This year I am getting a little more serious with bass fishing, and feel the need to upgrade my current setup of rods and reels. They were mostly cheaper gear that got me into bass fishing, but I am looking to get a little higher quality gear. I have spent a ton of time doing research on what might best fit my fishing style and situations. I feel as though I am starting fresh on a clean slate, and will be building from here on out.

 

At this point, I should also state that 100% of my fishing will be done from shore or in my new kayak. This means that space will be at a premium, so I don't plan to have any more than four rods with me at any given time. Three being baitcasters, and one spinning setup. So here goes.

 

 

Baitcasters

 

Powell Endurance 714 Heavy-Ex Fast : Lews Tournament Pro 7.1

• Jigs as well as similar techniques

Phenix M1 7'2 Heavy-Ex Fast : Abu Garcia Revo SX 6.4

• Spinnerbaits/Chatterbaits/Bladebaits
• Texas Rigs

Dobyns Champion 703C Medium Heavy-Fast : Shimano Curado/Chronarch I/E 7.x

• Flukes
• Senkos
• All around / General purpose

Dobyns Champion 705CB Glass Medium Heavy-Fast : Lews BB1 5.1

• Crankbaits
• Treble-hook type lures

 

Spinning

 

Fenwick Elite Tech 6'9" Medium-Ex Fast : Pflueger Supreme MGX 6.2

• Jerkbaits
• Dropshot
• All around / General purpose spinning

 

 

What do you guys think? Does this sound like a good starting point? Did I overlook something? My main goal is to be covered in most situations that I will encounter. And just in case it matters, I live and fish mostly in Wisconsin.

 

That looks like an awesome, well-thought out arsenal.

Looks good to me. Anyone would be proud of these selections.

That looks like an awesome, well-thought out arsenal.

 

X2

That looks like a great start to me...that spinning rod is THE BOMB. I have mine paired up with a Symetre 2500 FI, I also own a 7'0 Aetos M/F paired with a Stradic FJ 2500.  Basically day in day out both of these rods are with me no matter what the day calls for, they are just that versatile.  So basically they see more on the water time than any of my other setups. 

3 out of 5 extra fast rods? I know its preference, and I dont care for them. Have you used extra fast rods a lot before? do you know that you will like them? and the first 2 are both heavy ex-fast.

I think you can combine the Phoenix and Powell 714 into the same rod. Pick one as they are basically the same.

This year I am getting a little more serious with bass fishing, and feel the need to upgrade my current setup of rods and reels. They were mostly cheaper gear that got me into bass fishing, but I am looking to get a little higher quality gear. I have spent a ton of time doing research on what might best fit my fishing style and situations. I feel as though I am starting fresh on a clean slate, and will be building from here on out.

At this point, I should also state that 100% of my fishing will be done from shore or in my new kayak. This means that space will be at a premium, so I don't plan to have any more than four rods with me at any given time. Three being baitcasters, and one spinning setup. So here goes.

Baitcasters

Powell Endurance 714 Heavy-Ex Fast : Lews Tournament Pro 7.1

• Jigs as well as similar techniques

Phenix M1 7'2 Heavy-Ex Fast : Abu Garcia Revo SX 6.4

• Spinnerbaits/Chatterbaits/Bladebaits
• Texas Rigs

Dobyns Champion 703C Medium Heavy-Fast : Shimano Curado/Chronarch I/E 7.x

• Flukes
• Senkos
• All around / General purpose

Dobyns Champion 705CB Glass Medium Heavy-Fast : Lews BB1 5.1

• Crankbaits
• Treble-hook type lures

Spinning

Fenwick Elite Tech 6'9" Medium-Ex Fast : Pflueger Supreme MGX 6.2

• Jerkbaits
• Dropshot
• All around / General purpose spinning

What do you guys think? Does this sound like a good starting point? Did I overlook something? My main goal is to be covered in most situations that I will encounter. And just in case it matters, I live and fish mostly in Wisconsin.

I would drop those first two rods down the medium heavy. I like extra fast rods but I flip,pitch, throw a frog and swim a jig in some really thick stuff and I don't even own a heavy just too stiff for me.

