ABrugs

Alright, so I think this can be a fun thread to collaborate on w/ the holidays coming up and people starting to think about Christmas gifts and 2022 fishing purchases. For me personally, I've made a couple of threads and posts about consolidating my current 4 baitcasting setups into 1, high-end setup for 2022. I've decided on a G. Loomis MBR rod w/ a Shimano MGL reel and I won't be changing that. While I'm leaning towards a NRX+ 842c MBR paired w/ an Aldebaran MGL 50, I'd love to hear from you G. Loomis/Shimano fans on what combination of 'high-end' rod and reel you'd go w/ if you HAD to pick 1? As a disclaimer, I know there are a lot of opinions on high-end gear and also on other brands, but am aiming this towards G. Loomis/Shimano fans as I'm looking to enter that category next year!

I have the 7’2 MH/MF ESP that I throw my tube jigs on for smallies and I also have the 6’9 M/MF Lux that I throw my jerkbaits on. I need to preface that I just started bass fishing last year and only have experience using these 2 rods from this season. So, I don’t have the ability to compare them w/ anything else than a couple of Lew’s combos that I started w/. ^ That being said, I’ve liked both of them. However, I’m actually going to be selling all 4 of my current combos at the end of the season to consolidate and upgrade to 1 high-end setup that will be versatile and allow me to throw all of my presentations w/. FWIW, there are some YouTube videos out there that showcase some of their rods, although they’re made by their sponsored guys and more about hyping them up than doing actual reviews.

I had 4 main goals this year: 1. 160 Total SMB + LMB - I'm at 127 so far (98 LMB / 29 SMB). The last 1/4 of the season starts today and I'll be fall fishing through the end of November up here in Michigan. I think hitting this goal will come down to how much I'm able to get out and fish w/ how much traveling I'm doing for work. We'll see! 2. SMB PB (4+) - I haven't hit this goal yet. I have caught several that have been close though and over 3.5. 3. LMB PB (3+) - Yes! This was the highlight of my season. I caught my new PB and 4.54 LMB up north on vacation back in June w/ my family. What I loved even more was the following day, my 6 year-old caught one over 4 as well. That was an awesome memory. 4. Bass Resource Membership - I obviously accomplished this by creating an account on 1/1/21 and it's been incredible. I love this forum so much.

Thanks, all! I’ve known that the packaged weight is the head content only. @Catt helped me understand the logic by the different types of blades and things used to build the spinnerbait. I hadn’t considered that and it makes a lot of sense. You’re right about the Senkos, @Munkin. Normally they are pretty close to 3/8oz when you put them on the scale, but I have seen some more and some less.

Thanks, guys. I realize that and actually have one. It's more about not every lure being locally available and not desiring to buy several different spinnerbaits to test/weigh, especially w/ current availability and supply chain issues, when there are people on this forum who have them and probably are willing to share their knowledge. @CountryboyinDC and @LCG are two of them who have helped me w/ the original post. I appreciate everyone's perspectives and continue to learn new things w/ every post!

Thanks, @Catt. That makes sense and I understand it’s easier for them to do it that way. So, in general, is it fair to say that the actual weight of a spinnerbait will be double the listed weight? How does it work generally speaking w/ swim jigs? I would imagine they aren’t double the listed weight as there aren’t as many add-ons. Would that be accurate?

Do you know why that is the standard though, Tom? That can be really confusing when you’re looking for lures rated to a specific rod and I would think these manufacturers would be able to simply weigh these once complete w/ all components and then list the real, accurate weight. I’m just curious if you know the logic behind those decisions.

Wow, is that the 5/16? It’s actually more than 5/8 then. I appreciate the picture!

Yeah, I think I’m going to go w/ 12#. That would give me a little extra confidence.

@roadwarrior - I know you’ve posted before about the 842c MBR being one of your favorite production rods and I believe you mainly use it for paddle tail swimbaits and swim jigs if I’m remembering correctly. What size swimbaits/swim jigs? Any thoughts on the power of this rod for the other lures I listed in the original post?

