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Bumping rod as Kayak and Flathead rod?

4K views 16 replies 7 participants last post by  TexasInfidel 
#1 ·
Crazy idea jumped into my head over the weekend: Use a stiff and lightweight bumping rod as a Flathead rod to use with a Kayak. Saves weight in a kayak and the stiffness/strength of the blank would be killer to pull flatheads out of trash piles. As a side idea I can use it with a catfish bobber from kayak or on the bank (I wonder if stiffer rod would cast a big bobber further?). If anything I can try bumping with it too!

I just got a B'n'M bumping rod since its the cheapeast on the market to test all this out. Pairs good with my Citrix 350.
 
#3 ·
Guess I will give a report on the bumping rod (BnM Bumping rod, Okuma Citrix 350).

Caught my first Blue with it this weekend while bumping. The triple threat hook I was using had the fish barely hooked. Is there anything special you are supposed to do when a fish bites while bumping? Feeling little nibblers is kind of cool while bumping the bottom!

I have yet to use it in my kayak for flatheads but I have cast live and cut bait with it (and got skunked while doing so). For a short and stiff 7 foot rod it casts better than I thought it would.
 
#4 ·
It's interesting that you are using hybrid circle hooks with such a stiff rod. That rod is anything but a circle hook rod. My thought on your post was that setting the hook from a kayak might be really awkward but I was thinking of using j hooks with that rod. Obviously it is working for you so keep the updates coming. I also have thought of using that rod to pull flats out of piles but kinda abandoned it because I'm a die hard circle hook guy. They let me be a little more lazy/late getting to the rod.
 
#5 · (Edited)
You think a Gamma Big River hook would be better or a HTT Reaper? I thought you could do hooksets with Double Action/Triple Threat hooks? I also want to do to many other things with this combo (live bait on bottom or bobber). Maybe a HTT Reaper would be a better compromise between a J hook (Big river) and Double Aciton hook??? James with HTT lives somewhat close to me so a road trip for some unique hooks isnt out of the question.

EDIT: I should of said Mad Catter instead of the Reaper LOL! The Reaper is more of a circle hook than anything.
 
#6 ·
They recommend a long sweeping action hook set with all those circle or combo hooks(Pretty much like reeling). A soft rod allows the hook to slide into position to properly grab and bite. That Reaper is still a circle hook. If you want to really lay back and rip the lips off em, go with the J hook (Big River, Jackhammer, Big Gun.....). If you would rather pick the rod up and do a long slow sweep use the circles/hybrids. The soft tip on a rod kinda simulates the long slow hook set method allowing the rod to bend while increasing pressure to the hook til it slides in place and sets. A stiff bumping rod has no give to position the hook. If a fish takes off it moves the hook at the rate it moves (really fast some times). Anyway that's the theory of rods and circle hooks and just my thoughts also. A hook on the end of a line will catch fish no matter the setup. I just believe we as big fish hunters should optimize our setups for best chances of success. It sure is more fun that way rather than telling the story of the big bite we had and never saw the fish.
 
#7 ·
At the 2017 Catfish Conference I purchased the pro model of the B n M bumping rod, while it’s better than their 1rst model it’s still the weakest/softest bumpin rod out of the many I’ve tried. I used it a little on the Mississippi and it struggled with weights needed in heavy current and also with fish of any size. Sensitivity was okay but couple notches below a Warrior Cat, Whisker Seeker. I primarily use circle hooks but have used TripleThreat, Charlie Brown with good results on most rods. I have better (!) hookups with stiffer tipped rods while bumping with circles. For the B n M I’d recommend smaller wire, lower barbed/sharp hooks like the Gamakatsu 8/0. Remember, something has to set the hook— bumpin it’s the rod in conjunction (most cases) fast crankin the line in.
 
#8 ·
All I use are double action style hooks while back bouncing (bumping). When I use true circle hooks or true J hooks my catch rate drops way off. The bumping rod I use is one of the "stiffest" on the market.

Every person fishes just a bit different than the next guy and not everyone here fishes the same water.

Fyi, I wouldn't recommend a bumping rod to be used in a rod holder or for targeting flathead.
 
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