Rod Arsenal Opinions

[bemuum3]

As I continue to gain fishing, specifically tournament fishing, experience, I am realzing more and more the importance of matching rods with the type of fishing you are doing. I'd appreciate suggestions from everyone explaining the types of rods they use for different types of fishing...(i.e. Pitching Docks - 7 ft. Heavy, Jerk Bait 6'6" Med Heavy Fast tip, etc...)

Thanks

[ifish2liv]

Hello,
I think some people missed the topic of this post. I believe you were asking what type of rod/reel for the situation at hand. Some guys want a 7' plus rod for flippin/pitchin. I say use what feels best. Some guys flip or pitch from different angles like sidearm right or left. Also your height has a lot dto do with the length of rod you use. For spinnerbaits or crainkbaits I like a rod with some give at the tip. This allows me to tighten the drag way down and use the rod's flex to set the set the hook. I like to feel the rod load up and sink the hook instead of using a stiff rod and yanking the bait through the fish's lips. I think one thing many people overlook is their line. A lot of people pay a ton of money on rods, reels, baits but skimp on line and tie the wrong knots. If your line is more than a couple months old RESPOOL. Line ages fast if its not fluoro. Also,don't use fluorocarbon on topwaters it sinks too fast....etc. Also checkout some local rod makers. You will find their prices comparable or less than the high end makers. They use the same components or better plus they will repair their work until they die. Same goes with bait makers. Why give your money to the corporations? You watch Walmart will cary Loomis and Allstar someday. Good luck, fish what feels good to you or spend some money. Sometimes knowin that you spent some serious cash can make you fish better. One thing that you must remember is that if you don't have fun you will never get better, or succeed, or relax.

My best,
L.Bates

[Topwater2004]

Larry,

You are right on your posting.

I don't fish many tournaments, just the ones we organize at work.

Fishing a tournament, I prepare a lot different. I will pre-rig at least 10 rods. 6 baitcaster, 4 spinning reels.

I rig up baits to fish the entire water column, and keep rods on the deck to throw multiple presentations into the same spot. I love after a missed strike, throwing a senko right back in the area if the fish didn't taste the hook.

Also if I am fishing with someone, and they get a fish on, grab the senko rod and get ready to throw in case a fish is following my partners catch. Many times the nicest fish will be the one trying to steal the lure out of the hooked fish's mouth.

Spending a lot of money on gear is mostly unnecessary. I have tons of crankbaits, but without a doubt soft plastics will outfish crankbaits by a wide percentage.

topwater

[Tackled]

Bemuum3,
To answer your latest questions : Fiberglas and crankbaits go well together because of the limberness of the fiberglas tip. A fish can inhale a hardbait and "load up" a glasrod. Graphite rods, on the other hand, have inherently stiffer action, and at times really aggressive fish will literally let the lure be ripped from their mouths before a graphite rod reacts to the bite.
As for jerkbaits and spinnerbaitsand topwaters on one rod? not very often for me. I am 5'10" tall, and I find at that height that I am most comfortable (over an 8 hour period) throwing jerkbaits on a 6 foot spinning rod. Spinnerbaits - for me - throw best on either that little pistol grip I mentioned earlier or a 6'6" medium heavy baitcaster with pretty much flex in the tip. There are folks who throw 2 ounce ledge busters that would disagree ( as would the 1/16 ounce beetle spin crowd) but when I refer to spinnerbaits, I mostly mean the safety pin design ranging in weight from 1/4 ounce to 5/8 ounce. I throw buzzbaits and Spook type baits on baitcasters, while poppers get tied to medium action spinning rods 6'6" with a fast tip. Hope that helps

[elnutsmalljaws]

All this griping on how much it cost and what it is named wants me to suggest a pre-rigged Zebco 33 straight out of the package with the line that is spooled inside for everything but here goes.

I am not a pro, nor will ever be a pro but I use 5 rods period. KISS Method, Keep It Simple Stupid

2 - G Loomis 7' MH with fast tip spooled with 6.2:1 Curados that I use for topwater, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, heck even Carolina Rig with them.

1 - 6-6 Heavy Lighting Rod spooled with a Quantum Accurist for flippin and pitchin.

1 each 6-0, 6-6 IM8 Medium Bass Pro Rod with Quantum TI30 and TI40 spinning reels. These have an extra spool with each so I spool up one with 10lb test for daytime jig, tube, spinnerbait, crankbait or whatever. The other spool is flourescent line for night jig or tube action.

That's it. I will never be a pro but with 5 rods and 5 baits attached that is all I will need. I know this one particular fella that I was paired up with in a tournament last fall that has a 2005 Z21 Commanche, pulled by a Nissan Armada, 6 Chronarh reels on Loomis rods, plus 3 ST Croix spinning outfits, more tackle than your average bait shop, and I landed a keeper within the first 30 minutes of the tournament and asked him to fire up the livewell and he says "I have never done that before" This same guy said that he fished in over 20 tournaments last year and landed 1 keeper total. Daddy is a lawyer, mommy is a doctor, he is 23 and still living at home, get the picture. Just because you have or don't have name brand equipment doesn't mean you can or can't catch fish. This guy could not catch a keeper if his life depended on it. I caught 3 fish and weighed in a little over 5 lbs to win the tourney, on the OHIO RIVER, and he griped how hot it was all day and ate 4 turkey sandwiches and drank no telling how many Pepsi's. All dressed up and no where to go I would say.

