I'm getting picky in my old age

[Choporoz]

I kayak fish and take eight rods.  I typically have 13 or 14 in my car to choose from when I launch.  And another dozen in the house.  And yet....nearly every time out over the last few months, I have felt that I need a new rod for some application....that I just don't have the right stick for what I'm trying to do.  I think I'm going a little nuts.

 

Here's some specific times where I felt I needed something different:

 

1-  Dragging 3/4 c-rig on sparse (sandy) points maybe 18-23 FOW

2-  Dragging 3/8-5/8 trig big worms same as above...(DX 744C is good, but not quite right...so I leave a jig on it)

3-  1/2 oz traps on points from 8-18 FOW

4-  Putting 3/8-1/2 spinnerbaits and chatterbaits well under docks and overhanging limbs

5-  Long chatterbbait rod for bombing casts across flats and submerging grass 

6-   4 inch paddle tails on 1/4 oz weighted hook, or trig 

7.  - 10 ft squarebills

- Big buzzbaits over mats

 

It could be an expensive off-season if I don't decide not to be so picky.  I have rods that once were fine for these...now none seem right.

 

If you have found the perfect rod for any of those, let me know.....some upcoming sale is going to be ugly....maybe Kistler's current one.  The priority is probably a single graphite rod for 3 and 7.  I've grown to really dislike glass

 

 

 

 

[FishTank]

So two different rod line ups I have tried that I like that are distinctly different.....

 

1. G. Loomis IMX Crankbait rods.....  I have the 903C.  It loads like a graphite rod and is sensitive but it has a soft tip.  It will throw a lipless crank a mile.

 

2. St. Croix Legend Glass > I know you said you did not want a glass rod but this rod is awesome.  It is the perfect crankbait rod.  I have the 7'2'' Med.  It loads perfectly, balances well, hook sets are perfect, its sensitive but not too sensitive, and it just feels right.  I have tried other glass rods and this is the only one that I really liked.   

 

 

[J Francho]

I combine traps and square bills on the same rod. Look for a mod fast or fast, but in a true medium power. Just fast enough to react to weed tops and wood, but still have some flex for good bouncing and deflection. 

[Hook2Jaw]

15 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I combine traps and square bills on the same rod. Look for a mod fast or fast, but in a true medium power. Just fast enough to react to weed tops and wood, but still have some flex for good bouncing and deflection. 

I don't have a mean enough rip with my current shallow cranking rod to clear weeds.  I had hoped this was gonna be the case for me, but I'm in @Choporoz's boat.

 

I keep finding reasons for new rods as well.

[new2BC4bass]

I am surprised you need a reason for a new rod....other than you want one! 

[Shimano_1]

Kinda find myself in similar situations yet I don't have near as many as op does. Seems a couple years ago 4 or 5 combos were plenty.  I think by nature the more we fish and dial in certain techniques,  the more we fish them and find that some things just help in certain situations.  I'm not quite as picky as some but there are certain types of boats that I'm pretty picky about what I use to throw em. Good news is black Friday is coming so should be able to save some $! Good luck

[WRB]

If you don't add back up outfits you can reduce your number of outfits in half.

You only "need" 1 outfit the 1 that is catching bass. I caught hundreds of bass using only 1 outfit for years. 

Spinning outfits are new to bass anglers within the last decade, didn't "need" a spinning outfit for decades. Swimbait rods and reels are also new to bass anglers a decade ago.

So the all around "bass" rod was meduim heavy or4 power fast action casting rod and reel.....for everything! 

My 1st application specific rod was a Fenwick salt water 7' popping rod in 1971 when bass rods were 6' pistol grips. The trigger stick popping rod was ideal for casting deep diving plugs now crankbaits. Softer tip and longer rod made it easy to cast and rarely lost bass next to the boat. Since '71 I carried the crankbait rod with a 5500C reel and 3 bass rods for jigs & worms for everything else. I discovered the popping rod was also a good structure spoon outfit. Slowly we add more and more presentation specific outfits, until I had 15 outfits in my boats locker. 

I sold 20 outfits recently and kept 5 as outfits I feel I need. 3 bass casting rods for jigs & worms and 2 finesse spinning outfits, 1 for drop shot and 1 for slip shot finesse worms. That is all I "need" to catch bass.

