Loking To Get A Few New Rods, Can Use Some Advice On My Spec Selection

[bigt89]

I have been reading the rod selection for all my new rods I add to my arsenal, but today it just seems out dated. it was talking about how you should have 2 crank rods, 6'8, paired with a 3.6 speed or something like that, and a 7'0 rod. the slower gear ratio was for deep cranks, and the 7'0, but no reel ratio was for lipless cranks.

 

I fell in love with st. Croix, and that's what majority of my rods are. I am the type that once I find what I like, and am comfortable with, I don't want to switch it up. so I was looking at the st Croix glass crank rods, and non are 6'8. their

 

6'10

7'4

7'8

 

I checked on bass pro shops, and all the carbon fiber rods are this dimension. is this a new standard? the article I was reading was saying its best to have carbon rods for crank baits, and that's the route I was going to go.

 

I got an email from dicks sporting goods.

 

1 rod 10% off

2 rods 15% off

3 rods 25% off

 

figured if I could save close to $100 if I got 3 rods I would add some more rods.

 

any advice on what I actually should be looking for. I want to get some recommendations before I waist a lot of money. also what gear ratio reel I should pair with.

 

also for top water, what rod/reel ratio is best? I have been reading the st. Croix website, but don't want to just take their word for it how their selection is set up telling you what each rod, and size action etc is for.

 

[jbsoonerfan]

I'm far from an expert, but if I were to buy 3 "do it all" rods. They would be as followed.

6'8" MH-F (lipless, square bill, jerkbait)

6'10" MH-F (top water, spinner bait)

7'2" MH-XF (bottom contact)

I would use a 6. ration on first two and a 7. on the third.

These are just what I would do. I'm sure you will get many different opinions. But remember these are all just opinions, no real right or wrong answer.

[F14A-B]

I don't see a issue with 2" on a glass rod, do you?

It would be a good target casting rod, longer rods (glass) would allow longer casting.. As far as new standards, I guess it changed a few years ago,

Jumping a couple inches across the board, although I couldn't say why ( bait monkey? )

Topwater I like higher speed, but that's me, some like 5 to 1 it just depends on user..

Are you looking only at crankbait rods?

[bionicbassfisherman]

my pic would have to be

 

7ft medcrankbaitrod/cranks  reel 6.2.1

 

ftmedhvy /spinnerbait ,worm ,chatterbait,topwater not frogs tho ,swim jig reel=6.2.1

 

7'5fthvy /flip pitch punch jigs 1 oz and lower swimbait frog reel=7.6.1

[ABW]

Are you talking about Rod Selection: The Basics thread?

 

If I were to only have 3 combos I wouldn't have two rods for crankbaits, but that's just me

 

Mine would be:

 

7' MH F with a 7.1:1 reel. You can throw virtually anything on this.

6'7" M F with a 6.4:1 reel for topwaters, jerkbaits, crankbaits. light texas rigs. It won't be a glass rod because I'll use mono which should help with keeping the fish pinned

6'8 MXF with a 1000 size spinning reel for shakeyheads, wacky rigs

[SenkoGuru]

 

 _{If I was to number my rods down to only three rods to fish everything I fish it would be tough because I am so use to having a dozen combos in the boat}

 

  _{For topwaters and jerkbaits I am so use to throwing them on a 6'10 medium fast rod that it would be tough to go up but I would if I was going to be using only three rods. I would start with three combos that looked something like this. This is just off the top of my head but my final three combos would be pretty much this list.}

 

 _{1. 7'0" Medium mod crankbait rod with a 6.3.1 baitcaster with 12# Mono for throwing topwaters, jerkbaits, SQ bills, rattletraps (not in grass), crankbaits...treble hook baits. ETC....}

 

 _{2. 7'0" Medium Heavy Fast with a 6.3.1 Baitcaster with 17# Fluorocarbon for Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, swim jigs, Rattletraps (In Grass), Senko's, flukes, whacky rigs, lighter Texas rig's ETC}

 

 _{3. 7'3" Heavy fast  with a 7.3.1 Baitcaster and 65# Braid for Frogs, Toads, Jigs, pitching, flipping, Worms, Texas rig's, C-rigs...ETC}

[bigt89]

sorry, im out of town with limited access to a computer.

 

I already have rods now, just don't have any specifically for crank bait, and I was only looking at getting 2 for cranks, unless 1 will do the trick. I was only going to get a random 3rd just to get the deal, but its over. did not realize it was 12 hour only deal.

