Bass Rods - The basic 4

[jwo1124]

I have noticed that a lot of posts on here, mainly by people new to bass fishing or fishing in general, are about what types of rods they should get. Now if look at G.Loomis, Kistler or other high end rods, you'll notice that the same 150-200 dollar rods come in 5 to 10 different styles. For example go to this link...

http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20372&id=0043237121872a&navCount=1&podId=0043237&parentId=cat20372&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IH&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20372&hasJS=true

Here is a Kistler Graphite Rod for 130 bucks. If you were to buy each "special application rod" you'd be spending over 1300 dollars on rods alone. Now for a seaoned tournament angler, who fishes for a decent pot, this expense might be worth it. But how many of us on this forum fall into that catagory. Maybe we fish one or two local or regional tournaments, or a club derby for a couple thousand that if won, would end up paying the bills.

For Joe Average(I know no one wants to be average, or think of ourselves as average, but many of us are just that) I have concocted my four basic rod set ups that will cover pretty much all bass fishing applications.

6'6" MH 1/4-3/4 #10-17 Fast Action for Plastics, Jigs, Spinner/buzzbaits

7' H 1/2-1 1/2 for Floating frogs, carolina, flippin

I would reccommend a braid with a fluoro leader(mono with the topwater frog)

6'6" M fiberglass rod 1/4-3/4 for cranks/topwater/jerkbaits with 10 or 12 lb test

7' H fiberglass for heavier cranks/topwaters/ and jerkbaits, or big swim bait plugs.

I'm sure a more seasoned knowledgable guy could find better rod specs for each application or lure, but we are talking about joe average who has a few hundred bucks to spend, and fishes a couple times a week and maybe the occasional tournament. Next season these will be my four rod choices. I think they will be fine and get the job done. If anyone has any contructive criticism I am all ears.

If you buy mid grade rods, especially with the Bass Pro or Cabelas label, you can get all these four rods, and maybe a fifth for about $200. Probably be close to $200 more on reels...better pick up some more shifts...

[roadwarrior]

Great thread!

This is my take:

With one rod you can fish everything. Spend your money one rod at a time, you do NOT need 20 rods!

I say, start out with a Medium Power/ Fast Action spinning rod. Right now you can but a St. Croix Avid AS68MXF and a Shimano Stradic 2500FH for under $200.

Next or as an alternative: Avid AC68MXF/ Shimano Citica for less than $200.

Third, for an all-around "treble hook" rod: AC66MF.

All on sale!

Now, I might have some different suggestions if you want to build your arsenal over a period of years, but right now the St. Croix sale is THE BOMB!

[Catt]

I agree with RW  

I only carry 5 rod/reels and do not see a necessity to carry more; I compete with some of the best anglers in the nation and kick butt quite often.  

[ww2farmer]

I also agree. As the quanity of my combo's came down, and the quality went up, my fishing has improved. I used to, even at the begining of this season,own 20-25 combos. Money wasted.........now I own 9, and rarely take more than 5-6 out at once.

[fourbizz]

I could fish with only five rods:

Dropshot rod

Jig/big worm rod

Medium Swimbait Rod

Heavy Swimbait Rod

Ex Heavy Swimbait rod.

[Pond Hopper]

I would replace one of the crankbait rods with a 6'6MF rod for senkos, flukes, and other weightless plastics.  Good thread though.

[Alpster]

My basic 4 are:

7' MH Fast action BC for most plastics & lite jigs.

6'10" Spinning ML Extra Fast action drop shot rod for finesse, shakey head & dropshotting.

7'6" Heavy Flippin stick BC.

7' Fiberglass MH Mod. action crankin stick BC for most treble hook lures & spinnerbaits.

I also have a 5'6" Med. Fast pistol grip that I use almost exclusively for bank fishing.

I have other rods, but I'm not sure why. LOL These are the ones I fish most.

Ronnie

[Raul]

I 'm very far from being a well seasoned tournament angler, the only pot I fish for has green scales and hopefully with God 's will and a little luck plus some skills it will be a double digit, that pot alone is worth every penny I spend in tackle. I 'm an average Joe who fishes once or twice week and that saves in order to purchase his tackle.

Basic 4 for me are:

1 Medium Heavy rods for jig, worm & spinnerbaits.

1 Medium rod for crankbait fishing.

1 Heavy rod for flipping, pitching & lately, for swimbaiting.

1 Medium light rod for finesse fishing.

[.ghoti.]

