DoctorP

I've really liked my Mojo Bass 6'8" MH/F "Jig-N-Worm" for all of your listed uses as a bank fisherman; St. Croix has an Avid in this build for 2018. If you're set on something shorter and closer to your price point, the Premier in 6' M/F is my top pick that I've handled. I'd personally go for the G.Loomis CR 722 GL3 over the Avid if you're willing to spend the extra cash.

Throw bigger baits, handcraft new lures, and hook up friends & forum members with the lures I make! And most of all, break that PB from last year.

I am primarily a shore angler as well & a similar height as you. What rod have you been using that you're looking to shy away from? I'll occasionally fish a pistol grip casting rod which keeps the length down - is that something you'd consider?

Today is the anniversary of my PB from a pond (4lbs, 2oz). I'm from AZ where the weather & water don't get nearly as cold as most places, but I think the method I used could produce fish anywhere this time of year if the conditions are right. I threw a Strike King Bitsy Bug jig, 3/16oz in watermelon, with a 3" watermelon single tail grub, about 2 yards off the shoreline, as I would fish a Senko. Only caught that one fish in about two hours of fishing, but I'll never forget that AZ winter day. Downsize, slow down, and look for the fish where you expect them to be cruising along looking for an easy, slow meal. GL!

@Dwight Hottle I was considering the Lip Stick, nice to hear you’re planning to use the same reel with it. Ultimately I chose the 1-4oz because I intend to throw more baits on the 1.5-3oz end of that weight spectrum, and it’s sounds like you might think the Tranx will be a little too beefy for them. I will definitely be throwing some heavy stuff as well, but less often. I’d love to hear any more thoughts. Thanks guys!

Hey all - I am looking to start throwing bigger baits this year and after doing a great deal of research, I decided on the 2018 St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass 7'10" H/F which is rated for 1-4oz baits. I plan to throw an assortment of jig-hook baits as well as small to mid-size treble-hook baits (mainly glides, including my own handcrafts from 4ish to 1oz like this one). I'm wondering if the Shimano Tranx 300A (5.8:1, 30" IPT) is a good choice to pair with this rod and the 'smaller' baits I may throw on it. The SuperDuty Wide Spool, Tatula HD, and Lexa 300 HD have all caught my attention as well, but I can get my hands on a new Tranx for about $80 under retail. My biggest concern is that the Tranx may be overpowered for what I plan to throw. Thanks for any help.

I had a chance to swing by BPS briefly today and was able to get a feel of all three Mojo Bass rods discussed (6'8" MHF, 7'1 MHF, 7' MHMF). While an employee suggested the 6'8" as I will be mainly bank fishing for the foreseeable future, the action seemed very stiff and certainly tuned for jigs and worms. The 7' MHMF felt as described by Robert, a hair slower than generic fast, but still very versatile. The 7'1" felt truer to 'fast' action and like something I could get away with throwing a majority of the tackle box at. After some thought I think that I will invest in a more crankbait specific outfit in the future and only occasionally throw squarebills/lipless cranks/etc with this setup. Maybe I'll continue to use the spinning gear for those lures until then. Thanks for the suggestions! I can feel the taste for higher end rods growing... Just holding the Avids/Legends... And I haven't even fished a quality rod yet! Thanks for the direct input as an owner of the rod! After holding it in person I felt it might be a little stiff for some of my applications in comparison to the 7'1" MHF. Definitely a subtle difference though. Appreciate the info! After holding the 7'1" in person & hearing your feedback, I am set that this is the rod for me. Now to figure out the right line. Can't wait to break her in! Thank you everyone for all the help. Cheers

Thanks for the feedback! Glad to hear the reel is a good choice. A buddy I fish with has the Mach I combo & it seems to be a great starting setup. I don't mind spending a bit extra on my setup considering he upgraded after a few months with that combo. I'm definitely planning on using braid. The "Spinnerbait" Mojo Bass 7' looks good, but it is a moderate fast instead of fast (6'8" "Jig-n-Worm" & 7'1" "Jigs / Baits"). Will the mod. fast still work for my intended use/is it a better option since I'll be using braid? Edit: Looks like the Spinnerbait model might be a lot closer to what I'm looking for than I thought. Still happy to hear any additional thoughts before I shell out the dough though!

Greetings from sunny AZ! I've been bass fishing for about 4 months and have been having a great time with my Pflueger President & Ugly Stik Elite 6'6" M/F. I'm looking to pick up a quality baitcaster rod and reel outfit and after reading through many reviews and threads on here it seems like the Tournament Pro G & Mojo Bass should be an awesome combo. It seems like most people agree that a 6'6"-7' MH rod is a great all-around rod, but I'm a little thrown off by St. Croix's description of the model I'm looking into as their "Jig-n-Worm" model. While I may use the rod for that purpose, I am really looking into a baitcaster so I can more efficiently throw swim baits, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, crankbaits, etc., while keeping my spinning outfit for more of the jig and soft plastic techniques. Is this rod still a solid "all-purpose" option despite St. Croix's description? Do you have any thoughts on this combo as a first baitcasting outfit? Mainly shore fishing at the moment in ponds and lakes around the Phoenix area. Appreciate any help.