What technique should be your best rod

[ETnbasser]

I was involved in a conversation this weekend regarding what technique should be your absolute best/most expensive rod. I was completely shutdown when I suggested it should be the technique that you a) fish most frequently and b) enjoy the most. The general consensus was it should ALWAYS be bottom contact!! I said “ what if I don’t fish jigs or t-rig as much?” They said doesn’t matter, should still be your best rod hands down. I had to walk away on that note. I always see statements in forums saying “don’t spend money on a spinnerbait rod, or a topwater rod, or jerkbait etc” Well if one fished one of these techniques 70% of the time because one enjoyed it why shouldn’t they get the best rod they could for that technique? 
So, what technique is YOUR best rod? Not interested in what specific rod, but what technique. 
Most of my rods are approximately the same cost but I am looking into higher end for spinnerbaits, topwater and crankbaits because that’s what I fish most. 
 

[roadwarrior]

Better equipment does NOT necessarily equate to better results, but it's

more fun to fish!  I suggest spending money on the stuff you fish the most.

[Darth-Baiter]

I think I would drop better coin on a technique that wears me out physically.  like punching.  elbows hurt, wrists gets sore.  helps to have a lighter rod to help fish longer.  I think in general, light equals more money.

 

punching and flipping takes a good stout rod with great sensitivity, and it should be great in the ergonomic department as well. 

 

my favorite well most common tech is drop shot.  I dont need a high end setup for that.  and I dont have it.   my go to drop shot is very vanilla and middle of the road as far as "good".  

[Mobasser]

The reason most guys will say bottom contact is because of strike detection. You can usually tell quickly when you've got a strike on a lipless or spinnerbait. I'd say get what works best for your style of fishing.

[ETnbasser]

Thanks RW Exactly!!! I feel like the best thing expensive rods is weight, or lack thereof. If i, not getting any younger, can fish longer without fatiguing then it’s worth it to me. But if I could find the perfect rod for $50 I’d buy it.

[Deleted account]

One should use the rod that best suits the lure and presentation one is engaged with at any given time. This may or may not correlate with the cost of the rod, or the manufacturer's intended use, and will vary with different anglers, conditions, and preference. Sure, a lot of higher end rods are geared towards increased sensitivity and lighter weight, but may or may not be the best choice for a given presentation. To say "use your best rod" (whatever that means) for this or that is ignorant.

[ETnbasser]

DB you were writing essentially what I was at same time. Jerkbait is another I want light. 
I knew I couldn’t be the only one who thought this way. Lol

[Darth-Baiter]

9 minutes ago, ETnbasser said:

Thanks RW Exactly!!! I feel like the best thing expensive rods is weight, or lack thereof. If i, not getting any younger, can fish longer without fatiguing then it’s worth it to me. But if I could find the perfect rod for $50 I’d buy it.

the perfect rod for $50..anyone would buy it.  that is the obvious thing.

 

but like golf clubs and mountain bikes...lightweight costs more money.  

 

I would like to add that not necessarily technique specific..but I will spend way more money on any Travel rod in general.  I am in no way landing on some distant body of water to have my rod break.  my travel rods will be nosebleed, rarified air level stuff.  

[ETnbasser]

1 minute ago, Darth-Baiter said:

the perfect rod for $50..anyone would buy it.  that is the obvious thing.

 

but like golf clubs and mountain bikes...lightweight costs more money.  

It was simply a statement , of course it’s obvious! ?

 

 

[Jig Man]

90% of my fishing time is spent fishing on or near the bottom.  My 6 best setups are for bottom contact   Some of them do double duty but each of them has a specific bottom contact job.

[Darth-Baiter]

17 minutes ago, ETnbasser said:

It was simply a statement , of course it’s obvious! ?

 

 

my statement was also obvious.  are you associating higher cost to being better?

[Jar11591]

My highest quality rods are bottom contact rods, even though the presentation I make the most casts with any given outing is usually a spinnerbait. I feel as though the extra money spent on higher end rods will move the needle more when used for bottom contact baits instead of resistance baits where it’s generally easier to detect strikes. But I can certainly understand someone’s best rods being one they use the most even if it’s not for bottom contact. I throw topwaters on an very sensitive Avid-X. Do I need a super sensitive topwater rod? No because the strike is visual, but it’s a joy to fish with. If my budget was higher every technique would be like that. But because my budget isn’t unlimited I feel better with my most sensitive rods being used for techniques where sensitivity really matters. 

[ETnbasser]

1 minute ago, Jar11591 said:

My highest quality rods are bottom contact rods, even though the presentation I make the most casts with any given outing is usually a spinnerbait. I feel as though the extra money spent on higher end rods will move the needle more when used for bottom contact baits instead of resistance baits where it’s generally easier to detect strikes. But I can certainly understand someone’s best rods being one they use the most even if it’s not for bottom contact. I throw topwaters on a very sensitive Avid-X. Do I need a super sensitive topwater rod? No because the strike is visual, but it’s a joy to fish with. If my budget was higher every technique would be like that. But because my budget isn’t unlimited I feel better with my most sensitive rods being used for techniques where sensitivity really matters. 

Very good points! Curious what Avid X you’re using. I put rod weight over sensitivity in topwater, with an Avid X you likely have both. 

[new2BC4bass]

OP: I agree with you.  I have a very nice bottom contact rod.  Picked up a custom stick at a very good price.  Yet to be used.  Gave up fishing locally.  Only go out to keep my casting up.  In Florida I'd say at least 90% of my fishing is casting an unweighted 10 or 10 1/2 inch ribbontail back into the lily pads.  Tell me why I need to spend $300 on a bottom contact rod to get the extra sensitivity when it doesn't get used.

