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Rod Selection: The Basics


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On 5/10/2014 at 5:59 AM, roadwarrior said:

MM = Medium Power/ Moderate Action

What 7' MM  Baitcasting rods do you like? I'm looking to stay under $140. Thx

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I fish almost exclusively for smallmouth and rock bass in the streams in the Smoky Mountains with small crank baits and jigs. The fish here are usually on the small side. So, I use ultra lite spinning gear. My favorite rod for these small fish is a vintage Berkley Cherrywood 5 1/2'.

Joe

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Like most have said I think 6 rod/reel setups will suit most of everyones needs.  I think you will find that the real issue with getting the proper setup is line preference.  Sometimes I need mono...sometimes fluorocarbon....sometimes braid, it really depends on the situation.  For instance, I have three or 4 texas rigs ret up at all times: 65 lb braid, 20 lb fluoro, 17 lb fluoro, etc.  Yes I could get by with 1 rod rigged with 20lb fluorocarbon but it is not always ideal for each situation.  Maybe you could just have a few reels rigged up with different lines to swap out while on the water, but if you are a tournament fisherman every cast counts and that would surely waste valuable time.

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  • 3 weeks later...
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Has anyone ever used KastKing rods? I’m thinking of picking up a couple of them. I have one of their spinning reels and I like it. I was thinking of getting a couple rods and a baitcaster and spinning. I’m trying to downsize my collection of crappy combos and get nicer but affordable new ones. Thank you!!

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9 minutes ago, Rockula said:

Has anyone ever used KastKing rods? I’m thinking of picking up a couple of them. I have one of their spinning reels and I like it. I was thinking of getting a couple rods and a baitcaster and spinning. I’m trying to downsize my collection of crappy combos and get nicer but affordable new ones. Thank you!!

I have the KK twin tip 7' casting rod (M/MH) and 6'7 M/F spinning rod. I like them both, but really like the 6'7 for $42 (sale price). I tried to pair a KK Centron 2000 with the 6'7, but felt the build quality was not great. For a little more money I like Pflueger President spinning reels.

 

I returned a KK Speed Demon 6'8 Jerkbait casting rod, only because I found the handle length longer than my liking, but the build quality was good, no idea about sensitivity though.

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Hey guys,

 

I am am thinking about purchasing a new casting rod for all-around use. Something under $120. I have minimal knowledge about casting rods, and overwhelmed by all of the choices. Any recommendations? Anyone like Lews Tournament Performance Tp1 Speed Stick? Any suggestions/reviews are appriciated. Thank you.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Well i can tell this is mostly northern angler thread. 

 I agree that pros tend to tell us we need rods for every purpose. Got to promote those sponsors.

 I can get it by with 3 but 6 is more like it.

Only three phosphate pit fishing

1. 6'6" medium , fast action spinning

2. 6'6" heavy, fast action

3. 6'6" medium heavy, moderate composite graphite or fiberglass.

Lots of skipping lures and precise target work.

If im working 

Any large natural lakes 

Then 

Up to 7 ft 

However

3 additional rods

Flipping stick 7'11" xxh, moderate fast

7'6" heavy jig ( emergent pads reeds etc. ) 7'11 heavy, moderate composite crank stick

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  • 4 weeks later...
On 12/24/2018 at 9:13 PM, tw3aker said:

Well i can tell this is mostly northern angler thread. 

 I agree that pros tend to tell us we need rods for every purpose. Got to promote those sponsors.

 I can get it by with 3 but 6 is more like it.

Only three phosphate pit fishing

1. 6'6" medium , fast action spinning

2. 6'6" heavy, fast action

3. 6'6" medium heavy, moderate composite graphite or fiberglass.

Lots of skipping lures and precise target work.

If im working 

Any large natural lakes 

Then 

Up to 7 ft 

However

3 additional rods

Flipping stick 7'11" xxh, moderate fast

7'6" heavy jig ( emergent pads reeds etc. ) 7'11 heavy, moderate composite crank stick

Good point. The rod selection really depends on the size of the fish and the density of the cover in the lakes you fish . Rod setups will be a completely different fishing Lake Sinclair and Chickamauga Lake. Lakes with heavy laydowns, dense mats and big bass will require a stronger outfit. Using a heavy outfit in the SW Ohio reservoirs is overkill and takes away from the experience. Heck in the Chesapeake Bay we pull 40" Stripers with ML rods becasuse there is no cover. RoadWarriors suggestion for a three rod setup covers a lot of bases but everyone has to adapt their individual needs based on their preferred lakes. I'm in the camp with Road Warrior in that I like to keep it simple. 

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  • 1 month later...

So I have way more rods/reels than I need or can even manage. I’m making a focused effort to do a better job and keep my boat less cluttered. What I have finally settled on is an approach that I am finding works well for me. 

