I'm not really looking for brand names or anything, just looking for what type of rod do you use for each bait.  

Frog

crankbait (shallow, medium, deep, lipless)

jerkbait

buzzbait

tr worm

dropshot

ned

spinnerbait

jig (football, swim, finesse)

flipping/punching

etc

 

Just would love to length, stiffness, action and material (glass, graphite...). Also would love to hear about the reel and line you use with each.  Bonus points if you share why you have chosen each selection.  I love to hear what everyone else is doing and why...always learn something new. 

I have nothing but graphite rods in 6'6" or 7" length - length isn't too much an issue with me - so here's the power/action I use

 

Frog - Heavy/fast graphite - I'm tossing them atop lily pads or weed rafts. Need the heavy rod to pull the fish out of the weeds

crankbait (shallow, medium, deep, lipless) - Medium/fast or Medium-heavy/moderate - depends on the size of the lure

jerkbait - Medium/fast or Medium-heavy/moderate - depends on the size of the lure

buzzbait - Medium-heavy/Fast

tr worm - Medium or Medium-heavy/fast - depends on the size of the lure

dropshot - Medium-light/fast

ned - Ultra-light/fast or medium-light/fast

spinnerbait - Medium-heavy/fast

jig (football, swim, finesse) - Medium/fast or Medium-heavy/fast - depends on the size of the lure

flipping/punching - Heavy/fast

weightless wacky - Medium/fast

topwaters (Spooks/Whopper Ploppers) Medium-Heavy/fast or Heavy/Fast - depends on the size of the lure

poppers - Medium/fast

length of each?

7 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

length of each?

The Heavy/Fast, Medium-heavy/fast and Medium-heavy/moderate are 7', the rest are 6'6"

 

But I could easily swap the lengths and not have an issue - I bought them based on price, not length. Look at my signature for the rigs.

7' ML-F : Ned rig, dropshot

7' M-F : Finesse jigs, shallow/medium crankbaits, jerkbaits, tr worms, light topwaters (1/4-3/8oz)

7' MH-F : Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, swim jigs, frogs, medium topwaters (3/8-3/4oz)

7'3 MH-F : Flipping, Football jigs, lipless crankbaits, swim jigs, buzz toads, tr worms, flipping, heavy topwaters (3/4-1oz)

7'6 MH-F (muskie rod) : Punching, deep crankbaits, swimbaits (<4oz), big hair jigs (snook candy), a-rigs, oversized topwaters (>1oz)

 

From my experiences, the stretch in mono allows me to fish treble hooked reaction baits on a faster action rod without fear of ripping out the hooks. Most H power rods in my current price point feel like pool cues and braided line negates the need for heavier powers due to the lack of stretch. Couple that with longer MH power rods providing the same backbone and ability to handle heavy weights as shorter H power rods and it's a no brainer. Less fatigue and more fun.

My feedback would be.    Match the power to the size lures your are using.    Fast tip for single hook lures,  moderate for lures with trebles.   I go light when fishing plastics. ML with a fast tip and I use XF with 6’6” length for jerks.  For overall length of my rods I like 6’8” -7’ 1”.     Good luck!

Frog   St Croix AvidX  H/Fast, Lews Super Duty

Cankbait     MegaBass Levante Flatside Special, Curado DC

jerkbait     St. Croix Avid  M/Moderate  

buzzbait    St Croix AvidX  M/Fast

tr worm

dropshot

ned

spinnerbait   Same as Buzzbait

jig (football, swim, finesse)  MegaBass Orochi XX Braillist

flipping/punching

I fish from the banks or wade the majority of the time, so I typically only have one rod in tow with me.  I usually fish with soft plastics either weightless or T-rigged and throw the occasional topwater or jerkbait.  My reel is almost always an Abu 4500 of some sort mounted on either a Shimano Clarus 6'10" MH or a Daiwa AirD-X 6'6" M.  

So here is my setup/thinking on each.

 

Frog - casting setups. 7'2"-7'4" MH to H, fast... This will depend on cover thickness, MH if in sparse or H if thick, i run 50LB braid no matter what. I personally like the MH better because it is easier to walk a frog, but i do have a H for when it is needed. 8:1 reel for picking up slack and skiing those fish across the surface if possible.

