Importance of maintaining same feel?

[SWMIBASSER]

I think we all have read this. Some of the pro's say that it is important to maintain the same feel from rod to rod by using the same brand for everything.

I've never really noticed a difference, I DON'T THINK.

I'm curious to hear everyone's thought on this. Does it make a difference?

While I have not done it yet, and am not sure I notice it effecting my fishing, it can only help and not hurt.

I'm thinking about trying to upgrade/change my equipment around so that everything matches.

[Big Bait Fishing]

i, myself , don't think it makes a difference . you get acustomed to different setups by using that set up alot and on a regular basis . i bring my swimbait rods with me along with my crappie rods and a bluegill rod , talk about a major difference !!!! from throwing 1/8 oz. lures up to 6 oz. lures on 2 totally diffferent stlye rods is fine for me . i think the pros say that to make you want to buy more of their ( their sponsors) products 

[K_Mac]

I don't think it makes much difference. Assuming the same quality, if whatever outfit you pick up is dialed in properly, there doesn't seem to be much difference IMHO. The real difference is going form lighter tackle to heavier, or heavy to light, and I think that is just part of bass fishing. I change tackle according to the conditions, and I like the variety. Just my .02

[bigfruits]

i personally dont find any importance at all. but then again, i dont fish for thousands of dollars.

i own 4 brands of rods. 

[fmoore]

I own four different brands of rods and while it doesn't effect my fishing I am in the process of slowly switching over to all one brand. I think it's more the classic fisherman's OCD than anything. Having all matched rods and reels for bass fishing is something that stems from my addiction to tuna fishing, I think.

Anyway, the only thing that bothers me is switching between split grip and non split grip rods, but it's fairly inconsequential imo.

In short, I don't think it matters...except in my head

[Hammer 4]

Haha...I guess 4 is the magic number..I have 4 different brand rods, but only 2 different brands of reels...I got use to them fairly quick. For some it may make a difference, not to me.

[dodgeguy]

it absolutely makes a difference.guys talk about rod sensitivity making a difference all the time.changing brands of rods will surely affect that.different grips feel different.different reels with different braking systems cast different.every time you switch you must adjust and this takes off some of your concentration on fishing because you are using it to adapt to your constantly changing gear.

[Jig Man]

It really makes a difference to me at night when feel is everything.  That is why I only buy very few brands and mulitples of those.

[Pantera61]

If I'm fishing a tourney, it's all one brand.  If it's just knocking around, it's 3 different brands.

[Grey Wolf]

Definately makes a differance.

[The Rooster]

I personally couldn't tell you if it does or not but in the interest of "if it does" when I bought my baitcasters I got all one kind with different ratios so each time I switched I was holding the same profile and feel in my hand.  I decided to get all one kind of rod as well(except for that certain one that I just can't stop using cause I like it so well), only exception being that they are different actions and powers, but that part can't be helped.  This way, if it does make a difference, I'm as ready as I'll ever be for it not to effect me anymore than it has to. 

[cart7t]

I imagine it's much the same reason why Professional golfers don't have a bag of mismatched golf clubs.

[SirSnookalot]

I imagine it's much the same reason why Professional golfers don't have a bag of mismatched golf clubs.

As far as fishing, it makes no difference to me at all.

In pro golf the clubs under the headcovers are not always the same brand.  Many pros may split their irons between blade and cavity back and wedges can be entirely different brands.  Tiger Woods uses a Titleist putter with an old style Ping grip that looks like it hasn't been changed in years, those grips get very slick too.

[NorCalFishinguru]

I think rods don't make much a difference as long as they each play a role in a specific application. If you go from drop shotting to chucking a half pound swimbait or flipping the brand hardly matters. Thinking about it, i guess i own 7 different brands of operating rods; Lamiglas, G. loomis, St. Croix, Daiwa, Fenwick, Shakespeare, Shimano, and probably a couple more that im forgetting. Reels are a different story. You really develop a feel for the grip and your thumb really gets to know the feel of a certain spool and the brakes within a brand.

[Tin]

It's all about your hands. I uise Carrots, Loomis, Castaway, Shimano, All-Star, Kistler, and I still have some Croix's. It is all about feeling and knowing what feels like what.

[Bayou Bass]

Using different brand rods doesn't matter much to me as long as the grips are somewhat similar diameter.  I like all of my reels to be the same size.  I only use curado Es and citica Es so they all feel the same.  This is probably more of a personal preference then anything.

[Chris]

I don't use the same rods for every bait or the same reels. I have a specific reel that I feel pitches the best and a specific reels that do other jobs better. The same with my rods. I have high end graphite for some applications and composite for others and glass for other applications. I also don't have the same length for each application and some have more back bone then others based on how I am using them. Most are medium heavy rods but that don't mean they all load the same or are of the same construction. Many rod manufactures are doing a better job of providing a rod for each lure style. The problem with that for me is that lure manufactures make a whole array of lures that react different on different rods under different applications. I have a 6'6" MH Clunn signature rod that I love to use cranking medium size crankbaits in the winter. It is actually made for jerkbaits and topwater. I didn't like the way the crankbait rod loaded. I am sure it is a great rod just wasn't for me. I have bought other rods that had the same handle/ reel seat but because of the reel I used for that application didn't feel right or was awkward. Another problem is that some have high reel seats and others low. If the line from your reel is not level from your reel to the guides or the line tapers not at a gradual change it effects casting distance. The amount of guides and guide spacing effects accuracy so lures I need to place in a spot would be different then lures I need distance. Maintaining the same feel is just preference.

[roadwarrior]

I don't think it makes much difference. Assuming the same quality, if whatever outfit you pick up is dialed in properly, there doesn't seem to be much difference IMHO. The real difference is going form lighter tackle to heavier, or heavy to light, and I think that is just part of bass fishing. I change tackle according to the conditions, and I like the variety. Just my .02

I feel the same way.

8-)

[MSPbass]

I stay with one brand and I'm just a weekend warrior; not a tourney guy. Maybe it's just a confidence thing, probably some OCD here too, but I also think having a consistent feel is a benefit to me.

I don't think the difference is necessarily huge; but I've tried out buddies' combos and it always takes a while to get used to the feel and different action. Why would I want to do that with my own gear? Staying with one brand reduces that issue significantly.