What do y’all think of the B ‘n’ M Sam Heaton rod?

What do you think of the B ‘n’ M Sam Heaton 7’0” Super Sensitive rod? They had this rod at Walmart for $50. I’ve been watching a lot of Richard Gene and he’s got me wanting a rod that’s “limber as a dish rag“. What he’s not saying in his videos is that the rod has a pretty fast tip and it seems to recover quite well. So this Sam Heaton rod seems to be pretty close to what he’s using in his videos and I went ahead and got one tonight. I think it’s rated as a light powered rod but it has sort of an ultralight feel to it. Maybe in between? I don’t know, I’m inexperienced with ultralight rods and I imagine them to be more whippy than this one is. This one has a little bit of backbone while still having loads of bend in it. Very similar to what I see him using, and based on what I saw on the videos it looks like it would be a ton of fun with float and jig fishing. Now I just need to get a reel for it And I think I know which one I’m going to get. Probably the Okuma Ceymar A C-2000a.

I love my Sam Heston Super sensitive for casting ... I’ve had it over 20 years ...

Heck ... I’ve even used it for dock shooting. A little long for that but can be done ...

Another thing I like about this rod is if it’s windy, I can use the “dock shooting” technique to cast without creating that big bow in the line from the wind overhand casting ...

Rickie

I have the Sam Heaton Signature Series 7' rod and it's as lite action as I want in a seven foot rod. There are no specs printed on the blank, so I have no idea what the actual "action" is on this rod. But I do know that it casts great, feels light in hand, and has caught a good number of fish over the years.
I'm not sure there were any "changes" to it, when it became the "Super Sensitive" model, other than the color of the blank and the split handle. And if that's the case, I think you'll enjoy fishing with your rod. Just get a reel that balances well with that rod and rip some lip !! Luck2ya, Rooster !!

I put a Daiwa Fuego 2500 on it just playing around. That’s a bass reel but it weighs 7.4 oz. Loaded up with 10 pound line it weighs about 7.75 oz.. The reel balanced the rod but it didn’t have that magical feeling I look for. I removed its handle to lighten it up, which is about 5/8 oz., and suddenly the rod felt great. So a 7.125 oz. (7-1/8) reel (with line) is what I’m looking for. The Okuma Ceymar A is 7.2 oz. before adding line. Not exact but will still be lighter than the Daiwa is, and the quantity of 4 pound line I’m planning to use will be a lot less than the 10 pound that’s on that Daiwa, so I think it might work out to be a great feeling combo. I ordered the Okuma reel. I’ll try it on there and see how it feels. If I don’t love it there is another model, an Okuma Ceymar C-20 that weighs just 6.8 oz. and with line I’m guessing about 7-1/8 oz on the dot. It has an EVA foam knob handle though that I’m not crazy about. I’ll try the Ceymar A first and go from there.

Would love to hear a follow-up when you get the reel in. I purchased the Heaton SS a few weeks back and like it a lot. I have a terrible Mr. Crappie reel on it currently because that's just what I had lying around. Been doing research and trying to find a good reel for it under $100. Having trouble deciding on the type and size of reel altogether.

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Originally Posted by slackhouse

Would love to hear a follow-up when you get the reel in. I purchased the Heaton SS a few weeks back and like it a lot. I have a terrible Mr. Crappie reel on it currently because that's just what I had lying around. Been doing research and trying to find a good reel for it under $100. Having trouble deciding on the type and size of reel altogether.

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https://a.co/d/7UztQPy
I've been using spinning reels for 60 years. I remember when the best spinning reel you could buy was a Penn. It was high priced at $18.00
That was a lot for a boy mowing lawns for spending money to buy tackle. I was sure proud of it. Now days you don't expect to get high quality at a budget price. I've had all kinds of spinning reels. This one of the finest reels I've ever had in my hands. It's beautiful.
All stainless. It works perfectly. What got my attention was the drag 33#. That is a high quality spec. I won't name names but this reel is better than reels costing 3 times more. Give it a try. I it's not excellent return it free [emoji106]

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Crappie Maxx Hi-Vis Camo Fishing Line
Site Maintenance
I put 6# crappie Maxx hi-vis camo line on it it cast like a dream. I have it on a 7' sam heatin super sensitive. Its a pleasure to fish with . NO PLASTIC! Finest rod and reel I've ever had in my hands.

