5 hours ago, flyfisher said:

yup but if you don't know how to use that technique and when to use it, you can have 50 punching combos of the highest level and it won't even matter.   Elite guys can catch fish, period.  

Don't be silly. Who's saying it's the wand, not the wizard? Nobody here is that dumb, AFAIK. You're putting a twist on the OP's question, I think anyway. He's whacky, so perhaps you've nailed the spirit of it.  My interpretation of it, hence my opinion, is that four specific rods are bare bones minimum for a touring pro or anyone else to be able to fish competitively in most conditions. Add line/leader changes to adjust for whatever cover.

Flipping,  pitching, tule dipping, fly fishing,  finesse,  jigger pole,  trolling, etc,  etc.

 

To be a complete fisherman and master all of the techniques you would need hundreds of rods and 10 lifetimes to master them.  No one is a complete fisherman.  

I have had many awesome fishing trips fishing with just 1 rod and reel. The more you know a body of water the less tackle you need to take to do well.

Elite bass anglers don’t have the time to change reel line during a tournament, time is critical.

Gary Klein is a Elite bass angler for example. Gary usually has 4 crank bait rods, all the same power/action with 4 different line # test. The reason Gary believes is each line lets the same lure run a different depths, fine tuning his presentation during the event. Gary is an exceptional jig angler and flipping/pitching angler. 20 combos would be the minimum for Gary.

I now am down to only 4 combo’s, 2 finesse spinning and 2 casting combo’s. The reason is no boat. When I had boats carries a minimum of 15 combo’s, fun fishing or tournament fishing. 

Everyone can’t do everything is correct but some of us has fished all over the world. I fly fish for hike in Golden trout, Brook, Rainbow and brown trout to river run salmon and steelhead, at least 3 fly rods. Ocean fish for local island Yellowtail, Calico bass, Sand Bass, Spotted bay bass, White Sea bass to name a few, at least 6 combo’s.

Off Shore Big Game tuna, marlin, sail fish, broad bill, wahoo etc, at least 12 combo’s. 

Musky, Pike, Walleye, Stripe Bass  I use my bass tackle.

I love to fish and spent a life time honing my skills.

Elite angler, depends on who is evaluating.

When I sold over 50 rods and reels last year all of them caught lots of fish, each one was good choice for the specific species.

My current rod-reel combo’s are only good for how I fish today, from a backseat to catch a few bass, nothing Elite.

Tom

 

 

6 hours ago, WRB said:

Elite bass anglers don’t have the time to change reel line during a tournament, time is critical.

Gary Klein is a Elite bass angler for example. Gary usually has 4 crank bait rods, all the same power/action with 4 different line # test. The reason Gary believes is each line lets the same lure run a different depths, fine tuning his presentation during the event. Gary is an exceptional jig angler and flipping/pitching angler. 20 combos would be the minimum for Gary.

I now am down to only 4 combo’s, 2 finesse spinning and 2 casting combo’s. The reason is no boat. When I had boats carries a minimum of 15 combo’s, fun fishing or tournament fishing. 

Everyone can’t do everything is correct but some of us has fished all over the world. I fly fish for hike in Golden trout, Brook, Rainbow and brown trout to river run salmon and steelhead, at least 3 fly rods. Ocean fish for local island Yellowtail, Calico bass, Sand Bass, Spotted bay bass, White Sea bass to name a few, at least 6 combo’s.

Off Shore Big Game tuna, marlin, sail fish, broad bill, wahoo etc, at least 12 combo’s. 

Musky, Pike, Walleye, Stripe Bass  I use my bass tackle.

I love to fish and spent a life time honing my skills.

Elite angler, depends on who is evaluating.

When I sold over 50 rods and reels last year all of them caught lots of fish, each one was good choice for the specific species.

My current rod-reel combo’s are only good for how I fish today, from a backseat to catch a few bass, nothing Elite.

Tom

 

 

My interpretation of the OPs question was about “rod types”.  You may need five identical combos for different baits or different lines but how many different rod types does one need?

