Rod Length And Favorite Line

[BKbassblaster]

I was wondering what length and what action on rods is best for crankbaits, spinnerbaits, texas-rigs, carolina rigs, and topwaters. Also, what is you favorite fluorocarbon, Mono, and braided line?

[Jim_M]

Welcome BK! Here is a great place to start your

research.

http://www.bassresource.com/how-to-fish/

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Myself I dont go technique spiecific I use 7' Med Fast for all-purpose so no help there. My favorite rod is a St Croix Avid 8' MedLt Mod rod my fav braid is 10# PowerPro,dont use mono, hopefully TATSU will be my fav fluoro.

[SoCalFisher]

Myself I dont go technique spiecific I use 7' Med Fast for all-purpose so no help there. My favorite rod is a St Croix Avid 8' MedLt Mod rod my fav braid is 10# PowerPro,dont use mono, hopefully TATSU will be my fav fluoro.

Not to steal the thread but do you use 10# PowerPro on a bait caster? If so then how does it work, I have heard it is to light and hard to cast.

[bwell]

If you are new to baitcasters dont use 10#, it will dig and you will have break offs... I would only go as low as 30# braid and thats pushing it. I personally use 50-65#, it seems to work best.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Not to steal the thread but do you use 10# PowerPro on a bait caster? If so then how does it work, I have heard it is to light and hard to cast.

This was discussed in the thread you started 1/25 http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/96617-braid-or-mono/page__fromsearch__1

[roadwarrior]

For enthusiasts, technique specific gear is fun

to collect. However, three rigs cover all the

basics:

#1 6 1/2' or 7' MH baitcaster for jigs, some

soft plastics and spinnerbaits

#2 6 1/2' or 7' MM baitcaster for treble hook

lures

#3 7' MF spinning rod for lighter lures and a

variety of techniques

I recommend #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid for spinning gear; #12 Hybrid for baitcasting.

[Fat-G]

For enthusiasts, technique specific gear is fun

to collect. However, three rigs cover all the

basics:

#1 6 1/2' or 7' MH baitcaster for jigs, some

soft plastics and spinnerbaits

#2 6 1/2' or 7' MM baitcaster for treble hook

lures

#3 7' MF spinning rod for lighter lures and a

variety of techniques

I recommend #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid for spinning gear; #12 Hybrid for baitcasting.

[.ghoti.]

I have rods that 6', 6'3", 6'6", 6'8", 6'9", 6'10", 7', 7'1", 7'2", 7'6" and 8'.

I've come to the conclusion that in most cases rod length doesn't matter that much most of the time. A 7 footer is a good all around length.

Having said that, I prefer the three shorter rod for jerkbaits, topwaters and spinnerbaits. The shorter rod tip doesn't hit the water, and the shorter handle doesn't get tangled up with clothing.

For crankbaits, I prefer the longest rods; mainly for extra casting distance.

It's a lot more about power and action for technique specific applications than about length.

Some will tell you to use a long rod for jigs and plastics, to give you more leverage. I've seen this statement a lot, and it is not true. A longer rod will allow you to pick up more line and generate a faster tip speed on the hookset, but it will NOT give you more leverage when fighting the fish. If you really think you need more leverage when fighting fish, go with a short rod. There's a reason heavy duty saltwater boat rods are short.

[lmoore]

Some will tell you to use a long rod for jigs and plastics, to give you more leverage. I've seen this statement a lot, and it is not true. A longer rod will allow you to pick up more line and generate a faster tip speed on the hookset, but it will NOT give you more leverage when fighting the fish. If you really think you need more leverage when fighting fish, go with a short rod. There's a reason heavy duty saltwater boat rods are short.

I've always wondered about that. From a totally scientific perspective (read: nerdy), a longer rod would result in more torque needing to be generated to get the same amount of force.

I do, however, like a little bit longer rod when flipping, as it allows me to reach out a little farther and get more of a straight up and down action. It's obviously not significant when comparing a 7' vs. 7'6", but it's what I'm comfortable with.

[Bass_Fanatic]

A good length is 7'. You can do everything with a 7' rod. That being said, a 6'6" rod will be easier to work a jerkbait or throw a spinnerbait in tight spaces and a 7'6" rod will allow you to pith farther and get a better hookset on a C-Rig.

[SirSnookalot]

For freshwater fishing imo 7' is the ideal length, you can do anything with it. I just got a reel out of repair, I have it on an 8' rod I use from the salt surf, been enjoying so much I've been using it for bass fishing the last couple of weeks, it is a bit heavier and little more awkward, 60 years of fishing has taught me one thing, how to easily adapt, I could use a broomstick.

Offshore boat rods are a different story altogether, these rod companies know what they are doing, much of it based on what expert fisherman want, different rod designs for different species. Whether it be spinning or b/c gear the rods have long butts and long foregrips, the foregrip is an advantage in the leverage department. I'd say 7' is the most popular length, but tuna rods usually are 5-6', while a cobia specific rods are 8'. Why the difference in length, it's all about the way the fish fight. Some fish are heading to the bottom, a short stout rod handles them better, some fish run straight out sub surface with some jumps, different kind of rod is required to handle those fish. Handling a 100# tarpon a 5' tuna rod would be a tough task, conversely a 100# tuna on 8' rod would be equally as hard.

I don't claim to be an offshore expert, but I do get out about 75 outings a year.

[Hooligan]

If you really think you need more leverage when fighting fish, go with a short rod. There's a reason heavy duty saltwater boat rods are short.

Couldn't agree more. What longer rods do is allow the fish to have greater leverage against you. There's a very famous rod builder that stated as much in terms of both conventional and fly rods. A short rod will always give the angler more leverage, a long rod gives the fish more leverage against the angler.

[youngbassman]

go 7 foot 3 medium heavy with a fast action tip i use a lot of the veritas and i use yo zuri 12 pound line on my baitcasters and then on my spinning i use a 15 pound braid pretty darn sensitive

[grampa1114]

As Roadwarrior stated Yo-zuri 6# for spinning and 12# for baitcasting......and if flipping is in your future don't forget 50#-65# braid.

[bigbill]

My favorite setup is a 6' rod with 8lb silver thread line.