PERFECT MATCHES ?

[Worm Man 2020]

Just bought a couple of rods and reels and wanted some help.

SPINNING

ST. CROIX PS70MF, 7', Medium power, Fast action. SCII, 6-12 lb., 1/4-5/8 oz. Paired with Abu Garcia Ballistic EX 3000 5.6:1 ratio. Have 20lb. power pro braid. What's your opinions on putting smaller line, either mono or fluorocarbon for better presentations. Best techniques?

Just started to learn bait casters and got the:

BAIT CASTER

MOJO BASS MJC68MHF, 6'8", Med-Heavy, Fast Action, SCIII Graphite,12-20 lb., 3/8-1oz. Paired with Shimano, Chronarch CI4+ 150 6.2:1 ratio. Think this one would be go for Square bills, Jerk, and ? Have 10lb mono, Trilene green, can I tie fluorocarbon leader to that mono or just go straight with BPS 17lb.fluorocarbon w/ backer????

QUANTUM ESCC701MH, 7' Med-Heavy, 10-25lb., 1/4-1 1/4oz. (not sure on action), Paired with Quantum Smoke SL100HPT,7.0:1 ratio. thinking of putting the 20lb. braid w/ fluorocarbon leader for skipping docks, or straight fluorocarbon ?

FIELD & STREAM FEHTSBC610MHXF, 6'10", Med-Heavy, Extra Fast, 10-20lb., 1/4-1oz., paired with LEWS Speed Spool,SSG1H, 6.8:1 ratio. Not sure what type line or best way to use for rig.

Hey, I think, I'm learning, so much, so quick, from this site it's overloading brain....Have two bait caster reels(both are from combos) one is ABU GARCIA PROMAX 7.1:1 ratio, Quantum Escalade, 7.0:1 ratio. The rods that I have is a QUANTUM ESCS701M, 7' Med, 8-14lb., 1/4-3/4oz.(not sure of action), and QUANTUM ESCS661M, 6'6", Med, 6-12lb.1/8-1/4oz. both bought at Dick's Sporting 1/2 price. 50.00 ea.

ProMax reel is heavy 6.5oz.     Bought the two medium rods for flipping and pitching and skipping around docks etc. With all that, I'm getting mixed up. ANY thoughts would be great, have to put new line on all of them, so guidance on type, manufactures, and works for you and your presentations.   

 

 

[kcdinkerz]

What kind of waters do you fish? Clear to stained I would run a fluro leader. 20 pound braid is very small in diameter, I wouldn't recommend it for a baitcaster that you are just going to skip and pitch docks with you don't really need the extra distance so Maybe up the braid to 40 or 50 pound test. Can't really give advice on your other setups as I'm still learning myself, good luck and fish on!

Forgot to mention back your reels with cheap mono it will save you lots of $.

[smalljaw67]

Before I address all your questions you really need to get some stuff straight. The Ballistic EX is a Daiwa product, not Abu Garcia, and the Mojo you listed is a jig and worm rod, it isn't going to help with jerkbaits and square bills. Slow down and look at rod actions and power and look to see who is making the stuff you listed.

[deep]

Yeah, slow down.

[Worm Man 2020]

Thanks guys, Waters, I'm fishing are the clear to stained reservoirs, around Baltimore, and Gaithersburg, Md. area. I fish lake Moultrie and Lake Marion in South Carolina and down there it varies because it's: Massive.... I too just started.

Thank you smalljaw67 for pointing that out, couldn't find Daiwa on reel (it had some transformer symbol on that) and looked for box (missed-placed it). Bass Pro Shop ease dropping (fly on wall) hearing salesman explaining to some, what sounded to me, as experienced tournament Bass anglers around Potomac clubs, after hearing them and asking some questions I just bought what they left, not must inventory, Bought New Tracker and get that 20% off thing for 2 years. I HATE going there, It's always leads to go dinner conversation.

The salesman saved me $80 off rod, by switching to that mojo bass from the St.Croix Avid, one that I was going to buy. thanks for clearing that up on type rod. In your opinion, should I change the reel that's paired with that MOJO (Shimano) or with another one that I have, or should I buy another one, Man, that means, I have to go out shopping again!!! That's why I posted in here, so maybe can buy online to save that retail price.