Tom

[fishindad]

Regarding the opinion that spinning tackle is “new” to bass guys in the last 10 years, some of the finest bass anglers ever have fished with spinning rods: Billy Westmoreland, Tom Mann, Guido Hibdon, Charlie Brewer, Jerry McKinnis, Al Lindner - over 50 years ago. Most of today’s Elite pros from the Midwest and Canada grew up with spinning rods.
 

To the OP, the Falcon “swim jig” rod (7’2” MH mod fast) is perfect for traps and square bills. 

[WRB]

We were using spinning tackle in the 60's in fact read In Pursuit of Giant Bass by Bill Murohy. My statement is in "general" spinning tackle is new to the average bass sngler the last 10 years. 

If you go back and look at the rods on bass boat decks before 2010 spinning rods were a rare item. Yes, the western anglers used drop shots and the few mid western anglers used spinning outfits not the 99% of southern bass anglers. Al Linder and Tom Mann using spinning tackle in the 70's? You forgot Gary Yamamoto and Dick Trask, western pro's.

Today a spinning out fit is standard on the majority of bass anglers.

Tom

[new2BC4bass]

Started fishing at 5...with a cane pole.  The next year my Dad got me a Mitchell 300.  This was in 1954.  One reel, one rod for everything from sunnies to bass to Northern Pike to catfish.

 

OP, it is just plain fun to try different gear.  I have never justified buying another rod or reel.  Otherwise I would be lucky to have more than three or four.

[J Francho]

Why are spinning reels part of the discussion, and why is everyone waving their junk around?

15 hours ago, Choporoz said:

If you have found the perfect rod for any of those, let me know

This is the question.

[MidwestBassAttack]

I thinned out the heard significantly as I was just like you. Too many setups led to me switching far too often and thus my confidence was no bueno. Now, I keep it simple.

 

a 3 power rod on my spinning rig.

a 4 power rod as my Texas rig, light jig, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, etc.

a 5 power rod which is my frog/top water in the summer, and my 1/2oz+ jig rod in fall/winter.

 

Three setups that pretty much cover all my needs.

[GReb]

11 hours ago, fishindad said:

To the OP, the Falcon “swim jig” rod (7’2” MH mod fast) is perfect for traps and square bills. 

Falcon makes great well rounded sticks due to their taper. If you add a Head Turner and Amistad to either the Swim Jig or Finesse Jig rod you can pretty much throw anything under 1.5 ounces

[scaleface]

 ...and I'm fretting over buying a new reel .

[TnRiver46]

8 minutes ago, scaleface said:

 ...and I'm fretting over buying a new reel .

Haha! 

[Choporoz]

14 hours ago, J Francho said:

I combine traps and square bills on the same rod. Look for a mod fast or fast, but in a true medium power. Just fast enough to react to weed tops and wood, but still have some flex for good bouncing and deflection. 

You said it better than I could have.

 

I use a St Croix Rage 7'1" MF for cranks and traps under 1/2, and it is perfect.  Unfortunately,  it is a bit underpowered for larger baits.

 

I have handled, but not used a Cashion Elite Crankbait rod, and it felt perfect.  If anyone has experience with the C90573B, let me know what you think.  I probably should go and look at current gen St Croix....whatever has 'replaced Rage SC III's

[fishindad]

5 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

You said it better than I could have.

 

I use a St Croix Rage 7'1" MF for cranks and traps under 1/2, and it is perfect.  Unfortunately,  it is a bit underpowered for larger baits.

 

I have handled, but not used a Cashion Elite Crankbait rod, and it felt perfect.  If anyone has experience with the C90573B, let me know what you think.  I probably should go and look at current gen St Croix....whatever has 'replaced Rage SC III's

If you want to stay with St Croix I would agree with FishTank and get the Legend Glass M or MH. You’ll probably need 2 rods since I’m surprised you felt the SC M fast was underpowered. If you’re on a budget then get the Cashion since you’ve had your hands on it (I’ve never fished one but am sure it’s a nice crankin rod).

[J Francho]

17 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I use a St Croix Rage 7'1" MF for cranks and traps under 1/2, and it is perfect.

I'm using a SC LTBC70MF for stuff not quite 3/4.  The SCIV might be a bit more powerful than my Avids (SCIII).  I didn't want to get into brands, but since we're already speaking SC, it makes sense to.

[MAN]

I am finding myself to be the exact opposite. As I am getting older I find myself bringing less and less rods out fishing with me. Now usually using 1 or 2 to do everything.