I will add one rod to my list of a products that don’t get enough love.  And it’s a super cheap one.. 

 

Daiwa Aird 7’0” Medium Fast $55 baitcasting rod. Bought this and took advantage of the free shipping and had it sent to a friend’s place 1000 miles away for the 1-2 times a year I fish there. Leave it behind for next time. 
 

It’s more of a moderate-fast and is crazy good for spinnerbaits, Mini Max and small cranks. Really loads nicely and keeps fish pinned - even with braid! 
 

I “left it behind” but really miss it already. Bait Monkey might get another one out of me! 

4 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

Daiwa Aird 7’0” Medium Fast $55 baitcasting rod.

It’s more of a moderate-fast and is crazy good for spinnerbaits,

I've got the 7'0" Medium-Heavy and I totally agree about spinnerbaits. Despite the Mojos and Victorys in my lineup, my Aird-X is still my primary spinner/chatter rod.

9 hours ago, Bazoo said:

I pretty much don't use ned rigs, whopper ploppers, and chatterbaits. I've never had luck with them. Never caught a fish on any of them the times I've tried them. I did have a bite on a whopper plopper once, but didn't get hooked up.

 

 

Wow literally basically same.  At this point those lures are rusting for me.  I occasionally get one on a bladed jig but I know that fish would have bit a swim jig faster and I might have gotten her bigger sister first.

Popular, but not for me: 

- Baitcasters. I respect their role in our hobby. I just don't like fishing them. 

- Braid. It's off all my gear now. Not useful for how I fish. 

 

I like, but not popular: 

- "Short" rods. I like a 6'6" rod or smaller. I mostly bank and kayak fish. It helps me work tight spaces between trees and obstacles. I still get plenty of distance.

- Mono line. I'm a full convert due to my braid experiences. 

- Travel rods. All of my rods (including surf gear) can break down and be stowed easily. I like throwing them in backpacks or my car for fishing anything interesting I might see. Also lets me easily cover a lot of ground to reach a fishing spot on foot. 

- Taking only one combo on the bank or water with me. It helps me focus and really dial in my technique. I can be mobile. I can select a new lure, re-tie, and get in the water pretty quickly, so see few disadvantages.

14 hours ago, WRB said:

I like to catch bass and use both finesse and power tackle every trip.

Tom

 

 

Me too! If the "normal" stuff is not working, I have been going real big or real small and sometimes it works. 

I'm hesitant to reply to this...  😛

 

I just can't get into baitcasters.  Never could.  I know, I know.... 20 lashes! 😧

But, I've at least tried -- sha-boom, instant birds nest every <expletive> time!

 

Spinning rods & reels for me.  It's the way it is and will always be!

 

Any and all large jointed swimbaits. I don't like em. I give them away whenever they end up in my lap. 

I was so pumped to fish the whopper plopper.

 

I ordered like 4 of them.

 

What a disappointment.

 

I did catch a fish on one last year, had to take a picture for proof to my family.

Drop shot

 

Squarebills

 

A-Rigs

I won’t fish with lines that stretch. No mono, fluoro, or hybrid. Won’t use them for leaders either.

Dude I love the Banjo Minnow!!

 

Just kidding.. 🤣

I don't really like lipless crankbaits. 

I also don't particularly care for braid. I have it on 1 of my 2 spinning rods. I have occasionally tried it on baitcasting reels, but it never plays nice for me. I can fish mono without backlashing, but braid gets under itself, tangled, stops the lure in mid-air, hooks gets snagged on the spool, it gets wrapped around my guides, it gets in the split rings. I pretty much hate it on baitcasting.

 

As far as lures, heck I still try those I can't get along with occasionally, hoping other's success will rub off. I have friends that tear them up on neds. I texas rig a grub in its place and I go right behind them tearing them up. Last time that happened, my buddy showed up next go round with the same grubs.

 

As far as gear that others don't like... well, I like H20X squarebills, I find them to be equal to all the other brands I've tried.

 

I like shorter rods for 6'0 and 6'6" for general purpose use.