 

crankbait (shallow, medium, deep, lipless) - casting setups. 7'0" M Moderate for squarebills with 12 or 15lb floro and 6.#:1 ratio reel. 7'3-7'6" MH Mod for anything mid again 6 ratio and 12lb floro, deep i dont get into much but use a 7'10" H Mod with 12lb floro and 5.5:1. All are graphite as it is easier to rip from grass up here. Lipless i use my lighter T-Rig setup

 

jerkbait - casting setups. 6'6"-6'11" M fast or mod fast, length will depend on what allows you to jerk down without slapping water, 12lb floro, and i like a 6 ratio reel as i tend to pull too much slack up if i use a faster reel and move the bait which is a no no.

 

buzzbait - casting setups. 7'2"-7'4" MH F and 50lb braid 8:1 reel, same as my lighter cover frog rod.

 

tr worm (beaver/craw/etc) - casting setups. 7'1"-7'6" depending on weight and cover. Lighter stuff (1/4-3/8) i run a 7'2" MH Fast 15lb floro 8:1, 1/2oz 7'3" H 20lb floro 8:1.

 

dropshot - 2 spinning setups, 6'10" ML fast or M Mod fast 15lb braid 8lb leader for lighter weights, nose hook, and vertical dropping. 7'0" M Mod Fast 15lb braid 8 or 12lb leader for bigger weights and plastics and casting.

 

ned - 6'10"-7' ML 15lb floro braid to 8lb leader.

 

spinnerbait - 6'10" to 7'3" MH Fast 15lb floro and 6 ratio, shorter for target casting longer for covering water/long casts/etc.

 

jig (football, swim, finesse) - Flipping jig, 7'3" or 7'4" H Fast 20lb and 8:1 reel. There are not a ton of great jig rods and i am always on the search but something in that range will always work. I fish a jig in heavy deep weeds so very particular about my rod as it is much different than fishing in sparse weeds or rock/wood/etc. Rock/Football, 7'4"-7'6" MH F 15lb floro to get longest casts and i use a rock jig that has a little lighter wire hook so i dont go up to a H. Finesse or compact 7'3" MH Mod Fast 15lb floro and 8:1.

 

flipping/punching - 3/4-1oz 7'6"-8' H to XH Fast or mod fast all depending on rod brand and i run 50lb braid and 8:1 (you are going more reaction or breaking through heavy cover where braid will "blend in" with the surrounding weeds so no need for floro).

 

Chatterbait is another specific setup - 7'2"-7'4" MH or H Mod (composite) depending on brand, i like the rod rating to show 1.5oz for the high weight end as that gives you the proper stiffness for ripping from grass. 15lb floro, 6 ratio reel.

Frog - I don't fish this too much so I didn't want a very high end rod but something still that I am familiar with. I have been happy with the Mojo line and they offered something in the price range I was looking.

• 7'4" St Croix Mojo Heavy Fast 
• Shimano Curado DC 8:1
• 50lb Power Pro

Crankbaits - I don't fish these too much either, but got the rod (two of them actually...) at a decent discount. 

• 7' St Croix Avid X Medium Heavy Mod
• Shimano Curado DC 6:1
• 30lb Sufix 832

Jerkbait - Starting using this rod after watching bassresource videos on jerkbaits. I have really been liking it and the little shorter length has been making it easy to not slap the water. Same setup for both hard and soft. Would have gotten the Expride, but was never availble when I went to the store so I went down a level with the Zodias.

• 6'10" Shimano Zodias Medium Fast
• Shimano Curado 70 8:1
• 30lb Sufix 832

Buzzbait - This is the combo I will be using next season after having good luck with something similar this year. Pretty much just an upgraded rod.

• 7'2" G. Loomis IMX Pro Medium Heavy Extra Fast
• Shimano Bantam 8:1
• 30lb Sufix 832

T-Rig'ed Worm - I got back and forth between casting and spinning depending on the weight or how even just because I want to. I think I have more catches on a spinning set up.

