I recently got into bass fishing heavily and have started accumulating my gear.  I now understand that rod and reel combos have specific setups and have tried pairing up my gear to tailor them towards specific setups for swimbaits, crankbaits, frogs, flipping, worms, etc … However, since I’m new to more serious bass fishing I wanted to run my rod/reels pairings by you guys to make sure I have the optimized rod/reels setups.

As noted below, I do have more Abu Garcia gear than others however, I do not have an allegiance to any manufacture so feel free to make recommendations.  I do want an 8.1 gear ratio baitcaster in the near future; right now, I’m thinking it might be a Daiwa Tatula, Lews, or another Okuma.

Below is my current fishing gear and how I have them paired.

Are they paired correctly?

Recommendations on gear/setups modifications?

Baitcaster Reels:

Bass Pro:

 Extreme ESM10SHA 7.1:1 (Spinnerbait Rod)

Abu Garcia:

                                Orra SX 7.1:1 (Frog Reel)

                                Orra Winch 5.4:1 (Crankbait Reel)

                                Revo SX 6.4:1 (Flip/Pitch Reel)

Okuma:

 HTC-266V 6.6:1 (Swimbait Reel)

Baitcaster Rods:

                Ugly Stick GX2:

 701ML, GX2 7 ft. Med-Light

                                (2) USCA761ML, 7’6”, Med-Light

                                USCA701M, 7’, Medium (EXM10SHA) (Current Frog Rod)

                Abu Garcia:

 Volatile VOLC70-6, 7 ft. Fast Action Med-Heavy (Current Swimbait Rod)

Veritas VRTC711-7, 7’11” Heavy (Current Flip/Pitch Rod)

Veracity VERC66 Med-Heavy (Current Crankbait Rod)

Spinning Reels:

                Abu Garcia: Orra SX

Solstace 2500 FI

Spinning Rods:

                Ugly Stick: (2) USESP701ML, 7’ Med-Light

Welcome to BR!

 

Most look good.  I'd switch your spinnerbait and flipping reels.  I prefer a faster reel when I'm flipping and pitching. A medium powered rod is a bit on the light side for frogs too.  I use a 7'3 heavy but a medium heavy with braid would do fine.  I'd also consider throwing your cranks on a medium or med light.  You'll have a lot more fish come unbuttoned on trebles with a stouter rod.

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

As for matching your set ups, fish them like they are.

If you like them & they work, Cool.

If not, switch it and see what works.

You'll learn quite a bit that way on your own.

Good Luck & Have Fun.

A-Jay

Welcome aboard!

1 hour ago, RichF said:

Welcome to BR!

 

Most look good.  I'd switch your spinnerbait and flipping reels.  I prefer a faster reel when I'm flipping and pitching. A medium powered rod is a bit on the light side for frogs too.  I use a 7'3 heavy but a medium heavy with braid would do fine.  I'd also consider throwing your cranks on a medium or med light.  You'll have a lot more fish come unbuttoned on trebles with a stouter rod.

 

Thanks for the tips.

 

I want the new 8.1 reel to be my new flipping reel.  I hear you on the frog rod, writing it down helped me see that.  I chose that rod mainly because it was one of my longer ones.

 

I may have gotten some of my combos wrong, I double checked; these are my verified combos:

 

Spinner: Bass Pro Extreme 7.1 on a Ugly Stick GX2 7' M

Flip/Pitch: Revo SX 6.4 on a 7'11" Veritas H

Frog: 7.1 Orra SX on a Ugly Stick GX2 7'6" ML

Crank: 6.6 Helios TCS on a Volatile 7 MH

Swimbait: 5.4 Orra Winch on a 7' Veracity M

 

I also have two other spare rods, a 6'6" Veracity MH and a 7'6" Ugly Stick GX2.

The new Tatula CT's come in an 8:1 and are awesome for the price (can be found for under $100).  I have one for pitching.  I would definitely switch your frog rod out for a MH (maybe trade with your crank rod).  Also, depending on the type of swimbaits you throw, you may wanna consider using a heavier rod for that as well.  I use a 7'6 heavy for 4.5 to 6.5 inch hollow bellies, rigged with big belly weighted hooks.  If I'm using smaller swimbaits with a jig head, I'll drop to a 7' MH.

6 hours ago, RichF said:

The new Tatula CT's come in an 8:1 ...

Coincidentally enough, I just ordered a 8.1 tatula ct type-r for $126, including shipping.

 

As for the rod re-pairing, I do have a spare 6'6" Veracity MH I can use on my frog reel.  I just don't use it because it's the shortest rod I have.

 

I use swimbaits that are on the smaller end and the current swimbait setup works good enough.

10 minutes ago, basss said:

Coincidentally enough, I just ordered a 8.1 tatula ct type-r for $126, including shipping.

 

As for the rod re-pairing, I do have a spare 6'6" Veracity MH I can use on my frog reel.  I just don't use it because it's the shortest rod I have.

 

I use swimbaits that are on the smaller end and the current swimbait setup works good enough.

Great reel! Love mine! They are excellent for flipping, or even the frog. I was bombing crank baits last week on mine.

 

For frog I would go with MH if you aren't fishing heavy cover. Heavy if you are fishing cover.

CT Type R...even better!  

Couldn't wait and went ahead and ordered a rod for the Tat. I got the Veritas VRTC76-6, 7'9" MH-fast.  Plan on this combo being my froggin' rod.

For casting reels my goto's

Top water: 7:1+ or 30+ipt

Jerkbaits : 6:1-7:1 or 23-28ipt

Cranks <15ft: 6:1-7:1 or 23-28ipt

Cranks/Lipless >15ft: 5:1-6:1 or 19-23ipt

Spinnerbaits/Swimbaits: 6:1-7:1 or 23-28ipt

T-rig/C-rig/FB jigs: 6:1-7:1 or 23-28ipt

Flipping/Pitching: 7:1+ 30+ipt

 

I use spinning outfits for 3 techniques Shakeyhead/Ned Rig/Dropshot with 6:1 or 35ipt reel