 

Moving to Florida in a few weeks.  Will get to fish more often.  Definitely will get the bottom contact rod out (keep it here in PA), but unless I am very lucky with it, I still don't see it being a major player.  Especially when I go out with my B-I-L because that is not how he fishes. I'm just along for the ride. ?

[A-Jay]

I fish rigs that I like to use and work for me.

Nothing is top end, in fact the vast majority (seen below) 

hovers some where around the low to middle price point.

Affordability plays a role for me as does the feeling of a diminishing return.

Nothing against folks who fish The Best out there, I just haven't gotten that itch; yet anyway.

Either way, they all do the job and I get a few fish now & then. 

Finally, a few of my favorite rigs are most likely in the 'vintage' category

and they were probably considered 'cheap' at the time of purchase.

Been babying them along for a while and really hope to be able to continue that.

Besides having so many memories in every one, they are just flat out sweet sticks.

Fishing them blindfolded, I'd pick these deals out every time. 

btw, I do drop a bit of $$$ on baits, line & aftermarket hardware.

Seen that make a difference on more than one occasion. 

YMMV

Fish Hard

A-Jay

[roadwarrior]

4 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Either way, they all do the job and I get a few fish now & then. 

 

IT AIN'T THE BOW AND IT AIN'T THE ARROW...

[A-Jay]

5 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

 

IT AIN'T THE BOW AND IT AIN'T THE ARROW...

Could be the Horse Shoe though . . . .

A-Jay

[ETnbasser]

16 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I fish rigs that I like to use and work for me.

Nothing is top end, in fact the vast majority (seen below) 

hovers some where around the low to middle price point.

Affordability plays a role for me as does the feeling of a diminishing return.

Nothing against folks who fish The Best out there, I just haven't gotten that itch; yet anyway.

Either way, they all do the job and I get a few fish now & then. 

Finally, a few of my favorite rigs are most likely in the 'vintage' category

and they were probably considered 'cheap' at the time of purchase.

Been babying them along for a while and really hope to be able to continue that.

Besides having so many memories in every one, they are just flat out sweet sticks.

Fishing them blindfolded, I'd pick these deals out every time. 

btw, I do drop a bit of $$$ on baits, line & aftermarket hardware.

Seen that make a difference on more than one occasion. 

YMMV

Fish Hard

A-Jay

Nice spread! What is your color coding scheme if any?

[Deleted account]

19 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Could be the Horse Shoe though . . . .

A-Jay

I'm being sued for rabbit crutches and walkers...  

[A-Jay]

12 minutes ago, ETnbasser said:

Nice spread! What is your color coding scheme if any?

Thanks ~

Stick Jacket colors are dictated by blank type/power/action.

Presentation for each often change with season.

Example: Red are MH Composite cranking rods.

Yellow are jerkbait / topwater sticks.

Makes rig selection in & out of the rod locker a little better.

A-Jay

 

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, ETnbasser said:

I was involved in a conversation this weekend regarding what technique should be your absolute best/most expensive rod. I was completely shutdown when I suggested it should be the technique that you a) fish most frequently and b) enjoy the most. The general consensus was it should ALWAYS be bottom contact!! I said “ what if I don’t fish jigs or t-rig as much?” They said doesn’t matter, should still be your best rod hands down. I had to walk away on that note. I always see statements in forums saying “don’t spend money on a spinnerbait rod, or a topwater rod, or jerkbait etc” Well if one fished one of these techniques 70% of the time because one enjoyed it why shouldn’t they get the best rod they could for that technique? 
So, what technique is YOUR best rod? Not interested in what specific rod, but what technique. 
Most of my rods are approximately the same cost but I am looking into higher end for spinnerbaits, topwater and crankbaits because that’s what I fish most. 
 

 

bottom contact would be better with a more sensitive rod. The one you’re casting and retrieving all day would benefit from a lighter rod. The more extreme techniques (super light and super heavy) benefit from specialist rods. I wouldn’t necessarily call one or the other ‘best’ rods. 
 

my solution is to stick with a particular line from a manufacturer.  Then you never have to think about whether you’re using the rod you consider your best rod.

[Catt]

What technique should be your best rod?

 

All of them! ?

 

Can't tell ya how many bass I've caught on a spinnerbait because I felt the blades stop turning. Or how many times I avoided having a crankbait hang up because I felt the line rubbing on a limb.

[Jar11591]

1 hour ago, ETnbasser said:

Very good points! Curious what Avid X you’re using. I put rod weight over sensitivity in topwater, with an Avid X you likely have both. 

AXC68MXF. Light and sensitive. It’s a sweet stick. It’s a dedicated topwater rod in my starting lineup but excels throwing jerkbaits as well. 

[ETnbasser]

24 minutes ago, Catt said:

What technique should be your best rod?

 

All of them! ?

 

Can't tell ya how many bass I've caught on a spinnerbait because I felt the blades stop turning. Or how many times I avoided having a crankbait hang up because I felt the line rubbing on a limb.

Good points. Thanks

16 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

AXC68MXF. Light and sensitive. It’s a sweet stick. It’s a dedicated topwater rod in my starting lineup but excels throwing jerkbaits as well. 

I have the 6’4” version of it. Definitely sweet. I use it for both the same techniques. Thanks

[WRB]

High end is subjective to your budget. 

I only use Fishing rods and reels that feel right to me for the presentation it’s being used for. To me it’s a system working together that includes the line and lures being used.

All my rods today are light weight under 4 oz and balance with the reels mounted on them. As long as I am in contact with the lure and able to detect strikes, hook set and land the bass it’s good.

If paying over $300 for jig & worm baitcasting rod it will be a custom build to my specs. General use casting and Spinning rods always can find a over the count that feels right.

Tom