My 3 Combos. Thoughts?

[Scuba Steve]

These are my three front line rod/reel combos. I can cover pretty much every presentation I like to fish. I'm close to two local rivers where I can find smallies, largemouth, pike, muskie, gar, catfish, drum, crappie, and so on. I also have a couple ponds and creeks. I tend to like shorter rods. I've never been one to make the casting distance argument if what I'm throwing is uncomfortable and less accurate (especially when I'm wading). I have a couple older rods and reels that will be turned in at the Bass Pro spring classic this year. I really started buying quality equipment over the last two years (tax return presents). So what I go with, is:

 

1. Casting - St Croix Legend Tournament Bass 6'8 Medium Heavy Fast. Paired with an Abu Garcia Revo X with 30 lb braid.

 

2. Spinning - St Croix Avid 6'6 Medium Fast. Paired with an Abu Garcia Revo X with 10 lb braid to a 6-8 lb flouro leader. 

 

3. Spinning - St Croix Avid 6'6 Medium Light Fast. Paired with a Shimano Stradic 2500. Line choice TBD. 

 

What do you guys think? What should I add next? Anything missing? 

 

Now that the midwest's polar vortex is over, I can't wait to get back out. Thanks for reading!

 

 

[new2BC4bass]

Looks like you've got things pretty well covered with that selection for where you fish.  I'd pick a rod based on which one of your current arsenal gets used the most.

 

Personally i love baitcast reels so I'd be looking at a MF.  But that is just my personal preference.

 

If I were looking for another spinning rod (have more than enough already), I'd like to try a Villain 2.0 or ALX.  I like the couple casting rods I have from them.

[LCG]

Sounds like a pretty good set up to me. I have a similar set up myself. 

 

St Croix Avid X 6'6 Mh-f casting rod, St Croix mojo 6'8 m-xf spinning, and a Fenwick hmg 6'9 ml-f spinning rod (currently on loan to a friend). I am actually finding with the two st Croix rods I can do everything I currently do just fine. I too fish multi species bass, carp, catfish, trout, pike, etc. 

[FCPhil]

A heavy rod (baitcaster) might help you fish heavier cover when needs.

[Scuba Steve]

Awesome, thanks for the replies!

 

I was debating getting a medium fast casting rod, but my medium avid spinning does just fine.

 

I actually bought the 6'6 MHF avid casting and I thought it was way too stiff for its length. I don't know, I didn't really like it. Felt more like a short heavy. Returned it after a few days. 

 

I was actually debating getting a heavy casting as suggested (thick cover, big baits, frogging). I'd go at least 7' for that though. 

[LCG]

It's a stout rod for sure, which is what I wanted for bank fishing, under tress, fishing cover. The avid x hit the mark for comfort, weight, and sensitivity. I am still adjusting to the micro guides though. 

[the reel ess]

A frog combo? Never mind. I see you covered that one.

 

[JK Jake]

It really depends on what else you are going to fish. If you want to fish more heavy stuff (Carolina rig, football jig, frog) I would get a rod that has more backbone. If you're thinking about fishing crankbaits more then I would get a rod with a softer action(I haven't tried them but I heard the bps crankin stick is a good rod and its relatively cheap). It's really just personal preference but I think your set up is pretty good for a lot of techniques.

[Darren.]

Looks like a solid group to me!

[Scuba Steve]

Cool, thanks for the replies guys. I do believe my next set up will be moderate rod for bigger/treble hook baits. There's not really too much slop/lily pads where I live. I only find myself in that situation a couple times a year at best. 

 

Since I do prefer a shorter rod, would a 6'6-6'8 MH moderate casting rod be alright? Honestly I haven't even investigated if that size is an option. 

[bayvalle]

5 hours ago, Scuba Steve said:

Cool, thanks for the replies guys. I do believe my next set up will be moderate rod for bigger/treble hook baits. There's not really too much slop/lily pads where I live. I only find myself in that situation a couple times a year at best. 

 

Since I do prefer a shorter rod, would a 6'6-6'8 MH moderate casting rod be alright? Honestly I haven't even investigated if that size is an option. 

A moderate to moderate-fast action rod would be a good add for crankbaits. If you want to cover more water with each cast you may go a little longer on the rod length.

[Scuba Steve]

Now I've been thinking of adding a 6'6-7' medium fast casting rod. I know its the bread and butter and I don't have one haha. 

[Scuba Steve]

Ok, small little update.

