need advice on spinning gear

i am a little wet behind the ears when it comes to using spinning gear for bass fishing, i need some help on purchasing a combo

i am looking to cast a senko with a 1/0 gamakatsu live bait hook, no weight... what do i need to look for... i would like to be able to handle (not man-handle) 4-5 lb bass, i know there is a compromise somewhere between strength and castability, i would prefer to use 6-8 lb floro but am open to ideas

so, what brand rod and length do i need? what reel? how does spool size affect castability? first and foremost comes being able to cast, but i would like to have enough backbone to handle a good fish and feel an easy bite

any suggestions?

Id say a 2500 shimano symetre and a 6'6 medium heavy bass pro extreme rod for a great reasonable price.A step in the medium direction would be a 2500 stradic and a 6'6 medium crucial.High end,2500 shimano stella on a g-loomis rod of your choice.For what you want a 2500 would fit the bill with a firm medium or medium heavy rod.

I may be the wrong person to give advice on these, I don't really like using them. I am trying to get into a habbit of using them more. I learned on baitcasters and that is all I used until several years ago. I have two set up's now and really like both of them - didn't spend too much on either. I have a shimano spirex with a 7'0 bionic blade rod I use for shakey heads and I love this set up. I also have an Okuma reel - that I really like, on 6'4" gander mountain brand (upper end guide series) that I use for weightless plastics - usually senko's or trick worms. The rod is a Medium with an extra fast action. The soft tip really lets you fling those senko's, and with the shorter rod you can skip it a little easier. That is my favorite with senko's - they will skip forever.

Have you looked at the US Reels? They have a wide spool that can assist in casting the lighter lures with less snags. Looked at one last night and it was impressive. I think the high end reel ran about $180?

i would go with a medium rod i like the gloomis gl2 or gl3 and definately go with an okuma reel they are fairly inexpensive adn i would put anyone of my okumas up against other reel they spool off line easy got a great drag and u can pick them up at lake cumberland outdoors or sportsmans warehouse for around 40 to 70 dollars depending on which one u get.....

I don't have and Loomis spinning rods but do love my 2 Loomis baitcaster rods, but my buddy has a Loomis spinning rod and it feels great. For the money, Okuma reels are excellent so Ryan ekubass is right on in is post. Look into a 6'6" Loomis rod Medium to Medium/Heavy action with a fast tip rigged with an Okuma reel and you will be in business for just about anything short of flipping heavy cover.

I would have to say go with a loomis med and the Shimano Stradic® 2500MgFB. I have a ST1000 on a light loomis i use for crappie and and skips. I was fishing At cannelton **** for skips last fall, while reeling in some bait a 17 pound striper came up and hit the bait fish. I was only using 4 pound P-line and was able to land the striper, took 35 mins (lol) but the light wieght gear handled that nice fish. I dont think you could go wrong with Shimano reels and a loomis rod, but that is just my thaughts. Good luck and let us know what you decide on.

Chris

G-loomis is obviously the higher end, its all about what you are wanting to put in it.
They make a Senko spinning rod that is designed for exactly what you are wanting to do. It is 7'1" Medium power with an ex-fast action, rated for 1/8- 3/8 oz baits and 6-12# line.
It is a BSR852, and you can get the mossyback version or GLX (lighter, more sensitive, titanium recoil guides, more $$)
A 2500 Shimano will be great for that rod. The Saros and higher models have a new line propulsion management system that is new for their '08 reels and is supposed to increase casting distance with less twist.

If that is a little out of your price range, any shimano 2500 and any Shimano or St. Croix rod about a 6'6" - 7' medium would be just right, i'd say.

i appreciate the feedback, i am going to run by gander tonight and look at some of the products mentioned... i have not ever used a us reel but have heard good things about them and will definatley look into it... the v-system okuma reels look good and i like the 5 yr warrenty... the stella fd looks good also, going to have a tough choice here

rods... i am a big kistler fan and understand the importance of a good rod, my question is, is there a considerable difference in the imx, the glx, and the gl3? there is an obvious price difference but is it worth it? i am not worried about the weight, so what makes the high end so much better? i think the gl3 would be a much more versitle rod but will it throw a weightless worm?, i think the gl2 is what i am actually needing, but if the gl3 will throw something that light, i would much rather have it for handling larger baits

so gl2 or gl3 and standard, imx, or glx? standard gl3 $155, imx $245, or glx $350

any other ideas? i am still open to anything

If you can swing the payment on the GLX you won’t regret it. I am a big bait caster guy as well but I bought a spinning rig 2 years ago for small mouth and I have a hard time putting it down now. I have a GLX 7’6” Medium Fast Action 8-17lb ¼-5/8 (SJR902) and it rocks in fact I am going to buy another. The real I use on it is the Shimano Sustain 2500 and it works really well. I had a Stella before and donated that along with a GLX to Detroit River after 2 weeks (expensive mistake) but for its money you can’t beat the Sustain. I have caught bass, salmon in northern Mi 8-20lb, and stripers down here up to 23lb and never lost them. The heaviest I have used is 14lb but normally 10-12 lb and that extra length will absorb a lot allowing you to run smaller line if you want. For 3-6lb smallies it is the best rod you will ever use.
I have 14 GLX models and one GL2 that I dont use, there is a difference.

The different models is the different graphite used. Is it worth the difference? Most that have used the GLX would say yes, others who have just used the Mossyback, GL2, GL3-- would probably say no, because they are great rods too.
The GLX graphite is the most senstive, lightweight graphite ever used, and they have added the Titanium Recoil guides on some models, and that is also lighter and more senstive.
The G-Loomis Mossyback rod is a great rod, and they are very popular. You can get the BSR852 Senko Rod mentioned aboved for $230, the GLX in the same exact stlye is $370. Both would be VERY versatile. They are essentially a 7'1" Medium power, light weight and senstive spinning rod.

[QUOTE=AJAtAnglers;317834]The different models is the different graphite used. Is it worth the difference? Most that have used the GLX would say yes, others who have just used the Mossyback, GL2, GL3-- would probably say no, because they are great rods too.
The GLX graphite is the most senstive, lightweight graphite ever used, and they have added the Titanium Recoil guides on some models, and that is also lighter and more senstive.
The G-Loomis Mossyback rod is a great rod, and they are very popular. You can get the BSR852 Senko Rod mentioned aboved for $230, the GLX in the same exact stlye is $370. Both would be VERY versatile. They are essentially a 7'1" Medium power, light weight and senstive spinning rod.[/QUOTE]
I think you would like the 7" 1" senko rod and The Okuma reel is hard to beat I have 4 or 5 of them with the oldest being aqbout seven years and never had a problem with any of them. I have the Epixor and the Alumina.