Combos for a new body of water?

[Ryanralston07]

Let's say you looked on Google maps and found a pond where you'll fish from the bank. What combo(s) are you taking, and why? 

 

I always carry with me these three combos:

• Pflueger President spinning reel size 30x, Falcon BuCoo rod 7' m/m, with 20# braid
• Daiwa Tatula CT 7.3:1, BP Johnny Morris Signature Platinum rod 7'1" mh/f, with 40# braid
• BP Carbonlite 2.0 baitcast combo 6.8:1 m/f, 10 lb mono

[NavyToad]

7’ M/H baitcaster because I’m only taking 1 rod if I’m bank fishing.

[ironbjorn]

I'm taking a 6'8" or 7' 4 power Dobyns casting rod, paired with a 6 or 7 ratio reel, spooled with 12lb Big Game or Yo-Zuri Hybrid, and I'll carry a small, lightweight bag.

[galyonj]

Probably the same ones I take everywhere else.

[Ryanralston07]

6 minutes ago, galyonj said:

Probably the same ones I take everywhere else.

Oh, great man of mystery, do tell. ?

[Wprich]

7' MF spinning - light texas rigs

7'1" or 6'10" MXF spinning - wacky rigs

7 MHF casting - chatterbaits maybe jigs

[Mike L]

7’2” MH/F casting w/14# flouro

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[casts_by_fly]

4 hours ago, NavyToad said:

7’ M/H baitcaster because I’m only taking 1 rod if I’m bank fishing.

and the answer in one, though I’d be 6’10” for me.

[Ryanralston07]

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

and the answer in one, though I’d be 6’10” for me.

Why shorter?

[new2BC4bass]

I'd take more than 3, but carry 2 max.  Prefer to walk around with just one.  Nothing is wrong with going back to the car for a different rod.  Shore cover matters.  I've fished where I had to make an underhand flip.  Spinning rod in this case.  Shorter is better in that kind of cover, but I prefer longer if I can get away with using one.  I also prefer casting if at all possible.

 

Limited to 3:

6' ML Berkley Lightning with Penn 430SS and 4# XL.  Can get some line out in almost all cases.  Handles small panfish lures very well.  A fun combo to fish with.

 

Okuma Helios 7' MF handles a wide range of lures and would double for trebles.  Would be hard not to put a Helios Air with 12# AN40 on it.  But I am also very fond of the Primmus Xi HS and TD-Z 105H.  The first 2 reels get very good distance and the 105H isn't too far behind.

 

Lastly a MHF...but which one?    Would go with a Cabela's Prodigy 6'6" if cover dictated a shorter rod.  Daiwa T3 1016 SHL or the blue Patriarch XT would make a good match.  Hard to backlash if where my casting stroke gets abbreviated.

 

Really like the 7' Rainshadow RX7.  Tour S3 or Elite 100H (which DVT is going to try and repair for me) because distance is important to me when fishing from shore.  The RX7 is surprisingly sensitive.

 

If I needed a heavier rod, and could use a long rod, then I like both the Zillion 7'6" HF and the 7'3" HF Falcon Amistad.  If I had to use a shorter rod, then the PT Tour Edition 6'10" HF or 6'6" Prodigy MHF.  I have two of these rods (MHF Prodigy) from different years.  This one is rated 3/8-2 oz. while the previously mentioned one is rated 1/4-1 oz.  My Gen1 STXL has 40# braid and gets very good distance.  A Steez 100HL has 45# braid on it.  An older Trion has 17# mono spooled on it and is paired with the 6'10" Tour Edition and also casts very well.

 

You may have noticed that I put a premium on casting distance from shore.  May not always need it, but nice to have it if you do. 

 

TBH I am surprised I was able to limit my selections this much. 

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, Ryanralston07 said:

Why shorter?

because that’s the rod I have. 
 

in all seriousness, for fishing a generic pond I want to throw 1/4-3/8 oz baits normally, sometimes weightless plastics. Also being in tighter cover usually limits casting a little so a shorter rod is a good thing for me. I fished a 6’6” for years and that works too. I have a great 6’10” that does those things so…

[Jmontgomery87]

6'6"M/MF Spinning - wacky, drop shot, shakey head, some crankbaits, small spinnerbaits

 

7' MH/F Casting - spinnerbaits, Texas rigs, jigs, crankbaits

 

These two and a backpack for tackle cover most of my needs.

[new2BC4bass]

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

because that’s the rod I have.

I've read that the OG Tatula 6'10" MHF makes for a very versatile rod.  I bought one on sale a few years ago and have never used it.  But I can say the same for several other rods and reels.  The fishing is so bad in this area that I quit for 23 years.  I've had a lifetime fishing license and lifetime trout stamp for years, but I got tired of just going out to practice my casting.  I didn't stop buying until this year.  The last gear I purchased was all fly rod rated, and purchased before January.

 

Hoping to retire and move to Florida near my wife's family where I will have a bass fishing buddy, and finally get to put my stuff to good use.

[Eric 26]

I would take my 6’-4” all star light power fast action/BPS carbonlite 2.0 size 1500 spinning reel,4 on test can throw panfish jigs/crappie sized cranks. Second is my 6’-10” Lews Hank Parker speed stick med power fast action/ Daiwa CA80 with 10 lb Suffix Advance Mono. I throw spinner baits and mainly 1/4 oz swim jigs and if I ever grab one I’m positive it will be perfect for mini chatter baits.