What gear/tackle do you prefer?

[Paul Roberts]

I almost chose 6'8" to split the middle. Because I use 'em all 5' to 7'10", UL to H. Then again, I'm a wonk.

 

I chose 6ft for three reasons:  

-Culture: I'm an older fart with older tackle.

-Habit: I'm an old fart; Some favorites that are 6fters, and almost always with me. 

-Practical: I still enjoy fishing from the bank, and not afraid to use rabbit tunnels to get where I'm going. So, short rods actually allow me to cast -and accurately- when I'm there.

 

MH for bass, esp LM's, is a no-brainer. It's the middle road. (Then there's all those times I'd wish I had an UL, or a H. Kinda like playing 18holes of golf with one club. I've done it -9 anyway. With a 6-iron. You can do it all with a 6-iron, with handicaps. I said "kinda like" bc there are places in bass fishing that the MH just isn't going to cut it.

 

Hooks: I like to experiment with hooks, esp having been a fly designer/tier. But, a standard wide-gap will cover most bases.

 

A scary thing though... the wider range of rods you own, the wider range of supporting tackle you need. Just like when I was making bows... the more bows you have, the more sets of arrows you need, and that's where the devil, and the work, lies. Pretty soon... that's all you do.?

 

[J Francho]

6 minutes ago, Paul Roberts said:

I almost chose 6'8" to split the middle.

It's funny, I picked 6-8/M because I use this most often, and figured I could adapt other things to it if needed.  I didn't want to sacrifice this rod for what ever advantage length and power gave me.  I would also accept the fact that I would not be able to fish heavy cover.  Pretty sure I could still find biting fish in other areas.  I don't recall what hook I chose.  They all work for me.

[scaleface]

I went with 7 foot med hvy offset . Anything longer than 7 foot wont fit in the bed of my truck .

[WRB]

I choose 7' but I only use 2 rods that length, both crank bait rods, 6 are 6' 10" , 2 are 6'8", 1 is 7'5" , 1 is 7'10" and 3 are 8'. 6'10" wasn't a choice so I went up to 7'.

I went with MH because that represents the majority or 6 of my rods and a good compromise for a 7' rod.

Straight shank hook was easy because that is what I prefer in worm and jig hooks to go along with the 7' MH rod.

Tom

[Log Catcher]

Choice of rod length depends on how you are fishing. Some of us either don't want to stand up and fish out of a boat or are not physically able to stand up and fish. I am one of them. This is why I chose the 6' rods. I didn't even own a 6'6" rod till about 4 years ago. For me casting anything any longer I think would be awkward. Like @Paul Roberts I am also old and have used the short rods all my life. I'm not going to change now.

[Hammer 4]

I chose the 7' rod, mh, and a straight shank hook. Out of all the options this would be the best set up for me.

[Glaucus]

6'8"

M

EWG

 

It would be a spinning rod. I mostly fish rivers and ponds from the bank, wading, or kayaking. This would be best for me. I'd just throw a Senkos, Trick Worms, Ned Rigs, grubs, small cranks, poppers, etc.

[Glaucus]

1 hour ago, Log Catcher said:

Choice of rod length depends on how you are fishing. Some of us either don't want to stand up and fish out of a boat or are not physically able to stand up and fish. I am one of them. This is why I chose the 6' rods. I didn't even own a 6'6" rod till about 4 years ago. For me casting anything any longer I think would be awkward. Like @Paul Roberts I am also old and have used the short rods all my life. I'm not going to change now.

Yeah, same here, guys. Except I'm not an old timer. Most of my rods are 6'6". A few are 7' because it was necessary and couldn't be found shorter. Fishing a 7'+ rod feels very awkward for me and I stand 6' tall. I describe it as a 3rd grader trying to grip and throw an NFL sized football. It just feels bad. I don't know why. Everyone is different. 6'6"-6'10" rods have never been a problem for any technique I've ever fished. Some say that you need a long rod for this or that. Baloney. I don't fish big swimbaits and I could see needing a long rod for that, but that's it.