3 out of 5 extra fast rods? I know its preference, and I dont care for them. Have you used extra fast rods a lot before? do you know that you will like them? and the first 2 are both heavy ex-fast.

 

I generally like, and don't mind, a faster tip. Although I haven't ever used a Heavy-Ex Fast. I didn't even really think twice about the fact that there were 3 ex-fast rods I selected, but I think it was more coincidence than me intentionally looking for ex-fast tip rods. Thanks for pointing this out, this will give me something more to think about.

I think you can combine the Phoenix and Powell 714 into the same rod. Pick one as they are basically the same.

 

The reason I chose the Phenix M1 was because from what research I could find on it, the Heavy action rod is more like a Medium Heavy. I also looked at the Phenix Bass Recon 2 rods as well, however, of all the rods I have selected, this is the one that I am most unsure/flexible about changing. What it came down to was I couldn't really find any other rods that might fit the bill of using bladed baits within this price range. Certainly I could have threw in another Dobyns, but I figured this option could save a little cost.

 

I am open to any suggestions thought that you feel might fit this bill well. Any rod in particular come to mind?

I would drop those first two rods down the medium heavy. I like extra fast rods but I flip,pitch, throw a frog and swim a jig in some really thick stuff and I don't even own a heavy just too stiff for me.

 

I too do not like very stiff rods at all. Every time I am in a store looking at rods and pick up a heavy rod, I always think to myself this is ridiculously stiff, why would anyone want to fish with this? That was also my mentality when first getting into bass fishing, so right now my cheaper gear consists of only medium power rods. But after a good amount of research and asking around I concluded that I would need the extra power for fishing 1/2 football jigs in deeper water for example. Also, in selecting the heavy power rods, I wanted to make sure they would still have a good amount of sensitivity and not feel like a broom. I feel as though the Endurance 714 would be the best option here for me.

 

Do you think I could get away with using a Medium Heavy for heavier jigs in deeper water? Like I said I am all for lighter rods, but am only choosing these based on my findings from articles and inputs from other people.

That looks like a great start to me...that spinning rod is THE BOMB. I have mine paired up with a Symetre 2500 FI, I also own a 7'0 Aetos M/F paired with a Stradic FJ 2500.  Basically day in day out both of these rods are with me no matter what the day calls for, they are just that versatile.  So basically they see more on the water time than any of my other setups. 

 

That is what I have heard from many others as well, and is why I chose that particular rod. I couldn't really find any other spinning rods that I really liked. I don't recall ever handling an Elite Tech before but I have felt the HMG and Aetos in stores and they felt really good. I love spinning rods because I grew up using them and to me they are my most versatile setup. I currently use a St. Croix Triumph. It's nothing special, but I've had it for a long time now and it gets the job done!

Swap the Phoenix for a powell endurance 723. Excellent rod for the apps you mentioned.

I did, and am still seriously considering that particular rod too. I wanted to start with some brand variation, but the Endurance line gets so many good reviews it's hard to not want a bunch of them. lol

I too do not like very stiff rods at all. Every time I am in a store looking at rods and pick up a heavy rod, I always think to myself this is ridiculously stiff, why would anyone want to fish with this? That was also my mentality when first getting into bass fishing, so right now my cheaper gear consists of only medium power rods. But after a good amount of research and asking around I concluded that I would need the extra power for fishing 1/2 football jigs in deeper water for example. Also, in selecting the heavy power rods, I wanted to make sure they would still have a good amount of sensitivity and not feel like a broom. I feel as though the Endurance 714 would be the best option here for me.

Do you think I could get away with using a Medium Heavy for heavier jigs in deeper water? Like I said I am all for lighter rods, but am only choosing these based on my findings from articles and inputs from other people.

Lord yes. As sharp as today's hooks are it doesn't take a stiff rod to set the hook especially with the low stretch fluorocarbon. I've got a few heavy action rods sitting in the corner gathering dust because I feel like a medium heavy has the power to set the hook while still having enough give to not rip hooks out and keep tension on a fish when they jump and shake there heads.