Regarding buzzbaits, I was looking in the wrong section on TW and actually found several within the 1/8 - 1/4 range. Thanks for bringing that to my attention, @WRB.

I appreciate the advice, @freelancer27. Before I started this thread, I did some line capacity conversions for 10 and 12 lb Tatsu w/ the Aldebaran and it looks like it would hold roughly 100 yards of 10 and 85 yards of 12. I used a calculator that I believe @bulldog1935 linked to me in a previous thread, which is super helpful, to come up w/ these numbers. I’m fine w/ 85 yards if I go w/ 12 lb and have no problem re-spooling every 2 months or so. Plus, I truly just desire that NRX/Aldebaran setup. ?

@WRB - The only buzzbait I’ve seen so far that might work is made by Accent and is 1/4. Since it’s branded a ‘finesse’ version, I’m hoping the hook isn’t as heavy. I’m also hoping the same logic would apply to the War Eagle finesse spinnerbait and the Z-Man Sling Bladez finesse version. ^ I’m just curious from owners of either of these spinnerbaits if they’re truly double their package weight or not.

I've read that a lot of spinnerbaits come out to about double the weight listed on the package. I'm interested in the War Eagle Finesse Spinnerbait in 5/16 and am curious to hear the actual weight from someone who has one. Have any of you put one on the scale? The rod that will be throwing this will most likely be an 842c MBR rated up to 5/8. Thanks!

Through my first 2 seasons of bass fishing, it's definitely a 5" Yamamoto Senko in green pumpkin/black flake rigged weightless w/ a 3/0 EWG hook. This also unexpectantly caught my PB smallie.

Thanks, @waymont! That was a helpful post because I've wondered how the 842 would do w/ some of those soft plastics w/ the weights I listed. Most of them fall into the 3/8 total category, which should be right in the sweet spot of the 842. Thanks for all the opinions so far, I've seen suggestions for both, w/ 12 lb having the majority.

That’s a nice collection right there! I’ll probably be throwing soft plastics most of the time, so I don’t think I’d mind the extra sensitivity on those 3 lures when I do decide to go w/ them. I do appreciate the advice and will remember that when I tie some of those lures on.

That’s really interesting to hear, @FishTank. I’ve never seen that mentioned in any of the research I’ve done on these rods and appreciate the insight. I’ve seen and read a lot of people utilizing the MBR actions for all-purpose so I figured while it might not specialize in any one lure/technique, it would do pretty good w/ all of them.

Thanks, I appreciate you! I'm currently a bank angler and have never liked bringing more than one setup, so I'm hoping this will help me w/ the quality/sensitivity/versatility. Plus, it should be a lot of fun to fish w/! I'll add to the arsenal once I get my boat in a couple of years. We have 3 little boys w/ the youngest being born in July so my time fishing is very limited. My goal is to enjoy the times out both alone and w/ them as much as I can and am very excited to invest into this setup.

Hey, All - I need some advice on which line to go w/ between straight 10 or 12 lb Tatsu for my 1 versatile baitcasting setup. To add some context, I'm going to be consolidating my 4 current baitcasting setups into 1 for 2022 and that's already been decided. Considering the bass fishing I do and the amount of time I'm able to get out, this makes the most sense for me. So, I'm currently leaning towards a G. Loomis NRX+ 842c MBR paired w/ a Shimano Aldebaran MGL 50. The reason I'm looking at this setup is because I'd like something high-end that is very versatile for lures between 1/4 - 5/8 and what I would consider 'power finesse' fishing. I fish for both SMB and LMB up here in Michigan. These are the main lures I'll be throwing w/ this setup: 3.3" Keitech Swing Impact FAT (1/8), Megabass Vision 110 Jr./110+1 Jr., Ned Rig (1/5), tube jig (1/8), 4"/5" Yamamoto Senko (Weightless/Wacky), Rapala DT6, War Eagle Finesse Spinnerbait (5/16), Z-Man Sling Bladez Power Finesse Spinnerbait (1/4), Zoom Trick Worm (1/8), Dirty Jigs Finesse Swim Jig (1/4), and the Accent Finesse Buzzbait (5/16). ^ I'd love to know if 10 lb Tatsu is strong enough for all of these techniques? I like the idea of fitting more line on the Aldebaran, but will go w/ 12 if that is a better line for most of these lures. Also, I'm going w/ the MBR because everything I've researched has said this is one of the most versatile sticks out there.