 

yes, I was referring to the rod selection thread for the size of pole.

 

again though, this is not just 3 rods for that I have to use. I have 6. just got back into bass fishing again 2 years ago so been starting to buy a few rods/reels here, and a few there. 

 

does the glass rod even matter with cranks? If I can save the $30 or so then I will.

[new2BC4bass]

If you are going to be throwing shallow to deep cranks, then you will need 2 rods.  Longer rods cast further all else being equal.  Longer casting distance is better in most cases.  The lure will run at the proper depth over a greater distance.  It is not unusual to see cranking rods running from 7'8" to 7'11".  My only dedicated crankbait rod is 7'8" for shallow to medium depth crankbaits.  Don't have a need for deep running crankbaits where I fish.

[tomustang]

sorry, im out of town with limited access to a computer.

I already have rods now, just don't have any specifically for crank bait, and I was only looking at getting 2 for cranks, unless 1 will do the trick. I was only going to get a random 3rd just to get the deal, but its over. did not realize it was 12 hour only deal.

yes, I was referring to the rod selection thread for the size of pole.

again though, this is not just 3 rods for that I have to use. I have 6. just got back into bass fishing again 2 years ago so been starting to buy a few rods/reels here, and a few there.

does the glass rod even matter with cranks? If I can save the $30 or so then I will.

You don't really need two rods, you don't really need glass, and please read more than just one article.

I'm a huge Croix guy because they have a lot to offer. As of right now I have 1 crankbait rod that can 90% of my cranking which includes wake, shallow , squarebill, medium, and deep (up to 18ft) divers. That ranges from a Rapala DT-6 up to a Strike King 6XD. This rod is a Croix medium heavy moderate. Now they make several ones, the budget is the Mojo/Premier 7'mhm, midway are the Avid 7MHM or LT 7'8MHM. As this point I'll stop up the line.

But for the most part the Mojo 7'mhm/12lb line/6.4 ratio can handle just about everything.

[Robert Riley]

Im going to assume you are asking about rod selection for crankbaits.

 

I like to have two rods like you mentioned. One for squarebills and lipless cranks, usually a 7' M/F rod, with a 6.8:1 Lew's TMB and 12lb Copoly. The other for "shallow to medium" divers, which is currently a MH/M Veritas 2.0 with a 5.4:1 Lew's BB1 and 12lb Copoly. 

 

In my experience, glass vs graphite, I chose graphite. Graphite has better sensitivity, but you have to play the fish more, which I call fun fishing. If you are throwing deep cranks on Kentucky Lake, go grab a 8' glass rod, you need the forgiveness of the rod since you are fishing such deep and open water.

 

And as per your last question, it's the exact same haha. As far as reels, a quick reel, 7:1 is good for picking up all the slack line. You can use a fast or moderate rod. I like fast since I fish a lot of walk-the-dog baits. 

 

[chadmack282]

_{If I was to number my rods down to only three rods to fish everything I fish it would be tough because I am so use to having a dozen combos in the boat}

_{For topwaters and jerkbaits I am so use to throwing them on a 6'10 medium fast rod that it would be tough to go up but I would if I was going to be using only three rods. I would start with three combos that looked something like this. This is just off the top of my head but my final three combos would be pretty much this list.}

_{1. 7'0" Medium mod crankbait rod with a 6.3.1 baitcaster with 12# Mono for throwing topwaters, jerkbaits, SQ bills, rattletraps (not in grass), crankbaits...treble hook baits. ETC....}

_{2. 7'0" Medium Heavy Fast with a 6.3.1 Baitcaster with 17# Fluorocarbon for Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, swim jigs, Rattletraps (In Grass), Senko's, flukes, whacky rigs, lighter Texas rig's ETC}

_{3. 7'3" Heavy fast with a 7.3.1 Baitcaster and 65# Braid for Frogs, Toads, Jigs, pitching, flipping, Worms, Texas rig's, C-rigs...ETC}

[chadmack282]

This!!!

[Angry John]

So you like Croix me to. The 66mf is great for square bills and top waters. I like my alphas for this with the 6.8 or stock gears. A 7'mhf for jigs spinners and plastics. I don't run st Croix for cranks as I love my dobyns 764ml rod. I would choose a 7"mhm for versatility if I had to stay in the same company. Avids are great but on the jig plastics I stepped up to the legend elite.

[bigt89]

great thanks for the feedback.

[bigturtle]

3 rods to do it all:

7ft MH Fast

8ft XH Mod-Fast

6ft11 M Xtra-Fast