to go. Trust me it's worth the money. I have 2 of them. Scott

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Hmmm... that's a lot of money but I'm open to considering. What reel would you pair that with?

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Originally Posted by livemusic

Hmmm... that's a lot of money but I'm open to considering. What reel would you pair that with?

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The JDM rods can take a lot, but you can’t just abuse them and get away with it. That said, fishing with one is another whole experience and level of fun! The TCB would give you a chance to get a peek at how these U/L rods perform. The TCB is not a noodle rod. As AH and others will warn you, once you go down the JDM Rabbit hole you can’t get out.:Rofl
Bob

Amen to that. I was warned but ignored the warning thinking I was going into a shallow hole and found it was a cliff. As for as reel I went all in with mine with a Stella, Presso 18 ( bought the last one in Japan ) and an Exist. You don't have to go to that extreme but boy is it sweet. I recently ordered that same rod for a friend who after fishing with mine, just had to have one and paired it with a Abu Garcia MGX 1000S from KIWI on the advice from Jawjatek. Was about $ 260 with shipping if I remember right. You can get by with a less exspensive reel just make sure it's got a GOOD drag as you will need it when you get hold of a 1lb+ shellcracker on 2# test. As to my favorite of what I own it would be the Presso and would get at least one more if they were available but unforuntately don't think they are any. Scott

What makes a good drag and how do you know it would be good? I mean, what are you looking for in specs to be able to confidently spend a lot of money on a reel such as that?

Sorry I'm not the one to explain the tech's behind what's good. There are a lot of people on here who are much more knowledgeable than me as to the why's. I just know good when I have a big shellcracker on the end of the line and get him to the boat vs. having that sick feeling when the line goes suddenly slack when they make one of those crazy hard run's just as you had a glimpse of what's on the end of your line. Hopefuly some of the guru's on here will chime in with a technical explanation. Scott

I have confidently relied on advice of other board members as yes it's a little scary laying out that kind of money without being able to put your hands on it 1st. Scott

Are use several different rods. The 7 foot my groceries that you have isn’t super light but does a real good job casting for me with 2 pound test on it. There are lots of Raj that might meet your criteria but I would handle them before I bought them. Just cause it’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s good.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

The 7 foot my groceries ...

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Autocorrect?

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Autocorrect?

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Without a doubt. It can be frustrating at times!

I agree a long rod works well. I use an 8' microlite float n' fly rod for casting stuff like this. Now I often am throwing these under a pegged float which makes the long even more key. I'll use a weighted float too which allows for veeerrry long casts!

Yes, autocorrect and I HATE it. That was supposed to read “I use several rods and follow with the micro series rod in 7’”. I bought a browning airstream and a trout slayer series, both 6’6” from a member with President reels on each. The Browning is my favorite for 1/32 and will throw lighter if I chose. Both cast well and both are hard to find. I can’t go down that rabbit hole y’all speak of even a little bit and these perform better than most anything I’ve ever held. I admire those of you that choose to use the JDM stuff, it’s a different set of skills. Hope you find the rod you’re after.

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Originally Posted by z520tom

The trout magnet mounted on their 1/64oz jig actually weighs 1/32 oz. Lots of rods and lines will cast this very well.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

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FWIW... I weighed the trout magnet on my Chefmate kitchen scale that does small measurements. To get a good reading, I weighed a couple dozen of them and then divided by 24 to get the average weight and per rigged trout magnet, it is 1/40 oz. (Splittin' hairs, it's actually 21/800 oz.) That's what I came up with, hope I did it correctly, think I did.

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Originally Posted by livemusic

FWIW... I weighed the trout magnet on my Chefmate kitchen scale that does small measurements. To get a good reading, I weighed a couple dozen of them and then divided by 24 to get the average weight and per rigged trout magnet, it is 1/40 oz. (Splittin' hairs, it's actually 21/800 oz.) That's what I came up with, hope I did it correctly, think I did.

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I rig mine tandem, so it doubles the weight.

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Originally Posted by Techno2000

I rig mine tandem, so it doubles the weight.

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That is a great idea! How do you tie the two?

I throw a head and hook that weighs 1/43, add a small amount for the plastic. I cast it fine with 2lb Nanofil and 2lb Sufix nanobraid. I know 2 jigs ups the chances and so on but where I fish it would amplify the problems a lot.

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Originally Posted by livemusic

That is a great idea! How do you tie the two?

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Thread two jigs on your line. Next tie a Surgeon's Loop with the bottom jig. Next slide the second jig up about a foot on your line and tie a 1-1/2 inch Surgeon's Loop with the second jig.

If you want to make up bunch of tandem leaders ahead of time (I like 8 Lb. Fluro because it's stiff) just tie another loop above the top jig. Now you can attached your tandem leaders to your main line with the top loop to a snap swivel .

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

The TCB rod sold by BnM will handle small baits well and is not that expensive.

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I second this. Good rod that casts small jigs well. FYI I use only 2lb line on this rod.

Have you given any thought to, or looked at Temple Fork Outfitters, or Dobyn's rods? I recently purchased one of each brand and they quickly became very well used. I also have a St Croix panfish rod, that is quite capable with tiny little jigs, All three of these rods just spent a week at Reelfoot, casting those super tiny Bob's jigs (the tiny little micro ones) on a 1/80 oz jig head.