Only 2 casting rods

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

If you could only have 2 casting rods for all your bass fishing purposes (tailored  more for the norther part or the country) what action length and power would they be, and what line would you have spooled on them? If you could have three casting rods what would they be? And would it change what you picked for your first two?

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, August said:

If you could only have 2 casting rods for all your bass fishing purposes (tailored  more for the norther part or the country) what action length and power would they be, and what line would you have spooled on them? If you could have three casting rods what would they be? And would it change what you picked for your first two?

Very difficult - I re-started a few years back with only one casting rod and two spinners...now its 12 and 5.

Anyway...best shot

7'0"-7'3" MH/F - the 'Swiss Army Knife' of rods - 40# Braid to leader (choose leader based on what lure type you're using...and sometimes no leader is the answer) - Spinners, chatters, soft swimbaits, T-Rigs, C-Rigs, Free Rigs, Lipless, Squarebills all work well on this. Moderate to light cover pitching also falls here, and you can do frogs though it's not ideal.

6'8"-7'1" M/F - 12# FC (InvizX is my FC of choice) Jerkbaits, Crankbaits, Wacky, Shakey. Will also handle Ned and Neko in a pinch.

 

Third rod:

7'3"-7'6" - H/F - 50# braid to leader (see above) - Here's your frog rod as well as heavier cover pitching and buzzbaits.

[Bird]

Well you said north, I don't like the cold ❄️.

But obviously a med and med heavy with braid to fluorocarbon leader 6'8 - 6'9 ....... assuming clear water.

[T-Billy]

7'11" XH F, 50# braid and 7'6" MH F, 30# braid. 3rd would be 7'4" H MF, 30# braid.

[ironbjorn]

A MH heavy can do anything a M can. I don't care what anyone says. So a MH and a H. Any size that suites you. Being in the north I'm guessing you won't use the H a lot, but you'll be happier you have a H in the right situations than not having a M.

[Jig Man]

7’ to 7.5’ medium and medium heavy cover 90% of what I do here in mid USA.  My H rods rarely see the light of day.

 

My 7.5’ m can handle cranks, swim baits, and shaky.  It can also be used for Ned rigs.  The mh can take care of the rest.

[Catt]

Powell Inferno 703C 7' Medium Heavy X-Fast, Lew's Team Lite 7.5:1 spooled with 15# Berkley Big Game.

 

Diawa Tatula TTU711MHXB 7' 1" Medium Heavy X-Fast, Lew's Tournament MP 6.8:1, spooled with Berkley Big Game 15#.

 

Diawa Tatula TTU731MHFB 7' 3" Medium Heavy Fast, Lew's Tournament MB 7.5:1 spooled with Sufix 832 50#.

[LrgmouthShad]

One with cologne applied for scent

One without cologne applied

[JN94]

MH (3/8-1oz) Fast or regular action with 40lb braid + FG knot leader

ML (1/8-1/2oz) mod fast with 20lb braid + FG knot leader

[king fisher]

7 foot six inch medium heavy fast Diawa Ardito travel rod,  Diawa Zillion 7.3-1 reel, 150, 16 pound Sunline Sniper line.

7 foot medium fast Diawa Ardito travel rod Diawa Diawa Tatula CT 7.3 -1  reel, 12 pound Sunline Sniper line.

7 foot six inch fast Diawa Tatula heavy, Diawa Tatula 150 7.3-1 reel 30 pound J 8 braid line.

 

Rods  choices are firm, line choices not so much.  I change my mind on line type and size often.  I would not have a problem with changing to braid to leader on the Zillion and changing to 12 pound mono on the Tatula CT and the heavy could get 40 or 50 pound braid. As far as reels go in a perfect world I would change the Tatula CT to a Zillion but currently get by fine with the CT.

[MediumMouthBass]

Northern part of the country....

 

Youve got alot of great suggestions already.

And im guessing since you want 2 rods only, that you want them to be more versatile than specific.

 

For me personally tho, i cant stand medium casting rods. Thats what the spinning rods are for.

 

So ill recommend this, a Dobyns Fury 733c. Perfect balance between medium and medium heavy.

Paired with a SLX MGL or Tatula SV with 30-40lb braid this combo can cast anything lighter but still do great casting heavier baits. I didnt use mine for a year or 2 but im using it a ton so far this season.

Im really enjoying throwing lighter texas rigs and even weightless soft plastics, as well as finesse jigs on it so far. I just end up fishing them too fast and have to remind myself to slow down....

 

For the second a MH 7'3". Any rod from Falcon, Ark, Tatula, St Croix, TP1X/Black, KVD, Dobyns or even a $55 Aird X would work.

The 733c and this rod might have the same power but the ratings are so much different (Dobyns rates their rods weird). Pair it with Tatula CT, SLX XT, or LFS and 12lb mono or hybrid.

Crankbaits, lipless cranks, jerkbaits, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, heavier Texas rigs and jigs, swim jigs, topwaters would all be doable on this combo. For the crankbaits just loosen the drag a bit.

 

I take about 3-6 rods with me whether im bank fishing or on the kayak and i use 2 rods the most. Sometimes i aks myself why i even bring the others if i barely use them. Both of the rod/reel combos above are my 2 most used.

 

A heavy rod isnt really needed, unless you do a ton of pitching or throwing big baits itll just sit in a corner of a room collecting dust.

So for the 3rd if you absolutely need one get a moderate or moderate-fast rod, between 7'-7'6". medium or medium heavy depending on the ratings. You only really need this if you specifically plan on doing alot of cranking. If you only do it from time to time the 2nd combo with loose drag i mentioned will do fine.

