basshtx

Hey all, I've recently switched over from a 4/0 offset worm hook for all my TX rig baits to using a 4/0-5/0 straight shank heavy wire flippin hooks such as the Trokar TK130, Owner Jungle, VMC, etc...I bought a ton. I'm hyped about it, I've caught a lot of good fish flippin brush and tree stumps for spawning bass. But I also own several rods (all of which I built myself using PB,NFC HMX,RS Eternity) I notice I cannot get a good hook set and lose fish way more often if I'm using anything other than a Heavy action rod (blanks rated for 1oz or more) most of my rods are mediums or medium heavy (rated up to 3/4oz) The heaviest tungsten weight I go is usually 1/2oz, but 90% of the time it's 3/8oz. on 50lb braid, snell knot. Am I doing something wrong? Not setting the hook hard enough?

Lol, I want to vomit when bass anglers say they need a 8-10ft rod and a reel that holds over 200 yards of 50lb braid for bass. A Bass won't run anymore than 20ft before they give up and get surfed in. LOL

In the south we need that much line fishing in the gulf. A red drum or a jack cravelle would spool a small reel. I honestly don't see a bass setup needing anymore than 80-100yards of line.

Anything over the $300 range for rod and reels, you see very little returns for your money.

I agree for the most part. But there's something about higher quality gear. Rods - Lighter, more sensitive, less prone to breaking, better warranty. Reels - Smoother, lighter, higher quality metal, less prone to malfunctioning, better warranty. I recently started building my own fishing rods using high-end blanks and parts I source myself, the total cost of the build comes out to about the price of completed high-end fishing rods out there. But every time I go to a tackle store or a Bass Pro Shop, Cabelas, and I go pick up a completed rod it feels heavy to me. I also can't use cheaper reels anymore because I notice they aren't as smooth as my Daiwa Steez ($500 reels). Once you get the high-end gear, it's hard to go back. I think as long as you can get your 401k match from your company, pay your bills, take care of your responsibilities, you can enjoy the extra income you have laying around. We owe that to ourselves for the hard work we put into our daily lives, or some of us might go crazy lol. A good happy medium solution is to wait for deals, and shop around! Be a smarter consumer.

I love micro guides, they're light and I can cast my braid to leader line no problem. (FG Knot) You can cast any type of line with micro guides, does better with smaller diameter line. I feel like a rod with micro guides is more sensitive than a rod with regular guides. There are more guides with micro guides because the line is closer to the blank. It helps to maintain that line of flow. I have nothing bad to say about Falcon, I love with coastal xg for my saltwater applications.

St.Croix is my go-to rods/blanks. I notice their ratings for their rods are rated differently than other rod companies. For example their MH's are other company's Heavy. St.Croix Medium Heavy's are rated for up to 1oz weights, while a company like G.Loomis their MH is only rated up to 3/4oz weights. I also notice St.Croix rods are a bit stouter and have more backbone. They're also slightly heavier in terms of rod weight. If you go with St.Croix and you want an MH action rod, I would go with a Medium.

The reel tightens the drag as line is pulled? That's not right... You might just need to replace the stock felt drag washers with carbontex drag washers. The felt drag washers don't last very long, but they're smoother than the carbon drag washers. It's very easy to change out, just watch a YT video.

For me, 1/8 or 1/4 for a smaller finesse presentation, 3/8-1/2oz for general pitching into none to light cover or just for distance. 3/4-1oz for heavy cover.

For jerkbaits or treble hook lures you really would want to go with something shorter like a 6'6-7' with a more moderate tip for action. Fishing weightless senko's and finesse applications I wouldn't go with a rod over 7'1, Medium or Medium light, fast or ex-fast action. Preferably done with a spinning setup. But if I had to choose an NRX you listed for what you want to do, it would be the 852c.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is how I pitch. My rod tip is lowered (pointing toward the water) while I have the bait on my the opposite hand, as I release the bait, and the bait pendulums out, I raise my rod tip. I've done this with a 7'1 rod on flattish surface that is about even with the water level and my bait slaps the water. I have to stand a few feet above the water level in order for that not to happen. Notice on the video thumbnail his rod tip is lowered, pointing at an angle. In order to make up for my height to rod length ratio, I have to stand higher than the surface of the water so my bait can pendulum out without hitting anything.

He looks pretty tall, but for the sake of ending this debate, I guess use what works for you. I just don't see what benefits there are for using a rod longer than 7'6 for any bass fishing technique.

I bank fish primarily, If I used a 8' rod to pitch my rod tip would hit the ground. I also tend to set the hook with a sweep, which would also hit the ground. Your height has everything to do with it, the taller you are the position of your rod is higher. I can see how professionals do it because they're on a boat so they're like 2-3ft off the water.

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I dont understand how professionals like Mike Iconelli pitch with 7'9" rods when he's only 5'9" tall. I'm about 5'10 and going up from a 7' to a 7'1, I can feel the difference. I feel less in control.