Should I Upgrade My Jig And Worm Rod Or Get A Crankbait Rod And A Spinning Rod?

[pbizzle]

Since I improved my grades from d's and c's to honor roll, my parents said that they would help me get a new set up. Now I need to know if I should get a good worm and jig setup or get a crankbait setup and a better spinning rod. Right now I have a 7'MH Ethos/Mettle lined with 50lb stealth for my worm and jig rod and I think it's okay, but I was going to get a *** 7'1MH/Shimano Citica G7 as an upgrade. Now I'm wondering if I should get an Ethos crankbait rod since I don't have a crankbait setup and I have another mettle lying around. I could also get a 6'8 M F Ethos spinning rod as an upgrade to my cheap $50 Pflueger combo rod. I'm really having a hard time deciding, and I keep changing sides. So I want y'alls help.

[MichiganFishing1997]

I'm around your age, I'm assuming, from what I have learned in the past, I'm a quality over quantity kind of guy. My gear will last longer, be more enjoyable to fish, and should treat me betger overall in the long run. I would choose one really nice jig and worm setup over two other ones at half the value.

Just to clarify, I'm not saying you need to expand your buget or spend hundreds on new gear. And there are always quality bang for your buck rods and reels, like the ***, Veritas, or BPS PQ reel, which are great, and fit that great balance of price and quality. I am just saying when you have your set budget, try to get quality gear, that will last you longer, rather than a lot of half way decent gear. Hopefully this helps.

[pbizzle]

  On 12/20/2013 at 9:05 PM, MichiganFishing1997 said:

I'm around your age, I'm assuming, from what I have learned in the past, I'm a quality over quantity kind of guy. My gear will last longer, be more enjoyable to fish, and should treat me betger overall in the long run. I would choose one really nice jig and worm setup over two other ones at half the value.

Just to clarify, I'm not saying you need to expand your buget or spend hundreds on new gear. And there are always quality bang for your buck rods and reels, like the ***, Veritas, or BPS PQ reel, which are great, and fit that great balance of price and quality. I am just saying when you have your set budget, try to get quality gear, that will last you longer, rather than a lot of half way decent gear. Hopefully this helps.

I get what you're saying. I would normally always go with quality over quantity, but I've actually been pleased with my ethos. I think it's just as sensitive as my buddy's vendetta. I just have a hard time throwing a lot of things. I don't like to fish senkos on a baitcaster, but I can't fish them on my spinning rod now because it's not sensitive enough and I gut hook them. I also have a hard time throwing crankbaits on the ethos since its so powerful. My hooks pop out. I throw jigs and worms 90% of the time though. So that's why I'm having a hard time.

[Arv]

Personally, I would upgrade the worm/jig rod, but that's because that's my favorite way to fish. A better rod will enhance that type of fishing than most other techniques, IMO.

 

Also, congrats on your grades. Keep those up and it will make life A LOT easier and open many more doors.

[MichiganFishing1997]

Based on what you just responded to me with, I think there's a few options. The *** may have a softer tip and with that Cirica may make it easier to cast your senkos. You could try turning your drag down when fishing treble hook baits also. Or get the three main setups, jig, crankbait, and spinning, and slowly upgrade each piece of them as you get more money. I think you will be happy with your choice wither way.

[curtis9]

I've had a lot of ethos rods, and the 6'8" spinning has been the best of the bunch.   

 

If you want a crankbait rod and have the budget, Gander mountain has the St. Croix rods on sale.  You can get an Avid crankbait rod for $120 after the coupon code and rebate.  

 

If you want a spinning rod the 6'8" MXF Avid spinning rod for $120.

 

Both of those are going to be great options for you.

[pbizzle]

  On 12/20/2013 at 9:53 PM, Arv said:

Also, congrats on your grades. Keep those up and it will make life A LOT easier and open many more doors.

Thanks man. It also makes it a whole lot easier to fish when you're not doing make up work at Saturday school. Lol.

 

  On 12/20/2013 at 10:24 PM, MichiganFishing1997 said:

Based on what you just responded to me with, I think there's a few options. The *** may have a softer tip and with that Cirica may make it easier to cast your senkos. You could try turning your drag down when fishing treble hook baits also. Or get the three main setups, jig, crankbait, and spinning, and slowly upgrade each piece of them as you get more money. I think you will be happy with your choice wither way.

I'm not really sure what I'll do. Both options seem great. You make a really good point though. However, I don't like fishing senkos on a baitcaster because I really only skip them under docks, and I just find the spinning rod to be mefficient.

[tomustang]

If i was in your shoes:

Stick with your jig setup.

Ethos crankbait rod and use your spare mettle.

Keep the president and get the spinning ethos 6'8MF

You'll get two rods (crankbait and spinning) instead of one new combo, essentially giving you three of most versatile combos.

[ZB85]

I'd probably upgrade the worm and jig rod also.  I haven't personally used an *** rod but a lot of people on this forum speak highly of them.

[Smallmouth Hunter]

  On 12/20/2013 at 8:46 PM, pbizzle said:

Since I improved my grades from d's and c's to honor roll, my parents said that they would help me get a new set up. Now I need to know if I should get a good worm and jig setup or get a crankbait setup and a better spinning rod. Right now I have a 7'MH Ethos/Mettle lined with 50lb stealth for my worm and jig rod and I think it's okay, but I was going to get a *** 7'1MH/Shimano Citica G7 as an upgrade. Now I'm wondering if I should get an Ethos crankbait rod since I don't have a crankbait setup and I have another mettle lying around. I could also get a 6'8 M F Ethos spinning rod as an upgrade to my cheap $50 Pflueger combo rod. I'm really having a hard time deciding, and I keep changing sides. So I want y'alls help.

First off, the H20 mettle casts just as nicely and far as the citica g7, and it even has a lifetime warranty.. Some people even prefer the mettle to the citica. I don't see how that is an upgrade. The citica is an upgrade in PRICE if that is what your after, but not so much in performance. For $120 you could get a tatula or daiwa ballistic on sale which is far superior in my book to the citica and mettle reels.

 

Out of the options you have, I would go with the option of getting a crank rod and upgraded spinning rod. Having a reel sitting around is useless so I think putting it to use would be the best option.

[WRB]

You solve the gut hooking issue by using Owner 5114 circle hook.

You do 90% of your fishing with soft plastics, bottom bumping, so focus on improving that outfit.

Tom

[pbizzle]

  On 12/20/2013 at 11:56 PM, WRB said:

You solve the gut hooking issue by using Owner 5114 circle hook.

You do 90% of your fishing with soft plastics, bottom bumping, so focus on improving that outfit.

Tom

I feel like I would fish crankbaits more if I could keep fish hooked. The main reason I don't fish the crankbaits is because I can't keep them hooked.

[pbizzle]

I think I'll wait before I upgrade. I've only had the ethos for 4 months now, and I haven't even caught 50 fish on it yet. Our bass club won't even start back for 2 months anyway, and I haven't been able to fish as often as I'd like.