What’s Your 2025 Rod Arsenal?

[UmairF]

What are you guys rockin with this year? Here’s what I got going:

https://youtu.be/hymSYxFSJUM

 

Mainly P5s and NRX+

[DogBone_384]

I added Douglass and FX Customs rods to my arsenal this year.  The bait monkey forced me to buy them through show pricing at the New England and NH Fishing expos.  My Douglass additions were a LRX-724XF (7’2” M/XF), LRS-704F (7’ M/F) spinning rods and a DXC-745F (7’4” MH/F) casting rod.  The two FX Customs were the MB71MH/F (7’1” MH/F) casting and MBSH74MF (7’4” M/F) spinning.

 

Overall the Douglass rods are good, but expensive compared to the Kistlers I own and the new FX Customs.  The X-Matrix (casting) rod is a STOUT medium heavy, rated 7/16 to 2 ounces.  I’ve thrown a few 1/2 oz. jigs and it feels like it’s going to be a really good rod for fishing my home pond that’s very weedy.  It’s very light for such a substantial rod and its build quality is exceptional. 

 

The two LRS spinning rods are good quality, but there are better in their price range.  Douglass’ ratings are different than most other brands I own.  The 724XF is more like a fast action rod whose backbone starts in the middle of the blank.  I’ve used it for drop shot and blade baits so far.  Douglass calls the 704F a medium fast rod, but it’s labeled for crankbaits and acts very much like the Abu Veritas Winch rods I have.  Overall I’ll give the LRS line a B.  Good, but I’m not going back for another serving.

 

My new FX Customs casting rod’s fit and finish is superb.  I’ve thrown 3/8 & 1/2 ounce jigs with it.  It feels perfect for it with a crisp, fast tip, and plenty of backbone.  The spinning rod also has a nice crisp tip.  I’ve thrown blade baits, Senkos, and 3” paddle tails on underspins.  It also feels ‘just right’.  I bet I could press it and throw 1/4 & 3/8 oz jigs on it.  The blanks FX Customs uses feel just like 13’s 1st generation Omen Black rods.

 

Kistlers are still my #1 rod, but the FX’s and X-Matrix will be added to the regular rotation .

[new2BC4bass]

As many as I can carry in the car.

[TimTheGearNerd]

following! Great video. Btw

[UmairF]

20 hours ago, TimTheGearNerd said:

following! Great video. Btw

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed

[Randy Price]

I have probably a 4:1 ratio of spinners vs BC.  However, the more I am using my BC's the more I am grabbing one of them.  I bank fish a lot and like a SC LE 6'6"-7'0" with a 2500 Stradic on it.  If I'm using a BC I like my old AVIDX 7'1" with a Curado DC on it.

[new2BC4bass]

56 minutes ago, Randy Price said:

I have probably a 4:1 ratio of spinners vs BC.  However, the more I am using my BC's the more I am grabbing one of them.  I bank fish a lot and like a SC LE 6'6"-7'0" with a 2500 Stradic on it.  If I'm using a BC I like my old AVIDX 7'1" with a Curado DC on it.

I'm about 6.7:1 ration BC versus spinning.  Grew up with spinning.  Tried BC in 2009.  Never looked back. 

 

I also bank fish, but only in open areas.  Trees and bushes, not water cover.  Prefer 7' or longer BC.  Spinning 7' or shorter.

[bulldog1935]

Gee this thread needs a photo.  

3 rods for river kayak

1-power for senkos

3-power for cranks

5-power for frogs