I Think My Setups Are Complete - Suggestions?

[loudcherokee]

With the purchase of the Tatula Rod yesterday, I think I've finally got all my bases covered. Below is what I have and what I throw on the setups, and I'd like some suggestions/critiques on if I should change anything, throw something on a different rod, etc. One thing I do not have is a rod with an extra fast tip. Do I need to add one, and if so, for what techniques?

7'4" Daiwa Tatula Heavy Fast - Team Lews Gold Magnesium 7.5:1 - 50lb Power Pro - On this setup I throw heavy jigs, C-Rigs, T-Rigs, small swimbaits (under 2oz), Frogs, and I also will use this rod for flipping and pitching heavy cover, mats, etc.

 

7'1" Medium Heavy Fast - Lews Tournament Pro 7.1:1 - 12lb Seaguar Red Label FC - This is my light jig, t-rig, light cover/no cover rod. May occasionally throw a heavier spinnerbait on this rod. This is my first time spooling up with FC instead of just using it as a leader, and man does it feel pretty good once I got the brakes dialed in. That first blow up of the spool was a doozy though, lol. Definitely need some L&L or to get some Tatsu, but I wanted to practice with FC before spending $50 on a spool of Tatsu.

 

7'0" Berkley Lightning Rod Shock Medium Heavy Moderate fast - Lews Tournament MG 6.4:1 - 30lb Power Pro - This is my spinnerbait/buzzbait/chatterbait rod. The tip speed isn't listed on the rod but comparing it to my other rods it feels like a moderate - moderate fast to me. It loads up nicely on spinnerbaits and keeps the fish buttoned on single hook lures.

 

7'0" Medium Moderate Crankbait Rod - Lews BB1 5.1:1 - 14lb Trilene XL - This is my cranking rod. I throw mostly squarebills, lipless cranks, and shallow divers. I do have several deep diving crankbaits or medium diving crankbaits, but seldom am in an area to fish them since I fish off the bank mostly. I also throw top water treble lures like poppers, jitterbugs, etc. along with jerk baits and stick baits. Can this rod be used for deeper diving cranks?

 

7'1" Medium Fast Spinning - Team Lews Pro Goldspin 3000 size - 15lb Yellow Powerpro with a 12lb or 8lb Red Label FC leader - This is my finesse setup, and I mostly throw weightless plastics, wacky rig, drop shot, ned rig, split shot rig, etc. I have some very small rapala minnow sized cranks that I simply cannot cast on a baitcaster to save my life.

 

I think I have most bases covered with these 5 rods. Keep in mind I'm a bank fisher 90% of the time and seldom get the chance to go out on a boat. Can anyone see anything wrong with these setups and offer any suggestions?

 

LC

[fishnkamp]

Nope you have them well thought out and I like your choices for line for each ones purpose. If you were a boat owner I would say you still have the basics covered. I run 12 rods under my deck almost all of the time, but rotate what is there because I fish such varied water.  Here at home I fish the upper Chesapeake Bay which means "shallow" water most of the time.  Lots of docks, lily pads, grass etc, but also includes some deep water such as on road bridges .  Now back on Dale Hollow it was everything but what I fish at home.  No need for the frog or punching rods out there.  In some cases I have 2 rods to do the same job. Perhaps a crankbait that runs 1 to 3 foot deep on one and another rod with one that runs to 6 or 8 foot deep.  This allows me to change depth ranges without re-tieing rigs.  Add a changing tide during your fishing day and adaptable must become a major part of your game plan.

Let me give you a tip on using the "expensive" lines.  I always load some type of quality mono or copolymer line on each of my reels first.  I have and use several left over spools of Suffix elite, the back half of a spool of red label, etc. anything that is good quality but reasonable priced. I even purchased some Bass Pro mono just for this when it was on sale.  I spool the backing line about half way then connect my $30 braid or floro to it using a uni to uni knot. This is an easy knot to tie quickly and goes thru guides well if needed to. Don't laugh, it might need to someday. I had an 18 pound blue cat hit a rattle trap while fishing for rock.  It hit me about 20 feet from the boat while fishing along an island in 15 feet of water. It swam directly under the boat and nearly spooled me before my partner got the trolling motor up and I could work the line around the front of the boat. That 7 foot Irod crankbait rod was completely doubled under the boat, it looked like an UglyStick,   Anyway tie the backing and main line together and spool as needed. Now that expensive braid or floro will fill two reels.  Also if god forbid you have a major foul up it means you only waste half as much line.  I have some backing on my reels that are more than 5 years old and are still fine . I use that same knot to attach my leaders to braid if I am using one. 

 

[loudcherokee]

Yeah I agree on using the backing. I bought a large spool of that cheapo zebco mono to use strictly as backing, and usually connect with a uni-uni or Alberto knot.

For leader I tie the Alberto and I must be getting better at it because it's been forever since I've had a leader knot slip or break. (Quietly knocking on wood)

That first blowup on the FC spool was awful. I didn't even cast. I was setting my spool tension by letting the bait drop. It hit the water and BOOM. I had to strip nearly the entire spool before I stopped seeing loops. It did this again on the first couple of casts but I noticed after a few casts and the line being wet it stopped over spooling.

LC

[buzzed bait]

that all looks good to me man, nice lineup.  as for the deep diving cranks question, i'd probably throw them on the 7'0" Berkley Lightning Rod Shock Medium Heavy Moderate fast if it were me.

[kickerfish1]

Whenever I think I have my arsenal complete, some company has introduce a new rod or reel. Sometimes a great deal shows up somewhere that is too good pass up. My arsenal is probably best described as a work in progress as things change several times a year. Pieces sold and pieces added. Through trial and error along with plenty of research, I will try to find the right combinations that fit for my style and the lakes I fish.

[loudcherokee]

47 minutes ago, kickerfish1 said:

Whenever I think I have my arsenal complete, some company has introduce a new rod or reel. Sometimes a great deal shows up somewhere that is too good pass up. My arsenal is probably best described as a work in progress as things change several times a year. Pieces sold and pieces added. Through trial and error along with plenty of research, I will try to find the right combinations that fit for my style and the lakes I fish.

Yeah I know the feeling. After getting the Team Lews Magnesium I've been thinking of switching all my Lews to the new models so they all have the ACB braking system. It just casts so smooth it's hard to go back to magnetic brakes.

After fishing some more with the MH tonight trying to cast lite worms, I'm thinking of dropping this rod down to medium. It's hard to get alot of casting distance with a 1/8th weighted plastic without fear of having a huge backlash, especially with FC. I know I'm casting below the rods weight specs.

LC

[Jeff H]

1 hour ago, kickerfish1 said:

Whenever I think I have my arsenal complete, some company has introduce a new rod or reel. Sometimes a great deal shows up somewhere that is too good pass up. My arsenal is probably best described as a work in progress as things change several times a year. Pieces sold and pieces added. Through trial and error along with plenty of research, I will try to find the right combinations that fit for my style and the lakes I fish.

In my case, things have been added, nothings been sold....yet. 

[Fisher-O-men]

From what I have experienced with myself and others this "complete arsenal" is a mythical concept.