when to use certain lines with certain rods...

[Quarry Man]

last year I only had two casting setups. This year I have many more and have done some experimenting to see what works best for me. On my home lake which is very small, the Chatterbait is typically the best bait to throw. I tried throwing it on a very flimsy 7'1" m mod Crankbaits rod with 12 lb mono that stretches a ton and found that I had very little sensitivity and did not like throwing the Chatterbait on that setup. I later put braid on the reel (15 lb, yeah I know its light) and loved it. It was great for open water but not around cover. 

 

I also tried night fishing a whopper popper 110 with beefy hooks from the bank on a 7'3" H xf rod with 50 lb braid. I had trouble hooking the fish over and over.

 

I think that by using a flimsy rod and stretchy line, I had too little control making it hard to fish, and on the other rod I was ripping out hooks because everything was stiff. My thinking is to use either a stiff rod and stretchy line fo chatterbaits, like a 7' mh xf with 17 lb mono or floro that stretches a lot or flimsy rod with non stretch line like braid. I want to experiment both side by side to see which is better

 

... just me thinking out loud

[CroakHunter]

For the baits you listed I like a rod rated 1/4 up to 1 ounce with something like 20lb seaguar senshi, 15lb big game, or 40lb braid. Just with braid I set my drag a bit lighter and use a sweeping hook set instead of a cross their eyes hook set. 

[mrcimon]

I’ve been fishing for only about 4 months now. But I’m convinced that bass aren’t line shy. Almost all my setups are 40lb braid, with the exception of my frog rod (65) and my 2 finesse rods (10 spinning setup and 15 casting setup).  I have no issues catching fish even into the colder weather now. Water temps are getting down into the 40’s.  I adjust drag as needed to compensate for the lack of give in braid. I get increased sensitivity from the braid, and I’ve never broken line off on a catch.  I do match baits to proper rods. I.E Moderate action for cranks. 

 

With treble baits, at night I find that fish are typically hogs going after the baits and they tend to miss a lot. Trying slowing down your retrieve and see if that helps.  I caught a 6lb the other night on a walking bait. He missed the first time, I let the bait sit for 10 sec and walked it slow and got him. 

[Deleted account]

2 hours ago, Quarry Man said:

last year I only had two casting setups. This year I have many more and have done some experimenting to see what works best for me. On my home lake which is very small, the Chatterbait is typically the best bait to throw. I tried throwing it on a very flimsy 7'1" m mod Crankbaits rod with 12 lb mono that stretches a ton and found that I had very little sensitivity and did not like throwing the Chatterbait on that setup. I later put braid on the reel (15 lb, yeah I know its light) and loved it. It was great for open water but not around cover. 

 

I also tried night fishing a whopper popper 110 with beefy hooks from the bank on a 7'3" H xf rod with 50 lb braid. I had trouble hooking the fish over and over.

 

I think that by using a flimsy rod and stretchy line, I had too little control making it hard to fish, and on the other rod I was ripping out hooks because everything was stiff. My thinking is to use either a stiff rod and stretchy line fo chatterbaits, like a 7' mh xf with 17 lb mono or floro that stretches a lot or flimsy rod with non stretch line like braid. I want to experiment both side by side to see which is better

 

... just me thinking out loud

Very good grasshopper...

[lo n slo]

boy am i ever disappointed, i clicked on here expecting to see a fishing chicken ?

[NHBull]

Thought it was a new lure I needed to get on my Black Friday list ?