Help filling out the missing (?) rod

[Capriceragtop]

Hey folks, 

I posted recently about gear for a trip, and got a lot of great responses. Due in part to that, I picked up a Curado 71 MGL for light lures, weightless plastics, etc.

 

I planned to marry that to my Ugly Stik Elite medium. However, I got a fair amount of responses, most of which saying I should ditch that rod and get something better.

 

Here's my current collection:

 

6'6 ML with spinning reel: mostly for finesse/Ned/small spinners, etc.

7' M Ugly Stik Elite spinning: poppers, some texas rig, small cranks, jerks.

7' MH Ugly Stik Elite spinning: one of my go-to units. Senko, 10" - 12" weightless worms, small chatterbaits.

 

7'6" Johhny Morris Heavy baitcaster. Got this for big paddle tails, 1/2 - 3/4oz chatterbaits and trailers, etc. 7.4:1 Lew's Tournament MP Speed Spool LFS.

7' M Ugly Stik Elite bait caster. Was my go-to bait caster, but I upgraded to the Johnny Morris, as I wanted more distance on my casts. Planned on putting the Curado 71 MGL on this for lighter lures, weightless soft plastics, etc.

7' MH Ugly Stik Elite bait caster. Planned on making this my frog rod. Still has the labels on it. Returnable. 8.5:1 Lew's Tournament MP Speed Spool LFS.

 

I'm stuck with the first 5 rods. I think I can exchange/return the 7' MH Ugly Stik Elite and use those funds towards something different.

 

If I can only get one rod right now (bait monkey had me get a ton of Nikko and Keitech plastics, as well as hooks, weights, jigs, etc.), what would you suggest? I can hold off on a frog rod, I think, as I've not had much luck with frogs, and I tend to fish more plastics, jigs, chatterbaits, whopper plopper, etc. I have a ton of jerks, rattle traps, cranks, etc., but can't really throw them, as most of my lakes are shallow or netted.

 

Basically, I'm open to suggestions. Swapping reels to different rods, returning, getting a new one, etc. Ultimately, I'd like a baitcaster capable of weightless Texas rig Zoom trick worms (confidence bait), senkos, and lighter cranks, jerks, etc.

 

Tight lines, and stay cool!

[roadwarrior]

7' MH/ Moderate Action for treble hooks.

[Capriceragtop]

@roadwarrior hey, we're neighbors!

 

Would a 7' MH moderate work for weightless plastics and 1/4 - 3/8oz jig/trailers?

[roadwarrior]

No...

Jigs and soft plastics, weighted and weightless, should be fished on a rod with

a firm tip.

[Capriceragtop]

8 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

No...

Jigs and soft plastics, weighted and weightless, should be fished on a rod with

a firm tip.

Sorry for the novice question, but does that mean something like an extra fast?

[roadwarrior]

Some guys like XF, but I prefer just Fast Action.

29 minutes ago, Capriceragtop said:

@roadwarrior hey, we're neighbors!

 

Let's go fishing some time.

[Capriceragtop]

13 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Let's go fishing some time.

I may very well take you up on that!

 

Thanks for the advice. Looks like I may have to see what the Pyramid has with regards to 7' medium heavy fast rods.

[roadwarrior]

Back to your question for what you need to add tot he collection...

7' MH/ Moderate Action for treble hooks.

[Capriceragtop]

21 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Back to your question for what you need to add tot he collection...

7' MH/ Moderate Action for treble hooks.

And a 7' MH fast or extra fast for weightless soft plastics and jigs, correct?

[Fishes in trees]

Sooner or later, you're going to go multi-species, might as well start now.   Those two Ugly Sticks are great catfish rods - save them.   Start dropping by pawn shops on a regular basis.   Sooner or later you'll come across a couple of acceptable quality bait cast reels that will work for catfish.  I prefer the larger sized old Ambassadors, but you might find something different.   Years ago, I found a couple of older Quantum IR4 CW reels.   These were the larger, wide spool versions of the old Quantum Iron series of reels.  As long as you're throwing at least a half a n ounce, these reels work great.   Then you'll be set for bank cat fishing.   (As soon as you get a couple of decent rod holders ). That's what I'd do.

[Capriceragtop]

@Fishes in treesI'll admit: I'm a bit of a pansy with regards to catfish. Love eating em, but I've seen too many fin-gone-wrong videos to actively pursue them. I'm all for crappie, bream/sunfish, etc., though!

 

Funny you should mention the quantum: I've got an older baitcaster with bait clicker. Pretty sure it's a Quantum. I've never used it, and it looks like it'll hold a mile of line. I think it's a 5.4:1, too. Asked here once, and the suggestion was to make that into a crankbait combo.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

If there was one rod budget rod that can do just about anything that I could suggest it would be the 7'2 MH Mod-Fast 13 Omen black.  I bought it for chatterbaits which it does really well and found it has enough tip to fish trebles but its still crisp enough to throw weightless plastics, T rigs even jigs.  Like I said teh tip is soft but as long as you dont mono or really heavy wire hooks you wont have a any issues.  I use 12-17lb fluro on mine and it does really well, you just have to get used to reeling that slack out before you set the hook.  

[Capriceragtop]

@roadwarrior I went a bit crazy at Bass Pro and was hoping you could provide some advice.

 

I picked up two St Croix Premiere rods: a 7' medium power fast action 1/4 - 5/8oz spinning reel, and a 7' medium-heavy fast action 3/8 - 1oz casting rod.

 

My thought process was to use the spinning rod with my Pflueger reel and use that for weightless flukes and trick worms, possibly ned rigs, tubes, and maybe unweighted senkos. Then, I would use the casting rod with my Curado 71 MGL for weightless 10.5 and 12" worms, light jigs, weighted and unweighted senkos, etc.

 

Considering picking up a 7' medium light for a Pflueger 20 reel I've got, and using that for ned and finesse baits.

 

Still need to get that 7' MH moderate for treble hooks, but I may have to out that off a bit and continue using an ugly stick for that.

 

Any input would be greatly appreciated.