NavyVet1204 Posted June 5, 2020 Posted June 5, 2020 I am curious as to how many “main” setups you have that you actually use the most. I am trying to figure out the necessary amount of rod and reels I need to have in total for my type(s) of fishing without redundancy. My favorite type of fishing for bass is T-rig, Top water, Crankbait with some spinner baits here and there. Should I Dedicate two setups per type? How do you do it? I know better than to go fishing anywhere with just one single rod and reel And I’m thinking six total rods and reels setup so I can have a back up to each style that I like. This question for most will seem like a no brainer I know. Thanks guys! Quote
Super User MIbassyaker Posted June 5, 2020 Super User Posted June 5, 2020 I bring 5 setups with me at a time on a kayak lake trip (3 for river floats). I think about what presentations I fish the most often, and dedicate one rod to each so I don't have to re-tie. On a typical outing to most places I go, that results in these five "Main" setups, each of which can do some other jobs if needed. A river float usually gets #3, #4, & #5: 1. MH-MF caster for moving baits (spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, chatterbaits, some crankbaits), 2. MH-F caster jigs & t-rigs; pitching and bottom stuff 3. M-XF caster for trebled topwaters and jerkbaits; also lighter weighted plastics, swimbaits, t-rigs, grubs, tubes 4. M-XF spinning for weightless plastics, senkos, flukes; can also do light jerkbaits, shakyheads, grubs, tubes 5. ML-XF spinning for ned rigs, shakyheads, drop-shot, split-shot, sliders, hair jigs, small grubs/tubes/paddletails The most essential for any of my lake trips are probably #2 and #4. For river floats, #4. Then, situationally, I swap out one or more of those, for one or more of these: -a H-F for frogs -a M-M baitcaster for small to medium sized crankbaits -another MH-F baitcaster for a second Jig/t-rig setup, or, really, almost anything else in the 3/8-1oz range -another M-XF baitcaster so I can have one on trebled baits and one on plastics -another M spinning, usually dedicated specifically for shakyheads/jigworms or tubes -another ML spinning, to double-up on light-line stuff, usually dedicate one to a ned rig, one to a drop-shot, slider, or split-shot. 1 Quote
Heartland Posted June 5, 2020 Posted June 5, 2020 55 minutes ago, NavyVet1204 said: I am curious as to how many “main” setups you have that you actually use the most. I am trying to figure out the necessary amount of rod and reels I need to have in total for my type(s) of fishing without redundancy. My favorite type of fishing for bass is T-rig, Top water, Crankbait with some spinner baits here and there. Should I Dedicate two setups per type? How do you do it? I know better than to go fishing anywhere with just one single rod and reel And I’m thinking six total rods and reels setup so I can have a back up to each style that I like. This question for most will seem like a no brainer I know. Thanks guys! I have 25-30 setups that I rotate through depending on what and where I am fishing. Are they all necessary, no. I can tell what kind of day I am typically going to have by the number of rods I have on the deck, more than 5 generally equals a long day. A MH/F a M/F casting and ML/XF spinning rod will cover a bunch of stuff. 2 1 Quote
NavyVet1204 Posted June 5, 2020 Author Posted June 5, 2020 Yeah that’s what I am mostly getting at from your posts and I wasn’t sure what a good amount would be. I only have two baitcasters set up right now(it’s all I got) one for T-Rigs exclusively and the other I try to keep for my top water and cranks and is also the one my wife normally fishes with so I’m constantly changing lures for her when she loses patience from one lure to another. Mainly trying to cut down on having to constantly tie on different stuff while being able to have my dedicated stuff going. Quote
Heartland Posted June 5, 2020 Posted June 5, 2020 1 minute ago, NavyVet1204 said: Yeah that’s what I am mostly getting at from your posts is that I wasn’t sure what a good amount would be. I only have two baitcasters set up right now(it’s all I got) one for T-Rigs exclusively and the other I try to keep for my top water and cranks and is also the one my wife normally fished with so I’m constantly changing lures for her when she loses patience from one lure to another. Mainly trying to cut down on having to constantly tie on different stuff while being able to have my dedicated stuff going. Teach her how to tie a knot..... 2 Quote