Here's the ones I don't leave home without.

Baitcasters

7' MH fast        T-rig & jig

6'8" M X-Fast  Senko & Ika

6'9" ML fast     Tube & Fluke

7' M mod-fast  Crankbait & spinnerbait

6'3" MH Fast     T-rig & Jerkbait

Spinning

7'2" MH fast     anything small, usually has a jigworm on it

I have quite a few more, but these are the ones I use all the time.

Cheers,

GK

[ABC123]

I am slowly converting from low cost to high end set ups as I determine I know EXACTLY what I want. Right now I have 2 dedicated Bass rods (I fish for Walleye and panfish too) and two, 2 function rods. I plan on ending up with 5 rods.

I have an XF 803 GLX spinning rod for plastics/Senko's/and light topwater lures.

I have a F 721 IMX casting rod that is my "finness" rod doubling as my panfish rod. I wasn't looking at getting a casting rod for this task, but I got the rod on clearance remarked down to $86. I couldn't pass it up.

I have a F 783 IMX spinning rod that is my general purpose rod.

I find I am in need of a MH or H rod with a baitcaster for throwing spinners and large topwater baits.

I'm still not ready to let go of my old glass rod that I use for throwing cranks for any type of fish I'm after. It will be replaced....some day, but I'm in no hurry.

I have other rods, but they are for other types of fishing.

[the captain]

I only OWN 1 Rod thats a medium action baitcaster but I USE up to 3 other rods I is sixteen so I use my dads old stuff which really isn't outdated I use a lite Ugly Stik spinning rod, and 2 medium Spinning rods I have a 9' mh rod for anything from muskey to catfish to carp to just about anything I figure even though it's only a mh holy crap It's pushin 2 inches in diameter at the base-talk about pool stik ;D

[Chris at Tech]

OK, might as well go for it

1) St Croix AS69MLXF and Daiwa Tierra 2000 for split shotting, drop shotting, shakey heading and light jerkbaits

2) Kistler MgAPC69MH and Revo STX for spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, jigs, flukes, Ikas, Senkos, T-rigs

3) St Croix AC66MF and Revo STX for topwaters, jerkbaits, traps and crankbaits to 8' or less

4) Dobyns 704C and Zillion for C-rigging, frogs, toads, heavier jigs and T-rigs, and smaller swimbaits

Dammit...

Quick, someone tell me I need more than 4 rigs

[Lucky Craft Man]

Hmmm...I have 14 combos that I use, but many of these are the same combo, but with different line (example, I have two 6'6" Medium Power Mod. Action Baitcasting Rods with a Revo SC on them, but one has Flouro., which is my jerkbait rod and the other has Mono., which is my Topwater Rod). I could easily get away with having only one rod for these two applications, but the baitmonkey wouldn't be happy. Though, I think you could cover everthing with 5 combos (I couldn't come up with only 4). These would be my 5 Combos:

7'0" Heavy Baitcasting Rod - Jigs, Surfaces Frogs, Carolina Rigs, & Small swimbaits

7'0" Medium Heavy Baitcasting Rod - Most Plastics like Senkos, Tubes, T-Rigs, Flukes, etc.

7'0" Medium Heavy Baitcasting Rod (With Mod. action) - Crankbaits, Rattle Traps, etc.

6'6" Medium Heavy Baitcasting Rod - Jerkbaits, Spinnerbaits, & Topwater

7'0" Medium Spinning Rod - Drop Shot, Shaky Head, and other Finesse Techniques.

If I had to eliminate one, it would be the 7'0" MH Baitcasting rod for Crankbaits, but having that moderate action rod for those baits does make a difference. Therefore, IMHO, you could easily get away with only 5 combos, but what fun would that be?

[ww2farmer]

I also agree. As the quanity of my combo's came down, and the quality went up, my fishing has improved. I used to, even at the begining of this season,own 20-25 combos. Money wasted.........now I own 9, and rarely take more than 5-6 out at once.

LOL I never did give "my 4 must haves"

7'6" H/fast casting

7'MH/fast casting

7' M/fast casting

7' ML/Fast spinning

If you look on the deck of my boat, you'll find those 4 out most of the time.

"Second String"

6' M/F spinning

7'M/F spinning

6'8" H/XF casting

7' MH/M casting

LOL it's hard to just pick four.

[Triton_Mike]

YOur fishing big swimbaits on a glass rod.  LOL.  This I gotta see!!!

Mike