Lots of rods vs. Lots of tackle

[bowhunter22]

This is just something that I was thinking about today..

 

Would you rather have a basic selection of tackle (pretty much all the basics covered but only in a couple sizes and colors) and a lot of technique specific rod and reel combos

 

Or...

 

A lot of tackle (every color and size in everything, jigs, cranks, topwater, plastics, etc.) and just a couple rod and reel combos (say 2 combos, one spinning, one casting)

[NHBull]

I don't think it is an all or nothing decision given many of the rod selections available, ie the Loomis MAG series.  Seams 2 or 3 rods could handle the bulk techniques 

[LonnieP]

Both. Lots of tackle and lots of combos. 

[DINK WHISPERER]

4 minutes ago, LonnieP said:

Both. Lots of tackle and lots of combos. 

This^^^

[Dens228]

I think I could get by with limited rods/reels easier than limited lures. 

 

[bowhunter22]

35 minutes ago, NHBull said:

I don't think it is an all or nothing decision given many of the rod selections available, ie the Loomis MAG series.  Seams 2 or 3 rods could handle the bulk techniques 

Exactly, so you would rather have 2 or 3 rods that could handle a variety of techniques and a lot of tackle rather than a lot of rods each for one technique and not so much tackle?

[NHBull]

2 minutes ago, bowhunter22 said:

Exactly, so you would rather have 2 or 3 rods that could handle a variety of techniques and a lot of tackle rather than a lot of rods each for one technique and not so much tackle?

Only if I had to choose......

That said, if I was going to have 3 rods, they would be high end with reels to match

[MassYak85]

Depends what you consider basic tackle, if all I get for worms is a 5" senko and all I get for crankbaits is a squarebill and a deep diver I will take the limited rod selection. But if you give me 3 sizes and 2 colors of all the different types of worms, give me 2 colors of all the different types of crank baits, 2 colors of all the different types of jigs etc, etc, etc...then I'll go basic tackle. 

[MIbassyaker]

I'm having a hard time making sense of the question -- the main reason for lots of rods is that you have lots of different kinds of tackle that require different rods.  No?

 

I mean, I have a bunch of crankbaits of different colors, depths, weights, and shapes. I have one dedicated crankbait rod, plus a few other rods that can be used for crankbaits. I could get another cranking rod and make more effective use of some varieties of crankbait (for instance, I could maybe use a longer and heavier cranking rod than what I currently have for deeper runing crankbaits). But I only need that sort of rod if I have the tackle.

[JustJames]

Each type of lure should have separate setup that why you hear ppl asking all the time for spinnerbait rod, chatterbait rod, topwater rod, whopper plopper rod, lipless crank rod, shallow crank rod, deep diver rod, Senko rod, jig rod, wacky rig rod Ned rig rod, soft swimbait rod, etc..... 

 

[CroakHunter]

Limited tackle for sure for me. I have 2-3 colors of everything and I feel like that's all I need. Natural, black, white. Now that I have expanded my arsenal to 14 rods I sometimes forget how I did it with just 2 or 3

[Raul]

3 hours ago, LonnieP said:

Both. Lots of tackle and lots of combos. 

/ thread

[WIGuide]

I'll go with neither as my answer, I'll balance the two. There's no reason to go all or nothing. I don't need a 2 oz tungsten weight to punch with if I don't have a rod that I can use it with. Conversely, technique specific rods are nice to have for every technique, but what good does a 7'11" XH/whatever do me when I have a don't have anything to throw on it? I would balance mine arsenal and let some rods do double duty. 

[Catt]

Topwater, mid-depth, & bottom contact are the only lure category one needs!

 

It's more important to know where to use em than how many of either!

[Bankbeater]

I would rather have a little of both than a lot of one or the other.

[thinkingredneck]

Fishing from a kayak I can only take a couple rods and a small selection of lures.  But I have a lot to choose from.  However, it is easier to go with fewer rods.

[junyer357]

Im basically going with lots of rods and basic lures now. I have 17 or 18 rods. I have them down to technique specific. I have a dedicated rod for senkos, but i only keep about 4 or 5 colors on hand. I keep only 3 or 4 colors of jigs in diffrent heads and weights. 3 colors of spinnerbaits and a selection of blades. I have a 3700 each for squarebills, 6-10', 10-15', and mag/xdeep cranks. I have 4 cranking rods. I have a frog and topwater rods, and they share a 3700 box. And so on and so forth. 

I like being able to have a rod specifically for what i want to throw, not one that "this will make do". It makes it easier and more enjoyable casting those lures. I could throw squarebills on my mxf worm rod, but my hook up- landing ratio is much better with my med-mod rod. Im at a point where i am slowly upgrading my rods and reels to better ones. As i have expanded to new techniques, i wait and save up to buy the better rod and a nicer reel, because its cheaper in long run to me, rather than spending 80-100 now " to get by with", and then spending 200+ on one later. I wait and save longer to get the good rod to begin with. I spend more on rods far more than reels. Yea a better reel can cast better, but its no good if i cant feel squat with the rod. 

[Team9nine]

I'm the opposite, striving for limited tackle AND limited combos (simplicity)...making progress, but I'm not there yet 

[fishwizzard]

I like having a lot of combos and limited tackle.  I go both ways, where most of my rods are more on the versatile side, with a few oddball technique specfic rods mixed in.  I just picked up what might be the untimate "1/16-1/8oz Inline Spinner Rod" and I am pumped to get a reel sorted out for it.  

 

For lures I try to keep it simple, with only one or two different brands/ colors per different lure type/style.  

[Ratherbfishing]

Assuming the rods/reels aren't purpose built for very strict applications and are flexible in their application, I would much rather have 2 spinning/baitcasting combinations and have a plethora of baits than vice versa.  Sometimes the fish are not that picky but sometimes they are and it's for these latter times that I make my choice.

[bagofdonuts]

i have way too much of both, but just bought a new tatula sv and a st croix rod. its a problem. I think i could go several years and buy nothing but line. 

[WRB]

Having lots of lures in a wide variety of colors and size is a waste of time,  money and energy to buy and use them.

Lures accumulate over time and very few make the cut that you actually use and catch bass with.

Rod & reel combos you do use, again go slowly and learn how to use 1 outfit at a time.

Tom

[Steveo-1969]

Neither.  With where and how I fish, I can (and do) get by with minimal rods and minimal tackle.

[RPreeb]

For me it's going to be trying to put a firm limit on both.  I'm never going to be doing any tournament fishing, strictly for my own pleasure.  I'm retired so I have all the time I need to tie on different lures on a couple of fairly wide range baitcasters and one spinning combo.  I have several 3600's for hard baits and terminal tackle and one 3700 deep for plastics. 

 

I'll be fishing either bank on small ponds, or canoe for larger water, so too much clutter will just be more trouble than it's worth.  This is actually the first full season in my 71 years that I've ever owned more than one rod at a time.

[bowhunter22]

I guess I was more looking for if you had to choose one not what you are currently doing.. obviously you would pick a lot of both..