Tight Lines

[hardestyeric]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Feb-14-06 AT 08:42AM (EST)[/font][p]To answer the original question:
7' MH fast tip for tubes and worms
7' H for light jigs
7'6" H for big jigs
7' M to ML (depends on manufacturer) for spinner baits and top waters. Maybe 6'6" for pop-r's or twitch baits.
7' Cranking rod for crank baits. BPS makes some decent cranking rods for the money.
I like the longer rods because of the extra casting distance and the fact that you move more line on the hook sets.
As far as reels go, I use all 6.3:1 reels except for cranking.
Eric H.

[bassn1516]

Here is my take on rod selection. You can go about it 2 ways, some anglers like to use the same type, size, and action of rod for every bait so they get a consistent feeling all the time. I've know a bunch of people that use this and are really good fisherman. As for me i'm still experimenting myself. I'll switch rods all the time untill i find one that i really like. The ones i like the most are:

6-6 med action rod with a 4:4-1 gear ratio for crankbaiting
6-6 med-lt action with a 6:1-1 ratio for Topwater need alot give in this rod, seem to lose less fish with this, also a great rod for shallow cranks, and Rattle-traps
6-0 med to med-lt with a 5:1-1 for spinnerbaits, found a shorter rod and shorter handle increase accuracy
7-0 med to med-hvy with a 5:1-1 for just about any bottom bait.

Everything else im still using the general 6-6 rod with a 5:1-1 ratio, seems to work good with just about everything.

As far as rod and reel makers go, my only advice is to buy the best you can afford. there is a very big difference in a $40 and $200 rod. But if you have to go cheap i agree with everyone else, go cheap on your moving baits (cranks,spinnerbaits,and topwater) and spend the extra money of good rods for Jigs and Worms the extra sensitivity and less weight really pay for themselves in the long one. But just remember we all used to catch fish with a snoopy-rod at somepoint.

[crappie66]

As you can see from Topwaters post you don't need to spend big dollars on good equipment. The fish really don't care how much you paid for your equipment. Most of those who use the $300 rods only purchase them for status symbols, you don't and won't notice that much of a difference over a $40 rod.

[hardestyeric]

I'm not going to tell you to rush out and buy a rod that costs 300 tomorrow. I agree with what Topwater said to an extent. I will give you my history and let you decide what you will.
I started out with a couple bait casters. One for cranking and one for jigs. The jig pole was a 40 or 50 dollar Shimano which I spooled with spider wire. After using it for almost a year I set the hook on a stump with my drag too tight and broke a couple guides. I then upgraded to an 80 All-Star rod. At the time I didn't think there was a better rod made. I felt things that I never had felt before and set the hook too often when nothing was there. From there I found a guy needing some money so I bought a Loomis from him that should have cost in the 300 neighborhood for 100. It has all went down hill from there. The 80 dollar All-star sits in the garage 99% of the time. There is a huge difference between a 40-50 dollar rod and one that costs 100-200. Learn to fish with what you have and grow as you get to be a better angler. Oh and by the way, I still use the same crankbait pole that cost 40 when I started.
Eric H.

[Topwater2004]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Feb-12-06 AT 08:54AM (EST)[/font][p]I fish with a couple of guys who use a Loomis. They swear they catch more fish because of it, but they don't catch more than me.

They also think when their crankbait hits a tree that it is a strike and set the hook, and then I have to back the boat up and try to save the lure, LOL.

I keep hinting that I want a Loomis for a gift, but my wife doesn't have a clue. If I bought one myself, another month watching tv in the garage.

She never will get over the $9500 I spent on a new bass boat, and guys on this board will say that boat is a piece of crap.

[hardestyeric]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Feb-14-06 AT 08:37AM (EST)[/font][p]I don't think that anyone said that they are a better fisherman that you because they have a Loomis. I think the point is that they are better than there were before they had a Loomis.
And your point about setting the hook into a tree, equipment doesn't make up for stupid. That is all about skill level, experience, and knowledge, not equipment. I can go and drop 100 grand on a new boat, new truck, all new tackle and that doesn't mean that I'm fishing the pro tour tomorrow, nobody said that.
All I'm saying is try one for a few days and see if you like it before you disagree with people spending their money on them. And don't buy a cheap GL2 or GL3, if your going to do it, buy a good one. Personally, I would save up my money, and go spend around 200 and get a Kistler. Best purchase I have ever made.
My .02
Eric H.

[Hoodaddy]

TW I agree with you on some of your veiws.It does'nt take $300 rods and $200 reels to catch fish.The one place I will disagree is on the feel of a good rod.I started about the same way as everyone else with less expensive equipment but was still having a ball and catching fish.You could right about more expensive being a status symbol. I used to think there was no difference between a 100 dollar rod and 300,but you're wrong there.The difference is like nite and day no matter if Loomis or Kistler or ???,also the weight makes a world of difference after a 12 hr. day of fishing.Most of the Loomis' I own came from winnings off of a few freinds and wintertime card games.My wife does'nt care either,she makes really good money...of course we've been divorced 17 yrs. Just keep on kickin ##### w/your less expensive equipment and tell your buddies maybe they should have invested in some fishin lessons (maybe you can make 'em a good deal...$300???).If status is why they bought them thier missing the whole point.