• 7'6" G. Loomis Conquest Medium Fast
• Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 1000
• 10lb Power Pro

 

• 7'6" G. Loomis Conquest Medium Heavy Fast
• Shimano Metanium 8:1
• 30lb Sufix 832

Dropshot - Main reason I got this rod was because it was on sale, otherwise I was using the rod listed below for my Ned rig.

• 6'10" G. Loomis NRX Medium Light Extra Fast
• Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 1000
• 10lb Power Pro

Ned - I use the Ned more then I drop-shot. I tend to like a longer rod and the tip on this thing shakes so much when there is a fish on it makes detection very easy.

• 7'6" St Croix Legend Tournament Medium Light Extra Fast
• Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 1000
• 10lb Power Pro 

Spinnerbait - Use to use a HM fast, but got this rod just to try for spinnerbaits and have been very happy with it and wouldn't plan to use anything else.

• 7' St Croix Mojo Medium Heavy Mod-Fast
• Shimano SLX 7:1
• 30lb Sufix 832

Chatterbaits - I don't really know why, but this combo has been really great for Chatterbaits. I would previously use the same setup as for spinnerbaits, but for some reason this just "feels" better when I use Chatterbaits. Didn't have much luck with Chatterbaits before this season and now it was one of the higher producing lures I was throwing. 

• 6'10" Shimano Zodias Medium Fast
• Shimano SLX 7:1
• 30lb Sufix 832

Whopper Plopper - I have this combo just for Whopper Ploppers because.... why not. I use them a lot when the bite is on and like how this setup works.

• 7'5" Shimano Zodias Medium Heavy Fast
• Shimano Bantam 6:1
• 30lb Sufix 832

 

Jig (football, swim, finesse) - I would use the same casting setups as for t-rig'ed plastics or buzzbaits as listed above.

 

Crappie Fishing - Not really a "technique" but I would use these two combos for whatever the crappie (or bluegill) are biting on. Anything from small jigs to small spinnerbiats or even live bait with a float. Bass isn't open all year here and I still like to get out early season when the lakes start to open up. These have been the best I have found for fishing the light stuff.

• 7' St Croix Panfish Light Extra Fast
• Shimano Sahara 1000
• 10lb Power Pro

 

• 6'9" St Croix Panfish Ultra Light Fast
• Shimano Sahara 1000
• 10lb Power Pro

 

Jigs: Curado 200E7 with 15# mono on a St. Croix 6’6” mh/f Premier. 

Heavy t-rigs, weightless flukes, and weightless senkos:

Revo-s with 15# mono on a St. Croix 6’6” mh/f premier. 

Light t-rigs, split shot, weightless worms: Pflueger president w/ 10# mono on Daiwa 6’6” m/f procaster rod. 

Moving baits 1/4 ounce to about 1/8 ounce: Pflueger president w/ 10# mono on a Daiwa 6’6” m/f procaster rod. 

Heavy moving baits over 3/8 ounce: Daiwa Tatula CT100H w/ 15# mono on one of the old 7’0” mh/f BPS Tourney Special rods. 

Drop shot and panfish: Pflueger president w/ 6# mono on a 7’0” ml/f BPS Microlite rod. 

Punch rig: Abu 5600C3 w/ 50# braid on a very old Daiwa 6’6” h/f procaster rod. 

Does anyone like a shorter rod 6’-6’6” for frog and jerkbaits?   I have been using a 7’ but I was thing it might be easier to work ithe bait if the rod was smaller. Plus it would be more accurate. What do you think?  Then looks like most go for average 7’ for crank and moving baits. And then 7’6+ for flipping/pitching. That seem right? Just trying to figure out the best rational for lengths 

The vast majority of my rods were purchased with versatility in mind.  I have a 6’7” LF spinning rod that was purchased with Ned Rigs in mind.  BG1500 with 10# 832.  A 6'10" MLF for other finesse presentations.  Procyon EX 2000SH and 10# 832.  Mostly I use casting rods.

 

A 7'4" HF is my dedicated frog rod that is kept in Florida.  I carry a Curado 201E7 with 60# braid for it when I visit.  Got a 7'2" MH+F for frogs and toads locally, but plan on using it for several other techniques as well. Currently has a Steez 100H with 45# braid.

