Inshore Plugging Spinning Rod: Mod-Fast Action 7' 6" H (1oz - 4oz)

This rod comes out when heavy plugs and strong fish demand extra backbone. On the boat, Capt. Mike leans on it for striped bass in tight rips and around structure, especially along the Elizabeth Islands, where XL dog walkers, sliders, and paddletails need the power and cushion of a parabolic blank to land fish quickly in current. Its smooth load sends 3–4oz offerings long and accurate, while keeping plugs swimming naturally through chop and tide lines.

From shore, it doubles as a tactical short-game surf rod, ideal for working big plugs and softbaits in boulder fields, jetty corners, and pocket beaches where heavy structure holds cows. It also shines on long-range feeds with 1.5oz+ metals and Surface Erasers, especially when paired with a 400-class reel and lighter braid for added reach. In those moments when fish are blitzing just off the bar, or albies are pushing bait out of standard range, this rod provides the casting distance and control to stay in the game.

This is a fairly heavy blank, stiff right up to the tip, but when it loads on a cast or during a fight it shows its true moderate action. The top 18 inches flex first for what I call the “primary action,” giving you sharp response and clean delivery for plugs. With heavier lures or under the pull of a big fish, that bend transitions smoothly into the midsection for a deep, classic curve that keeps the rod balanced and forgiving in hand.

With a heavy plug or deep jig, the blank bends through the midsection in a parabolic sweep that cushions braid shock, protects leaders, and lets you lob 3–4oz offerings with ease. Smaller fish fight off the tip, while cows and school tuna bend the full blank, keeping pressure steady without tearing hooks. It’s a forgiving, powerful lift that feels old-school in action yet perfectly suited to modern heavy plugs, paddletails, and deep jigging applications.

Hogy Originals (10”): The rod’s moderate action loads smoothly with the weight of a long stickbait, giving effortless lob casts and steady twitch control along boulder fields or estuary edges when bass are feeding finicky.

Hogy Pro Tail Paddles (5–6.5” / 2–3oz): The blank’s parabolic backbone drives these heavy swimbaits deep in rips and channels, keeping them tracking in heavy current while the flex cushions hard hits from stripers or blues.

Hogy Surface Erasers (5” and 6”): This rod’s softer tip makes subtle sweeps easy, allowing the lure to dance with finesse in calm slicks or back-bay water where stripers are keyed on sand eels or silversides.

Hogy Charter Grade Sliders (5.5” / 1.75oz): The moderate bend gives a long, controlled sweep that maximizes glide on each cast, making it deadly for covering ledges, reefs, and open water when bass are spread out.

Hogy Charter Grade Poppers (1.75–4oz): The rod’s short butt and compact build let you pop hard without overloading the blank, perfect for forcing surface reactions in rips and drawing gator blues into the spread.

Hogy Dog Walkers (6” and XL 8.25”): Moderate action keeps steady rhythm on walk-the-dog retrieves, even with the XL size, while the deep bend protects leaders when cows smash in current.

Hogy OG Swimmer (7”): The parabolic curve tracks the plug naturally through chop or over reef faces, whether slow-rolled in cold water or cranked faster when bass are chasing mid-column bait.

Hogy Heavy Minnow (1.25–2oz): Built for distance, this lure cuts through headwinds and swell, letting you reach albies that stay just beyond the breakers. The rod’s parabolic load drives it far without overpowering the action.

Hogy Peanut Jig (1–2oz): A compact match-the-hatch profile for peanuts, herring, or anchovies. The blank’s smooth snap cast keeps it darting tight and natural in nearshore feeds where fish are pressured.

Hogy Epoxy Jig (1.25–2oz): Ideal for clear water and blitzing fish, with built-in flash and keel-stabilized wobble. This rod adds the casting reach to stay connected on long-range edge bites.

Hogy Surface Eraser (5”): A deadly topwater for albies pushing bait tight to the rocks or outside standard plug range. The rod cushions braid shock, keeping trebles pinned through fast runs and sudden turns.

I rig mine with A 4000–5000 size spinning reel, 20–40lb braid, and a 20–30lb fluorocarbon leader as I switch hit between long distance jigs and medium topwaters and big topwaters.

If big fish big plugs only, a 6000 class reel at home on this rod. I personally like the smaller spool diameter for long casts of a 4000 reel. This balance maximizes distance while preserving lifting power for larger fish in structure and current.

Not what it’s made for but you can certainly troll plugs with it.