Need Advice On New Pitching & Senko/trig/jerkbait Combos.

[hb2392]

I'm looking for two new combos to throw together, and need some advice on what I should go after. I've only fished with garcia reels and rods but I want to switch it up. 

 

I'm looking for a flipping/pitching combo and a combo for mostly t rigs/wacky/jerkbaits. 

 

Rods - Falcon, Dobyns, 13, St. Croix, and Duckett.

Reels - Garcia, 13, and Quantum.

 

Any advice/opinions would be great. 

[OntarioFishingGuy]

Depending on how much you want to spend i would check out the St. Croix rods. The Mojo Bass series if you are on a tighter budget, and the Legend Tournaments if you are looking to spend a little more. If you are looking for a mid price range rod, the Avid series has got you covered. For a flipping rod, a 7' to 7'6'' Med Hvy to Heavy rod (depending on how thick the cover you are fishing is) with a moderate-fast to fast action tip should do you good. For your Texas/wacky/Jerbait rod, I am assuming you want a baitcaster, so i would look at a 6'6'' to 7' Medium action rod. If you fish very heavy cover, you could go to a Med Hvy, but it will be harder to throw weightless plastics and smaller T-rigs and Jerkbaits, and a Medium action rod still has plenty of backbone, as long as you dont flip heavy mats with jerkbaits.    For reels, a Shimano Curado or Chronarch (CI4+ if you can afford it) would be on the top of my list but the Citica is also a great reel, and a little more affordable, followed by a Daiwa Tatula or Tatula Type R, and a *** ***, C or E. The Revo line up has some great reels in it, and Lews reels (Tournament Pro, BB1, etc.) are great also. For flipping, get a fast gear ratio (6.3:1 or above) and you should be good to go, and for your other rod, a slower gear ratio like a 5.4:1 or a 6.3:1 will do perfectly. For your flipping setup, pair it with heavy fluorocarbon (17-25lb test) if you fish in very clear water, and if you fish in a little bit dirtier water, spool it up with heavy braid (40-65lb test). The line size should depend on how heavy the cover is that you are fishing. If you are fishing in heavier cover, use heavier line, in lighter cover, use lighter line. For flourocarbon, I would recommend Sunline Super FC Sniper, and for braid, I love Sufix 832. For your other rod, I would recommend using either 20lb braid, which can be a pain to use and will dig into your spool on a hookset, or 12-14lb flourocarbon. If you are comfortable using light braid on a baitcaster, go right ahead, but in my experience, you would be better off using flourocarbon.

 

Hope this helps,

-OntarioFishingGuy

[iabass8]

I'd prefer 3 rods for the techniques you listed.

DX745 pitching/heavytrigs/jigs

DX744 anything up to 3/8oz trig/weightless senkos

champ 704cb jerkbaits

 

If I had to get to two i could get by /w the DX 744 and 704cb

 

As for the reels, i don't like Quantum or Abu Garcia and I've never fished a 13.

[jhoffman]

i agree, a t rig is not a wacky is not a jerk rod. the actions are way too different

 

TRig - mh/h - fast action

wacky - ml to m - mod/mod fast spinning

jerk - mh - extra fast

[smalljaw67]

i agree, a t rig is not a wacky is not a jerk rod. the actions are way too different

 

TRig - mh/h - fast action

wacky - ml to m - mod/mod fast spinning

jerk - mh - extra fast

 

As iabass8, and jhoffman have said, this for me is 3 rods as well, flipping and pitching could double as a t-rig rod, wacky rig is a medium light casting or spinning, I prefer spinning for that, and jerkbaits, well I like a medium power fast acton usually in a shorter rod length under 7'.

[roadwarrior]

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/130634-rod-selection-the-basics/

 

A good "all-around" rod is the St. Croix Avid AVC68MXF

[Teal]

i agree, a t rig is not a wacky is not a jerk rod. the actions are way too different

TRig - mh/h - fast action

wacky - ml to m - mod/mod fast spinning

jerk - mh - extra fast

Before I got really into bass fishing and multiple rods that I got to be technique specific, I got by just with doing it with a couple rods. That said, a 6'6-7 M F would do all of those things. Not necessarily exceptional, but would do it all.

A dobyns champ 702 or something along that line would do fine.

[jhoffman]

I will say I have reached the point where I actually have too many rods. I litterally could not fit another on my boat currently and I believe its a little absurd.

 

4 baitcasting setups is about ideal and two spinning rods. I have ten at the moment, like I said, thats too many in my opinion.

 

Im going to tame the field as follows

 

1 - Heavy swimbait rod

1 - Heavy FastJig/Texas rig rod

1 - MH XF Jerkbait/Topwater

1 - M Mod Crankn Rod

 

1 - ML 7' shakey/senko/dropshot

1 - M 6' all smaller baits like super small crankbaits

[jhoffman]

On second thought ill need 7, I HAVE to have a dedicated spinnerbait/chatterbait rod

[iabass8]

I will say I have reached the point where I actually have too many rods. 

said no bass fisherman ever.....

[cbfishalot]

St. Croix Legend Xtream Casting 7'4 Heavy Fast (pitching and flipping)

St. Croix Legend Elite Casting 7'0 Med Fast (t-rigs, wacky and jerkbaits)

[hb2392]

All the advice has really helped me. I'm getting a good idea on what I'm leaning towards.

 

I believe I will go with Dobyns, either a champion or savvy. The champion extreme is a out of my price range for now, and the champion is pushing it. I've decided I am going to pretty much just get a whole new arsenal. So a cranking rod, a good flipping/pitching rod for jigs up to 1 oz, a rod for senkos, and one for jerkbaits/topwaters. So any more advice pertaining to dobyns and these four rods would be appreciated! 

 

As for the reels, think I've narrowed it down to sticking with Garcia, or moving over to a 13 reel. Although, I am really interested in learning more about Lew's. I've seen a lot of people on here like them. I've never fished one so I wouldn't know, but I'm willing to take a shot at them if anyone can give me some input.