I need all new rods....what to get?

[WRangler506]

I know I need at least rods to cover everything, but I can buy more than 4. What size and power and action would you get and for which fishing techniques? Ive never bought the right rods so this is a chance to buy with a purpose.

 

I like the St Croix rods, mainly Eyecons and Avids or Avid X.

 

I fish smallmouth and walleye (90% of my fishing) . Jigging, drop shotting, casting cranks and plastics, pitching, and rigging.

 

Please help me out and what each rod is needed for.

Thanks!!!

[bigturtle]

What rods do you currently own?

[webertime]

For ME:

Avid or Avid-X

7' MH Fast for the Rigging and Jigs  (light cover pitching)

7' MH Moderate for the cranks

6'10" MLXF for the Drop Shot

7'4" H Fast for the Pitching in heavier stuff.

[WRangler506]

11 minutes ago, bigturtle said:

What rods do you currently own?

None. All were cheap ish, and sold with the old boat.

[basss]

2 minutes ago, WRangler506 said:

None. All were cheap ish, and sold with the old boat.

 

Can't ask for a better reason to start.

 

It depends on how much you want to spend per rod.  I did not want to spend hundreds per rod so most of my rods are from Abu.  I got them on sale.  None over $100.  I have two Veritas, two Veracity, and one Volatile.

[Angry John]

The two current video's on tacticalbassen.com talk about their favorite rods and why they choose them, along with which reel they pair them up with.  I am an enthusiast so I recommend gear that some would never dream of.  I like those setups that cannot be beat, or are unique.  I will give you my thoughts and you can go from there.

 

Jig rod-St Croix legend Elite 7'MHF paired with a Daiwa steez bait caster.  I use 15 lb p-line 100% fluorocarbon on this.

Cranking rod, Dobyns champion 764 RM paired with a Daiwa zillion HLC on 10 or 12 lb YHB.

Dropshot-Dobyns DX 702s with a 2000 Daiwa certate 15lb suffix performance braid with leader. 

jerkbait/squarebill rattle trap rod ST Croix avid casting 66mf daiwa alphas with 10lb YHB

Frog/ swim jig/ punching/ Daiwa Steez xbd or MB xxx perfect pitch with daiwa zillion 7.9 jdream and 65lb suffix performance braid.

 

I think with these 5 setups you can do almost anything you could ever want to do.  Alternatives:

 

You could switch the avid c66mf with the 7 foot medium but I don't know how well you would do with a 7' jerkbait stick. 

You may want a little more power on the spinning rod and want a st Croix legend elite 610 mxf or mlxf.

You may want a cranking rod that will cast the Norman dd22 and the large magnum cranks in which case the rm 805 might work better for you.

You may want a longer rod for punching or swim jigs so a Dobyns dx 795 might be a better choice.

 

[WRangler506]

Ill check each of those out. I prefer spinning setups anywhere possible at this point. Not so much practice yet with casting setups...

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

 

Any of those three are solid rod series.

 

I personally found my 6'3" MXF Avid a tad tip-heavy

with a Stradic 1000 reel. The rod broke and I ended up

doing the Gold upgrade to a 6'3" MLXF Legend Tournament

Walleye rod which balances better, and is absolutely a

fantastic rod for a range of fishing. I use it for everything

I do. The ML fishes closer to other rods' M.

 

FWIW, I'm mostly a soft plastics guy, between wacky and 

drop shot, then TX/mojo. I'll also throw jigs. I use M and ML

spinning rods. I'm one of those guys who is proficient in 

casting, but prefers spinning. Actually down to one casting 

reel with 2 rods to interchange.

 

@J Francho has Eyecons, I believe, he can comment on 

them.

[ww2farmer]

If you like the Eyecon series, want to stick with spinning gear, and fish for smallmouth and walleye most of the time with no need for heavy cover gear....the 6'8" M/XF, and 7' M/L would be a pair of good "all purpose" rods. The M/XF for jigs and plastics, and the ML for dropshoting and small cranks. I had a 6'3" M/XF Eyecon a few years ago, and I liked it a lot...until it met it's demise in with the rod locker lid. I used St Croix's Warranty to replace it with a 6'8" M/XF Mojo (same blank as the Eyecon), and love that rod.

