Does A "do It All" Rod Exist?

[loudcherokee]

Now, before I get started, I'm not looking for a brand suggestion or a specific rod. My question is more with the action/power/length of a chosen rod.

I've been reading a lot of the articles here about how to choose a rod, and couldn't find one that specified a good rod choice that can do it all. You need this action/power for worms, that action/power for spinnerbaits, this combo for crank baits, etc.

Now, I LOVE my top water poppers, jitterbugs, torpedos, and buzz baits. I've tried fishing soft plastics, but never got the hang of it or I never could feel the bites. I just recently switched to using power pro braid in 30#, and am amazed at the difference in sensitivity it provides from the 12# mono I've been using all these years. I'm now wondering if a new rod will enhance that feel and let me finally catch something on a Texas rigged worm.

My two baitcasters are a Daiwa procaster that is about 18 years old, and an Abu Garcia Promax that is only a week old. they both sit on lightning rods, one being the rod that was purchased with the daiwa so long ago that says its a shock pro or lightning pro or something, and the other one is about 8 years old and is a IM6 cork pistol grip. Both rods are 6 foot or less.

My spinning gear is a Mitchell 300x that is around 8 years old, and a 300xe that is just a month old. both are on two piece 6'6" ugly sticks. I primarily use these for relaxed fishing, on the bottom with crawlers or suspended with a bobber. I'll occasionally throw a rooster tail with the 300xe since I can't get my BCs to cast them accurately, but that's the extent of it.

So, does an action/power/length rod exist that can handle just about all of my baitcasters needs adequately?

LC

[kylek]

I think a 7ft. MH rod will work for just about everything. 

[retiredbosn]

IMO, yes out would be a 7' or 6'6" MH MF

[stkbassn]

Yeah, these specs ( 7' MH F 1/4-3/4 oz baits) .. rods seem to be the ticket for me. It has plenty of back bone and not too stiff I find. The tip is usually not too fast..just soft enough but not too soft....this could be a very good choice for you.  

[BassOnKlinger]

I feel like all I've done lately (since getting into bass fishing) is research different combos.  I have to agree that it seems a 7' MH/F is a all-around universal rod.  However, if I understand correctly, one rod will not suffice for all lure types.  Mainly because the type of line is dependent on the style of lure.  I don't believe there's a universal line that's good for everything.  I can get 4 of the same rods, but each will have different line on them for different lures.  That's my understand anyways.

[bigdave39355]

another vote for 7' MH. That'll cover alot.

[tstone]

I came here to post 7ft MH, looks like everyone beat me to it.

[loudcherokee]

sweet. I was thinking 6'6" was gonna be my choice. I'll look around for a 7'.

Are the one piece rods definitely more sensitive than two piece? The one pieces I have now are a bit of a pain since I don't have a truck, especially if I have passengers. I can't imagine squeezing a 7' rod in the backseat will be convenient.

LC

[tholmes]

sweet. I was thinking 6'6" was gonna be my choice. I'll look around for a 7'.

Are the one piece rods definitely more sensitive than two piece? The one pieces I have now are a bit of a pain since I don't have a truck, especially if I have passengers. I can't imagine squeezing a 7' rod in the backseat will be convenient.

LC

I don't think you'll notice any loss of sensitivity with a 2-pc. rod. That whole thing about 2-pc. rods being less sensitive is something that's hung around since the days of metal ferrules. People keep repeating it because that's what their grandpa told 'em.

 

Tom

[0119]

All purpose to me means it needs to fit in a lot of places.  Creeks, under trees, jon boats, canoes.  Those tip heavy 7 footers are great on the deck of a fancy bass boat with plenty of highboard.    But its hard to work your favorite lures with them when you sitting inches from the surface.

[Felix77]

I vote for the 6'6" MH. It's what I started with before adding to my collection.

[skeletor6]

sweet. I was thinking 6'6" was gonna be my choice. I'll look around for a 7'.

Are the one piece rods definitely more sensitive than two piece? The one pieces I have now are a bit of a pain since I don't have a truck, especially if I have passengers. I can't imagine squeezing a 7' rod in the backseat will be convenient.

LC

 

2 piece rods are certainly less sensitive than 1 piece. Also, there are issues with them not being perfectly aligned or twisting while in use. 2 piece rods are more convenient than they are effective. I have driven with 7 rods maxing out at 7'5'' in my car with a passenger before. It can be done. 

A "do everything rod" does not exist in my opinion. I have friends that will argue that his medium heavy (action not labeled) 6 foot rod can fish every technique. I feel otherwise. And echoing what others said and its been said many times before, true 7 foot MH/F rods are the most versatile and is always a good place to start. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The reason 2 piece rods are perceived as lower quality is that by and large, they are marketed to individuals more concerned with convenience than performance and are built on cheap blanks. If built on a quality 2 piece blank with built in ferrules, sensitivity and casting are not negatively affected.

The 7' MH/F is no doubt the most versatile for common bass fishing techniques but I would not go as far as calling it "Do it all". There will be compromises as you expand your fishing.

