Rod Arsenal Opinions

[Tackled]

To kind of get back to what Bemuum was asking, I would like to offer a couple of suggestions. One is to add a pistol grip rod 5'6" in length to your arsenal, matched with a baitcaster with decent magnetic braking. I use this set up for throwing spinnerbaits and topwater baits way back under those low hanging tree limbs.
My other suggestion is to buy sensitive rods for throwing plastics. Hard bait sensitivity is not nearly as important as feeling your soft baits, im my humble opinion.

Guys, take note - not one single brand name mentioned.

[bemuum3]

First, of all thank you to everyone who responded.

Second, Is it accurate to say that anglers tend to go w/ shorter rods for spinnerbaits?

Also, while i've heard sensitivity is not as important for hard baits from other people, then what is the advantage of using a glass rod?

Do you all tend to throw jerk baits and top water on same rod?

Thanks

[Topwater2004]

The sensitivity on my crankbait rods comes in when they hit the bait. A soft tip allowes them to get the bait in their mouth before you set the hook. I like to set the hook with a sidearm sweep of the rod.

On a worm rod, I set the hook with a violent upward swing from south Alabama. With a jaw breaking leg kick if necessary, Elvis Presley style.

[Topwater2004]

I have a few baitcasters with a pistol grip Ugly Stik. My wrist started to get like a carpel tunnel problem when throwing spinnerbaits.

I have them in my rod box, and still use them occassionally.

Speaking of carpel tunnel, I have developed soreness in both arms actually from fishing. I definetely have seen a great improvement since I have not fished since mid-November.

43 years old and breakin' down real fast.

[Topwater2004]

Well, at the expense of being ripped apart by the professional anglers on this board, I will give you my rod set ups.

First I have six baitcasters, and five of them are Pflueger Trion model with 6.3 ratio. I use them for crankbait and spinnerbait lures and range from 10lb test to 17lb test. All of them have a Quantum 6'6" medium action with a fast tip.

I like a flexible tip on all crankbait and spinner bait rods to let the fish take the lure, it helps me set the hook.

I only have one rod set up for flippin', and I use a cheap Garcia Ambassador flippin'/casting reel that I bought a long time ago, the model is scratched off. I use 20lb test on it with abrasive resistant Berkely line. The rod is a 7'6" Flippin' rod with heavy action and a stiff tip.

Now my spinning gear is a rag tag group, I have them all set up to use various size lines and almost exclusively for plastics or small crank baits. I use a lot of Rapala stick baits that are too light for my baitcasters, and I love to use down sized jigs from 1/32oz to 1/4oz size and the spinning reels do well with the lighter lines.

All my spinning rods are set up various sizes of Shakespeare UglyStik models, from light action to medium/heavy. Almost all texas rigging I use on these spinning rods also. UglyStik's are cheap, but good enough for me.

I can't pay the money for those Loomis and Kistler rods, I get by with what I have just fine.

[trackerjon]

Crappie and Topwater,

For what my humble opinion is worth I agree wholeheartedly. I don't fault anyone who has the funds to buy top line, dedicated sticks for every type of presentation, as long as they aren't being driven my the marketers to feel that they have to have them. No doubt part of that pressure comes from pros who represent rod makers who want you to buy more sticks from them. Lots of us don't have that kind of money. I have a couple of Shimano rods ($70) each that do a good job of covering smaller cranks, and drop shotting as well. I have a good Daiwa med/heavy/fast that can handle bigger cranks, TR, CR, and lots of other plastic lures. Flipping? I use my 7' catfish, baitfishing casting rod with an Ambassadeur reel with flipping bar. The tip is not quite as sensitive as I would like I guess, but guess what. Right now that rod, and all my others, are probably better right now than I am. Anything more would be wasted on me and likely most anglers. It's the going that counts, that and working on getting better yourself.

Tracker Jon