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Originally Posted by slackhouse

Would love to hear a follow-up when you get the reel in. I purchased the Heaton SS a few weeks back and like it a lot. I have a terrible Mr. Crappie reel on it currently because that's just what I had lying around. Been doing research and trying to find a good reel for it under $100. Having trouble deciding on the type and size of reel altogether.

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I will let you know how the reel feels on this rod. Should have it by Tuesday. I have Crappie Maxx 4 pound line so that’s what it will be getting.

You should get you a 1000 series of them red reels I use off Amazon ,they will blow most of them others right out of the water , those okuma reels are junk my friend, killed several quickly myself
It might not have a name you can recognize, but right quick like you will be aware of its quality,just saying ….under 20 greenbacks and quite easily over 100 with some “name” on it folks recognize

Yongzhi for the win :Rofl

I've watched several of Gene's YT video's and here lately he has been using a Crappie Max 7 footer that is white in color and had some good comments on it.

Ketchn, I ordered one of the Piscifun 1000 reels and didn’t like it. The reel felt well built but it had a gear grind in it that I did not like. I want my reels to feel glass smooth. I just didn’t care for it so I returned it. Another thing I noticed about it in the 1000 size is that the bail hits my knuckles when I crank it. I hold my spinning rods with my whole hand in front of the reel on the foregrip. It’s just too small of a reel for me to do that with the 1000 size. Maybe a 2000 would be better, but if it also had gear grind then I wouldn’t enjoy it.

I bought a KastKing Zephyr Spinning Reel – Fresh and Saltwater Fishing Reel – 7+1 Stainless Steel Ball Bearings – Up to 22 Lbs Carbon Fiber Drag - Oversized Stainless Steel Main Shaft – Aluminum Spool 2000 size for my 7'2" falcon ML rod and like it so much I replaced the more expensive reel on my 7' rod with one .... very smooth.

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Originally Posted by ACAMS

I bought a KastKing Zephyr Spinning Reel – Fresh and Saltwater Fishing Reel – 7+1 Stainless Steel Ball Bearings – Up to 22 Lbs Carbon Fiber Drag - Oversized Stainless Steel Main Shaft – Aluminum Spool 2000 size for my 7'2" falcon ML rod and like it so much I replaced the more expensive reel on my 7' rod with one .... very smooth.

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What do you think of this one? It’s a Zephyr. Sure is extremely light weight at 5.3oz. I’m not sure if 4#/85yd is enough line capacity though. Seems like it should at least be over 100yd. I like this one because of the orange color on it. Might look good as a replacement on that Crappie Maxx rod I just bought. The reel that came on it is 8.7oz and feels like a lead brick on that rod.

KastKing Zephyr 1000 SFS (Spin Finesse System) Fishing Reel

I bought a Sam Heaton SS UL rod couple years ago and it's my favorite overall and go to rod. paired it with Shimano 1000 series reel which tangles too much for my liking but got a great deal. BTW do NOT try and pull hard on it if you get hung up. It will snap. Simply grab line after playing with it to release it from brush and pull that way. Have had two top pieces break on me. Good news is? Nice CS followup they sent me two replacements for simply explaining what happened and asking with no hassle.

Now paired it with KVD 2000 and it casts well and is good dockshooter. IF you follow kidkrappie on youtube that is his go to for dock shooting and general use. that and a 9 foot model. Has plenty of back bone to land bigger crappie and fight the drums and green carp that you ketch as well. Use 4 lb hi vis mostly vicious or Mr crappie mono.

Just caught a St Croix 6 foot rod UL and paired it with President reel I had. havn't fished it yet but will this week. Had a gift card from kids for that rod and KVD reel and they were on sale.

