Hey all,
In response to the questions concerning Rick Clunn's rod setup, I have found a few interpretive errors in previous responses. First, Rick does use the 704 series Carolina Rig rod for the majority of his fishing. On his site he indicates in the "Art of Angling" column he uses his crankbait rod. This rod was available in a heavy power in the first year of the Rick Clunn Signature Series by Bass Pro Shops. However, since this rod is no longer produced, Rick continues to use the heavy power rod, but the Carloina rig rod. This is something I found from communicating with Rick via "snail" mail. Secondly, for topwaters which require twitching (on his site he says "wrist action"), he uses the 6'6" 664 Topwater rod. For line sizes less than 12 lb. test, he uses one of the M or MH rods. He indicates on his site for those who sit or those who are shorter (Rick is 6'0"), a shorter rod may be preferable.
Here's another thing to consider. The development of Rick using what was just his crankbait rod for most his fishing resulted from Rick fishing crankbaits a majority of the time, and then trying his crankbait rod with jerkbaits and spinnerbaits. If your primary technique is something different, the one-rod for MOST your fishing may still be efficient, but you may want a different rod, specifically, the rod you use for your most used technique. I currently use the MH crankbait rod of his series because I fish more often with spinnerbaits. Additionally, I prefer the lighter M power 7' rod for Carolina-rigging (interesting, since the rod Rick uses most often is the Carolina rod as stated earlier) because I like to feel the drag of the heavy sinker, which is part of the point of Carolina rig fishing (or what was once the "Do-Nothing" rig). Instead of BPS line, I like P-Line because of the variety of lines they have available and the properties of their lines. Instead of using the lighter rods for lines less than 12lb., to continue the theme of simplifying tackle, you can just use the topwater rod, which is a MH, or like I do, a M power rod for both 8 lb. line and Carolina rigs.
Concerning Iaconelli and VanDam using rods with differing powers, it is correct to believe this is the case because they both do. Rick addresses this in the "art of angling" article when stating before mentioning his system that if you are satisfied with your efficiency in presentation and landing fish, keep doing what you're doing. From Ike and KVD's records, we can conclude they are quite efficient in landing fish. This is also why I have made modifications to Rick's system, such as a different rod for the Carolina and using P-Line instead of BPS.
Finally, in reference to the golf statement, there is one difference we should be aware of. When playing golf, I have seldom viewed a player carrying their club in hand to the place where they hit the ball. Typically, the club is placed in the bag. At this very point, the rhythm Rick discusses in "art of angling" has been broken by the release of the club. However, unlike golf, I rarely see an angler pick up a rod, make one cast, lay the rod down, pick up another, make one cast, and continue this through the entire day. The angler continues to hold a single rod for a long time. Consider this, if you are fishing a jig, flippin' shallow weeds, and you intuitively decide to fish deeper with that jig, instead of changing to a rod which is not a flippin' rod, you could just turn around and cast out deep. Or if you are fishing shallow cover, but realize you are not shallow enough to flip, but can pitch, why not use that same rod, pitch your jig, and then when you are shallow enough, you can start flippin' if that's your preference. The key here is to know your own style, and then simplify your tackle to meet your style and improve presentation, hooking, and landing efficiency.