 

One of the rods I really like is a cheapo Proficiency Retro. It's got a good action for a light medium rod and I can place a lure within my range with pinpoint accuracy nearly.

 

Probably the one thing that most love that I don't though would be JIGS! I haven't ever gotten a bite on a regular jig. I have gotten 1 fish on a swim jig. I saw someone say if you can fish a texas rig you can fish a jig. I do well on texas rigs, I just can't get bit on a jig.

45 minutes ago, MAN said:

Any and all large jointed swimbaits. I don't like em. I give them away whenever they end up in my lap. 

dibs

Don't like:

Kastking reels - Tried them out when I wanted to expand my gear collection to specialize in my favorite techniques. It turned out to be a mistake as I lost so many fish from drag slipping to my casts petering out and spooking the fish. I only go name trusted brands from now on.

Senkos - My ego can't take the fact that it really is that easy to catch a bass on them. Definitely my character flaw but I do judge when people brag about catching big bass and I find out that all they use is a senko.

Do like but unpopular:

Mismatched color combos - One of my go to bladed jig combos is black and blue with a green pumpkin/watermelon red craw trailer. I use it even in dirty water and it works just fine.

Music - There is a time and place for music while fishing, most times I enjoy nature sounds, but occasionally some good tunes with some good friends leads to great memories. Fish don't really mind either; boat sounds and swimming happens every day.

12 minutes ago, Bazoo said:

As far as gear that others don't like... well, I like H20X squarebills, I find them to be equal to all the other brands I've tried.

Watch what you say on the internet.  Next thing you know the H20 squarebills will no longer go on sale for $3.99.

For me;
 

Glide Baits, just don’t get it.

 

Ned Rig, just a short worm on a bloated jig head.

 

Wacky,  never out performed a t-rig or floating worm.
 

St.Croix rods, nice quality, American made, thick, heavy and overpriced.

 

Fluro, I tried but it’s a hard pass other than as a leader on a braid spooled spinning setup.

 

Jerkbait, right time, right place maybe but I’m never there.

 

Any “dedicated “ rod. Buy one rod that can fish several baits, buy four and there isn’t a bait you can’t throw.

Popular, but don't like:

Fluorocarbon line, tried it, don't like it.

Large baits, have some, but no luck, always feel like I am going to scare the fish away.

A-rigs, just feels wrong, no luck yet.

 

under-rated:

underspins - work, but don't hear much about them.

spinnerbaits - work, but never see anyone else throwing one.

Small lures/ BFS, these will catch all sizes and many bigs.

 

 

30 minutes ago, king fisher said:

Watch what you say on the internet.  Next thing you know the H20 squarebills will no longer go on sale for $3.99.

You got that right! It’s also why I will never divulge a couple tactics that I do that rarely are used. I’m going to keep it for myself, but it’s killer and rarely fails me. Sometimes, mum’s the word. 

I’d also add that different in our sport is a good thing. 

1 hour ago, F14A-B said:

You got that right! It’s also why I will never divulge a couple tactics that I do that rarely are used. I’m going to keep it for myself, but it’s killer and rarely fails me. Sometimes, mum’s the word. 

Ok homie, let me know,,,just between us. I won’t tell 🤭

On 5/27/2025 at 12:26 PM, Pat Brown said:

Supposed to like but don't: Fluorocarbon line.  Not for me!

 

Supposed to be bad but love it: Monofilament line.  Works great for me!

This x2 I can't stand flouro....... just can't get used to it 

Trokar hooks or any cutting point hooks. Yea they're sharp, but they tear and cut instead of penetrate, leaving much larger holes in the side of fishes mouths which for me leads to a LOT more fish coming off. The tips also roll super easy so they don't stay sharp long. 

On 5/27/2025 at 12:18 PM, Rockhopper said:

I don't really like fishing green pumpkin

Me either. It's black, blue, black/blue or blue/black around here. Really junebug, purple or any darker color seems the be the deal. I've all but stopped buying green pumpkin. I still have a lot of it leftover though. 

Don't like:

Rules

 

Like:

Shiney things

I only have one.  the A-rig.  it's like casting out lawn furniture.  yuck (for me).   I dont love it.