Choosing New Rods For Specific Purposes

[MN_Bassin]

I've given up on Google search and decided to join the community here because of the extensive knowledge. I've been fishing ever since I could walk, but have only used med. lite 6'6" fast action spinning rods my whole life. Although they're fairly universal rods, I've just recent gotten into tournament fishing and may need an extra advantage on getting the fish in the boat. I think a lot of tourney anglers have too many rods, so I want to limit myself to several rods with specific purposes (skipping, flipping/pitching, crankbait/spinnerbait, etc.). If you had to choose 5 rods or less to cover the broad spectrum of presentations, what would they be? (Action, blank, length, etc.) Ideally, I'd like every rod to be spinning except for the flipping/skipping pole. Thanks, Tate.

[Senko lover]

You're probably not going to want to go with a rod for both flipping and skipping. Two different techniques that need at the very least different lengths. 

[HoosierHawgs]

6'6"-6'8" Medium Casting w/6.3:1 Reel (Topwater, Jerkbait)

6'6"-7' Medium Heavy Moderate Fast or Fast (your preference) w/6.3:1 Reel (Spinnerbait, Lipless, Squarebill)

7'-7'3" Medium Heavy Fast or Extra Fast w/7.1:1 Reel (Worm and Jig)

6'10"-7'3" Heavy Xtra Fast w/7.1:1 Reel (Frog, Flip/Pitch, Punch)

7' Medium Fast Spinning w/5.1:1 Reel (Weightless worm, Shaky, Drop Shot)

These would be my five. I did not include line choices, but I can if you'd like. I'm sure I left something out, but 5 is not a lot. I have a 6 rod system for all scenarios, but generally carry 3 (top/middle/bottom presentations) based on the recent weather patterns, predicted weather patterns, and what I assume the conditions will be. If I've never fished a particular BOW before I will carry rods 1 and 2 to cover water, and then toss up (eeny meeny miny moe) between rods 3 and 4 for my 3rd rod, for slowing down and working an area that I've found that holds active fish.

[Jeff H]

I've given up on Google search and decided to join the community here because of the extensive knowledge. I've been fishing ever since I could walk, but have only used med. lite 6'6" fast action spinning rods my whole life. Although they're fairly universal rods, I've just recent gotten into tournament fishing and may need an extra advantage on getting the fish in the boat. I think a lot of tourney anglers have too many rods, so I want to limit myself to several rods with specific purposes (skipping, flipping/pitching, crankbait/spinnerbait, etc.). If you had to choose 5 rods or less to cover the broad spectrum of presentations, what would they be? (Action, blank, length, etc.) Ideally, I'd like every rod to be spinning except for the flipping/skipping pole. Thanks, Tate.

No such thing....you will be one of those guys with "too many rods" in 5 years time, you just don't know it yet.

[MN_Bassin]

These would be my five. I did not include line choices, but I can if you'd like.

What would be your line choices? I generally just stick to 30# Suffix 832 braid, in all lakes except for Mille Lacs, in which I have a 12# flouro leader.

 

No such thing....you will be one of those guys with "too many rods" in 5 years time, you just don't know it yet.

Oh I'm sure, because I supposedly have "too many lures", but man, there isn't such a thing as too many lures!

[HoosierHawgs]

What would be your line choices? I generally just stick to 30# Suffix 832 braid, in all lakes except for Mille Lacs, in which I have a 12# flouro leader.

!

12# Trilene XL for 1 and 2

20# Trilene Pro Braid w/8# FC Sniper or straight 7# FC Sniper for 5

14# FC Sniper for 3

50# Berkley Pro Braid for 4 (no leader)

[roadwarrior]

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

[ccsewaneebasser]

I'm currently using a 4 rod outfit.

1) 6'6" mh fast. 7:1 reel. 50# powerpro. Frogs, big spinnerbaits, swimbaits, jigs, heavy c-rigs and heavy t-rigs. Sometimes ill use 12-20 lb flouro or mono leader depending on what im doing.

2) 6'6" medium. Moderate. 6.3:1 reel.12lb big game. Topwater, cranks, rattle traps, mediun spinnerbaits, shad raps, larger jerkbaits. Basically all my treble hook lure and anything inkeep moving in the water column.

3) 7" medium. Fast. 10lb gamma hi vis gold Lighter jigs/ t rigs, tubes, senkos, Smaller jerkbaits and other soft plastics.

4) 6'6" ml. Fast action. 2500 size spinning. 10-20 lb powerpro. Hi vis. Shakeyhead. Dropshot. Split shot, smaller weightless plastics. Using 6-10 lb fluoro leader. I use 8lb fluoro about 75% of the time. Though i have gone to 4lb in the dead of winter with clear water. I keep a spare spool of 6 lb mono if I decide to fish for bream or crappie, or if i decide to use small (less that 3") minno plugs. Oddly enough i seem to catch most of my bigger bass (4# and up) on this set up. Makes for a fun fight.

[ccsewaneebasser]

Forgot to mention i do keep a 9 foot panfish rod with 4 lb mono for float n fly when their jaws are really locked. All year round. Not just in the winter.

[Robert Riley]

1. 6'8 Med-Mod, 7:1 reel, #30 braid: Topwaters
2. 7' MH-F, 6:1 reel, #12 FC: Spinnerbaits/Chatterbaits
3. 7'4 H-XF, 8:1 reel, #12 FC: Jigs
4. 7'6 MH-Mod, 5:1 reel, #10 Copoly: Cranks
5. 6'8 ML-XF, 6:1 spinning, #8 FC (Braid leader): Shakeyheads and Wacky Rigs

I actually prepare 6 rods for each tournament, and the 6th is usually a back up or similar to my main presentation (assuming it's one of the 5 listed.)

[smalljaw67]

I really think if you want to keep everything a spinning set up except for flipping then you only need 3 rods. A 6'6" - 7' M-F for most stuff, a 6'6" - 7' MH-F for bigger stuff and a 7'6" H-F for flipping, done. I say this because I really can't throw a spinnerbait on a spinning rod or a crankbait although I use to use one for the #5 shad rap but since you can you don't need 5 outfits. Most fast action spinning rods have enough flex in them to fish a crankbait so you can add a MH-M spinning rod but it isn't necessary but why only spinning? The only real reasons for this is either you have tried and don't like casting or you never learned it or you did learn but don't like it, but in my opinion, fishing a spinnerbait, even a 1/4oz model on a casting rod is so much easier than a spinning I just don't understand but whatever the case, 3 rods is all you need if you want to keep it spinning.