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Rod Selection: The Basics


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Wow, things have gotten complicated. I'm not even 40 and I can remember when we just got ourselves a 2-3 ball reel and a 6'6" MH rod and called it our Bass Rig.

Why is it that you need a specific rod for plastics than a rattletrap? And for that matter...for those of us who don't have that measly 10grand laying about for a boat, how do you bank fish a small lake/large pond with 3 different rigs?

The best thing for me to ask is what single rod will catch me fish the best if I'm using anything from plastic worms to rattletraps to buzzbaits to jigs? (I know there's got to be one because they used to make them.)

My current rig is a 22y.o. speed spool with an Ambassadeur 2000 IM6 rod.

I have a new Speed Spool on a Shakespeare Alpha IM7 rod, but considering a Bucoo Micro rod for it. Any help?

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Oh yeah...one more thing...we never talked about a rods 'action' back then. It was light, medium light, medium, medium heavy, and heavy.

What's with all this MH fast action jazz y'all are talking about? It's confusing.

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  • Super User

What's with all this MH fast action jazz y'all are talking about? It's confusing.

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/35514-rods-power-and-action-%C2%A0defined/

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Alright, so I was ay wally world and they had Bucoo micro's on sale for $99. I bought a Herm (6'6" MH, MF) went fishing along the weeds and losst 3 fish. I feel like the 6'6" MH felt more like a straight-up medium, so I exchanged it for a 6'10" H, MF. I have not lost a fish yet. I guess Rick Clunn is right. You do really only need 1 rod and it needs to be a "H", hahaha!

For the super-experienced fisherman with a little quicker hook-set reflexes...multiple rigs may be helpful.

I gotta tell ya though guys'n'gals, I love my 22y.o. Lew's BB-1LMG, but my new 10-ball speed spool on this Bucoo is so much more fun to fish! I'm pretty happy with it for unweighted Senko's up to cranks and heavy jigs.

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I use 5 rods:

 

6'6" MHF with a 6.2:1 baitcaster for texas rigging, carolina rigging and plastic swimbaits/jerkbaits

6'10" MM with a 5.4:1 baitcaster for crankbaits

7' MHF with a 6.4:1 baitcaster for spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and swimming jigs

7' HXF with a 7.1:1 baitcaster for frogs, swimbaits and flipping/pitching jigs

7' MXF with a 6.2:1 spinning reel for shaky heads and wacky rigs

 

I need to get a 6th rod for topwater and jerkbaits and then my arsenal will be complete...for now. :)

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6'8 casting MMF crank and jerkbaits

6'10 spinning MF light t rigs, dropshot, flukes

7' casting HF  heavy jigs,spinnerbaits,chatterbaits

7' casting MHF t rigs, swim jigs

7' casting MFshaky heads, senkos

7'6 casting MHF A-Rigs

7'6 casting MF swimbaits/buzzbaits

7'6 casting XHXF frogs

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Wow, you guys are really out there. Even if you buy mid-lower gear, that's gotta be over a grand just in rods and reels. I can't imagine having a seperate rod for every bait, but I'm glad some are so fortunate and so picky. That's what drives innovation and gets the trickle-down going my direction.

Gear is fun to get and to have...but definitely not necessary. Just fun.

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For my spinning rod I use a regular 6'6 lightning rod it's perfect for pretty much everything you are going to throw. I catch plenty of bass on mine

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hey guys, im matt im 17 and i live on cape cod, i just started fishing and im using an old rod and reel and i was wondering if any one had any suggestions for a new rod, i currently have a spinning reel, i dont know wether i should be using that or a bait caster, any suggestions would be a huge help!

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All this started 10-12 years ago when the tackle companies came up with a strategy to sell more rods by marketing "technique specific" gear. There is so much variation from one manufacturer to the next that calling a rod a "worm rod" is meaningless.

Fenwick used a "power" system, a 4 power was a light action rod, 5 power was a medium (standard) action, and 6 power was a heavy action. These three covered all the bases, for baitcasting anyway.

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the consensus seems to be (for a single 'all around' rod) 6'6"-7' medium/heavy fast action. What I've found with the Falcon Bucoo is that it feels lighter than average. (I"m not the only one to observe this) So with this rod, I moved to a Heavy.

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  • 4 weeks later...

 

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

 

 

RW - now I'm curious about the MM.  What steers you toward the MM instead of MHM?  Would the MHM offer more versatility for a wider range of cranks, or do you think it's overkill for all but the deep-divers?

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  • Super User

Overkill.

 

My heavy rod is a Lamiglas SR705R which I use for deep diving cranbaits. 

 

This for medium weight lures:  https://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/pinnacle-optimus-xlt-dhc-review.html

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I think the MHM 7'2" Extreme is as close to a one rod multi purpose for cranks, spinners, and T and C rigs as their ever was, the drawback I see to using it for smaller cranks and s-bills is throwing the lighter lures, and it is the MM Avid I turn to for a two rod perfect set up for most Crank'n, it throws the smaller baits better and is more forgiving with the smaller trebles and lighter line. I like having MHF ready for jigs but most times (as I am not tournament fishing) am well covered with these two rods. 

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • Super User

What would be the number one choice of line on each of those three set ups?

Spinning tackle = Yo-Zuri Hybrid #6

 

Baitcasting (MF or MHF) = Yo-Zuri Hybrid #12

 

Baitcasting (MM) = #12 Sunline Super Natural Monofilament

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What would a good rod be for flipping and punching? I'm looking to go as inexpensive as possible since I don't do tourneys or competitions. If it helps you give me a better answer, where i fish there is a lot, and I mean A LOT of submerged moss and sticks and other various vegetation. Thanks!

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Different companies label their rods differently. MHX uses this concept

CB843=

CB means crank bait action, most of the bend is toward the middle so the rod gives when the fish inhales the lure

84 means 84"- 7' rod

3 means 3 power, but their chart gives you the actual weight rating.

Lamiglas, alstar and Loomis use the same method.

The best tip I can give anyone is to build your own. You can get the parts and spend $75-and have a custom that many would drop $2-300 for.

Check out rodbuilder.org or Google Tom Kirkman.... They hold a show in mid NC each February. The more you know about the rods, the better decisions you can make.

Catchemall!!!

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Wow no one is a fan of ML rods? Over the years I've slowly moved down from MH rods to ML. I mainly fish everything from senkos, rooster tails, to rattle traps.

 

My current set up is 6.6ft MLF St.Croix Legend Elite 3000/ stradic ci4+ with 20lb PP (gonna put 10lb PP soon)

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