Verteran Rookie needs advise

[Jacksons6]

My dad and I used to fish when I was young until he became crippled and then later he passed away when I was 13. He helped develop my love for the sport. My mother moved us across the state to a place that didn't have much water. I now live in Byron Center Mi and I'm trying to get into the sport again. I am saving to own a boat one day, but its is difficult with 5 kids.

Since I don't have a boat, I rent one about 3 times a year and do mostly shore fishing in Elk Rapids at the dam. I am trying to puchase some new rods and reels and I could really use some help putting together my arsonal.

Just purchased the SLX DC 150 and pairing it with a Dobyns Fury 7'0 MHF. 

I also just purchased a spinning rod which is a St Croix Avid X 7'0 ML to pair with a spinning reel I have (diawa 2500 I think). This will be my finesse worm rod. 

What else do I need? I think I might needs something a little heavier for a flipping/froggin rod. Thinking about a 7'6 Heavy fast of some kind. 

Am I on the right track? what would you recommend for my next purchase? My complete list of rod and reels are attached. What gaps do you see? 

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give. Much appreciated.

My Fishing Gear List.xlsx

[A-Jay]

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ 

Perhaps fish what you're got.

After a few trips you may be in a better position to know where the gaps are.

Good Luck

A-Jay

[Bluebasser86]

Welcome!

 

I agree with A-jay. Learn the gear you have and see what you like/dislike about it and where you feel you're lacking before trying to fill gaps that may not exist.

[WRB]

Buying tackle can get pricey you but what purchased so far should  allow to catch bass anywhere. 

The Spinning out is perfect for finesse presentations including today's Ned rig.

I am a proponent of a variation of the split shot called finesse C-rig, mojo rig or slip shot rig. Drop shot rig and any jig around 1/8 oz including darter heads and wacky flick shakey, Neko rig ( nail weight ) worm rig etc, etc.

The baitcasting outfit you can use for nearly every presentation within the lure weights recommended on the rod.

As A-Jay suggest go fishing. I suggest go fishing for at least a year before buying more rods or reels.

Sit back and study the sites vedios and articles and try not to get over loaded with too much too soon. You have a lifetime of bass fishing waiting for you.

Tom

 

[jimmyjoe]

   You're getting some excellent advice. Slow down, learn more about your fishing and the gaps you have, and most of all, HAVE FUN.    ?    jj

[whitwolf]

Welcome!

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard!

[Glenn]

Welcome home! We're glad you're here.

[soflabasser]

Welcome to the forum

[Log Catcher]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

[Boomstick]

I largely agree with A-Jay's assessment of just hitting the water, getting to know lake/lakes, what sort of cover you expect and what works. I think you will find what's missing fairly quickly.

 

What might be a better next upgrade might be the Dobyns Fury 704C (Heavy/Fast). That is more of a MH+ rod as Dobyns is maybe a half power down and it's a good rod for spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, weighted soft plastics, paddletail swimbaits, and swim jigs among others. You will use this rod for many presentations and it might be your most used rod in the arsenal. It has a decent tip to it, so you can even fish 1/2oz or lighter pitching jigs as long as the cover isn't too thick. You can even run it with 40lb braid and fish a frog as long as it's not too thick cover -- although personally I would go back to 15 or 17lb flurocarbon once you add a heavy rod with braid (personally I only use braid when I need it, but some people like it for everything so that's just me). Due to not owning a boat and not having access to the real weedy spots, I made do with a similar rod for a few seasons before I added a heavy, but you know your honey holes better than I do too.

 

I will say that I do fish a lot of 3/8oz and sometimes 1/2oz jigs in less weedy situations on a MH+/F rod with 17lb fluorocarbon.

 

Likewise, the Dobyns MH/F is more of a M+ rod. I wouldn't fish more than a 1/8oz weight on a senko on that rod but ideally 1/16oz. I just got a 703C Sierra for my oldest for weightless soft platics, crankbaits, topwater and so forth and it seems like it will be perfect for those presentations. And the Ugly Stik works for crankbaits or jerkbaits in open water (around weeds, use the Dobyns 703C) so you got that covered. I use the 6'9" Avid X spinning rod for my finesse baits with a Daiwa BG 2000, and that's a great rod and you can get bass all year round on a drop shot or ned rig.

I now have so many rods between myself and the boys. They even have a pretty full lineup minus a heavy rod (but I now have two). My logic about adding new gear is pretty simple. I think of where I was fishing, and what couldn't I fish because I didn't have a heavy enough lure or the cover was too thick, and where would I use this rod? My point being if I added a heavy rod two years ago, I wouldn't have known where to fish it. Sorry to ramble, but I hope that was helpful.