Trying match some rods to reels

[MVC95]

Hey everyone, 

I am new to this forum, but I have been lurking for a while. I am about to purchase a Lew's TP MB in a 7:5:1 retrieve and was wondering what rod I should pair that with. I am trying to only spend as much as $120 on a rod as I am most likely going to purchase a second rod. The rods I have been looking at are the Veritas 2.0, a Fenwick HMG, Tatula, and the 13 *** Black. I am thinking about a rod that is MH as it would be suitable for more techniques. I am really not sure which one to go with and wanted your guys opinions. I have searched for reviews on all of them, but I have seen enough to make me pick on over the other. I really would just like a more sensitive rod than my cheap graphite series by BP. 

As well as that rod, I need one for my Shimano Citica 200 G6 in a 6:5:1 retrieve. That is my all purpose reel so something that will fit that would be great as well.

Any help would be appreciated.

[new2BC4bass]

Tatula 6'10" MHF for $110 at Sportsman's Outfitters would be hard to beat.  I don't have that particular model, but a couple guys on here have said it is their most versatile rod.  Any MHF or MF rod is going to be about as versatile as they come.  I also have a few HMG rods.  I've always felt you get good value with Fenwick.  Might consider the 7' MF HMG as it is rated where a lot of MHF rods are....1/4-34 oz.  I've used a MF plenty of times for trebles before getting a couple dedicated rods for them.  I'd put the Lews on the Tatula and the Citica on the HMG.

No experience with the Veritas 2.  Discussing the other company is frowned upon here...so I won't.  I've never used an HMX.  I believe that is what Bass Turd is referring to.  Maybe he could give us his impressions of that model.

 

BTW......Welcome.  

[Bass Turd]

2 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Tatula 6'10" MHF for $110 at Sportsman's Outfitters would be hard to beat.  I don't have that particular model, but a couple guys on here have said it is their most versatile rod.  Any MHF or MF rod is going to be about as versatile as they come.  I also have a few HMG rods.  I've always felt you get good value with Fenwick.  Might consider the 7' MF HMG as it is rated where a lot of MHF rods are....1/4-34 oz.  I've used a MF plenty of times for trebles before getting a couple dedicated rods for them.  I'd put the Lews on the Tatula and the Citica on the HMG.

No experience with the Veritas 2.  Discussing the other company is frowned upon here...so I won't.  I've never used an HMX.  I believe that is what Bass Turd is referring to.  Maybe he could give us his impressions of that model.

 

BTW......Welcome.  

Sorry.... I don't own an HMX... just pointing out a good deal.

[Poolshark]

Out of the rods you mentioned, I own a veritas. It's a 71/2 ft mhf action rod. It's rated for 3/8 to 1 1/4 ounce weight and is my favorite jig rod. It can be used for t rigs, senkos, small swimbaits, frogs, jigs, big spinnerbaits and light flipping. It's light, balanced casts far and pretty versatile. It's currently my favorite rod.

For the second rod you mentioned I'd get a mh or m moderate. I'd use that for anything with a treble hook. I recently purchased a 73 mm Abu Garcia Ike delay series. This rod has a nice backbone and a very soft tip. It works well for lipless crankbaits, squarebills, spooks, chatterbaits, small spinnerbaits and med diving plugs. 

If I had only two casting rods, these would be it. I could do most of my bass fishing. 

a couple of other great rods in your price range are the st croix mojo and the bass pro carbon lite

Hope that helps. 

Btw, welcome to the forum!! 

 

[fishnkamp]

Poolshark had the system down right. First make sure you own a 6'6 to 7' medium spinning rod. That will handle a ton of baits from unweighted to lightly weighted plastics, worms, creature baits, tubes, grubs, Ned Rigs and even lures like floating Rapala minnows.

Then a baitcasting rod like a 6'9 to 7'3" MH fast action will handle a ton of medium to heavier lures like jigs, spinnerbaits,chatterbaits, tx rigged plastics (1/4 to 3/4) or even up to an ounce weight like a carolina rig may use. All  Abu Garcia rods run a bit heavier than they call them, but their lure and line ratings are very close to correct, so in a Veritas I would look at the Veritas 2 micro series 7 foot medium,  It runs $99 and can often be found cheaper online.  Another super rod to consider here is a Dobyns Fury FR703C. That is a very well built rod for its $110 price.

For your next rod look at several rods that will handle you rattle traps, crankbaits etc, just about anything with a treble hook. My first suggestion is on the lower priced end. This would be a 6'6" Berkley Lightning Shock rod in the medium moderate spec. That rod only costs about $40 but can often be found for less.  Dobyns makes a great rod called a FR 705CB which again costs $110.  And lastly is my favorite. Look at the Irod Genesis II IRG703CC, It called the Gabe's Rip Rap Special and is great for treble baits. It costs $149, so not too much above your budget,

All of the rods I have suggested I own, so I am familiar with how they will fish,  If you set yourself up with rods fitting into these categories you will be able to fish almost anything for bass you want to. You may add another rod down the line, like one specifically for frogs or Punching but you can catch lots of fish with these 3 rods.  If I owned your two reels, and I was spending my money, the Lews 7.5-1 would be on a Dobyns FR703C. It would have 30 pound test Power Pro Spectra braid and I would add a 4 foot leader made of P LIne CXX moss green 10 pound test line.  This would have a 1/2 a spool of 14 pound cheap mono under the braid for backing. Stren original mono in 14 # works great for this.

My other reel would be on an Irod Genesis II IRG703CC (remember this is me spending my money based on my experience with all of the rods I mentioned). This reel would have been filled up with either 12 pound mono or 1/2 a spool of 14 pound Stren mono and the rest with 20 pound Suffix 832 braid.and i would tie directly to the lure. In really clear water  I might add the same leader. 

[JigMaster4]

I had an *** black and have a hmg. I like the hmg more than the ***, plus the hmg has a lifetime warranty.

[MVC95]

I am leaning towards a Dobyns Fury for the main one, but for the second I am still kind of conflicted. I feel like the HMG will be what I go with especially because of the warranty. Anybody have any experience with the guides being of poor quality on the HMGs?

On 10/13/2016 at 10:23 PM, fishnkamp said:

Poolshark had the system down right. First make sure you own a 6'6 to 7' medium spinning rod. That will handle a ton of baits from unweighted to lightly weighted plastics, worms, creature baits, tubes, grubs, Ned Rigs and even lures like floating Rapala minnows.

It's funny you mention the spinning rod, I recently just bought a MLF 6'6" for some shad and lighter tackle bass fishing and I have another 6'6" that is a medium for any other need for spinning. 

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the welcome and all the help. This has been very helpful.