 

Jigs:  Custom 7'2" MHF but is another versatile rod.  Upgraded TD-X 103H with 45# braid.  7' MHF Techna AV with Chronarch 100B and 12# Siege

 

Crankbaits: 6'6" MLM with PXL Type R and 8# AN40, 7' MHF Glass with TD-Z 103ML and 12# AN40

 

Topwater: 6'10" M-XF  Currently T3 1016 and 12# Siege

 

Chatterbaits: 7' MHR currently with OG Fuego and 12# Cajun Red, 7'1" MHF Exsence 12# AN40

 

Trick Worm: Casting Custom 7' L with tuned/upgraded Airy Red and 8# AN40/ spinning above 6'10" MLF combo

 

Spinnerbait:  Many   Probably my first dedicated rod...6' MHF Berkley/Procaster 100HN and 15# mono for shorter casts.  Depending on weights...7' MLF to 7'6" HF and everything in between.    A spinnerbait is my lure of choice when testing new gear at a local river.  Almost never lose a lure.  Bought the 7' MLF as a combo with a TD-Z 105H that I've had tuned and upgraded.  Using 8# AN40 on it.

 

When in Florida I use a saltwater 7' ML rated 3/8-3/4 and Primmus Xi HS with 12# AN40 to toss 3/8 oz. (mostly) treble lures a country mile.  A 7' MHF with various reels...Gen1 STX and older Patriarch XT both with 40# braid to name a couple.  Mostly casting 10" unweighted ribbontails into lily pads.

 

Don't flip, punch or dropshot although I want to start using the dropshot.  Probably with the previously mentioned 6'10" MLF spinning combo or a 7' MF spinning rod with a President 6735XT.  Line choice unknown as yet.

 

The problem with these types of threads is I have other rods and reels that I enjoy, but have to try and pick out just a few.  Hard to do and some favorites don't get mentioned.

Let me think not anywhere near my home at the moment. What is in my boat rod locker at this time;

2each ALX MB916NG+ 6'10" HF casting rods with Daiwa's Tatula 100R 8:1 reels used for  jigs.

ALX MB915NG+ 6"10" MHF casting rod with Daiwa Tatula 100R 8:1 reel  used for worms.

IRG754F 7'5" HF frog rod with Shimano Cardfiff 300A used for frogs, swim/wake/glides 1-1 3/4,oz, Big deep diving 1 1/2 oz Crankbaits.

8' XH Lamiglas custom swimbait rod with Shimnao Calcutta 300D used for 8" Hudds and swimbait to 7 1/2 oz.

Irod 8' XH swimbait rod with Shimano 250 used for big wake baits and swimbaits 2 to 5 oz like 68'Hudds.

Okuma GS 7'10" swimbait rod with Shimano Cardiff 300A use for 1 to 3 oz wake baits/glides/swimbaits with treble hooks.

Fenwick Techna AV 7' MHF rod with Daiwa HTSA reel for back up jig and worm rod.

MJ Iovino 6'8" MF Splash-it rod with Daiwa Original TD Fuego for top water, jerk baits, lipless or med cranks to 5/8 oz.

Loomis PR745C 7' popping rod with Daiwa HTSA 105 6.3 reel used for med cranks and structure spoons.

Lamiglas 705 7' HMF cranking rod with Shimano Calcutta 250 for deep diving crank baits.

Lamiglas 704 MH crankbait rod with Ambassador 4500C reel for big top water like Pompaduor, spinnerbaits, buzz baits and back up deep diving Crankbaits.

MJ spinning rod 7' NAS WJ701MH with Shimano Stratic 2500 for Senkos, finesse nail or at-rigged 6" worms and 1/8 to 3/16 oz finesse jigs.

MJ spinning MF rod Iovino finesse with Shimano 2500 Stratic foe finnese worms drop d

shot or split shot rigged.

Phenix 6'8" MLF spinning rod with Shimano 1000 Stractic reel used for split shot worms.

I believe that it at the moment more in storage.

Tom

PS, forgot the line: Sunline Defier Armillo 25 lb for Swmbaits.

Sunline Shooter *** lb for casting reels jigs and worms.

Sunline 7 lb Sniper finesse spinning drop shot.

Maxima UG 5 lb for finesse spinning slip shot

Berkley 12 lb Big Game and Sunline Defier Armillo 11 lb.

