rod and reel setup for cowgirls

was wonder what everyone uses for throwing big bucktails. what lenght and weight of rod are being used and what gear ratio reel is being used.

I do the majority of my cowgirl work with an 8’6″ XH, with a shimano Calcutta 400B. For burning cowgirls the Shimano Tranx HG which is 6.6:1 I believe is a beautiful specimen. I wouldn’t be afraid to step up to a 9′ rod. I’ve even used a few 9’6″ and couldn’t complain, long casts effortless figure 8s. Storage was kind of a pain in the but with that long of rod but worth it.

I’ve got a few sticks built for cowgirls. Slow to medium retrieve I use a St. Croix big nasty built by Thorne bros extended to 9’6″ paired with a Shimano Calcutta D. For fast to super fast I use a 9’8″ XH Thorne bros preaditor with a Shimano 16dc Trinidad. With those two rods I can cover all speeds in the cowgirl spectrum.

jason:

You’ll notice that nobody answered the weight part of your question, but they did answer the length and type of reel… So as far is weight is concerned, I would say a med hvy, so that there is enough flex in the rod to throw the blades as far as you can. If you can get enough flex to throw with a hvy, I think you would be better off with that regarding longer hooksets. Speed and ease of retrieve is accomplished by the reel and then you’ll only have to do some moderate pectoral crushers to get the chest and inner deltoid muscles ready for the figure 8!!!

Mark

Ben Brettingen wrote:

I do the majority of my cowgirl work with an 8’6″ XH, with a shimano Calcutta 400B. For burning cowgirls the Shimano Tranx HG which is 6.6:1 I believe is a beautiful specimen. I wouldn’t be afraid to step up to a 9′ rod. I’ve even used a few 9’6″ and couldn’t complain, long casts effortless figure 8s. Storage was kind of a pain in the but with that long of rod but worth it.

timschmitz wrote:

I’ve got a few sticks built for cowgirls. Slow to medium retrieve I use a St. Croix big nasty built by Thorne bros extended to 9’6″ paired with a Shimano Calcutta D. For fast to super fast I use a 9’8″ XH Thorne bros preaditor with a Shimano 16dc Trinidad. With those two rods I can cover all speeds in the cowgirl spectrum.

I believe the big nasty is a a Heavy

I built a 8′ Loomis Heavy pitching rod into a spinning rod for Olivia, my youngest daughter. That covers smaller surface baits and most single blade bucktails. For larger baits, and her current preference for spinning, we put a size 40 reel on a 8′ Med Heavy S-Glass catfish rod (Rippin Lipps). I was really impressed with the glass rod for most of what she does. I played with it for an evening and hook sets were effortless. Bit on the stiff side, but the tip loads well. Hook sets with 50# braid at the furthest piont of the cast were no problem for her.

9′ H rod with a split grip and an aluminum reel seat. I have been using a Revo’s that past few seasons I really like the way they have been holding up. It is a 5.4:1 reel (I think).

The aluminum reel seat is critical foe me because I have cracked a few graphite ones on the bigger reels.

The 9′ rods have been really nice to throw with. A lot of guys like 8’6″ rods as well. Whatever you get make sure it is stiff and has a solid backbone.

Randy Wieland wrote:

I built a 8′ Loomis Heavy pitching rod into a spinning rod for Olivia, my youngest daughter. That covers smaller surface baits and most single blade bucktails. For larger baits, and her current preference for spinning, we put a size 40 reel on a 8′ Med Heavy S-Glass catfish rod (Rippin Lipps). I was really impressed with the glass rod for most of what she does. I played with it for an evening and hook sets were effortless. Bit on the stiff side, but the tip loads well. Hook sets with 50# braid at the furthest piont of the cast were no problem for her.

Probably not going to handle a cowgirl Randy?

