Help me start a 3 rod setup

[sides]

I got into bass fishing a little a couple of years ago. I'm tired of switching baits out on two of my rods. I'm going to ditch one crappy rod/reel and buy two nicer rod/reel setups. So here's what I have now:

Berkley Lightning Rod 7' MH F w/ an Abu Garcia Pro Max 2 7:1 ratio (The goal is to replace the lightning rod for something a little nicer down the road.)

 

I was doing a little looking around and I think I want a Medium Fast rod and a Medium Moderate rod. Here's what I'm thinking about buying:

St. Croix Avid X 7' M F ($200) paired with a Lew's Tournament MB Speed Spool LFS Series 7:5:1 or 6:8:1 ratio ($140)

St. Croix Rage 7'2" M M (found online for $90) paired with a Lew's Tournament MB Speed Spool LFS Series 5:6:1 ratio ($140)

 

I'm not very knowledgable about rods in particular. I've done my fair share of research and I think I found two good rods. I do have a few questions.

 

With the Axid X M F/Lew's Tournament MB setup, am I pairing too nice of a rod with a lower end reel? I did see that Lew's has a Tournament LITE Speed Spool, but I worry about having a carbon frame. 

With the Rage M M/Lew's Tournament MB setup, will this reel throw light baits and treble hook baits well? Is 7'2" too long for this setup? 

Please give me any advice/opinions you may have on these setups. Thanks in advance for any help on this!

[DenhamBruce]

Personally I don't think you need such a nice rod. As far as the rod ratings go, I wouldn't have two nice medium action rods and a lesser medium heavy. I'd go with a nicer MH and M and then a lesser M rod. The MH is an important rod in the arsenal so having one thats quality counts.

[tbone1993]

Get a nice MH flipping stick. That mh lightening rod can cover spinnerbaits, buzz baits, t-rigs etc.  Then just get a medium moderate for crankbaits. If you can only have 3 reels go with 7.1,7.1, and 6.4. You aren't going to toss big crankbaits on that MM so a lower gear ratio isn't necessary. If you plan on building an arsenal of rods then get that 5:4.1.  

[Oklahoma Mike]

I believe you can still get (2) of the Rage models for $50/ea plus $10 shipping if you buy two or more. You have to call St Croix by phone for it, and I'm not sure what models they still have left. Save yourself a couple hundred bucks to put toward your reals or some nice tackle. 

[sides]

8 hours ago, Oklahoma Mike said:

I believe you can still get (2) of the Rage models for $50/ea plus $10 shipping if you buy two or more. You have to call St Croix by phone for it, and I'm not sure what models they still have left. Save yourself a couple hundred bucks to put toward your reals or some nice tackle. 

I did send St. Croix an email. Below is their reply. 

Quote

We do still have our rods offered at a discounted rate, however it may not be the same as before. Whereas the store may have been offering them as a 2 for 1 sort of deal, you would’ve paid the shipping costs. Our current sale offers our specials for $89 each, with FREE shipping, and a FREE RAGE hat while supplies last.

Dose anyone know of any stores that are currently offering the $50 each for two deal?

13 hours ago, DenhamBruce said:

Personally I don't think you need such a nice rod. As far as the rod ratings go, I wouldn't have two nice medium action rods and a lesser medium heavy. I'd go with a nicer MH and M and then a lesser M rod. The MH is an important rod in the arsenal so having one thats quality counts.

Even if I plan to replace the MH soon? The MH has served me well, but I suspect that as soon as I get a feel for the nicer rods, I'll be eager to replace the MH. The idea was to get the MM rod because I don't have anything to throw crankbaits on at the moment. Thanks for your input. Please give me your thoughts. 

[Fishin' Fool]

Despite my customer service beef I'd consider the Dobyns Fury 705CB for your medium moderate action rod. It's rated as a medium heavy but feels more like a med. Good value for $109.99 and you can get it for cheaper signing up for a mailing list too.

