One rod to rule them all.

[Fisher8729]

Hi, I am a casual fisherman who spends a decent amount of time on the water. I’m looking for a single rod that can do just about everything. What would the specifications of said rod be? Do I want medium power? Fast action? Help. 

[matbellon3]

A 7'-7'3" Medium Heavy fast action rod is usually considered to be an all purpose rod. It can really be used to do anything, except for the extremes of finesse and swimbaits. 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

No such thing

[NittyGrittyBoy]

My reply is vague, but you OP says you spend a decent amount of time on the water. Well what rods do you already have and fish with? 

 

LMB, SMB? Boat, bank? Spinning, casting? Few more details will help to have a more specific answer

 

No matter what, trying to have a all around rod will always be a compromise somewhere.

[J.Vincent]

Having just one fishing rod is similar to a Golfer trying to compete with only a Driver. It’s possible but not ideal. I recommend a 6ft10 Medium Fast Spinning Rod and a 7ft Medium Heavy Fast Casting Rod. There are a lot of bases you can cover with those two rods . 

[Kidflex]

If I had to choose only 1 rod to fish with it would be a gloomis glx 844mbr. Not much this rod can’t do well. 

[LCG]

Spinning rod - 7ft, medium power, fast action 

 

Casting rod - 7ft, medium heavy, fast action 

[Catt]

6' 10"-7' medium heavy fast or extra fast ?

[Dens228]

If you only bring one, MH/Fast.

 

I bring six on my kayak and three are MH/Fast.

[Brad Reid]

Jack of all trades, master of none? Likely the general consensus would be 7 footer, M power for a spinning rod, MH power for a casting rod.

 

For fishing out of a kayak or canoe where I can closely approach my targets? If I could only take a single rod out, it'd be my 5'6" M powered St. Croix spinning rod. 

 

Brad

[Junger]

5 hours ago, Kidflex said:

If I had to choose only 1 rod to fish with it would be a gloomis glx 844mbr. Not much this rod can’t do well. 

Very good rod, but I like the Daiwa Tatula 7' M/MH AGS a little better. It can throw a 1/8oz + TRD with a SV spool fairly easily and also handle the heavier range lures.

[fishwizzard]

5 hours ago, Kidflex said:

If I had to choose only 1 rod to fish with it would be a gloomis glx 844mbr. Not much this rod can’t do well. 

I counter with the 783mbr.  I have been using one for a season or two now and I have yet to find a presentation (within it's weight range) that it doesn't do reasonably well or better.  Usually better.  

 

I do think it comes down to the conditions one fishes in.  I can get away with the 783mbr as my bank fishing doesn't involve a lot of cover most of the time.  If it was reversed I would reach for the 884mbr a lot more often.  

[Hulkster]

i have the Loomis E6X MBR 903c which is the 7'6 MBR taper rod, MH Fast action and I love it.

 

the extra length combined with the MBR taper is awesome. 

[813basstard]

5 hours ago, Catt said:

6' 10"-7' medium heavy fast or extra fast ?

^. Yeah, this.

[tim_kovar]

g loomis 844

[lmbfisherman]

8 hours ago, Kidflex said:

If I had to choose only 1 rod to fish with it would be a gloomis glx 844mbr. Not much this rod can’t do well. 

I think the 843 MBR falls in the same boat, if you can get a rod with this type of performance it would be a great all around rod.  I have this in the IMX and E6X.  

 

[gilkeybr]

8 hours ago, J.Vincent said:

Having just one fishing rod is similar to a Golfer trying to compete with only a Driver. It’s possible but not ideal.

Sometimes I wonder how much good those clubs are actually doing me as I spray them all over the course.  I think there are days I could shoot within a couple shots of my best score if I just had my 7-iron and a putter.

 

A 7' MH/F casting rod is like my 7-iron. 

And I agree with the other people who said make it a 7' M/F if you're fishing a spinning rod.

[Yumeya]

Gloomis Medium.

 

I love the GLX 842 

[WRB]

18 hours ago, Fisher8729 said:

Hi, I am a casual fisherman who spends a decent amount of time on the water. I’m looking for a single rod that can do just about everything. What would the specifications of said rod be? Do I want medium power? Fast action? Help. 

Bait casting or spinning and budget??

Tom

[MassYak85]

Plain and simple the rod you're looking for doesn't exist. That being said if I could only own one rod it would be a 7' MHF casting rod with 40lb braid. It will do okay with 90% of baits but the far upper and lower end of stuff will be eliminated basically. Your true heavy cover techniques like heavy frogging and punching are out, and on the lighter end like tiny jerkbaits, ned rigs, drop shots you won't be casting them very far and will need to significantly back off on your drag to avoid bending out hooks. 

[islandbass]

Power: Medium Heavy

Action: Fast

Length: Anywhere between 6'6" to 7'3" (I'd go with 7')

 

As already mentioned compromises are made the closer you move toward finesse and the other end, heavy jigs and swimbaits.

 

I don't get into companies however. Dodge, Ford? Whateva, I'm stuck with a rice rocket, lol.

 

 

PS I am of Asian/Pac. Island heritage, so there shouldn't be anything racist in my last sentence. 

[Manly Studson]

I think you’ll need two rods, but if you want just one, then a rod that is light enough to throw 1/4 oz lures and is strong enough to horse a bass through moderately thick cover seems like a good choice. Some GLoomis med/heavy rods and a few St. Croix medium power rods have this capability. I’m sure that there are other brands.

[d-camarena]

Im thinking a modfast taper medium heavy, the modfast taper helps it cast smaller lure and the medium fast power helps it in heavy cover. Out of all the rods if used the most versatile was falcon bucoo modfast medium heavy. That rod could do anything, it sadly broke after being stepped on

[FishTank]

...If I had to pick one,  G. Loomis 6'6'' MH Fast 783C GLX but an alternative St.Croix Avid 7' MH Fast (way less sensitive but it covers everything). 

 

 

[LionHeart]

8 hours ago, d-camarena said:

Im thinking a modfast taper medium heavy, the modfast taper helps it cast smaller lure and the medium fast power helps it in heavy cover. Out of all the rods if used the most versatile was falcon bucoo modfast medium heavy. That rod could do anything, it sadly broke after being stepped on

Was thinking same thing.  That is a very versatile rod for just about everything up to 1/2 oz.