[J Francho]

I like the handles better on the Eyecon spinning rods.  Avid uses a slightly better blank, though, and is a little lighter and slightly more sensitive.  Either choice is not a bad option.

[FishingTheNorth]

since you're a walleye angler and bass fisherman, here's what i'd get:

 

- 6'6 fenwick eagle medium spinning / Pflueger president ( walleye and bass dropshot )

 

- 7'1 abu garcia veritas medium heavy baitcaster/ lew's BB1 speed spool ( flipin n pitchin )

 

- 7'1 fenwick HMG medium baitcaster/ Abu garcia revo s ( crankbaits )

 

- 7'0 cabela's pro guide medium heavy baitcaster / let's american hero speed spool ( beater rod, bring it in the bush and don't worry about scratching it )

 

 

the only thing that breaks the bank is the bb1

[HookRz]

A second mortgage? 

[skno]

St. Croix made in USA rods are a great choice!   

[Choporoz]

 

 

[Sammies77]

I'd check out the new mojo bass rods, you could get 7 instead of 4 avids. I really love my avids though. Also check out the falcon bucoo casting rods. 

[jimf]

I am a big fan of St. Croix rods, I own 2 Avids, 2 Mojo's, a Panfish rod, and a #7 Legend fly rod.  I will be adding another Avid casting rod to the lineup before the season for spinnerbaits.

 

- 6'6" M/F Avid spinning rod doubles as my shaky head rod as well as my go-to rod for walleye jigging.   

- 7' MH/F Avid casting rod is my worm/jig rod.

- 7'4" H/F Mojo I throw frogs and swim baits.

- 7' MH/M Mojo I throw crankbaits on.

 

The Avid's are, in my opinion, the best value in the game.  The Mojo's are good rods, but imo they lack a refinement and sensitivity that you get with Avid.  I'm not going to retire the Mojo's anytime soon, but unless I'm just in a big hurry to fill a gap in the lineup I would personally wait a bit until I could afford to bump up to an Avid.   Going from an Avid to a Legend seems to be much more of a subtle difference, and I've kind of settled in with a philosophy of always fishing with good equipment, even if it isn't the very best.   Avid rods meet that nicely.

 

Also, I have a preference for the full cork handles vs the split grip.   I might be showing my age by saying that, but I'm just not enamored with the split grips.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

[WRangler506]

Thanks for all the feedback guys! The 68 MXF seems like a VERY popular choice. I bought one today in an Avid X.

 

I ordered a 63 M/XF as well but in the legend tournament. I ordered a patriarch 1000 for that, I like the shimanos but figured Id try this one since it was on sale cheap.

 

I appreciate the comment about the Croix ML fishing like another brands Mediums.  I think that may be true, so I plan on ordered a 63MLXF also. Just not sure what model yet, Avid X vs the legend tournament.
 

I am also going to order the Avix X 69ML/XF. Ill put a sahara, saros, or FK on it. Maybe the Stradic FK since I haven't had one yet.

 

I think these rods will cover "most" of what I need, I also just found my Garcia Vigilante 66 ML/moderate with quantum smoke in the basement. The rod was cheap but I actually like it.

 

As for a baitcater for HD brush and junk, Ill keep looking for a M or MH 7 ft ish rod and reel combo on sale somewhere. I don't know if ill use it much, but might be fun to have in the boat just in case.

 

I think Ill be plenty broke after this, but should tell me what rods I REALLY need to have at all times.

 

Any follow up info or suggestions are welcome. Thanks for all the suggestions!

[gall]

I can't rely chime in here but I'm glad I read this I was looking at the ltb in 6'8 and wasn't sure if to get ml or M cause I heard about the power ratings of them so it sounds like my best bet would be the ml

[bigfruits]

i own and have owned these st croix spinning rods. good choice going with st croix. they have a great replacement plan with upgrade option.