[sides]

12 hours ago, tbone1993 said:

Get a nice MH flipping stick. That mh lightening rod can cover spinnerbaits, buzz baits, t-rigs etc.  Then just get a medium moderate for crankbaits. If you can only have 3 reels go with 7.1,7.1, and 6.4. You aren't going to toss big crankbaits on that MM so a lower gear ratio isn't necessary. If you plan on building an arsenal of rods then get that 5:4.1.  

Thanks for the advice. I think I will go with a 7:1 ratio on the MF and a 6:1 ratio on a MM.  Can you explain why your recommended a 6:4:1 instead of the 6:8:1 that Lew's offers. Same goes with the 7.1. What exactly does the middle digit mean?

5 minutes ago, Fishin' Fool said:

Despite my customer service beef I'd consider the Dobyns Fury 705CB for your medium moderate action rod. It's rated as a medium heavy but feels more like a med. Good value for $109.99 and you can get it for cheaper signing up for a mailing list too.

I have looked at Dobyns online a little. Out of curiosity, why would you recommend the Dobyns @ $110 if St. Croix offers a $150 rod @90? I would presume that the higher price of the St. Croix translates to slightly higher quality. Thanks for your input!

[Fishin' Fool]

11 minutes ago, sides said:

Thanks for the advice. I think I will go with a 7:1 ratio on the MF and a 6:1 ratio on a MM.  Can you explain why your recommended a 6:4:1 instead of the 6:8:1 that Lew's offers. Same goes with the 7.1. What exactly does the middle digit mean?

I have looked at Dobyns online a little. Out of curiosity, why would you recommend the Dobyns @ $110 if St. Croix offers a $150 rod @90? I would presume that the higher price of the St. Croix translates to slightly higher quality. Thanks for your input!

I bought 2 Rages and sold them both. I didn't like the handle. Some people hate it others love it. I'll be honest I had my Dobyns Fury 705CB out a few weeks back and I couldn't feel a difference between that and my Avid X. Granted this is playing in the yard not at the lake but I like the Fury at $100. And if you're using for reaction bites like cranks sensitivity is not a factor anyway.

[FloridaBasser1]

I'd get Ducket Ghost  rods and just pick the specs for each of your three set ups, their solid and not too expensive. 

[trick worms]

If I were you, I'd get a med heavy fast baitcasting, medium fast baitcasting, and med spinning. With only three rods I think a medium fast has more versatility than a med moderate.

[DenhamBruce]

4 hours ago, sides said:

I did send St. Croix an email. Below is their reply. 

Dose anyone know of any stores that are currently offering the $50 each for two deal?

Even if I plan to replace the MH soon? The MH has served me well, but I suspect that as soon as I get a feel for the nicer rods, I'll be eager to replace the MH. The idea was to get the MM rod because I don't have anything to throw crankbaits on at the moment. Thanks for your input. Please give me your thoughts. 

My point is that I'm sure the MH has indeed served you well. It is the key rod in the arsenal when your fishing around cover. That being it probably gets the most use and you want the best rod in your arsenal to be the one you use most.

[tbone1993]

6 hours ago, sides said:

Thanks for the advice. I think I will go with a 7:1 ratio on the MF and a 6:1 ratio on a MM.  Can you explain why your recommended a 6:4:1 instead of the 6:8:1 that Lew's offers. Same goes with the 7.1. What exactly does the middle digit mean?

I have looked at Dobyns online a little. Out of curiosity, why would you recommend the Dobyns @ $110 if St. Croix offers a $150 rod @90? I would presume that the higher price of the St. Croix translates to slightly higher quality. Thanks for your input!

the numbers inside don't matter as much, 6:4 6:8  same thing.   The fury's are real nice rods for the money.

[ww2farmer]

Brands aside...........if I could only have three rods for a "general purpose" approach for bass fishing they would be:

7'6" H powered flipping stick that's NOT a broom stick that can handle 1/4 - 1 oz jigs, and t-rigs

7' MH/fast casting rod with a little bit of "tip" so it can also throw reaction baits, as well as jigs/plastics

and a 7' M/fast spinning rod for finesse work like drop shotting, shaky heads, and light wacky rigs.

