A couple of friends got me into bass fishing this year and I have slowly be working on getting a couple rod setups while also learning all the different techniques. I currently have three setups that I use for the techniques I enjoy using the most. I recently have been wanting to add a fourth setup and thought I would ask here for some ideas on what to get. I know I should really get a finesse spinning setup, but currently looking to add another baitcasting setup.

Current setups are two 7' MH Duckett MMP rods with 6:1 Lews Tournament Pros. I use these the most since they are versatile. Mostly worms, some jigs and light pitching and flipping, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. The last setup is a 7'6" H Duckett MMP with a 7:1 Lews Tournament Pro. I use this for frogging and heavy punching. The MH are spooled with fluorocarbon and the H with braid.

Flukes, spooks, soft jerk baits, sammy and shallow to mid cranks are some of the additional lures I'm interested in using. Perhaps I could add a fourth that would be versatile enough to use a couple of those techniques? I have been considering adding a 7' M casting setup and thought it could also be used for light worms. Also interested in what techniques others might use with my current setups.

I use five spinning setups from shore,

Topwater

Crankbaits

Plastics c rig

Spinnerbaits, #3 inlines

Smaller baits, spinflys, #1, #2 inlines, small cranks

Number six baitcaster.

Jig setup.

Well first I would recommend getting a spinning set up. That will allow you to throw lighter applications like drop shots and shaky heads. If you are covered on that I would recommend a shorter rod if you wanted something for jerk baits and top water applications (or something along those lines). I would get another reel in the 6:1 range and I would get a 6'6" to 6'9" with a Medium to MH power. I would try to get a softer tip on the rod.

 

I hope this helps! 

I eventually plan to pick up a spinning setup. That will probably be the next setup I get, but right now it is not a priority. A lot of my preferred fishing is in less than 10' of water with grass and vegetation. I am looking to get one more setup right now that is versatile enough to cover what I'm interested in trying and learning. A few of my friends fish tournaments and next year I might tag alone on a couple trips.

I use the 7'6" H with braid for punching, heavy jigs and frogs. One of the 7' MH rods is a dedicated plastic rod and the other one is used for buzz baits, spinnerbaits, light jigs and whatever else that tends to work.

I think what I am looking for is a setup that will let me use lipless cranks, top water lures, and weightless plastics. Maybe some jerk baits like flukes and shallow cranks. I thought about getting a cranking rod, but don't do very much cranking right now and something like a Bandit 200 would be the biggest I use. I'm not set on getting this setup yet, but it is what sounds the most versatile right now. The setup I am considering is a 7' M/F with a 7:1 ratio reel and spooled with something like 10-12lb copolymer line. I would love some additional feedback and opinions on this.

For me personally each lure can require a different line test to keep the action and the motion of the lure at its best. Plus heavier line test can affect the lures running depth.

My topwater setup, jig setup and Carolina rig setup require the strongest test line.