As for the rod, it’s takes some simple math. 1st you need to find out the weight of the heaviest bait you plan to throw. Say for example your Cowgirl is it and it weights 2.9 oz. Your rod must be rated to handle at least ~ 0.75 the weight of your heaviest bait or in this case is 2.9 oz(0.75) = 2.2 oz to avoid damaging the blank.
This is an odd number so you won’t find a rod listed at 2.2 oz. But it gives you the idea of how to go about selecting rods without getting one that will be damaged by the bait being to heavy for the rod. You will defiantly need a heavy rod. You can’t go wrong with St. Croix.
BTW the longer the rod the further you’ll be able to cast.

Ben Brettingen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Ben Brettingen wrote:</div>
I do the majority of my cowgirl work with an 8’6″ XH, with a shimano Calcutta 400B. For burning cowgirls the Shimano Tranx HG which is 6.6:1 I believe is a beautiful specimen. I wouldn’t be afraid to step up to a 9′ rod. I’ve even used a few 9’6″ and couldn’t complain, long casts effortless figure 8s. Storage was kind of a pain in the but with that long of rod but worth it.

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>timschmitz wrote:</div>
I’ve got a few sticks built for cowgirls. Slow to medium retrieve I use a St. Croix big nasty built by Thorne bros extended to 9’6″ paired with a Shimano Calcutta D. For fast to super fast I use a 9’8″ XH Thorne bros preaditor with a Shimano 16dc Trinidad. With those two rods I can cover all speeds in the cowgirl spectrum.

I believe the big nasty is a a Heavy

Guess I was still sleeping this a.m. when I got up, my bad…

Mark

Guess I was still sleeping this a.m. when I got up, my bad…

Mark

It happens to the best of us. I’m lost without my morning caffeine boost.

James Holst wrote:

Guess I was still sleeping this a.m. when I got up, my bad…

Mark

It happens to the best of us. I’m lost without my morning caffeine boost.

I had to look at the time of my post and see that it was close to 11. That’s what bartending, studying late and reading IDO will do to a guy!!! Can’t wait til next summer, when its fishing, instead of this other B.S.!!!

Mark

thanks for the replies. kind of what i was expecting to hear as far as rods go. using a higher power rod due to the pull of the bait. think i will purchase a calcutta and either an 8’6″ or 9′ rod. Probably will have to weight til tax time though. i have an 8 foot xh premier rod now that i can use til i upgrade. here is a pic of a 43″ muskie i got on my first ever lake of the woods trip 2 weeks ago.

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timschmitz wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Randy Wieland wrote:</div>
I built a 8′ Loomis Heavy pitching rod into a spinning rod for Olivia, my youngest daughter. That covers smaller surface baits and most single blade bucktails. For larger baits, and her current preference for spinning, we put a size 40 reel on a 8′ Med Heavy S-Glass catfish rod (Rippin Lipps). I was really impressed with the glass rod for most of what she does. I played with it for an evening and hook sets were effortless. Bit on the stiff side, but the tip loads well. Hook sets with 50# braid at the furthest piont of the cast were no problem for her.

Probably not going to handle a cowgirl Randy?

It handled them just fine and drove the hooks home through the lower jaw bone.

I don’t fish everyday as some. I build blade baits and have built rods. I updated my stuff about 2-3 years ago. I have been muskie fishing since the early 60’s when a 7′ rod was huge. As far as heavier dbl 10’s, I use a 8’6″ 3/4-3oz. Tica rod that is telescopic to 7′. My old boat limited me to 7′ rods. I also use a Tackle Industries 8’6″ 1-piece Mag-Heavy that is rated at 2-8oz. I also use this for jerk baits. Lastly, I use another telescopic 8’6″ 4-16oz Okuma for plastics & large crank baits. I use Revo Toro Winch reels on all three rods spooled with power pro. I happen to like the slower retrieve and can still burn dbl. 10’s with them. Reels are like women and fisherman use what they like. The Tackle Industies rod is really well built and is affordable. Oh, I still use a light 7′ rod to throw the little baits with. It feels like nothing when I pick it up compared with the others.