This is my first year really getting into fishing, I have only one rod I use for everything (mainly fishing plastics) but the more I'm getting into it, and the more research I do, I realize at some point I'm going to have to expand my rod/reel set ups. I started out with a tourney special bait caster, with a 6.5:1 ratio, and a 6'6 MH fast action tourney special rod. I think I need at least 4 or 5 different rods, any recommendations for the different set ups I should have? 

There are two reasons for having mulitple setups.  One is to do the best for the technique you are fishing.  Two is to have multiple setups in the boat so you don't have to retie every time you want to change a lure type.  You need to think of the rod action and power, the type reel (mostly dependent on lure weight), and the type of line (braid for high sensitivity, mono for a little stretch and to not sink your line on surface lure casting).  You didn't mention line, which means you have more to consider than you thought.

 

Your current setup will do for many techniques where the lure weight is sufficient for baitcasting to work.  But when you want to go lighter, you need a spinning outfit.  Go first with a fast action, medium power, spinning rod setup and it will be very versitile.    For this one I'd use braid with a flourocarbon leader.  It would be for finnesse, bottom fishing, jigs, tubes, drop shot, that kind of stuff. Not surface.

 

After that it's going to be up to you which direction you take.  For surface and cranks you may want a medium power, medium action outfit rigged with mono so as to have the line not sink your lure and to give some "give" when a fish strikes a crank or on the surface.  Match the rod power and reel type more to the weight of the lures than to anything else.

 

By this time you'll be pretty expert and won't need any more help.

 

 

Lots of great articles on this site in the fishing gear section to help you out.

I think I've picked out reels. And I know the rod is more important than the reel, i added a list of the reels and what I plan on using that set up for, I'm still not sure on what rod and line so I'd appreciate input. (Trying to keep rod cost below 150 per rod)

 

- i was going to use my current rod/reel for crankbaits for now 

- shimano caenan (7.2:1) spinners, buzz baits...what rod? What line?

- shimano casitas (6.3:1) drop shots, shakey heads, jigs..what rod? What line?

- shimano curado (6.3:1) weightless t-rigs..what rod? Planning on using Trilene 12 lbs fluorocarbon 

- just trying to cover the basics, am I missing anything?

 

Are you fishing  from a boat or shore? I ask because for me taking more than 2 rods on shore becomes cumbersome. I usually take a 6'6 mh bait casting rod and a 7'0 medium light spinning rod. There is not much I cannot cover day to day from shore with those 2. I might take a third if i want one rigged up for a specific technique say dropshot. 

 

You would be suprised what 2 general do all rods can cover. As a beginner I might focus more on reading the water and conditions rather than having a specific rod for every technique. Having to retire often also re-enforces good knot tying technique. 

Welcome aboard!

Boat, I know every season I'm going to get more and more into it so I'm going to be making the purchase at some point so I guess better now than later

Take a look at the dobyns fury,and shimano exage line of rods gonna be hard to beat

Also if I'm throwing true weightless t rigs I'm using spinning gear

I could get away with 4 combos:  a medium or ml spinning combo for finesse, a medium or mh moderate casting combo for treble baits, a mh/f casting combo for t-rigs and jigs and heavy casting combo for frogs and pitching. 

Has anyone used any of those reels I listed? I was also going to get a shimano caius because I found one cheap