Best 2 rods for bank fishing

[Cody Dye]

Hey guys, so I recently purchased two brand new Lews tournament pro reels from academy. I accidentally picked up both in a 7.5:1 gear ratio. It’s no huge deal as academy has a 60 day money back. I was just looking for some opinions on which gear ratio I should take it back in exchange for, the 6.8:1 or 8.3:1. I (by far) fish soft plastics the most often. I normally do fine with my 7.5:1 running 50lb braid but I figure if I’m going to have 3 reels now I definitely don’t need all three on the same ratio. I was just looking for suggestions as to what kind of set up y’all may try for instead. I’d say I fish either jigs or swim baits second most. Also im totally open for suggestions on broadening my approaches. I’m in the Arkansas River valley located near lake Dardanelle. I usually fish weedy areas off the bank but recently purchased a kayak and a flat bottom! If time efficient I’d like a couple benefits on both ratios. I currently have my pair of Lews TP’s running 7.5 and also a Lews xfinity rolling 7.5. The TP’s are both on a 6’6 MH Fast action rod with the xfinity on a 7’MH fast. Also have a Lews spincast medium setup.  Any intel would be awesome (except about how dumb I am for having 3 poles set up the same lol

[WRB]

Spin cast or spinning reel?

Tom

[Finessegenics]

7.5:1 is plenty fast, I see no use for having an 8 speed reel. Though if you absolutely want to change it up I’d definitely go with 6.8:1.  I would keep the reel and get a 7 H/F you can use for frogging and pitching into weeds. If not, a MH/Mod Fast would be great for any moving baits, trebles or not. 

[the reel ess]

Keep the two 7.5:1 reels.

IMO the two best baitcasting rods are a MH/MF for single hook baits and a medium MF for trebles.

 

Length is up to you, but somewhere between 6'6" and 7' would be average.

 

If you just left it open-ended and asked me for the two best bank combos, i would have said a MH BC and a MH spinning would cover the most bases.

 

I know there's a need for Heavy for the frog. But the MH would do in a pinch and you limited it to 2 rods. I use 7 or 8 bass combos and have one dedicated for frog.

[Cody Dye]

2 hours ago, the reel ess said:

Keep the two 7.5:1 reels.

IMO the two best baitcasting rods are a MH/MF for single hook baits and a medium MF for trebles.

 

Length is up to you, but somewhere between 6'6" and 7' would be average.

 

If you just left it open-ended and asked me for the two best bank combos, i would have said a MH BC and a MH spinning would cover the most bases.

 

I know there's a need for Heavy for the frog. But the MH would do in a pinch and you limited it to 2 rods. I use 7 or 8 bass combos and have one dedicated for frog.

I guess I shouldn’t have been so pushy on the 2 rod thing. I just meant as far as changing one of the two reels. My arsenal will remain at 4 rods as of right now, those are just my expensive set ups. I plan to keep my little M spinning set up around as well as the Xfinity (7.5:1) on the 7’H. May I ask what you’d throw on each of the set ups? 

Spinning, my apologies!

[CrankFate]

I agree with the advice that says keep them. I prefer 7 speed reels. In fact, just about every reel I Fish, for every single application has about the same retrieve in inches (about 30). From a 7 speed reel I can slow it down easily. I rarely ever need to speed it up. I have 6 speed reels, but only use them for certain things.

[jimmyjoe]

23 minutes ago, CrankFate said:

I agree with the advice that says keep them. ,,,,,, From a 7 speed reel I can slow it down easily. I rarely ever need to speed it up

   ^^^^^  Best advice in the house. ^^^^^    jj

[RoLo]

 

Far too much emphasis is placed on reel ratio. I'm all for boosting the U.S. economy,

but I seriously doubt that reel ratio ever made the distinction

between a poor and an exceptional angler. If 'all' my reels suddenly became 6:1 ratio,

I'd live happily ever after. 

 

Good choice for bank fishing:  'Short' spinning outfit with 30-lb braid (Leaves the field wide open).

 

Roger

 

 

 

[Teal]

6 minutes ago, RoLo said:

 

Far too much emphasis is placed on reel ratio. Although I'm full bore on greasing the U.S. economy,

I seriously doubt that reel ratio EVER made the distinction between a poor angler and an exceptional angler.

If 'all' my reels suddenly became 6:1 ratio, I wouldn't bat an eye, and would live happily ever after. 

 

My advice for bank fishing is very concise: a 'short' spinning outfit with 30-lb braid (Leaves the field wide open).

 

Roger

 

 

 

Exactly.  It was just a few years ago I was the happy medium.   I just bought 3 reels on a steal of a deal and didn't bat an eye when I saw they were all 6.5:1.   

[the reel ess]

On 5/22/2020 at 3:16 PM, Cody Dye said:

I guess I shouldn’t have been so pushy on the 2 rod thing. I just meant as far as changing one of the two reels. My arsenal will remain at 4 rods as of right now, those are just my expensive set ups. I plan to keep my little M spinning set up around as well as the Xfinity (7.5:1) on the 7’H. May I ask what you’d throw on each of the set ups? 

Spinning, my apologies!

I use the M spinning for light trebles. Sometimes I'll use it for a light topwater like a Pop R. It's perfectly balanced for it.

The MH spinning is for lighter finesse lures. It usually has a weightless Trick Worm tied on. They're both 7 footers.

As for the 7.5:1 reels, I have 4 of them. They're almost the standard speed nowadays.

And no apologies necessary. I got your point.