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Originally Posted by The Rooster

What do you think of this one? It’s a Zephyr. Sure is extremely light weight at 5.3oz. I’m not sure if 4#/85yd is enough line capacity though. Seems like it should at least be over 100yd. I like this one because of the orange color on it. Might look good as a replacement on that Crappie Maxx rod I just bought. The reel that came on it is 8.7oz and feels like a lead brick on that rod.

KastKing Zephyr 1000 SFS (Spin Finesse System) Fishing Reel

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Looks very good, let us know how you like it. I bought one a while back but put it on a dock shooting rod I havn't done any of that lately so don't know how it performs. bought it for lot less than that price tho.

BTW went to Amazon to check out some of these reels mentioned and saw what looked like a good reel in wildest colors. couldn't link it for some stupid reason but RUNCL Merced II. was 24 bucks but had a 30% coupon attached so couldn't resist it. will give it a go but if nothing else would put it on rods I have at condo for my grandkids. they would love it.

BTW I put above post in response to fin's description of reel he uses and box popped up saying my response was too short? that's crazy right?

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Originally Posted by The Rooster

What do you think of this one? It’s a Zephyr. Sure is extremely light weight at 5.3oz. I’m not sure if 4#/85yd is enough line capacity though. Seems like it should at least be over 100yd. I like this one because of the orange color on it. Might look good as a replacement on that Crappie Maxx rod I just bought. The reel that came on it is 8.7oz and feels like a lead brick on that rod.

KastKing Zephyr 1000 SFS (Spin Finesse System) Fishing Reel

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The 2000 size will be better ..... it is kinda small compared to other 2000 size reels! .... and cheaper at Amazon Amazon.com

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Originally Posted by hdhntr

BTW went to Amazon to check out some of these reels mentioned and saw what looked like a good reel in wildest colors. couldn't link it for some stupid reason but RUNCL Merced II. was 24 bucks but had a 30% coupon attached so couldn't resist it. will give it a go but if nothing else would put it on rods I have at condo for my grandkids. they would love it.

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Color has nothing to do with reel quality of design and workmanship. If the reel is assembled carelessly it can fall apart the first time you use it.
Cabom Nytex Ultralight Spinning... Amazon.com

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I have two BnM Sam Heaton Super Sensitive rods, a 7' and a 10', and I absolutely love them. They do have a little more bend than all of my ACC Crappie Stix (they're all medium/light poles, while the Sam Heaton's are rated as light), so I have to be a little more careful when trying to boat flip fish, but they are a blast. I usually use them more when pitching or casting really light 1/64 oz jigs.

A legalis lt1000 is tough to beat. Very nice drag and pretty darn smooth for the money!
Bob

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Originally Posted by BobC

A legalis lt1000 is tough to beat. Very nice drag and pretty darn smooth for the money!
Bob

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I just ordered a shallow spool Legalis 2000 for my new rod I'm looking forward to spooling it up and wetting a jig.

I can't help with the 7' Sam Heaton rod, but I do have two 12' and a 10' SS rods. IMO, very good rods for the money. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a 7' if I needed it.

I have a BnM Crappie Wizard. I like it, but have been wondering how guys like the Sam Heaton. The Crappie Wizard is a bit on the stiff side. How does the Sam Heaton compare with the TCB rod? Both seem to get extremely good reviews.

Well, I got that Okuma Ceymar A C-2000a spinning reel and loaded it up with 4 pound Crappie Maxx line. Put it on the Sam Heaton rod and it feels pretty nice. I like that the reel’s “stem” is kinda long so it provides a good amount of clearance for my hand as I hold the rod on the foregrip. I tied on a 1/16oz jig with a tiny grub and went “yard fishing” to see how it casts. I’ve never had a rod like this before so it’ll take me some time to learn to cast and be accurate with it. Right now I’m just envisioning using it for twitching a jig under a float near flooded brush and hope for the best. Here’s a few pics. I love the bend this rod has, it feels plenty soft enough to keep from ripping hooks out but still has a little bit of backbone to play the fish. It has some wiggle in the blank but it’s not a noodle. Hopefully this is the rod I’ve been wanting that Richard Gene says needs to be as “limber as a dishrag” and will work well for me for jigging.