What size Neds are you throwing on that 842 MBR? I’m highly considering that rod in a NRX+ or IMX and the Ned rig would be one of the techniques I would be using.

You are not alone! Although I just started bass fishing in 2020, I'm in a very similar spot right now. I started w/ 2 baitcasting setups last year that were each dedicated to one technique and then added 2 more baitcasting setups this year also each dedicated to specific techniques, giving me a total of 4. Through this year, I've been realizing I don't need 4 setups at all and I certainly don't need technique specific setups. I'm currently a bank angler, but will most likely be getting a boat within the next couple of years. I'm sure that will change my thought process a little bit. However and for the time being, I've decided that I will be consolidating all 4 of my setups and selling them at the end of this fishing season. I'm going to instead invest in 1 versatile setup that will throw the most common lures I use. I don't have the opportunity to fish more than once/week right now and love the idea of simplifying to 1 setup. ^ So, my current dilemma is figuring out if I want to stick w/ baitcasting or go back to my roots of spinning, which is what I grew up using in Michigan. FWIW, if I go the casting route, I'm eyeing a Loomis 842 MBR w/ an Aldebaran. If I go spinning, I'm looking at the 6'8 MXF St. Croix Legend X paired w/ a 2500 Stradic FL. One of the best things I've learned through my first 2 seasons is what type of bass fishing I like to do, which is what I would define as 'power finesse'. I love throwing lighter/smaller lures and primarily target smallies. I'm not sure which direction I'm going to go, but I can say w/o a doubt that I'm really excited to go from 4 setups to 1, simplify my fishing, and be more versatile. This was a great post/topic by the way!

I’m in the same position being a bank angler and am strongly considering selling the 4 combos I currently have and upgrading to 1 MBR setup based on all the research I’ve done on them. Most of the lures I throw are in the 3/8 oz range and I’m thinking the NRX+ 842 MBR paired w/ a Shimano Aldebaran MGL 50 would be a phenomenal setup.

Alright, I have an update. I found a photo of the Vanford 2500 on the Tackle Warehouse website and it had the specs by mm/m listed! I took this information and plugged it into the awesome calculator that @bulldog1935 provided and I have the exact numbers for both 6# and 8# Tatsu on the Vanford 2500: 6# - 238 Meters > 260 Yards 8# - 181 Meters > 197 Yards Shimano lists 200 yards of 6# mono for the 2500, so I think it’s safe to assume that 6# mono within Shimano’s line diameter ratings = 8# Tatsu, or 0.09”. Given this, here is what 8# Tatsu would look like on the Vanford 2000 and the Stradic FL 1000: Vanford 2000 - 165 Yards Stradic FL 1000 - 110 Yards ^ So it looks like I could choose any of these 3 great spinning reels and have plenty of line capacity w/ 8# Tatsu. I hope this is helpful for others as well and I once again appreciate all of the advice and help here!

Thanks for all the responses! This is really helpful. @QED - That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking and why the 2000 has been at the top of the list. I’m not 100% set on the rod I’ll be pairing this w/ yet, but it’s most likely going to be a St. Croix Legend X or a G. Loomis NRX+. I love the idea of pairing one of those rods w/ a 5.3 oz reel that could hold around 165 yards of 8# Tatsu, assuming it does actually have the same diameter as what Shimano suggests for 6# mono. @The Bassman - I definitely see your point and will be considering the 2500 as well. I just didn’t think I needed that much line capacity. If it would really help w/ line management since I’m considering straight Tatsu, that’s an excellent angle to consider. Thanks! @Boomstick - Very helpful! Thanks!