Downsizing Your Arsenal

[new2BC4bass]

4 minutes ago, bunz559 said:

Storage is a pain when dealing with tons of combos, but what's nice is not having to re-rig every time you want a different lure on. Not every rod gets used on every outing but when you want/need it, it's ready to go under the deck. Also, things like equipment failure or when terrible backlashes happen, simply reel in the excess line, put it away, and grab the other rod. You don't have to be a tournament angler to enjoy the convenience of this. I used to hate spending minutes picking out backlashes or re-tieing. 

Nothing wrong with having a half dozen MHF rods already set up with different lures. 

[MN Fisher]

15 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Nothing wrong with having a half dozen MHF rods already set up with different lures. 

Darn it - I got catching up to do. I've only got three...

[Chris186]

Good stuff going here. I guess what made me think about it was last season, I found myself only using 5 or 6 set ups. It was a good pattern year for me, and I don’t really need 20 setups when I’m only throwing say spinnerbaits or crankbaits all day. 

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Darn it - I got catching up to do. I've only got three...

Not many if we are talking how many I carry on an outing.  Imagine I don't carry more than 4 because I will have Mediums and Medium Lights along and occasionally a Heavy.

 

Now if we are talking total number, then you've got a long way to go if all you have is 3 MHFs.    Like I said earlier...I am starting to become a collector.  Now if I can ever afford to retire to Florida, my rods will start seeing a lot more use.

[MN Fisher]

11 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

Not many if we are talking how many I carry on an outing.  Imagine I don't carry more than 4 because I will have Mediums and Medium Lights along and occasionally a Heavy.

I only got so many slots in the canoe rod-racks - 12 to be exact - and my rigs are as follows

BC: 1 Heavy, 3 Medium Heavy, 1 Medium

Spin: 2 Medium, 2 Medium-Light, 1 Ultra-Light

Last two spots are taken by my net and a pole-mounted camera.

 

"She can't take any more, Captain!"

[new2BC4bass]

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I only got so many slots in the canoe rod-racks - 12 to be exact - and my rigs are as follows

BC: 1 Heavy, 3 Medium Heavy, 1 Medium

Spin: 2 Medium, 2 Medium-Light, 1 Ultra-Light

Last two spots are taken by my net and a pole-mounted camera.

 

"She can't take any more, Captain!"

[ww2farmer]

I fish 100+ days a "season" up here

 

I fish 20-30 tournaments a "season".

 

I have 8 rods on my boat.

 

5 casting, 3 spinning.

 

2 Dobyns 735 casting w/ 8:1 Fuego CT's spooled with 50lb braid 

 

2 Dobyns 704 casting w/7.3:1 Fuego CT's spooled with 30lb braid

 

1 Dobyns 703 casting w/a 6.3:1 Fuego CT spooled with 20lb braid

 

1 Dobyns 703 spinning w/ Revros LT 2000 size spooled with 10lb braid

 

2 Dobyns 702 spinning w/Revros LT 2000's spooled with 10lb braid

 

When I jump on a buddies boat, I take one of each for a total of 5 rods.

 

Works for me.

 

The caveat I place on this...is that I fish the same handful of lakes regularly, and have for years....I kinda am semi-set in my ways and "think" I know what I'm doing....sometimes LOL.

 

 

 

 

[newyorktoiowa57]

I have been thinking the same thing.  Last year, I had separate  spinnerbait, chatterbait, and buzzbait rods.  This year, I am going to just use 1 rod for those techniques. 

[MN Fisher]

8 minutes ago, newyorktoiowa57 said:

I have been thinking the same thing.  Last year, I had separate  spinnerbait, chatterbait, and buzzbait rods.  This year, I am going to just use 1 rod for those techniques. 

That's what I do - my 3 MH rods are

1 - Spinnerbait, Chatterbait, Buzzbait

2 - Crankbaits, Topwaters

3 - Jigs, T/C Rigs

[Mr.C in Texas]

I mostly kayak, bank or inshore wade.  I sold off a bunch of rods I either I didn’t like or use often. I like to travel light and narrowed it down to 3 rods for now.  A custom wading ml spinning rod with a stradic ci4+ (weighs 10.4 oz.) for neds/ds/paddle tails/finesse up to 1/2 oz. A Dobyns Champion 703C XP for mid column presentations and finesse jigs. A Dobyns Champion 735C XP for jigs and frogs. I use braid on all three and  switch out the leader depending on the presentation and conditions.  I do have to tie a lot of knots when I fish but I’m at a point I’d rather fish with equipment I like.

[rmcguirk]

I kinda like buying and using new gear.  I also like trying new techniques.  Don't we all?  I really don't want to stick to one thing, even if it would catch me the most fish.  So, if a swimbait is catching a few fish, perhaps a swim jig would catch more, or bigger.  I like to experiment.  But, that doesn't mean I don't use what I think will work based on the time of year and the conditions; I just like to try variations on the theme.   

 

To answer the question, though, once we have ice out around here, I'll probably have the following on the boat for the first several weekends:  1 MHF BC with a lipless, 1 MF BC with a jerkbait, 1 MHF BC with a larger swimbait, 1 MHF BC with a jig, 1 MHF BC with a t-rig, 1 MF spinning with a smaller jerkbait, 1 MF spinning with a smaller swimbait, 1 MF spinning with a wacky senko, and 1 MLF spinning with a ned rig.  So, I guess that's 9 rigs. As the season progresses, baits will come and go from the planned rotation, and I'll add new rods as needed for when the grass comes in heavy. 

 

And some days, particularly if the fishing has been tough, I'll only bring out a couple of confidence baits and throw them all day.

 

OK, I can't wait for my season to start!  

[Fishes in trees]

I'm probably going to start off the season with 14 to 18 rigs on board ready to go