Looking for help with rod selection

[xracer4844]

Hello Everyone, I haven't really posted anything before, but I have been reading for a couple of years. I need some help with rod selection. I have finally started buying bass specific gear, and would like a fairly simple multi-rod setup. 

Currently, I have the following rods set up:

Fenwick 6'9" Elite Tech Bass - Medium Heavy/Fast - Shimano Citica 6.3:1 - Spooled with 20lbs Seaguar invizx

Ugly Stick Gx2 7' Medium - Shimano Citica 6.3:1 - spooled with 12lbd Seaguar invizx

Fenwick HMX 6'10 Spinning Medium - Pflueger Patriarch Spinning reel with 10lb braid and fluoro leader

I have been throwing crankbaits with the ugly stick which has been okay, but obviously not ideal. This is a rod I would like to replace. I have also been looking at 2 longer flipping rods. The st.croix mojo bass 7'11 heavy/moderate fast, or the fenwick aetos 7'6 heavy/extra fast. Ideally, for me, and the level that I am at with bass fishing, I think I'd like to make 4 rods work. I am finding that I don't have a stiff enough rod for frogging, punching, flipping etc. I also have a stiff 6 ft rod that I was using for flipping with a Shimano curado bantam reel however I would like to replace this rod, and put the bantam on a heavier rod. 

 

 

[roadwarrior]

 

[WIGuide]

If it were me, it would depend on what technique I was planning to do more. I'm sure you can frog with a 7'11, but it's going to be tougher with a longer rod like that. If you go down to the Mojo Frog and Slop rod it'll make froggin' easier and even though you might lose just a little distance on your flip/pitch it's more of an all around rod. If you mostly flip/pitch/punch you might want to go with the 7'11" instead, but if it's anything around that 60/40 split of flip/pitch/punch to frogin' ratio, I'd be looking at the shorter rod. 

[xracer4844]

Thanks so much for your advice - I think this is the way to go. Would you suggest I purchase the heavy rod first? Or replace the ugly stick?

[fishnkamp]

Lets start with your first question which was what to replace the Ugly stick with. Unfortunately you did not mention your budget but I stay in the price range the Aetos and Mojo are.  Take a look at the Abu Garcia Ike Delay series rod in a 70-5. That is a nice all around crank rod for $150. Also check out the Powell Max3d crankbait series in either the 6'10 or 7 foot. My personal crankbait rod is an Irod GenesisII Rip Rap Special. It is a 7 foot medium they say fast, i would say more moderate but boy does it feel good. I own one Irod (that exact rod) one Powell ( a 6'8 mh for throwing jigs) and an Ike series jerkbait rod.  All of these I can tell you do exactly what they are supposed to do.

 

[fishnkamp]

Now for your heavier rod choices.  The Mojo bass rod is a nice one and so is the Aetos but go here and read the info on Freds Magic stick. That rod is sorta an in between both of the others.  I have several friends with them and they do both frog and flip with it. If you have never had an Irod in your hand they are super sensitive and light weight.  Fred Roumbanis designed several rods including this rod and a spinning rod the IRG713S. My wife fishes that 713s for her frog rod. She can fish with any fresh or salt water spinning combo and even any flyrod but will not touch a baitcaster so that is why we picked that rod for her. http://www.irodfishing.com/category-s/119.htm

[xracer4844]

thanks so much for your response. i will look at the irods!!!