Toeshots

Straight braid? Straight FC? Straight YZ Hybrid? Braid with FC leader? Braid with YZH leader? These seem to be the different setups people are using. My jig fishing will take place around docks, weeds, steep rocky drop-offs and occasional fallen timber. Water ranges from clear to murky. Which one of the above will best handle various types of cover and water clarity? I know that braid is near-zero stretch and can more easily cut the rough the weeds, but it also has a higher visibility and is more prone to abrasion. FC has high sensitivity and durability but can be finicky and can lack knot strength. YZ Hybrid is durable, easier to work with than FC and has solid knot strength, however stretch and sensitivity are its weak points. I'd love to avoid multiple respools, so is there a setup that will at least get me most of the way there in essentially all applications? I have limited experience with braid and zero experience with FC so any input you guys can give me would be much appreciated.

Edit: Think I'll go with the Premier Crankbait 6'6" M/M actually. Reviews are VERY good and definitely better than the Mojo line. This site is going to be the end of me...

Didn't realize gears could be swapped with relative ease. Could be useful if I can find a great deal on a reel that may not be the specific gear ratio and IPT I was looking for.

Can't argue with the logic/physics. It all comes down to me getting the different length rods in my hand then making the decision. When factoring in the handle, I've realized these 7-footers really are not drastically longer than I'm used to.

I always appreciate a suggestion. By light/medium in talking mostly 1/4 - 1/2 oz and bumping up to 3/4 at times as well. I fish a lot of rocky an weedy bottoms.

Yea I think I'll be taking the rod out of service. Maybe I'll throw a small, cheap reel on it and just keep it as a beater or to use when just doing some casual fishing off the dock.

Thanks for thorough reply. I guess my thought on breaking off the tip was that I broke off the fast action section and shortened a rod the was built to be longer. I would expect the action to be slower as a result. I agree that the 5:1 is not really necessary for the Shad Raps. I may end up going that route anyways, though, as I will have the setup the go little bigger and deeper should I decide to do so.

Very nice collection!

You make a very good point about getting a Heavy. So what are the main advantages of a 7' vs. 6'6"? Casting distance is probably slightly improved, but I'm guess it's mostly a leverage thing.

Looking for M/M

Looking for a Crankbait rod and have it narrowed down to these two. I throw light to medium size crankbaits in 12' or less of water. Anybody prefer one of these St. Croix rods over the other? If so, why?

Thanks for the info. The rod space in the boat is not an issue, but unfortunately the casting space is. Also, I'm not saying I have to limit them to 6'6", but I'm wondering if the bump up to 7' would really provide that much more benefit for me, or if it would end up being more of a hassle than anything. Regardless, I've done some research and I'm really liking the following: Jig Rod - St. Croix Avid 6'6" MH/F Crankbait Rod - St. Croix Premier Crankbait 6'6" M/M There is also a St. Croix special running so I would get a free St. Croix Rage Rod if I bought the two listed above. The Rage's reviews are less than stellar, so maybe I'd just sell it and use the money towards the next rod or maybe a reel. I suppose I'll at least see how it feels when I head to BPS next week.

To be honest, I don't know exactly what I'm looking (besides castability) and that's the problem. I guess just some different shapes/sizes/actions/sounds, basically anything that contrasts the Shad Raps so I can have a more versatile crankbait lineup.

Very cool of you, PM Sent!

Tons of recommendations - thanks! I am going to BPS next week with some gift cards, so I will be sure to make a list of some of these so I can check them out.