[Flukeman]

When I first got started I chose a 6'6" MH F, 6:4 to 1 reel, spooled with 14# Fireline. When I needed to I used a floro leader. With this set up I could fish 90% of the techniques out there. Obviously for really light weight lures I had to use a spinning outfit, and really heavy presentations were a little clumsy. I was able to fish topwater, texas rigs, crankbaits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, etc. It was pretty easy to cover the water column from 0 to 15' of water. I was able to catch a ton of fish and had a great time.

 

Today, I look in my rod lockers and see 20 different combinations and wonder what the heck have I got my self into to catch a fish that would eat a hotdog!

[roadwarrior]

For enthusiasts, technique specific gear is fun
to collect. However, three rigs cover all the
basics:

#1 6 1/2' or 7' MH baitcaster for jigs, some
soft plastics and spinnerbaits

#2 6 1/2' or 7' MM baitcaster for treble hook
lures

#3 7' MF spinning rod for lighter lures and a
variety of techniques

[livetofish28]

7 foot MH Fast is the most versatile for me I throw square bills jerkbaits jigs spinnerbaits topwater you name it it can throw it.

[tomustang]

7' MH is more like a "do most" and that's the closest it gets

[lmbfisherman]

The closest answer as a lot of people have posted, 7' MH/F.  However, it has to be a "true" MH/F...meaning some brands fish heavier/stiffer than stated. 

[loudcherokee]

I really appreciate all the replies. Gives me a much better idea of what to look for.

The reason I didn't ask for brand suggestions is that I'm pretty set on Berkley Lightning Rods. I love the way they fish. I had a 6'6" one piece on my spinning rig with the Mitchell 300x, until it got closed on the car door. I did replace the tip with a Fuji replacement, but it just doesn't seem as sensitive as it used to be.

coincidentally, when I broke the lightning rod, that's what sold me on the ugly stik since it was closed it the door at the same time, and there wasn't a scratch on it. I'll keep using those on my all purpose spinning stuff, but the they seem too flimsy for my baitcasters.

LC

[PABASS]

I agree, you are making compromises now that down the road you will feel, maybe regret.  The rod mentioned can be a great rod for some applications but using this rod with braid is going to limit your ability to do certain techniques and limit your ability to constantly be on fish.

 

I fished with an ugly stick most of my life and nothing wrong with it, as it worked for reaction style baits which is all I used to have confidence in, but it does not work well for texas rigging baits, jigs, Carolina rig, drop shot, shaky head and the list goes on.  I am a firm beliver get the right tools for the job at hand and I can tell you I catch more fish and loose less fish with this logic.

[tomustang]

Ugly stiks would be better for crankbaits.

Though I wouldn't judge a rod on it's breaking strength on a car/house door.

[loudcherokee]

PABASS, that's exactly why I don't want another ugly stick on my baitcaster for anything requiring finesse. the tips are just too flimsy it seems. I have had alot of confidence with the lightning rods though.

LC

[smalljaw67]

I'm with everyone else, 6'6" - 7' MH-F, 6'6" used to be the all purpose length but more and more, including myself, have been using longer rods to the point that 7' is the norm now. That 6'6" to 7' medium heavy, fast action rod will do spinnerbaits, jigs, texas rigs both weighted and weighless, and buzzbaits really well, the catch is anything that has a treble hook will not work too well. Yes, you can fish topwater poppers and walking baits as well as fishing cranks with a medium heavy fast action rod but you are going to miss a lot of fish and certain baits the action will suffer and to get one that will work for all you would have to go medium power with a fast action and then you really limit the weight range of the lures you can throw. If you really need to budget, get the medium heavy fast action for everything else and pick up a cheap ugly stick for cranks and treble hook baits, it isn't the best but the action is soft and will make fighting a fish hooked on a treble hook much easier and you'll land a lot more you hook versus the all purpose fast action rod.

[WRB]

The last thing I would do is suggest a particular rod for an angler who has been fishing with a pistol grip, 2 piece Ugly stick. You are used to a one handed casting rod with a nearly parabolic action that is very easy to cast.

Changing to a modern straight handle rod will be night and day difference to how it feels and cast, so I suggest you go to a tackle store and put a reel on a rod within your budget and test cast it..

There isn't any standards for rod rating....none! Every rod maker rates them differently.

Your 6'6" pistol grip rod is about the same length from the reel seat to the rod tip as a 7" straight handle rod, the extra length is behind the reel.

You may backlash your reels more often with a stiffer fast action rod, especially using braid.

You will need to modify your casting motion and slow it down when using a fast action rod.

A 7', 3 power or Medium heavy is considered the basic bass rod today and they will vary greatly from the different rod makers.

Tom

[aavery2]

I say no,   there is no rod that I currently know of that is going to allow you to cast finesse baits  one minute then turn around and cast frogs in heavy  slop, think of rods as a set of golf clubs, could you play nine holes with a putter only, could you play a round with only a five iron?      There are multiple powers and actions so that you can perform better at job at hand, like a driver on the tee box and a putter on the green.    If you are limited to one rod only then pick a few techniques that the rod supports well and fish them until you know them inside and out, or until you can afford to purchase another rod that is more suited to other techniques. 

 

Fishing is meant to be enjoyable, I can see no way for it to be that trying to fish techniques on a rod that is ill equiped.