If you could have only one rod and reel

[David 7]

If you could have only one rod and reel for recreational purposes, what would they be? Mine is a modest Ugly Stick combo, I'm really curious as to what yours would be.

[Bubba 460]

Only one ~ and I had to buy it... I'd have to go with a 7 foot MH Saint Croix spinning rod and Pflueger 9535 Patriarch Spinning Reel. Like the two I have now.

[TheBasslayer]

It would definitely be a spinning combo, and i would get a 7 ft MH rod with a 2500 size spinning reel. No brand loyalties yet!

[MN Fisher]

Agree with the MH Spinning rig - I have a Mitchell Avocet RZT-3000 on an Okuma Reflexions MH/F that's mainly used for jig/spinner skipping but works as a 4th general spinner/chatter/jig/T-Rig combo as well.

[Fishingmickey]

Shimano Bantam on a 7' Kistler Helium 3 MH/F.

[ironbjorn]

Dobyns Sierra 704C paired with a Lew's Tournament Pro in 7.5:1. It can almost do it all.

[MN Fisher]

10 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

Dobyns Sierra 704C paired with a Lew's Tournament Pro in 7.5:1. It can almost do it all.

If we're talking BC - any decent 7.x reel on a 4-power/Fast rod

 

Mine is a Patriarch 7.9 on a Fury 704C

[ironbjorn]

14 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

If we're talking BC - any decent 7.x reel on a 4-power/Fast rod

 

Mine is a Patriarch 7.9 on a Fury 704C

I would specifically choose the Sierra for its more MF action. Just fast enough for Texas Rigs and 3/8oz jigs and just slow enough for treble and moving baits. It's really fantastic. And with that tip you can get away with throwing 1/8-3/16 baits to as heavy as 1/2oz. The Lew's TP throws light baits amazingly well and can flat out chuck heavy baits too. At 7.5:1, the only thing you can't do is deep crank - but square bills are amazing on it. Some would choose a way more expensive rod, but my choice is based on the characteristics of the rod that is truly unique.

 

 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, ironbjorn said:

Some would choose a way more expensive rod, but my choice is based on the characteristics of the rod that is truly unique.

My choice was limited by budgetary constrictions - yes, it's a Patriarch, but I got it used for $70 and the Fury for $87 from Legacy during their sale.

[ironbjorn]

Just now, MN Fisher said:

My choice was limited by budgetary constrictions - yes, it's a Patriarch, but I got it used for $70 and the Fury for $87 from Legacy during their sale.

That's a baaaaaaaaad combo for 150 bucks. Nice finds.

[huZZah]

I had a 6’6” MH fast spinning combo only for years. Caught a lot of fish if all kinds on it. If I only had one it’d still be that. 

[Deephaven]

Out of my sticks it'd be the MHF SC5 Legend Elite blank that is stretched to 7'10" with a Metanium DC on it.  I would just forego finesse and have fun.

[redux]

I'll take my 7'3"heavy Falcon low rider with a Shimano 71 XF and upgraded full ceramic bearings.

[the reel ess]

A MH-MF 7' rod and some light, burner speed reel. This rod can do everything from topwaters to frogs. It's not the perfect tool for either of these extremes, but it covers the most bases everywhere in between. I actually have this combo and I use it for bigger treble lures like the Whopper Plopper, Spook and CC Spot. 

[detroit1]

James?   

[MN Fisher]

15 minutes ago, detroit1 said:

James?   

He's fishing Lake Chickamauga this weekend for a MLF tournament - so probably a bit too busy to be perusing the forum.

[Randy Price]

I was in this position for many years.  A 6'10" St. Croix MXF AVID spinning rod with a 2500 Shimano Stradic reel. I fished with this outfit for many years and never felt like I was missing anything.

[detroit1]

27 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

He's fishing Lake Chickamauga this weekend for a MLF tournament - so probably a bit too busy to be perusing the forum.

Evidently he has been busy all year, his last post was 5 1/2 months ago. Not that i care. I am sure alot of people wished i went away for that long (or longer).  

[Bankbeater]

Years ago I had a mh/F 6'6" spinning combo. I used that rig for everything from bluegill to catfish.

[PressuredFishing]

7 foot medium action spinning rod combo with 8lb mono. can throw topwaters, finesse stuff, light trigs, small swimbaits, finesse jigs, really anything that isnt overkill

[scaleface]

I would go out and buy the best made rod and reel I can find .

 

  As far as combos I already have had it would be a Piscifun Phantom and a 7 foot mh Okuma Epixor . I love that combo . The reel is butter smooth and the rod handles half ounce baits accurately and effortlessly .

[Mike L]

Fenwick Techna AV MH/F

Curado 200E

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[LrgmouthShad]

Whatever it is it has to have a slow reel. I think one of my very first posts on here was about faster reels and since then I’ve flipped 180.

 

7’4ish medium heavy moderate fast action and a slow reel. Cuz I can chuck spinnerbaits with that. 

[Deleted account]

See ya'll in January...

[dodgeguy]

On 6/3/2021 at 6:09 PM, ironbjorn said:

I would specifically choose the Sierra for its more MF action. Just fast enough for Texas Rigs and 3/8oz jigs and just slow enough for treble and moving baits. It's really fantastic. And with that tip you can get away with throwing 1/8-3/16 baits to as heavy as 1/2oz. The Lew's TP throws light baits amazingly well and can flat out chuck heavy baits too. At 7.5:1, the only thing you can't do is deep crank - but square bills are amazing on it. Some would choose a way more expensive rod, but my choice is based on the characteristics of the rod that is truly unique.

 

 

At 7.5 u use the rod to move the crankbait and reel in the slack.