Fins 60 lb braid for frogs.

General observation bass anglers use line stronger then needed.

60 lb braid for dia not strength.

 

 

Tom, do you find it difficult to work a frog with such a long rod?  Have you ever tried a shorter rod?  Just wondering what the advantages are of a 7'5" frog rod which seems to be the most common. thanks and anyone else is welcome to chime in

Longer rod helps to keep the bass near the surface after hooking it. If you let the bass dive down into the cover all you can do is try to pull it out or go over to the fish and dig it out. For both reasons braid helps and longer rods help a lot.

If you fish more open water you can use whatever works, heavy cover weed mats like Clear lake has you need the right tackle.

Tom

16 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

Jigs: Curado 200E7 with 15# mono on a St. Croix 6’6” mh/f Premier. 

Heavy t-rigs, weightless flukes, and weightless senkos:

Revo-s with 15# mono on a St. Croix 6’6” mh/f premier. 

Light t-rigs, split shot, weightless worms: Pflueger president w/ 10# mono on Daiwa 6’6” m/f procaster rod. 

Moving baits 1/4 ounce to about 1/8 ounce: Pflueger president w/ 10# mono on a Daiwa 6’6” m/f procaster rod. 

Heavy moving baits over 3/8 ounce: Daiwa Tatula CT100H w/ 15# mono on one of the old 7’0” mh/f BPS Tourney Special rods. 

Drop shot and panfish: Pflueger president w/ 6# mono on a 7’0” ml/f BPS Microlite rod. 

Punch rig: Abu 5600C3 w/ 50# braid on a very old Daiwa 6’6” h/f procaster rod. 

The St Croix Premier is a classic.

I've got a Dobyns 705 with a 1500 shimano spinning reel on it. I use it when I feel like fishing with a spinning reel.

 

I've got a Dobyns 735 mh glass with a Curado DC for when I feel like using a bait casting reel. (I really do like this glass rod though).

 

I use both for lots of different stuff at different times. I just like casting a lot.

 

That's it. Probably all the equipment I'll ever own. I could pretty much get what I want. If I did I'd just grab one or another because I like to cast with a casting system or spinning system but heck... I've already got both.

 

As you can see, I'm a real aficionado. Very particular. Super knowledgable. A real expert. Oh heck, I admit it. I really don't know that much about what I'm doing. I'm just casting and hope a fish is where my lure lands. I do catch fish, sometimes often, but I guess I don't really need to. I pretty much just like fishing. The bait monkey never actually had me. He chatters a lot though.

I remember those days.   Except I had one rod...a cheap spinning rod with a Mitchell 300.  I am a fan of my Dobyns 704CB Glass.

 

Unfortunately the Bait Monkey delivered a knockout punch to me many years ago.    Have way too many combos.

I just enjoy having multiple rigs so that I don’t have to waste time changing lures while I’m out there. Plus it’s nice to have rods that make that bait I am throwing really work well.  But there’s definite different strokes for different folks. Whatever allows you to enjoy being out on the water. 
anyone use 6’6 frog rod? 
what’s everyone’s thought process on a good topwater rod? 

                                                                                                                           Reels - 

Multi purp./casting jig/topwater/light frog - 7'3 med heavy duckett terex            duckett 300 7:1:1

Main frogger/short beefstick  - 7'0 med/fast abu garcia vendetta                     Bps pro q 7:5:1

Kayak rod/short multi purp - (broken) fenwick seahawk 6'6 medium h              abu garcia revo s 6:4:1

shallow cranks/jerkbaits - 7/0 med/mod f duckett terex                                   Bps bionic plus 6:3:1

flipping/emergency frog/big soft swims/a rig - 7'6 heavy/mod f alx ikos             Bps pro q 7:5:1

Currently only spinning rod - st croix bass x 7'1 med heavy fast                        Plueger summit xt I believe is a 6:x:x

Light pole - walmart rod I found and a lews reel off a telescopic combo

I need another finesse/weightless wacky rod because i lost my st croix one in a creek in a embarassing yak flip in august (I lost my good ul in the same flip). Praying for a decent replacement for Christmas 

(And i broke my 6'6 in the same accident, sad times)