Attachment 504307 Attachment 504308 Attachment 504309 Attachment 504310Attachment 504311

i got 2 of them. I like them, but i think the ACC crappie is lighter. Thats my opinion. Your milage may vary.

If any of my casting rods bent that far, the drag would be screaming. :Rofl

I was never taught to set the hook on a Crappie like I was "worm fishing" for Bass (you know ... the "cross their eyes" hookset). Even with a UL rod I still set a hook with a fast wrist snap (and almost no arm lift). I think that's why I've come to liking a M/L or Med action rod with a fast tip.

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

If any of my casting rods bent that far, the drag would be screaming. :Rofl

I was never taught to set the hook on a Crappie like I was "worm fishing" for Bass (you know ... the "cross their eyes" hookset). Even with a UL rod I still set a hook with a fast wrist snap (and almost no arm lift). I think that's why I've come to liking a M/L or Med action rod with a fast tip.

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This makes good sense to me. I try to remind myself during each trip to "snap my wrist" instead of arm lift. I think part of the fun is adjusting to the different rod/reel setups . I know some guys who have all setups exactly the same, and that's fine, too.

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

If any of my casting rods bent that far, the drag would be screaming. :Rofl

I was never taught to set the hook on a Crappie like I was "worm fishing" for Bass (you know ... the "cross their eyes" hookset). Even with a UL rod I still set a hook with a fast wrist snap (and almost no arm lift). I think that's why I've come to liking a M/L or Med action rod with a fast tip.

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I still struggle with the bass whacker mentality when setting the hook on crappie. I use sickle hooks in all my jigs, basically all it takes is a quick wrist snap and the hook is set. Most of my problems are with 12-14' rods, it doesn't take much movement at the reel to move the rod tip several feet. Rods with soft actions are my friends. LOL

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

If any of my casting rods bent that far, the drag would be screaming. :Rofl

I was never taught to set the hook on a Crappie like I was "worm fishing" for Bass (you know ... the "cross their eyes" hookset). Even with a UL rod I still set a hook with a fast wrist snap (and almost no arm lift). I think that's why I've come to liking a M/L or Med action rod with a fast tip.

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I’m gonna have to train myself and develop hook setting techniques too. I’ve been a bass fisherman for 30 years and just now getting into crappie fishing. The one time I went out so far I had one bite and I set the hook instinctively swinging for the fence. Obviously I missed.

I have three of those B&MSS, two twelve footers and a seven footer that I dock shoot and cast to open water crappie with. My opinion only, I also have two ACC crappie Stix’s. One is a 12 footer and the other is a six footer.

The B & M’s have better feel for the light bite. I also like them for fishing one thirty second or less weighted jigs. But does lack some backbone. With that said if I am fishing heavy brush it’s going to be the ACC’s.
To me another down side to the ACC due to its backbone, I have never lost my bass hook setting. So I have a hard hook set and can tear the bait out of their mouths with the ACC sometimes . I have also popped the tips in the B & M’s. They are twenty five dollars to replace. I know all too well the cost. I have had the B & M’s for twenty five years now. So for me it comes down to situation and preference. I have mine paired with H&H Pro reels.

Hope this helps.


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I gave up on the heaton rods. Had to replace the tip section three times on the same rod in one season. Just not durable enough for me. Even the 7’ rod tip doesn’t hold up. Broke a couple TCB tips too. One broke when I was putting it in my rod locker.

I have the 7 footer. It is SS. But I like my Wally Marshall Sharp Shooter with softer tip for casting all with 4# yellow mono.
My long poles for vertical dipping & jigging are B&M Tree Thumper and Duck Commander Double Touch. Around 11 footers. 10/2 yellow braid makes them outstanding to me. Learned it all right here.
Read what you can, cover a lot of water slowly, and enjoy living. It will come to you.