[new2BC4bass]

My youth was spent fishing Northern PA and Southern New York with an occasional trip north.  Never fished just for bass.  But if I were to do so today, my number one rod would be the do everything MHF casting rod with 12# mono or co-polymer line.  I prefer 7' minimum.  Longer would be better.

 

Never ever fished where a Heavy power rod would be better than a MH.  Even when visiting Florida I used a MHF with 40# braid for fishing lily pads and weeds.  However, in Florida I fished from a Gheenoe instead of from shore so I could go get a snagged lure.

 

Second rod ET Smallmouth 6'10" MF rated 1/8-5/8 oz.  No problem fishing trebles with this rod or lighter wire single hooks.  8# mono or co-polymer line.

 

Third rod harder to name.  Would require some thought and actual use.  My first thought is my custom 7' LF rated 1/16-3/8 oz. with PE#1 braid for extra casting distance (hopefully).  It is a more specialized than all around rod.  The following rods would be contenders as more all around rods:  Smallmouth 6'10" MH-MF, Headturner, and Tatula 7'2" MHR with 12# mono or co-polymer.

 

The lightest lure I've used so far for bass is the #5 Shad Rap and F-11 Floating Rapala.  Easily handled by the above MF.  I prefer lures in the 3/8-5/8 oz. range.

 

OP didn't ask about reels and only a couple have made suggestions so far.  For the MHF I would be hard pressed to choose between a Helios Air and Primmus HS Xi.  Both cast far and line handling is very good on both.  Pixy on the MF.  Tuned and upgraded Air Red would be my first choice of those I have.  LF would get a Purple Alphas with Roro BFS spool.

[WRB]

A few years ago sold all but 2 bait casting combo’s, all I need to occasionally back seat bass fishing.

ALX custom 5 power 6’10 fast rod w/ Tatula TW SV reel and 12# Tatsu FC line.

Jig & worms.

Major Craft Iovino Splash-It rod 6’8” MF w/ Shimano SLX MGL 70 reel and 11# Armilo mono line. Utility rod for top water, jerk baits, medium diving crank baits to 5/8 oz, smaller T-rigged soft plastic etc.

Finesse and Senko presentations I use 3 spinning combo’s.

Tom

[Brian11719]

1. 7'4" Heavy Fast with braid for frogs and flipping / punching.

2. 7'4" Medium Heavy Mod Fast for bladed jigs and medium - heavier cranks.

3. 7'4" Heavy Fast for spinnerbaits, football jigs, medium size swimbaits and smaller a-rigs.

 

Fluro for both #2 and #3.

[softwateronly]

For 2 rods only, I'd choose;

 

Major Craft Days 360 6'10 M/RF w/ Alphas 800s PE 1.2

MB Tequila Bacarac 7' XH/R w/ Zillion HD PP 50lb

 

w/ various leaders.  I feel like I could fish every single bait I'm confident in relatively effectively.  Deep cranks and large worms would be pushing my comfort level with it though.

 

3 rods, I'd add in

 

Expride 7'7 H/MF w/ a 22 Bantam PP 30lb

 

Now I feel like I could do everything, from spybaits to 7" flutter spoons, jerkbaits to glides, mid strolling to punching, and all the jigs.

 

scott

 

 

[TNBankFishing]

NRX 873 15lb

St. Croix Legend Elite 7’ M 10lb

 

Megabass P5 Dark Sleeper

[Bankbeater]

6'6" MH, fast, spooled with 15# Big Game for pitching and flipping jigs and Texas rigs

7'0" MH, fast, spooled with 15# Big Game for heavy moving baits.

7'0" M, fast, spooled with 10# Big Game for smaller sized moving baits.

[PBBrandon]

I live in Texas so not very “north” but I’d have

 

2 rods:

Shimano Poison Adrena 7’3” MHRF

Dobyns DRX755c

 

3rd rod I’d throw in my Dobyns DX743c for the lighter stuff. I guess if I lived up north the 755 would be my 3rd option, kinda need it down here lol

[JackstrawIII]

Hard to bring less than 5 when I go out because I hate retying all the time. But, if retying doesn't bother you, I honestly think you could manage with...

 

1. 6'10 - 7'3 MHF with 12-15lb hybrid/fluoro 

2. 7'1 - 7'3 HF with 50lb braid 

 

If I could have a third...

 

3. 7'-7'3 MHM (moderate action) with 12lb fluoro 

 

1. Gives you all your open water moving baits and some lighter t-rigs and such. This can also throw most crankbaits, depending on the specific rod in this range. 

2. Gives you your topwater and heavier cover moving baits and t-rigs

3. Gives you something a bit more ideal for crankbaits, chatterbaits, and smaller spinnerbaits. 

[Maxximus Redneckus]

imo a 5'6" pistol grip M for topwaters and a 7 med h. For anything else...mono on both ..and both will have a clapped out 4600c9 ..or  curado  100Ds...either is great and can handle anything id fish for

[r83srock]

1). St. Croix Victory 7’3” HXF casting rod with a Shimano Curado 150mgl 8.1 spooled with 30lb moss green power pro. If I needed a leader I’d use 15lb Trilene Big Game in green.

2). St. Croix Legend Tournament 7’3” MHF casting with Shimano SlX mgl70 , 30lb power pro moss green. 

 

3).  I made the mistake of not reading before posting haha. Do my number 3 would be a spinning. St. Croix Mojo Bass 7’1” medium fast spinning rod, with a Shimano Vanford 2500 and 15lb power pro super slick in onyx black. If I needed a leader I’d use 6lb yo zuri hybrid. 

[JJP]

1. 7’ medium fast 12lb big game

2. 7’ medium heavy fast 15lb big game

3. 7’3” heavy 40lb power pro