patx Posted January 6, 2022 Posted January 6, 2022 First post! I could use some help. I just got into bass fishing a few months back and have been loving it. I grew up trout and ocean fishing, but bass fishing is a whole different beast. So far, I've been bank fishing lakes around Austin, TX and doing well enough to keep me coming back. I'm currently fishing spinning gear with finesse presentations - ned rigs, shakeyheads, senkos, small Texas rigs, etc. I bought a few small spinnerbaits but all I've caught with them are trees. I've been interested in adding a baitcaster into the mix for the coming spring/summer. I recently picked up a Shimano Curado MGL 150 after hearing a lot of great things and now I'm trying to pair it up with a nice rod. I fish a lot of highly pressured lakes from the shore. Most of my casts are to the edge of structure (trees, bushes, etc) along the shore or to structure just off shore, like points, bends in the lake, etc. I'm tempted to lean toward a medium, not a medium heavy, fast action rod so I can throw things on the smaller side and get a lot of sensitivity. I'd love to have something versatile for primarily bottom contact baits but also the option to throw something moving so that I can start to learn more about moving baits. Any recommendations/opinions on the rod action and/or brand for this application? My price range is somewhere between $200 and $400. Thanks for the help! Quote
MidwestBassAttack Posted January 6, 2022 Posted January 6, 2022 Tons of options out there but if you are looking for versatility in throwing, a great option would be a Dobyns Champ XP 734. I’m a Falcon guy myself and found the Amistad to be fairly versatile as well. Check out their website for many technique-specific and all-purpose options. Welcome! 1 1 Quote
Reel Posted January 6, 2022 Posted January 6, 2022 The new Curado rods from Shimano would go well with that reel. They are similar to the Zodias but less expensive. A 7 foot medium would be nice with your reel. 1 Quote
Hulkster Posted January 6, 2022 Posted January 6, 2022 I would get the Loomis IMX Pro MBR903C. You will be able to make nice long casts from shore and the taper is a do everything well sort of taper. Its my dream rod lol 1 Quote
EWREX Posted January 6, 2022 Posted January 6, 2022 check out the daiwa tatula elite line. the brent ehrler 7'3 medium heavy all purpose rod might be one of my favorites that i own. i throw weightless plastics, texas rigs, jigs, paddle tails, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits all on this one rod. $180.00 price point you can't beat it 1 1 Quote
Solution Junger Posted January 6, 2022 Solution Posted January 6, 2022 9 hours ago, patx said: Most of my casts are to the edge of structure (trees, bushes, etc) along the shore or to structure just off shore, like points, bends in the lake, etc. I'm tempted to lean toward a medium, not a medium heavy, fast action rod so I can throw things on the smaller side and get a lot of sensitivity. Are you casting in tight spots? If so, you'll be able to make more accurate/better casts in tight spots along the bank with a shorter rod. When bank fishing, I'm casting under overhanging branches, in between thick brush, making backhand casts and more, and it's a lot easier with a 6'6 rod, than a 7'3 rod. If you're in that spot, and you want a shorter do it all rod, check out the Gloomis IMX MBR 783C. 2 1 Quote
Super User fishwizzard Posted January 6, 2022 Super User Posted January 6, 2022 I will second the mbr783c at whatever price point you can swing. The 3-power mbr rods are outstanding and are as close to do-all as you can find. 1 Quote
Super User new2BC4bass Posted January 6, 2022 Super User Posted January 6, 2022 9 hours ago, patx said: First post! I could use some help. I just got into bass fishing a few months back and have been loving it. I grew up trout and ocean fishing, but bass fishing is a whole different beast. So far, I've been bank fishing lakes around Austin, TX and doing well enough to keep me coming back. I'm currently fishing spinning gear with finesse presentations - ned rigs, shakeyheads, senkos, small Texas rigs, etc. I bought a few small spinnerbaits but all I've caught with them are trees. How big were the trees? Quote
Gera Posted January 6, 2022 Posted January 6, 2022 My recommendation is a second combo, you know you want it. Quote
Super User FishTank Posted January 6, 2022 Super User Posted January 6, 2022 A G Loomis IMX Pro 783C. This is a shorter rod, 6'6" and is great for bank fishing. It's rated as a MH but is closer to a Med. You can cast just about anything with it. 1 Quote
patx Posted January 7, 2022 Author Posted January 7, 2022 10 hours ago, new2BC4bass said: How big were the trees? It was a huge bald cypress. Quite literally, day one, minute five of fishing with my first shiny new bass rod I bought a few days back. I've got a weightless senko tied on. I'm unsure if I've rigged correctly it correctly. I see a fish swipe at the surface 15-20 feet in front of me. I think...spinnerbait, obviously. First cast, the thing gets all fowled up while I'm dragging it back. Second cast, I reel it too fast and it skims across the surface. Third cast - into the tree. I bought 4 spinner baits and have only tied that one on. The rest just make one part of my box really colorful and noisy. Quote
patx Posted January 7, 2022 Author Posted January 7, 2022 9 hours ago, Gera said: My recommendation is a second combo, you know you want it. Yeah, coming to that conclusion myself. I'm already planning it. Quote
patx Posted January 7, 2022 Author Posted January 7, 2022 Thanks everyone for all the advice. I went with the IMX Pro 783C MBR. Can't wait for it to arrive. Appreciate the help and answers! 1 Quote
Super User new2BC4bass Posted January 7, 2022 Super User Posted January 7, 2022 8 hours ago, patx said: Thanks everyone for all the advice. I went with the IMX Pro 783C MBR. Can't wait for it to arrive. Appreciate the help and answers! Congrats. Only experience I have with GLoomis rods is an old GL3 9' 8wt fly rod I bought about 25 years ago. GLoomis rods are above my pay scale. Bought the fly rod from a small shop where I was able to make payments on it and the reel. AND the owner gave me free casting lessons every time I stopped by to make a payment. Don't know of a place like that today. Be sure to give us your opinion of the rod once you've got some time with it under your belt. Quote
Chaos10691 Posted January 7, 2022 Posted January 7, 2022 On 1/6/2022 at 6:19 AM, MidwestBassAttack said: Tons of options out there but if you are looking for versatility in throwing, a great option would be a Dobyns Champ XP 734. I’m a Falcon guy myself and found the Amistad to be fairly versatile as well. Check out their website for many technique-specific and all-purpose options. Welcome! Just picked up the Amistad a few days ago and man is it light. Let me ask though I noticed my guides weren’t perfectly in line. I don’t really care aesthetically and it’s not super off. The 2nd eyelet up the rod is about 5-10 degrees off to the left. Does it affect performance at all? If not I’m not going to worry about it for now since they have a good warranty I can use later. Quote
Super User fishwizzard Posted January 7, 2022 Super User Posted January 7, 2022 14 hours ago, patx said: Thanks everyone for all the advice. I went with the IMX Pro 783C MBR. Can't wait for it to arrive. Appreciate the help and answers! Good choice. If it's anything like the older IMX/GLX and new GLX rods, it's going to feel lighter in power then it actually is. Just throw some 12-14lb line on it and fish it for a bit. Quote
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