 

6'3" ML/XF Avid - small jerkbaits, pop-x

6'6" ML/F LE - ned rig, small inline spinners, small trebles

6'9" ML/XF Avid - DS, ned rig

6'3" M/XF Avid - shakey jig 

6'8" M/XF LE - 1/4oz jigs/t-rig, 5" senko, fat ika

 

as far as st croix ML being like other companies Med, i'd say not so much. the three ML rods above are considerably softer than a loomis medium (2 power).

 

[roadwarrior]

[Sittin there reelin em in]

 Duckett Ghost, Micro Magic, or a T-rex.

 Berkley Lightning rod shock is good for cranks.

 Abu Garcia good starter rod.

 

[Angry John]

On 2/3/2017 at 10:54 PM, WRangler506 said:

Thanks for all the feedback guys! The 68 MXF seems like a VERY popular choice. I bought one today in an Avid X.

 

I ordered a 63 M/XF as well but in the legend tournament. I ordered a patriarch 1000 for that, I like the shimanos but figured Id try this one since it was on sale cheap.

 

I appreciate the comment about the Croix ML fishing like another brands Mediums.  I think that may be true, so I plan on ordered a 63MLXF also. Just not sure what model yet, Avid X vs the legend tournament.
 

I am also going to order the Avix X 69ML/XF. Ill put a sahara, saros, or FK on it. Maybe the Stradic FK since I haven't had one yet.

 

I think these rods will cover "most" of what I need, I also just found my Garcia Vigilante 66 ML/moderate with quantum smoke in the basement. The rod was cheap but I actually like it.

 

As for a baitcater for HD brush and junk, Ill keep looking for a M or MH 7 ft ish rod and reel combo on sale somewhere. I don't know if ill use it much, but might be fun to have in the boat just in case.

 

I think Ill be plenty broke after this, but should tell me what rods I REALLY need to have at all times.

 

Any follow up info or suggestions are welcome. Thanks for all the suggestions!

If your ok with used i have seen a lot of high quality reels on ebay lately.  The 2006 size certate is an amazing reel and would go great with the avid or legend rods for drop shot and shakey heads.   

[Radawg]

 I'm one of those guys who is proficient in 

casting, but prefers spinning. Actually down to one casting 

reel with 2 rods to interchange.

 

Darren,

I have been looking at spinning reels for the past 2 weeks.  Can make up my mind...  I have 2 older Quantum reels and they do a great job, but want to add some new reels. 

I just ordered a Lews TP-1 Speed Stick along with a Lews Tournament Metal Speed Spin Series Spinning Reel, T300.  I'm looking for another setup as well, Diawa BG2500, Quantum Energy PTi30, Shimano Nasci 3000. I might spent the extra $$ if the Shimano Stradic CI4 is that much better then the others?  Want to hook this one up with a St Croix Mojo, Bass X or a Carret Stix M/L.

 

What is your opinion, or anyone else????

 

[lmbfisherman]

2 hours ago, Radawg said:

 I'm one of those guys who is proficient in 

casting, but prefers spinning. Actually down to one casting 

reel with 2 rods to interchange.

 

Darren,

I have been looking at spinning reels for the past 2 weeks.  Can make up my mind...  I have 2 older Quantum reels and they do a great job, but want to add some new reels. 

I just ordered a Lews TP-1 Speed Stick along with a Lews Tournament Metal Speed Spin Series Spinning Reel, T300.  I'm looking for another setup as well, Diawa BG2500, Quantum Energy PTi30, Shimano Nasci 3000. I might spent the extra $$ if the Shimano Stradic CI4 is that much better then the others?  Want to hook this one up with a St Croix Mojo, Bass X or a Carret Stix M/L.

 

What is your opinion, or anyone else????

 

Radawg welcome to the forums.  You will probably get better or more answers if you started your own thread. 

 

Just a quick overview for me, all Shimano spinnings reels have been great for me.  That just my personal experience and they in general will work well.  But for me now, the Stradic is the lowest I will go.  Just because I'm spoiled now like that, after buying my first FJ.  Guess what I'm saying is, if you want to go higher end and be spoiled do it.  If not the NASCI will work fine.

[Radawg]

Thanks for the info Imbfisherman, I will do that.