Tight lines & Thanks.

I really take, what you guys and gals recommend seriously, fishing about very day for 16 months with cheap stuff, learned how to get bird's net out and re-spooling, throwing a lot of fishing line away, used that $2.50 Ollie' 10lb. 700yds. Mono. That could explain a lot, since I have this high dollar equipment, less throwing away, and wanted to spool right line for rigs/set-ups. Only caught 20-30 Bass, don't own scale yet, not really sure as far as biggest and that was practicing/casting, I only wanted that $6.99 lure back. lol

[WIGuide]

10 hours ago, Worm Man 2020 said:

SPINNING

ST. CROIX PS70MF, 7', Medium power, Fast action. SCII, 6-12 lb., 1/4-5/8 oz. Paired with Abu Garcia Ballistic EX 3000 5.6:1 ratio. Have 20lb. power pro braid : +/- Fluoro Leader this should make for a good finesse setup. Weightless soft plastics, wacky rig, drop shot, shaky head, etc etc. Use a leader in clear water conditions if you wish or around cover to gain abrasion resistance. I would use this setup for any skipping as well despite it being a little long for it. Skipping with a baitcaster is possibly, but much harder to master than it is on a spinning combo.

BAIT CASTER

MOJO BASS MJC68MHF, 6'8", Med-Heavy, Fast Action, Paired with Shimano, Chronarch CI4+ 150 6.2:1 ratio. 

QUANTUM ESCC701MH, 7' Med-Heavy, 10-25lb., 1/4-1 1/4oz. (not sure on action), Paired with Quantum Smoke SL100HPT,7.0:1 ratio. 

FIELD & STREAM FEHTSBC610MHXF, 6'10", Med-Heavy, Extra Fast, 10-20lb., 1/4-1oz., paired with LEWS Speed Spool,SSG1H, 6.8:1 ratio. 

Your MH rods will be a good rods for spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, swim jigs, texas rigs, lipless crankbaits, square bills, medium depth crankbaits, walking style topwaters, and jigs. Your MH/F rods will be your most versatile of the bunch. The St. Croix will have a little more power than the other two, so I'd throw the heavier of the baits your choosing on that. It'll also make a good rod to pitch around heavier cover or docks.  The F&S would be move of a dedicated plastics rod for me with the extra fast action, but it would also work well for topwaters and possibly jerkbaits (although I prefer a slightly shorter rod for those)

I'm not sure what to tell you about the other rods you have since they appear to be spinning rods and you have baitcast reels.

As far as line goes, since you're new to this I'd stick with mono on your baitcasting setups. Fluoro is an upgrade, but it's a little finickier to cast with at times and since you're an admitted beginner something like Berkly XT will work just fine. I'd stick with 12 or 14 lb test or maybe 10lb if you're going to use one mostly for crankbaits. 

 

 

[Evan K]

Whew, slow down man!

No need for half a dozen combos all at once. And did you really just buy a boat too?

My only bit of advice is to use braided line when starting out with baitcasters. It's limp and easy to work with, easy to pick out backlashes as well. Good luck.

[Worm Man 2020]

2015 Tracker Pro190, That thing is an Aircraft Carrier, compared to the little 12' Jon Boat, I had before.

Man, I think the bass caught me, I love this, I sell real estate and the $ is stupid, I'm good at what I do and with the life stuff Smith Barney, handles what I either don't know or don't want to know and my 6 kids are set, don't pay for the equestrian stuff anymore, on to grand children, what's next... Here I'm, thanks for everything you guys have shared with me. I like to do stuff once, and buying the low end stuff, has proved to be a waste. Can ya say: Re-gifting.....all I have to do now, is learn from like minded people and think like a Bass !

WIGuide; that's the stuff dreams are made of, Thanks Sir, SPOT ON. 

EVAN K, That's why, I would like to fine tune rods & reels and polish the techniques, that I've learn on the site.

Can't get enough! Don't get me wrong, I'm by no means, I guy with deep pockets, I just think that the really good stuff, you guys talk about in near, will last me a lifetime, and if it does break, i'll look up rod/reel repair shop and keep: FLIPPING & PITCHING,BABY!!!!!!!!