2nd Rod Advice for various applications (my 1st baitcaster)

[cheezledzul]

**Edited**

Keep in mind Im still new. But I know I need a 2nd rod so at minimum I dont have to cut and tie a new lure every time. I am in no rush to buy but I figured I can start looking and if I happen to find what I want for a good price Ill get it and practice with the baitcaster in my back yard when not fishing. Lakes only, no rivers. I fish from a kayak mostly and from shore every now and then when Im shorter on time.

 

I'm looking for a rod that can pull double maybe triple duty until I can dedicate it to it's best single use. 

Whatever you think would be the next technique in my progression taking my current rod into consideration. 

 

Current Rod: 7' Medium, Fast Taper.

Current Reel: BG 3000 spinning reel w 15lb braid

 

I WILL NOT be buying a 3rd any time soon. Once I buy my 2nd rod I will be done and will focus on "mastering" a few lures at a time. Therefore Im trying to decide on a rod that I can use for all aspects of fishing that I dont use my original rod for. I know its not ideal but thats what Im going with.

 

My local lakes are a max of 50-60 feet deep with an average of probably 15-20ft. The most local and where I am fishing the most at the moment is 35' max in a small area.

I also have access to NYC DEP watersheds which are hundreds of feet deep but Im not worrying too much about that.

 

From what Ive read and def experienced in the last month or so is NY water has very thick vegetation subsurface and above. Even dropoffs have a good amount of hydrilla.

 

My thought process is I can use my rod for mostly any softbait, finesse, and maybe topwater fishing.

The new rod will need to pull double duty until I can afford my 3rd, 4th, 5th rod. Then it will become a dedicated __ rod. For example: frogging and cranking mostly, maybe topwater. Not sure exactly how I want to work this out but you get the idea.

 

Id like to keep it around 7ft just because of transportation.

 

Medium heavy or heavy casting rod ideal?

Is 7:1 good for these purposes?

It appears most people use floro or mono on baitcasters? Not braid?

 

Any specific suggestions on specific models of reels? I love my Daiwa spinning reel and would like something along the same lines. Smooth and very reliable/durable. The extra weight isnt the biggest deal to me.

Since my current rod is for soft plastics do I need an expensive/sensitive rod?

Pretty much everything else you'll see the hit or feel it get heavy pretty easily right?

I would also like to keep warranties in mind. A big reason I bought my rod from star rods is the great lifetime warranty they have.

 

Also trying to decide between getting a KastKing Assassin which has very good reviews for only $55 or spending more for something like the Tatula for $130-$200. I would like to keep everything at about $200 but it seems baitcasting reels are more expensive then spinning rods. I can always wait and save more money or spend less on a rod and more on the reel.

 

Sorry for yet again posting an essay long question. I figured I should provide as much information as I can so itll be easier for you all to provide a more specific answer.

 

Tight lines!

[Lead Head]

Since your trying to keep the price down, look into the diawa fuego ct. Plenty of threads about it here and you can get it from eBay in the $50 range when sales are running. I hear good things about Kastking but havent personally used one. The fuego will give you an aluminum frame and has several speeds to chose from if that stuff matters to you.

 

 

As far as rods go, I'll let others guide you. I'm not very rod savvy but I will note that a combo frog/crank rod will be a tough one to find. 

 

Good luck staying at just one baitcaster. I swear the want for more is a sickness... in me anyway.

[cheezledzul]

24 minutes ago, Lead Head said:

As far as rods go, I'll let others guide you. I'm not very rod savvy but I will note that a combo frog/crank rod will be a tough one to find. 

 

Good luck staying at just one baitcaster. I swear the want for more is a sickness... in me anyway.

I know it wont be my last rod. Without a doubt I'll be buying more rods.

Just the last one for a little while and I have to do my best to stick to that. Which is why I'm hoping someone can guide me towards the right rod characteristics to handle cranking and frogging. It dosnt have to be perfect. I think I understand what a crank rod should be but not about frogging.  If a crank rod can be used for frogging and whatever else than that's what I want till I can afford more rods. 

 

Basically if you can only own 2 rods for bassin what would they be? Since I have a rod already what would your 2nd one be?

[Lead Head]

I personally would be looking at either a MH that runs on the stiffer side (I hear Abu veritas) or a heavy that runs on the softer side (dobyns fury). I'm no rod guru but that's where my head would be at for what your wanting. Those rods paired with either the Kastking or fuego should keep you right at or just below the $200 price point.

 

For frogging your going to want braid. I've heard of people doing it with mono or floro but I can tell you from personal experience that braid is a FAR better choice, especially since your trying to fudge your rod on the softer side of what a "traditional" frog rod usually is. The problem is, braid plus a fast taper on a stiff rod isn't conducive to crankbait fishing. Just like stretchy line plus a moderate taper on a more parabolic rod isn't conducive to frog fishing. It's a tough combo to come up with. 

 

Personally, with my limited rod experience, if I had to go get a rod for those techniques I would get the heavy dobyns and make it a dedicated jig rod on down the road. Maybe some of the bank guys will chime in, they tend to get the most out of their rods and will have far more experience than me at double duty rods.

[cheezledzul]

Alright so I finally had time to do some sufficient reading. I realized I mixed up some info. 

I need a 2nd rod and would like one that could do double or triple duty. Based off of what I currently have I figured the natural progression would be cranking and froggin. But since cranks need medium or medium-fast action while frogging is fast at the minimum. 

 

So I guess a better question is what should my next/2nd rod, a baitcaster, be for if used for double duty? Remembering to consider I already have a 7ft medium fast with braid. 

 

Eventually when I buy more rods it will become a dedicated rod but for now I need multiple uses if possible. Dosnt have to be a perfect match for both techniques. 

[Lead Head]

When it's too cold for frogs I use my frog rod for jigs or heavy weighted plastics. 

[CroakHunter]

I would suggest a 664 or 704 dobyns fury with 30-40lb braid. Its not going to do One thing amazing but it will do a lot of things decent enough to get you by. The fury's run a little softer (power) and a little slower (action) than rated. With the rods I listed above you could throw squarebills, medium divers, and lipless cranks decently. Texas rigs, jigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and topwater it will do very good with. Hollow body frogs and soft body frogs it will be good enough. Especially with using braid. For a reel I would suggest a fuego ct in a 7 gear ratio.