RW, thanks for the response and I agree that that those will cover just about everything, however I am looking to have the different setups always ready to go. Is it overkill? Absolutely, but I'd still like to make it happen! At this point, I'm mostly concerned about selecting the right rods. The reels are certainly in the works, but I want to make sure i get the rods right first. Rod specs would be just fine then I can do the research and pick the brand I think will be the best fit. Here's an updated version of what I want: 1) Jig Rod for casting/pitching light/moderate cover 2) T-Rig Worm Rod (probably will be the same as the Jig Rod) 3) Crankbait Rod to cover crankbaits running 2-12ft 4) Spinnerbait Rod Can you guys help me get a good idea of specs on each of these? Also, as I mentioned in the first post, space in the boat generally tends to be a little limited and I am 5'7" in height, so if the somewhat longer-length rods (7' and up) wont put me at a disadvantage, It would be nice to max out around the 6'6" range. Thanks!

Well, I guess more specifically I have fallen into too much of a comfort zone with Shad Raps. The DT series is something I'd certainly try out.

I've grown up almost exclusively using Rapala #7 Shad Raps, and while they have been fairly good to me, I'd like to expand and try out some new brands. I do most of my fishing in 0-12 ft of water, so I am looking for suggestions on some crankbaits that can cover various depths in that range. The two main places I fish are 1) clear water with a weedy bottom, and 2) stained water with a rocky bottom. So, what are some of the good, non-Rapala cranks I can throw? It would be nice to throw something that's a bit heavier...

Thanks for all the info, guys. Seems like Shimano would be the best option at that price point, although, in looking around some more, it looks like buying used may be the best bang for the buck. It brings $200 rods and reels into my budget which opens the door to a lot more choices. There's a local guy that sells a lot of used, higher-end gear. I've been researching the stuff he has, so if something really peaks my interest, I'll probably ****** it up. Time is on my side as it's not exactly fishing season here in the Midwest.

Checked out the following today at BPS: - Diawa TD Pro - BPS Johnny Morris Carbonlite - Abu Garcia Revo S - Shimano Citica - Browning Midas In terms of feel in the palm, I though the Diawa and BPS felt the most solid followed closely by the Browning. However, the reviews contradict the feel. Based on the reviews, these reels appear to be generally ranked: T-1 - Shimano/Browning 3 - AG Revo 4 - BPS JM Carbonlite 5 - Diawa TD Pro My next baitcaster will likely be one if these five. Can anybody comment as to the performance and durability of these reels? Obviously the feel of a demo doesn't mean much...

I am trying to get a 3 rod/reel setup going and was looking for some recommendations as to what specs I should be aiming for in each. Here is what I have right now: Reels: Baitcaster 7.1:1 Ratio and 29" per turn Baitcaster 6.4:1 Ratio and 28" per turn Rods: 6' Medium power with fast tip 5'6" (previously 6' med power/fast tip) which has been repaired after snapping at the tip. This probably gives it a medium action tip. I am hoping I can salvage this rod and put it into practical use, if reasonably possible. Additional info: I do 99% of my fishing in a boat of less than 20ft in length with at least 1 other person in it (usually 2). As space will be limited, I would like to avoid rods over 6'6" as long as its not a significant detriment to the ability to hook/land bass. Also, I am 5'7", if that has much of an effect on proper rod length. Here are the 3 setups I am looking to have: 1. Rig for casting/pitching jigs in light to moderate cover. I'm thinking the 7.1:1 for this and buying a 6'6" MH rod with a fast tip to pair it up with. This rig will probably be used 60% of the time. 2. Rig for Texas-Rigged plastics in light to moderate cover. I'm thinking the 6.4:1 and another 6'6" MH with a fast tip. This rig will probably be used 30% of the time. 3. Rig for shallow/medium depth crankbaits (generally fishing in less than 8ft of water), spinnerbaits, and topwaters. For this I am looking at a 5.2:1 reel with 21" per turn. I am not sure on the rod. Would the 6' medium power with fast tip that I already own be good for this? I am a big fan of Rapalas (SR and SSR #7's) which are pretty lightweight, so I will need to be able to get some distance out of the casts. This rig will be used when not using one of the two listed above. Any and all suggestions or comments on my thoughts would be very much appreciated! ***See updated post below***