 

On my my last trip I put the 4-5 casting rods I like best and my two best spinning rods in my small rod locker. These are just rods, no reels. I then fill up a pistol case with a big assortment of my favorite reels loaded with a variety of different weights and types of line. The reels stay in the truck or hotel while traveling, so that has the added advantage of minimizing loss should someone break into my rod locker.

 

Once I’m on the water I mix and match reels and rods as desired to give me the ideal combo. I’m sure others have done this but it’s new to me and so far as haven’t found a down side.

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  • 4 months later...

Something I have never understood, and I've looked all over the web for the answer...Why do rod manufacturers and even the retailers confuse a Rod' action with its power? 

The industry defined a long time ago these 2 terms. We all know what they mean. So why does the equipment industry continue to mix up these two basic characteristics?

As an example, you can go on Gander outdoors website right now and try to search for a rod using their filtering options. When you select the drop down list for the "Action" filter, it lists "Heavy, Medium Heavy, Medium, Light, ultra light".

?????

Those are Powers!!! Not actions!!!

I can go to any fishing retailer, an actual store or online, and look at the rods they have for sale. I will guarantee you that at least half of them list something on the side like:  "Medium Heavy Action".   Or they will just say "Medium Heavy".

This is beyond frustrating.

To me, it's like shopping for a new sportscar. I ask the salesman: "How fast is this car...like, what is the speed performance like?"  Meaning, "top MPH", "1/4 mile time", "0-60 time"...etc.

The salesman says:  "Oh, it weighs 3800 pounds". 

Or...maybe (a little closer) the salesman says:  "Oh, it has 260 horse power".

 

Ummm… Great!  Good, interesting information...But that is NOT what I asked!

 

That is exactly what it feels like when I am rod shopping!

Makes me insane!!

 

Words have meanings!

Let's all try to stay on the same dictionary..huh?!

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Last month this July I caught a 8lb, 5lb, 4lb largemouth bass on a cheap Daiwa rod that is easy 20 years old and a 60.00 dollar Shamano quick draw spinning reel, my daughter gave me the reel a couple of years back for my birthday. Fishing is technique and baits, not reels and rods.  It's nice to have really good gear, but no matter what you say it will not necessarily catch more fish for ya, it might boost your confidence, but you ought to already be confident without thousands of dollars of fishing stuff.   One nice rod in the midrange power, same for reel, learn to fish the baits and the technique you used to catch the fish!  Thats called a pattern and it works always (if the fish are biting).  I've seen men catch a bunch of fish out of lakes and rivers with nothing but plain fishing line and a hook rolled up on a stick. 

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5 minutes ago, Bigassbass said:

Last month this July I caught a 8lb, 5lb, 4lb largemouth bass on a cheap Daiwa rod that is easy 20 years old and a 60.00 dollar Shamano quick draw spinning reel, my daughter gave me the reel a couple of years back for my birthday. Fishing is technique and baits, not reels and rods.  It's nice to have really good gear, but no matter what you say it will not necessarily catch more fish for ya, it might boost your confidence, but you ought to already be confident without thousands of dollars of fishing stuff.   One nice rod in the midrange power, same for reel, learn to fish the baits and the technique you used to catch the fish!  Thats called a pattern and it works always (if the fish are biting).  I've seen men catch a bunch of fish out of lakes and rivers with nothing but plain fishing line and a hook rolled up on a stick. 

I've caught fish on a cane pole.  I don't think that's a relevant point to the discussion, however.

It would be hard to argue against my thoughts that there are a number of factors or attributes that can be found in more expensive gear that very well might translate to more or bigger fish:

-Quality drag

-Rod Sensitivity

-Rod characteristics that match the intended lures

-Rod (and even reel) weight and balance

-Brake system that can be adequately adjusted to suit you

 

 

I'm not totally discounting your point that @Catt frequently makes about the most important equipment being between your ears....but I also don't think it can be discounted that some aspects of the gear can be important.

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Yes I agree totally, it's sad that fishing gear is hard to sale or at least cheap fishing gear.  I use to buy bunches of stuff until I ran out of room to store it, now I try and spend time fishing instead of collecting.  Just saying and hey to each his own whatever wiggles your worm.  

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  • 1 month later...

I just got a Dobyns Fury 703, 7 ft MH Fast action for Worms, Texas Rigs, Jigs, etc.. and I also ordered a Shimano SLX combo in the 7'2" MF Xtra Fast Action for a little bit heavier single hook baits, both baitcasters

 

But my question is about my other setups, I usually kayak fish and like shorter rods, so I have a 6 ft Medium Ugly Stik GX2 baitcaster and a 6 ft Medium Fast Action Spinning Rod. But I've been doing a lot more bank fishing this year with the rivers being so low and often too much wind for lake kayaking. I would like to use the Ugly Stick Gx2 as a crankbait rod cuz it does have some decent bend to it and I've caught a lot of fish on it already from the kayak, and I'd like to use the 6 ft spinning rod for my lighter lures. But would it be a good idea to get longer rods for bank fishing or would I be ok with those 6ft rods?

