Any recommendations on a swim bait rod and reel setup? I�m going to BPS/ Cabelas this weekend to buy a new reel and 2 rods. I have a Abu Garcia reel I bought from Dicks Sporting Goods last march that was on sale (blue/gold) model. I don�t have a rod for it and I was thinking of using it for stripers/ bass and throwing large lures. While I�m there, I plan on picking up an Abu Garcia Ambassdeur record reel and a swim bait rod.

As for a rod, I want something around $ 100-150. I know BPS has the RCX Power series rod 7�6� swimbait on sale for $89 and I absolutely love the cork handles. Also Skeet Reese, Allstar and Shimano have swimbait rods around my price range. I could go higher on the rods if I down grade on the Abu Reel.

What do you guys use for your swimbait rod setup?

Depends on what kind of swimbaits you're gonna throw. Large swimbaits come in a wide range of weights. You could just do an extensive search on www.swimbaitnation.com and you'll get a lot of good suggestions...

However... what I use for mine, which seems to be a pretty good all around rod for the middle range swimbaits up to around 3 1/2-4 oz. is the 7"11 shimano crucial H swimbait rod. Basspro has this rod in stock. I don't think cabelas does, tho. The rod's reasonably priced, I think, at around $160-170. If you want something cheaper, a lot of people have said they really like what Okuma makes. It's around $90. Can't recall the specific model that seems to be the favorite, tho.

i have a skeet reese swimbait rod i'll sell ya. send me a pm.