Most complimentary/versatile baits for two rods?

[StrikePrince]

Hi all-

 

I'm a kayak fisherman and fish primarily I have two rods, two MH 7', one baitcasting, one spinning.  I'm trying to think of a two rod combo that, together, would be the most versatile, and allow me to cover most situations.

 

I'm thinking having a 3/8 oz arky head on the baitcaster is a definite.  I'd change trailer(paddle tail, rage craw, chunk for less action) depending on if I wanted to swim it or bottom hop it.  Just this bait would allow me to cover most of the water column.  

 

On the spinning rig, I'm thinking having a 2 or 3/0 worm hook tied on would be a good option.  I'd be able to use senkos for more finicky fish but also other plastics, although I'm not too familiar with throwing other baits besides senkos weightless.  What other options are there?  I've used trick worms to some success.  What other baits can be fished on a weightless worm hook?

 

Or, what other options might there be for the spinning rod?  I would also use this rod for topwater should the opportunity for that come up.

 

 

[Raul]

If you make that spinning rod M/F you can fish crankbaits with it.

[islandbass]

As Raul said, and other treble hook lures, eg, spooks, poppers, inline spinners, spoons, etc. This would definitely add to your arsenal.

[JustJames]

With 3/0 EWG hook, you can fish Fluke style bait and Fat ika or other soft plastic swimbait.

I like Fluke style bait myself and always have one tie on when I'm on kayak. With Fluke you can fish, top water, sub surface, water column and bottom hopping.

[bagofdonuts]

Just two is tough, but I can't imagine fishing this time of year without one of them being a texas rigged worm.

[Burtonxj]

X2 on flukes for the spinning rod..smaller poppers..speed craws.

 

If it's even a possibility id probably go lighter on the spinning rod..maybe a MLXF so you can fish weightless plastics and maybe some drop shot / Ned rig stuff. This rod also throws the above mentioned baits well (imo).

[scaleface]

I would have a Texas rigged worm and a ----- ----- .

[dwardmba]

54 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I would have a Texas rigged worm and a ----- ----- .

and a squarebill.

[OkobojiEagle]

I always have a spinnerbait tied and ready to throw.  Tied to the spinning rod would be a fluke, grub, suspending jerkbait or top water bait depending on water conditions.

 

 

oe

[thinkingredneck]

I also fish from a kayak with two rods.  My go-to is a mh bc with braid and usually a hybrid leader w Tx rig plastic.  My second rod is all over the place.  Sometimes a spinning rod, sometimes a second BC.  Cannot settle on one.  I generally only get to go for a couple hrs after work, so taking a bunch of stuff is fruitless.  Trying to learn hard baits.  Slow progress.

[NYWayfarer]

I am in the same boat (pun intended) as you. Kayak fisherman with 2 rods. I bring a baitcaster spooled with 12lb line on a Med/Hvy fast action rod and a spinning reel spooled with 8lb fluoro on a Med/Light fast action rod.

 

I take a small assortment of baits for each rod as follows:

 

Baitcaster:

 

Topwater (Whopper Plopper, Hula Popper and Jitterbug)

Large tubes

Assorted worms in the 5" size for wacky, Texas, Carolina and shaky head rigging

Creature baits for punching 

Large flukes

Crankbaits 6 to 10' divers

 

Spinning:

 

Small tubes

Ned Rig

Dropshot baits

Small flukes

 

Changing out baits is pretty quick and hasn't been an issue for me. It has made me tie a better, faster knot.

[StrikePrince]

Thanks all.  I think I'm going to replace my MH/F spinning rod with a M/F one for topwater, crank, weightless plastics liek flukes and senkos, and other finesse applications like drop shot and mojo rigs.

 

Thanks again.