Thad, our resident JDM tackle expert and land based whipper:

So you’re checking out Hawaii Nearshore Fishing, which is loaded with useful information on light lures, and wonder to yourself, what kind of gear should I be using to fish lures like those?  Here’s a short guide on some of the gear I use to whip these small lures in the 10 to 30 gram range, which equates to approximately 3/8 to 1 oz. The gear I like to use is based on my own personal experiences and preferences – it’s what I’m comfortable using.  Others may have their own techniques which are just as effective for them. 

Rod

I prefer to use rods in the 9 to 10 foot range with 9’6″ rods being my favorite.  I fish mostly shoreline fish areas and often walk the shallow flats and will walk out to the break on low tides if conditions permit.  Longer rods will tend to give you better casting distances.  I find 9’6″ rods to be the perfect length for me because, in the event the line should tangle on the tip of the rod while I’m out walking the reef flats, I can still reach it without having to dunk my reel in the water – a big no no if your reel has no water seal. Rod action, or taper that I prefer is regular to regular fast. I find this action allows me to load up on the cast so the rod does a lot of the work in getting the light lures out.  I try to find rods rated for lures anywhere in the 5 to 35 gram range and avoid using lures at or above the rod rating.

Reel

I tend to use mostly Shimano reels in the 3000 to 4000 sizes with the 4000 being my go-to.  If you decide to use other brands such as Daiwa, be aware that the number sizing is not the same between brands.  A Daiwa 4000 reel will be bigger and heavier than a Shimano 4000.  I also prefer high speed reels with a gear ratio of 6.0:1 or faster.  

Line

I use braided mainline for its high strength relative to its small diameter.  It will allow you to get maximum casting distance without sacrificing strength.  It also won’t deteriorate as quickly as monofilament, which usually needs to be changed regularly depending on how often you fish. Monofilament will deteriorate and lose strength from sunlight and even from fumes if stored in a closet with chemicals.  The drawback to braid is its higher cost and low abrasion resistance.  I use 20lb braid on my Shimano 4000 reel and 10lb braid on my 3000. 

Leader

My preference is to use 25lb fluorocarbon leader but I will use 40lb on occasion if I’m seeing a lot of big kaku in the water.  Monofilament leader will also work and is much cheaper.  I use a little less than two arm lengths of leader and connect it to the mainline with an FG knot.  This will allow the knot to be just below the bottom guide when casting.  Some people have no issues with longer leaders which wrap the spool a few times but I find it decreases my casting distance considerably.  The JDM rods I use tend to have much smaller guides so having the FG knot between the bottom guide and reel will give the knot a smooth, straight-line path through the guides.  If you’re not yet comfortable tying an FG knot, you can also use a swivel to connect the leader and mainline, but you will need to shorten the leader since the knot will not and should not be cast through the guides. 

I tie a Tactical Angler (TA) clip to the end of the leader using an improved clinch knot or an Orvis knot. Orvis knots are very strong and the tag end points towards the lure so there’s less chance of catching limu on it but the knot can be difficult to tie on thicker lines. The TA clip is strong and makes it easy to switch out lures in seconds.  I like to switch lures constantly when I whip so I can’t fish without a TA clip.  I experimented using a small swivel between the leader and clip but found that the extra weight often affected the action of the light lures.  None of the lures I use spin in the water so I don’t need the swivel. 

So there you have it.  My preferred set up for whipping  small lures, small jigs, and bubble with fly or grub.  It works for me and fits the style of fishing I enjoy the most.    

Editors Note: No wonder Thad outfishes me, his rod is 1.5ft longer than mine, and his leader is twice as long as what I use!