[IndianaFinesse]

If I had to pick three rods, they would be :

#1 6'10" medium-lite power, extra-fast action spinning rod for finesse stuff.

#2 7'3" fast action, medium-heavy power casting rod for T-rigs, jigs, etc.

#3 7' medium action, medium-heavy power casting rod for crankbaits, rattletraps, spinnerbait, etc.

Don't worry about the specifics so much, just keep it simple.  And unless you're loaded I would recommend getting some slightly cheaper rods or checking out FFO.

[roadwarrior]

The Avid X has gotten great reviews.  http://www.stcroixrods.com/products/freshwater/avid-x

 

[Lawsonfishing1]

On 3/23/2016 at 0:50 AM, sides said:

I did see that Lew's has a Tournament LITE Speed Spool, but I worry about having a carbon frame.

I have the tournament lite an honestly like it ok it is a good reel an I ain't had a problems out of it  an I currently fish chatterbaits an square bills with it. but in my honest opinion I'd pick up a lews bb1. I like it a whole lot better an I got mine for cheaper than my tournament lite.

[lmlfishing]

Honestly think every fisherman should have a 7' MH rod you can virtually throw almost everything on it. Im a bank fisherman so I will never leave the house without one. 

[Catt]

I'll let everyone else play the name game but here is my opinion of which 3 ya need.

1: Top Water; ya gonna have to pick, one for poppers/stick baits or one for frogs/buzzbaits

2: Mid-depth; ya gonna have to pick, one for spinnerbaits/lipless or cranks

3: Bottom Bouncer; ya can use one rod to cast, flip, pitch, & light punching 

Opps! Ya might need 5 or 6.

[Death metal Fishing]

What rod is better for finesse bass fishing? Im only allowed to carry 2 rods i have my 7ft mh baitcaster. Should i carry a rod thats 6'6 rated 6-14lbs 1/4-5/8oz or a 7ft ul rod thats rated 2-8lbs and 1/8-3/8oz?

[Wbeadlescomb]

Why are you only allowed to carry 2 rods

[d-camarena]

For 3 rods id get

1. Medium heavy- fast 7ft

2. Medium moderate 7 ft

3. Medium light fast 6'8

Covers most tecniques

[Wbeadlescomb]

7 foot crankbait rod

7 foot medium heavy worm/finesse jig rod

7'6 medium heavy like a veritas that's a little more towards a heavy to flip pitch throw a frog or swimbait

[S. Sass]

1 hour ago, Wbeadlescomb said:

7 foot crankbait rod

7 foot medium heavy worm/finesse jig rod

7'6 medium heavy like a veritas that's a little more towards a heavy to flip pitch throw a frog or swimbait

 I'd say a mojo bass would be a decent choice as well on the last medium heavy. I'm not up on the veritas but the mojo rods seem to me to lean a tad to the heavy side as well. But I like it that way. I agree for starter set this will work good.

Don't get so carried away with the 7'2" or 7'3" stuff they push these days. To me 1" 2" or 3" isn't going to make a huge difference. If you start worrying about what every sponsored pro spews you will never have the perfect combination. 7' to me is a decent all around length. So anything close 6'10" to 7'4" or so are good lengths to get distance and have a decent rod to work with. 

Just my .05¢ 

[Wbeadlescomb]

I really liked my MOJO it was a 7'4 frog or swimbait rod. Can't remember what it was exactly called but I swam a jig on it alot. But ended up breaking it on a fish.

 

To the op I'd take the money you were going to spend on the higher end rods and I would go to an academy and get several h20 express mettle reels and h20 express ethos rods. I've got 3 of them and love every one of there rods. I'd put them ahead of my powells. They'll be all I use as I break or retire my other gear.

[Death metal Fishing]

21 hours ago, Wbeadlescomb said:

Why are you only allowed to carry 2 rods

I think its ny law