Looking to build a rod for bass fishing with plastic worms/lizards exclusively, Texas rigged. I know that every blank manufactorer has a specific blank for each specific task; I was just wondering what everyone here prefers. Just personal preference is what I'm looking for.

We need more information! I fish worms from 4" to 10-1/2" and 6 pound to 25 spinning to Flip sticks. Where are you fishing, heavy cover or clear bottoms and what pound line do you wish to use? A good all around rod would be a medium-heavy power, 1/4 to 3/4 ounce baits and 10-25 pound line. You can find one of those in every blank makers catalog. My suggestion would be to call Bob at Custom Tackle and maybe some of the other sponsers on the left and you can narrow your search. Every good blank manufacturer will have several blanks for "worm" fishing they are a must. I use as many as 4 different rods for plastics, sometimes 5 (my new passion Flick Shaking!).

Does flick shaking have anything to do with trying to get that bugar off the end of your finger? :)

Good one Joe, you brightened my day!!!

I'm looking at 14# test line (probably braided). Most of the fishing will be in an old river oxbow lake, where there isn't so much grass, lilipads, etc., as there are cypress and tupelo gum trees. That's usually the "structure" that we shoot for in casting.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that my usual rig is a 6" Zoom Lizard Texas rig with a 3/16oz. bullet weight.

6' - 6'6" - maybe 6'9" if you aren't that close to the trees, 1/4 - 3/4 oz lure rating

Shorter rod manuevers easier close to limbs and easier to cast under them

I would probably go about an 8" grip on the 6'6", on the 6' I would consider something in the 7" range if not a pistol.

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I like the Batson XSB843 for plastics. You could cut it down a bit if you need.

Scott Sheets
www.smsrods.com

If cash is tight, then the the Batson IMB843 makes a nice t-rig rod also. Just built one for my father a few weeks ago.

Eric

If you don't have to worry about cover when you cast, I'd go with the longest rod you're comfortable with. Many times that extra casing distance you get with a longer rod can mean the difference between getting bit and not. In the boat, we just pull closer to where we want to cast, but that isn't an option fishing from shore.