Today I picked up the legend tournament bass in the 6'8 M fast casting. Beautiful rod. I just need a reel for it now.

My thought was to keep the revo x on the medium heavy because its a really tough reel with solid drag. Should I keep the 30 lb braid on that one? It'll be for big buzz baits, ploppers, frogs and such. 

 

I was debating for the new rod, maybe another revo x, or citica or something similar, in a 6:1 ratio? 7:1? What line? 10-15lb braid? 

 

Opinions?

[Speedy22]

Love your rod choices. I just picked up a 7' MHF legend tournament bass and paired it with a curado k 7.3. 

 

I would personally go with a citica, I almost did myself, and I would stick with the 7.1 ratio. And I would say 15# braid should be fine.

[Scuba Steve]

Thanks Speedy. Only reason I didn't get that exact same rod is my preference for shorter rods. My 6'8 version of the one you got is fantastic so I'm positive you'll be happy with yours. 

 

...also saw the Curado K haha. I hate all the options. That reel was pretty slick too. I was thinking of staying 7.1. 

[Boomstick]

If it was me as a non boat owner in local lakes without a lot of access to heavy cover, I would look for a M/F, M/MF or even a MH/MF casting rod to fish crankbaits and jerkbaits with (I would go with 7' to 7'2" for crankbaits, but a jerkbait rod can be a little shorter to help twitch it). A M/F rod can handle most treble hooked baits decently plus can also be used for weightless soft plastics and topwater as well, but last year I was using a MH/F, MH/MF and ML/XF spinning rod and that covered most of the bases pretty well. I have added M/MF and M/XF casting rods for this year, which will allow me to keep more baits pre-rigged. The year before, I was using a M/F spinning rod in place of the MH/MF casting rod for crankbaits.

 

Alternatively, if you do have access to heavy cover, get a H/F rod for frogs and jigs. Fishing heavy cover is a great way to catch bass, the problem is I just don't get to access much heavy cover (and most of it I do is nothing my MH/F can't handle) so I've put off buying a H/F rod although it is the next rod I will pick up, then I can run some 65lb braid on that and run straight flurocarbon on my MH/F rod, which I would prefer.

 

If you are interested in a very light but quality reel, check out the Pflueger Supreme XT. I bought my son one, it's light, holds a good amount of line, very smooth and brakes solidly and casts a mile. I use Tatula SVs myself which are better for light lures as the brake better but sacrificing casting distance.

[Scuba Steve]

I was thinking some sort of moderate will be my next rod, but for now i should be pretty set. Im going to put the 30 pound braid revo x on the MH and it will handle any cover i fish as my strongest rod.

 

So now as a recap, I have:

6’6 ML spinning

6’6 M spinning

6’8 M casting

6’8 MH casting

 

Should cover everything I do! Lets hope.

[FishOnPNW]

Hey Steve, what lures do you use on your 4 setups? 

[Scuba Steve]

Well let me see. This may not be an exhaustive list of my tackle box. 

 

6’6 ML avid spinning - drifting floating flies, 1/16th grubs, trout poppers, vertical jigging walleye, tiny in line spinners.

 

6’6 M avid spinning - this has been my river rod. 1/8-1/4oz texas rigs, #2 and 3 mepps spinners, weightless senkos when pond hopping, 1/8-1/4 bitsy bug jigs.

 

6’8 MH legend tournament casting - has been my bigger river rod. Been throwing 3/8 bitsy bugs, whopper ploppers, and 1/2 spinners.

 

6’8 M legend tournament casting - hasnt been used yet, but the goal is to throw anything in that 3/16-1/2 that moves. Yes I know a moderate action is better for trebles and such but I do a lot of wading so I like being able to completely change presentations on the one rod I have out there with me. On this rod I plan to throw cranks, red eye shads, weighted swimbaits, buzzbaits, jerkbaits and shad raps. 

 

I decided to add the M casting because like everyone on here agrees with, st croixs are a bit stouter and the MH I have is a very strong rod. 

 

[Scuba Steve]

Any thoughts on which line I should put on that medium fast? I think I'm going to get a citica or curado for it. 

[Yumeya]

You are missing ice fishing rods and gear

[Scuba Steve]

Sadly I am aware haha. I have some old stuff that's been getting it done for how infrequently I go. Some day.

[Scuba Steve]

Update: 

 

I ordered a 7.2:1 shimano citica for the 6'8 medium fast LTB. Putting 12 pound mono on it. Should be a dandy set up!