Setups review- less is more?

[Scrapiron]

As I get back into bass fishing, looking for feedback on any 'holes' you see in my lineup. One thing I want to do is limit my rods to 3 (maybe 4)* so looking to get adequate coverage. We fish open water in NC- no weeds, lilys, grass... so no punching, flipping/pitching, frogging.

 

1. CNQ 842s w/Stella FJ 2500

2. CNQ 844c w/Met XG

3. CNQ 905c w/Bantam

 

Toying with getting an 843c and dropping the 905c. Not sure if that gets me anything besides going lighter. For a 'finesse' spinning setup I have a Cashion MedLight 7' spinning w/Luvius 3000LT. I have 14lb Sniper on the Met and 16# Sniper on the Bantam. I most likely will put some 30# braid on the Met to give me more versatility (top water, etc.). 

 

*we have a center console so have places for 13 rods but that leaves a lot of poles standing up (not ideal with 2 or 3 anglers).

[FishTank]

I would pick up a dedicated crankbait rod or two. Something with a Moderate or Moderate-fast taper. Both Loomis and St. Croix have great choices.  Maybe a jerkbait rod. The Conquest you have are great but I prefer a shorter length to work the bait.

[Scrapiron]

Good suggestion! 

 

I do (did) have a CNQ 782c w/Alderbaran that is (was) my favorite. My wife has decided that she prefers that combo to pretty much everything else. She uses it for cranks, topwater, jerkbaits, and has put on a Ned rig on it once or twice. Can't blame her, it's as light as a feather, casts a mile, and has a stout backbone. 

[FishTank]

22 minutes ago, Scrapiron said:

Good suggestion! 

 

I do (did) have a CNQ 782c w/Alderbaran that is (was) my favorite. My wife has decided that she prefers that combo to pretty much everything else. She uses it for cranks, topwater, jerkbaits, and has put on a Ned rig on it once or twice. Can't blame her, it's as light as a feather, casts a mile, and has a stout backbone. 

 

Nice setup. I have the 802C NRX+ and use it for everything you mentioned except crankbaits.  For crankbaits, I have been using the following....a St. Croix Legend Glass M for most everything, a Loomis 903C IMX Pro CBR for square bills and chatterbaits,  and St. Croix Legend Tournament 7'4'' power glass cranker for the bigger stuff. 

 

For jerkbaits,  I would turn to Megabass.  They have figured out on their jerkbait rods how design the tip perfectly for the that bait.  From high end to low end, they are all good.

[Scrapiron]

Ah.. that's what I'm trying to avoid... six or seven rods x2! LOL.

 

Agreed on MB for jerkbaits. We both tried a MB Madbull but neither of us particularly liked it.. too long.  I had thought about a St. Croix glass rod... DT-6 to DT-10 cranks are her favorites to throw.  Just not sure that rod is as versatile as I want it to be if we try to keep it at 6 rods for both of us. We can mix/match of course.

[Wprich]

3 hours ago, Scrapiron said:

As I get back into bass fishing, looking for feedback on any 'holes' you see in my lineup. One thing I want to do is limit my rods to 3 (maybe 4)* so looking to get adequate coverage. We fish open water in NC- no weeds, lilys, grass... so no punching, flipping/pitching, frogging.

 

1. CNQ 842s w/Stella FJ 2500

2. CNQ 844c w/Met XG

3. CNQ 905c w/Bantam

 

Toying with getting an 843c and dropping the 905c. Not sure if that gets me anything besides going lighter. For a 'finesse' spinning setup I have a Cashion MedLight 7' spinning w/Luvius 3000LT. I have 14lb Sniper on the Met and 16# Sniper on the Bantam. I most likely will put some 30# braid on the Met to give me more versatility (top water, etc.). 

 

*we have a center console so have places for 13 rods but that leaves a lot of poles standing up (not ideal with 2 or 3 anglers).

I say pick up a 843C it's a pretty sweet rod in the lineup I have 2 of them myself and use them for all kind of things Texas rigs, jigs, chatterbaits, and spinnerbaits.  

[FishTank]

17 minutes ago, Scrapiron said:

Ah.. that's what I'm trying to avoid... six or seven rods x2! LOL.

 

Agreed on MB for jerkbaits. We both tried a MB Madbull but neither of us particularly liked it.. too long.  I had thought about a St. Croix glass rod... DT-6 to DT-10 cranks are her favorites to throw.  Just not sure that rod is as versatile as I want it to be if we try to keep it at 6 rods for both of us. We can mix/match of course.

I wouldn't like the Madbull either for jerkbaits.  It's too long and the grip is slick. Crankbaits, this rod would be great but it just didn't do it for me when I had it in hand when they came out.  I picked up the St. Croix instead.  

 

Megabass, though, seems to design their rods differently,  in that they don't seem to build them super specific.  They seem to be built to fish whatever but some rods are better at certain techniques. To me this makes them more versatile than most. 

 

Another to take a look at is the Evoluzion Diablo and Diablo Spec L. The Diablo will do all of it. 

[Deleted account]

3 hours ago, Scrapiron said:

Toying with...

Yup.

[Cbump]

I see lots of holes lol. Number 1 being pitching, which does not require grass, weeds, or Lilly pads. But I have 21 combos in the boat so I go way overboard. 

[Scrapiron]

I'll look at the Diablo(s), thanks for the suggestion.

 

843c has been on my radar for a while. If I drop the 905c, I'd need the 844c to handle the bigger stuff. Pitching though, with the 905c... maybe I should try that.

 

Cbump, 21!?! I'd rather have a few nice rigs and fish the heck out of them. Nothing wrong with have a combo for a specific purpose though, I understand.

[RDB]

First thing I would do is upgrade the quality of your gear ?.

 

I would add a MH moderate action rod (something like an Alpha Angler Rebound or ChatterBound).  I am a Loomis fan but would not get a Loomis for moving baits like cranks/spinnerbaits/topwater/etc.  I think there are better rods for those applications for less $ (though the MBR’s are better than the JWR’s for moving IMO).

 

You have listed 2, 4, and 5 power rods and are considering replacing the 5 with a 3.  Based on what you are fishing, I’m not sure you need a 5 power.  If I only wanted 4 rods, I would stick with the 2 power spinning, 3 & 4 casting, and a moderate moving rod.  If only 3, I would go with the 2, 4, and add a different moderate.

 

Edit:  I have the 893 and it’s a great rod but IMO, it’s upper sweet spot range is around 1/2 oz.  The 4 power will give you an overall wider range.

 

Edit 2:  I picked up a JDM Megabass OneTen Stick for jerkbaits and really like it (6’5”).  I think I paid $300 v around $500 in the US.

[Bandersnatch]

On 7/25/2022 at 11:55 AM, Cbump said:

I see lots of holes lol. Number 1 being pitching, which does not require grass, weeds, or Lilly pads. But I have 21 combos in the boat so I go way overboard. 

What’s wrong with pitching on the 844 ?

[Cbump]

1 hour ago, Bandersnatch said:

What’s wrong with pitching on the 844 ?

I didn’t look at what he had, just read that he won’t be pitching. 

[Scrapiron]

Though I want to keep the 905c, in all likely hood the 844c will handle what I throw. Besides the big swim bait and 1oz jigs. 
 

A rod for crankbaits may be next, but the 782c has done alright with cranks and top waters. Also have  a 7’ MedLight Tidemaster that is more like a Med Mod/fast I might try for cranks. Will look at a MH.

 

Great suggestions everyone!