What rod and reel combo should I buy next?

[Peter]

So Here’s a list of my current rods:

6’6 medium power fast action casting rod paired with a 6.6:1 gr reel. 

7 ft mh fast casting with a 6.3:1 reel. 

6’6 ml spinning rod. 

Looking to add some more to the arsenal. What should I buy next?

[fishnkamp]

There are a ton of correct and bad answers to this question since you did not mention what you prefer to throw on each of those rods ( at least in general). Lets assume ( and I know that is dangerous) that the following were true.

 

Suppose the 6'6" medium power fast combo throws lighter baits well. Things like 1/4 to 3/8 jigs, texas rigged plastics, even things like 5 inch paddletail swimbaits (like a Keitech or Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper).  Of course it would also fish baits like 1/2 oz or less spinnerbaits and lots more.

 

Suppose the 7ft mh fast rods handle many of the same baits but ones that run up to 3/4.  This one would probably handle some buzzbaits, Pop R type baits as well.

 

Your spinning rod should handle baits like Sencos, floating worms, small light weight tubes, grubs, shakey heads, drop shots. I might prefer to split some of these duties up with a second spinning outfit. It would be a 6'8 to 7 ft medium power fast or extra fast rod.

 

I hope I got close to how each of your rods behave, I did not have any specifics on models or brands to go research.  If I mentioned any baits you do not fish, I suggest you consider adding them to your arsenal as they work all over this country.

Now you never mentioned what state you live in or the type of waters you fish. These factors enter into bait selection and thus proper rod and reel combos.  For example, I grew in Maryland fishing mostly small fresh water rivers, creeks, ponds and small lakes. I never cared about what the bass living in the tidal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay ate.  The bay's rivers include the Susquehanna flats, Middle River, Gun Powder, the Potomac and Eastern Shore rivers like the Choptank, Nanticoke and others. These water were BIG navigable waterways that also have relatively shallow flats choked full of big lily pads, and different grasses. This is hollow bodied frog country, good places to also throw a rat or walk a spook. My fishing waters were much deeper and MUCH clearer. I had no need to own a dedicated frog rod or learn to skip a light bait under a dock. There were none. I now fish all types of waters, from these dingy colored tidal waters to local lakes, to BIG DEEP lakes in Tennessee and Kentucky.  I would never have needed gear to fish baits down 30 or 40 feet down in gin clear, water like I do now that I vacation on those Tn and KY lakes.  I say all this to make you think about your waters and your gear.

 

You could choose a 7' to 7'6" crankbait rod (medium power moderate action) to fish squarebills, small shallow to mid sized crankbaits (down to about 10 foot or so), rattle traps and even some larger deeper running spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. 

Another option was my earlier suggestion of a longer medium power fast or extra fast spinning rod. This would not be my first choice since I think the crankbait rod might be more versatile overall.

If you fish weed choked waters perhaps the crankbait rod is less optimal and a 7' to 7'6" heavy frog/pitching flipping rod would be a good option.

 

I carry 12 baitcasting rods and usually 3 or 4 sinning combos in my rod locker. As you can see I am much farther down the road of specialization, as many of us are, but I remember the days when I bass fished on just one stream and carried 1 rod.  So let us know what you feel your rods do well. How close did I get?  Then tell us what your fishing waters are like and I am certain you will get good suggestions for what to add to your arsenal.  You do not need 1 jig rod, 1 texas rig rod etc, but bottom contact rods usually do well for many bottom contact baits. Crankbait rods basically come in two varieties, the shallow to mid depth ones and the much longer ones that are good for deep divers. That is probably not one for you now.  The more "moderate action" rod is a rod that was designed so it helps you to keep a fish stuck to the treble hook. A faster action rod will tend to react to quickly on the hookset and usually causes the hook to pull more often.