NavyVet1204 Posted June 5, 2020 Author Posted June 5, 2020 Just now, Heartland said: Teach her how to tie a knot..... Easier said than done friend. She would rather I do it. 2 Quote
Heartland Posted June 5, 2020 Posted June 5, 2020 30 minutes ago, NavyVet1204 said: Easier said than done friend. She would rather I do it. Not a perfect solution but try a snap swivel 1 1 Quote
NavyVet1204 Posted June 5, 2020 Author Posted June 5, 2020 I will do just that friend. It literally did not cross my mind lol thanks!! 1 Quote
Super User NYWayfarer Posted June 5, 2020 Super User Posted June 5, 2020 45 minutes ago, Heartland said: A MH/F a M/F casting and ML/XF spinning rod will cover a bunch of stuff. That's the three set ups I take bank fishing. I have multiple combos that I switch in and out to make up those three set ups I take on a session. 2 Quote
Matt_3479 Posted June 5, 2020 Posted June 5, 2020 I have 13 set ups I believe, normally have 5 at a time on deck with me just depending on what time of year it changes. I’d say I couldn’t live without 1 spinning, probably my nrx 852s, 4 casting set ups. Frog rod, cranking bait rod, a universal rod and a jig rod. Specially my 884c, 845c, 853c and 894c 1 Quote
AmmoGuy Posted June 5, 2020 Posted June 5, 2020 As far as casting goes... 7' MH/F 6'10" MH/F 7' M/F 7' MH/M Composite A heavy frog/pitching rod will be the next addition. Quote
NJBasstard Posted June 5, 2020 Posted June 5, 2020 I typically carry 5 on the kayak and 2 or 3 when bank fishing. Finnesse spinning Cranking casting Jig casting Frog casting "All purpose" casting 1 Quote
Tizi Posted June 5, 2020 Posted June 5, 2020 I have about 25 combos. 5 of which I keep at home and the rest are at the lakehouse. The 5 at home are used for kayak fishing mostly. The remaining 20 I use boat fishing. When I boat fish, I usually bring 5-6 combos: M/xF, MH/F, H/F, M/F composite, M/F spinning, ML/F spinning. The problem I have, if I want to use one of the 20 rods at the lakehouse, I have to drive there to get them. The 5 I have at home cover 90% of the situations. 1 Quote
NavyVet1204 Posted June 5, 2020 Author Posted June 5, 2020 Thanks guys I think I am getting a better understanding of what I need to do! 1 Quote
Super User new2BC4bass Posted June 5, 2020 Super User Posted June 5, 2020 4 hours ago, NavyVet1204 said: Yeah that’s what I am mostly getting at from your posts and I wasn’t sure what a good amount would be. I only have two baitcasters set up right now(it’s all I got) one for T-Rigs exclusively and the other I try to keep for my top water and cranks and is also the one my wife normally fishes with so I’m constantly changing lures for her when she loses patience from one lure to another. Mainly trying to cut down on having to constantly tie on different stuff while being able to have my dedicated stuff going. Which is why you need a minimum of 5 rods per power and action. Besides.....there are tons of good rods available. Might as well try at least one of each. The Bait Monkey and me be pals. All kidding aside.....I don't like retying if I can avoid it. I'd rather pick up another rod. Of course it sucks if walking the bank because even 2 rods is one more than I like to carry. If fishing from one spot (and there by myself), I will have 8-10 rods in the car. Often only 4 or 5 at most will get used. You are lucky your wife likes to fish with you. Mine doesn't. 1 1 Quote
Super User soflabasser Posted June 5, 2020 Super User Posted June 5, 2020 I have over 20 rod and reel combos and usually bring 1 to 4 combos when bass fishing. Have had great fishing trips when fishing with only 1 rod for the day. 2 Quote
Super User RoLo Posted June 5, 2020 Super User Posted June 5, 2020 How many main setups do you have? Far too many! But admitting that you have a problem, is the first step to a cure. Roger 1 3 Quote
Super User Log Catcher Posted June 5, 2020 Super User Posted June 5, 2020 I have one m/f for crankbaits. One m/h for spinner baits and chatter baits. One m/f for buzz bits and top water poppers and walking baits. Two mh/f for soft plastics. One mh/f for jigs. Two spinning setups for finesse soft plastics. I don't bring all of them when I go. Just the ones I think I will need. I don't like to have more than three setups out on the deck of the boat at a time. 1 Quote