 

I also have a 6'10 Lews Speed stick that is Medium Fast Action, but it's really stiff and seems more like a xtra fast, but it actually says it's for crankbaits, topwater, and small spinnerbaits, but it seems to fish plastics better, wouldn't you agree it's more suited for single hooks? And could it also be a jerkbait rod or is the stiffness in the tip not good for those?

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Hey bassresources crew how's it going.  I had a question and I'm wondering if someone can help me out.  Im fairly new to the fishing game but I've always been interested ever since I was a little boy. I was just wondering for me first starting out which rod should I use? I was looking at a couple on Ebay and I've narrowed the list down to 3 I think might be ok to use but I'd really like someone's opinion.  Also RW you seem to be pretty knowledgeable sir feel free to chime in I'd love your opinion.  So I've been looking at these three here:

 

 

Scott TIDAL Fly Rod • 9 Weight, 9 Ft, 4 pc


KastKing Royale Legend Casting & Spinning Fishing Rod 1 & 2 pc Bass Fishing Pole


KastKing Speed Demon Pro Tournament Series Fishing Rods - 1Pc Spinning & Casting

 

 

 

If anyone has a review to give on any of these rods please let me know i would greatly appreciate it! I plan on taking my boys fishing soon before it starts to get really cold over here in Virginia. 

 

Thanks 

 

 

 

 

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  • 1 month later...
On 2/4/2014 at 2:37 PM, roadwarrior said:

For enthusiasts, technique specific gear is fun
to collect. However, three rigs cover all the
basics:

#1 6 1/2' or 7' MHF 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

 

Any thoughts on the aird-x casting rods. Looking to get my first baitcaster and mainly throw baits around 1/4oz any suggestions? Thanks

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8 minutes ago, Steve S said:

Any thoughts on the aird-x casting rods. Looking to get my first baitcaster and mainly throw baits around 1/4oz any suggestions? Thanks

 

Personally, I have trouble casting 1/4oz squarebills on my 7' MHF Aird-X, but it's doable.  I imagine the 6'6" and 7' MF could do it pretty well.

 

Keep in mind that after you add lead or tungsten to many soft plastic presentations as well as the plastic itself you've typically exceeded 1/4oz by quite a few fractions.  A senko, for instance, is a heavy bait, so keep that in mind when you're selecting your Aird-X.  They're fine rods, an excellent budget offering, and I own two.  They're good sticks for moving baits but I would put braid on whatever reel you're using if it's for bottom contact.  The sensitivity has been pretty poor in my opinion.

 

Your mileage may vary.

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10 minutes ago, Steve S said:

Any thoughts on the aird-x casting rods. Looking to get my first baitcaster and mainly throw baits around 1/4oz any suggestions? Thanks

I've got three Aird-X's - 6'6" M/F, 7' MH/F and 7'H/F. They do what I ask them to and have enough sensitivity for me.

 

For the 1/4 oz lures I'd go with a M/F - 6'6" or 7'...your preference on length.

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On 10/16/2019 at 10:49 PM, Fishing guy 77 said:

Hey bassresources crew how's it going.  I had a question and I'm wondering if someone can help me out.  Im fairly new to the fishing game but I've always been interested ever since I was a little boy. I was just wondering for me first starting out which rod should I use? I was looking at a couple on Ebay and I've narrowed the list down to 3 I think might be ok to use but I'd really like someone's opinion.  Also RW you seem to be pretty knowledgeable sir feel free to chime in I'd love your opinion.  So I've been looking at these three here:

 

 

Scott TIDAL Fly Rod • 9 Weight, 9 Ft, 4 pc


KastKing Royale Legend Casting & Spinning Fishing Rod 1 & 2 pc Bass Fishing Pole


KastKing Speed Demon Pro Tournament Series Fishing Rods - 1Pc Spinning & Casting

 

 

 

If anyone has a review to give on any of these rods please let me know i would greatly appreciate it! I plan on taking my boys fishing soon before it starts to get really cold over here in Virginia. 

 

Thanks 

 

 

 

 

I use Speed Demon pro's, rods and reels.....good stuff. 

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23 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I've got three Aird-X's - 6'6" M/F, 7' MH/F and 7'H/F. They do what I ask them to and have enough sensitivity for me.

 

For the 1/4 oz lures I'd go with a M/F - 6'6" or 7'...your preference on length.

At what point would you bump up to the Medium Heavy?

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