When I bought my Ranger it was from a guy ranked 7th in the FLW.  He pulled 68 combos out of the boat when I picked it up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How many different types of rods are required to be a complete fisherman? For the Elite Bassman only

 

Still ain't seen a official list of required rod types to become a "complete" fisherman!

 

One can be a complete fisherman & not be a professional angler.

Thank you Catt for deleting the money guys on my question.  I am not interested in  the guy with 68 rods.  Obviously needs a lot of excuses for a slow day.   I just accept the slow days.  I go back & forth between Casting & trolling in a boat or shore / docks with children.

 

I was surprised by the one person using different line weights to get a lure down to different depths.   Have to see about my 6# & 60# pulling my small floaters down with no weights.  Great point.

24 minutes ago, cyclops2 said:

I was surprised by the one person using different line weights to get a lure down to different depths.

Wow, it's a thing.

At an BASS Elite event I was a Marshal at last year, my “extremely well known” pro and I had a conversation about this very thing. 
 

He told me even after over 20 years on tour he still struggles being proficient and efficient at the same time. 
The conversation started because our camera man made an innocent statement that he wished he could afford the quality of the equipment he had. 
 

He said the quality didn’t matter that much, but the ability to “keep his line wet” did. 
 

That stuck with me. 
As mostly a tournament co angler I always bring 6 combos, each have different actions and power ratings.
2 with braid and 4 with flouro. 
 

For me to reach the point of being both efficient and proficient at the same time I need that many while fishing tournaments, sometimes more but available space limits that. 
 

All other times depending on where and how I plan to fish 2 usually is enough. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

1 hour ago, cyclops2 said:

I was surprised by the one person using different line weights to get a lure down to different depths.   Have to see about my 6# & 60# pulling my small floaters down with no weights.  Great point.

Van Dam told me the same thing in person.  When a bait is on he will have at least 10 combos setup for that bait with slight variances and backups.  

I totally agree with.............When they are biting?  Anything will work.  WITHIN REASON.  I have seen th SMB in a feeding school REPEATIDLY hit my  NO HOOKS LURE.......endlessly right to the boat. Pretty neat sight. Like a bunch of BIG piranhas.  The kids then start getting hook ups fast.    

4 hours ago, Catt said:

One can be a complete fisherman & not be a professional angler.

I think the word elite is throwing folks off, thoroughly entertained nonetheless... 

7 hours ago, Catt said:

How many different types of rods are required to be a complete fisherman? For the Elite Bassman only

 

Still ain't seen a official list of required rod types to become a "complete" fisherman!

 

One can be a complete fisherman & not be a professional angler.

Do you know any “complete” fishermen?

Whenever I look in the bathroom mirror.  " Is this the day ? "       

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Do you know any “complete” fishermen?

 

Complete: adjective 

 

having all the necessary or appropriate parts.

 

Notice it says "necessary or approciate" parts not required.

 

7 hours ago, cyclops2 said:

Thank you Catt for deleting the money guys on my question. 

 

The #1 key to consistently catching bass is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet.

To be a complete fisherman only takes one rod and reel or a cane pole. For a man to fish completely, possibly many rods and reels…

10 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

Complete: adjective 

 

having all the necessary or appropriate parts.

 

Notice it says "necessary or approciate" parts not required.

 

 

The #1 key to consistently catching bass is between your ears not between the folds of your wallet.

I’ll consider myself complete when I have ALL the necessary and appropriate fishing knowledge and skills that I feel I need.  Don’t ever expect that to happen and I would probably quit fishing if it did.  It wouldn’t be a challenge any longer.

It doesn't matter how many rods I own, I'm sure that if I buy one more I will become an elite bass angler.  My wife tells me if I was ever going to have the bass fishing skills to become an elite bass fisherman, it would have happened many rods ago.

?

She is wrong.  You need more first!

Lots of good responses. I understand that someone that bass fishes for living needs lots of rod and reel combos but that is not needed for someone who fishes for fun. A skilled fisherman can do well fishing with 1 rod and reel combo and a couple lures if he knows the body of water well. The most ''complete'' fishermen are multi species fishermen that target a wide variety of fish from micro fishing to big game fishing. With that said bass fishing is very fun and something everyone can do which is why it is such a popular hobby.