Super User Bird Posted June 6, 2020 Super User Posted June 6, 2020 5 hours ago, MIbassyaker said: I bring 5 setups with me at a time on a kayak lake trip (3 for river floats). I think about what presentations I fish the most often, and dedicate one rod to each so I don't have to re-tie. On a typical outing to most places I go, that results in these five "Main" setups, each of which can do some other jobs if needed. A river float usually gets #3, #4, & #5: 1. MH-MF caster for moving baits (spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, chatterbaits, some crankbaits), 2. MH-F caster jigs & t-rigs; pitching and bottom stuff 3. M-XF caster for trebled topwaters and jerkbaits; also lighter weighted plastics, swimbaits, t-rigs, grubs, tubes 4. M-XF spinning for weightless plastics, senkos, flukes; can also do light jerkbaits, shakyheads, grubs, tubes 5. ML-XF spinning for ned rigs, shakyheads, drop-shot, split-shot, sliders, hair jigs, small grubs/tubes/paddletails The most essential for any of my lake trips are probably #2 and #4. For river floats, #4. Then, situationally, I swap out one or more of those, for one or more of these: -a H-F for frogs -a M-M baitcaster for small to medium sized crankbaits -another MH-F baitcaster for a second Jig/t-rig setup, or, really, almost anything else in the 3/8-1oz range -another M-XF baitcaster so I can have one on trebled baits and one on plastics -another M spinning, usually dedicated specifically for shakyheads/jigworms or tubes -another ML spinning, to double-up on light-line stuff, usually dedicate one to a ned rig, one to a drop-shot, slider, or split-shot. A resemblance of the way I do it. 1 Quote
Super User new2BC4bass Posted June 6, 2020 Super User Posted June 6, 2020 8 minutes ago, RoLo said: How many main setups do you have? Far too many! But admitting that you have a problem, is the first step to a cure. Roger I am at the same place, but haven't admitted I have too many yet. Probably because I've got a ways to go to catch up with you. 2 Quote
NavyVet1204 Posted June 6, 2020 Author Posted June 6, 2020 1 hour ago, new2BC4bass said: Which is why you need a minimum of 5 rods per power and action. Besides.....there are tons of good rods available. Might as well try at least one of each. The Bait Monkey and me be pals. All kidding aside.....I don't like retying if I can avoid it. I'd rather pick up another rod. Of course it sucks if walking the bank because even 2 rods is one more than I like to carry. If fishing from one spot (and there by myself), I will have 8-10 rods in the car. Often only 4 or 5 at most will get used. You are lucky your wife likes to fish with you. Mine doesn't. Yeah I am a huge bank Fisher in my area mostly because I don’t have a kayak yet but I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the walks in the woods to and from the fishing holes. I always carry two baitcasters with me because I learned the hard way why only carrying one is a crap idea. My wife has fished her whole life and enjoys every kind of fishing. She is my best friend and I am thankful that I have her especially when we can share this passion. You may try to baby step your wife into the world of fishing(I’m sure you have tried) because it really is wonderful to share the experience.......even if she is catching all the fish and you aren’t. It also helps out with explaining why I NEED another rod and reel and $200-300 Is how much that is going to cost lol she normally tries to steer me to the cheaper stuff, but she is coming around to the better deals. 57 minutes ago, RoLo said: How many main setups do you have? Far too many! But admitting that you have a problem, is the first step to a cure. Roger I am seeking no cure!! Quote
Super User dodgeguy Posted June 6, 2020 Super User Posted June 6, 2020 6 hours ago, NavyVet1204 said: Easier said than done friend. She would rather I do it. Snaps 1 Quote
Manifestgtr Posted June 6, 2020 Posted June 6, 2020 I have 6, but I could get by with 5 on any given trip and not feel like I’m short. Without getting into the pointlessly personal details (since they’re all just based on my own preferences anyway): -Moving plastics rod (doubles for light topwater) -Bottom contact plastics rod -A heavy “all purpose” jig/chatter rod (the conquest 844c will throw ANY jig in my box...finesse-3/4 oz...seriously, that stupid thing will through a finesse jig like it’s meant for it..) -a senko rod -a frog rod Those are really my go-to, confidence, “I can catch em anywhere or at least go down swingin” setups. Anything beyond that is a bonus as far as I’m concerned 1 Quote
keagbassr Posted June 6, 2020 Posted June 6, 2020 I've got 8 setups but could get by with probably half that. Which ones would depend on the time of year. Quote
Born 2 fish Posted June 6, 2020 Posted June 6, 2020 To many I have a rod for just about every thing I throw. 2 Quote
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