“best” rod, is subjective and personal preference and opinions vary so there’s no right or wrong. Personally, I relegate the highest modulus, light weight minimalist rods to bottom contact finesse fishing. That’s not to say that feeling a crank bait wobble or spinner bait thump has no benefit. I can accomplish that without the highest end components though. 

^^^^?^^^^

Tom

4 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

 “best” rod, is subjective and personal preference and opinions vary so there’s no right or wrong. Personally, I relegate the highest modulus, light weight minimalist rods to bottom contact finesse fishing. That’s not to say that feeling a crank bait wobble or spinner bait thump has no benefit. I can accomplish that without the highest end components though. 

I love this response.

 

I do feel reaction baits coming thru grass.  it's kinda nice feeling the grass immediately so you can yank it out.  the hit after that, is unmistakable.  but knowing right when you bury into the grass...priceless.  (braid helps (me))

To me it is a perfect balance of stuff you fish the most, and techniques where a little better strike detection might help. I don't mind throwing moving baits on cheaper rods as long as they cast well and the extra weight of the rod doesn't usually bother me.

 

So by my logic as stated above, that largely narrows it down to bottom contact and finesse, assuming you fish both of the above as often as I do. If you have money for only one high end rod, I would spend it on a rod that will throw jigs and T-Rigs with the reasoning that you will also gain a little bit extra bite detection with finesse presentation from the lighter powered rod if you follow the general idea to use the lightest rod that you can get away with.

 

Ultimately, I ended up with a Steez AGS rod for bottom contact, a 7' M-MH/XF Tatula Elite which is usually what I will throw soft plastics on (weighted or not) and a Tatula Elite and a St Croix Avid X ML/XF that has slightly less power for finesse presentations. Then I have one Mojo Bass 6'8" M/XF that I use for jerkbaits and topwater and the rest of my rods are Daiwa Tatulas.

 

Best rod is very subjective, but 100% of the time the rod with the right power and action for the application will also top a better quality rod. For example the Steez that I use for bottom contact which is perfect for me would not be the same rod that someone down in Florida would use for the same thing where the weeds are much thicker.

Upgraded my highest end combo for my favorite technique.

 

7'3" Medium St Croix Legend Tournament with Daiwa Certate 3k. Staring at hard water anxiously waiting.