Due to a lack of patience per say with all the jet skis, pleasure boats, offshore boats and just plain ole obnoxios people that hang out in the overcrowded Intercoastal Waterway here on the coast.Fishing is suppoused to be fun and relaxing and I can't due either is the salt any more so  I have decided to start Bass fishing more. I will be fishing a cooling lake that has stumps, as well as the river where I live. I would like some advice on what to use my rods for.

Current Line-up:

Spinning:

7Ft. Bps Extreme MH 6-14# test line, 1/4-5/8 oz. Fast Action

7 Ft. Shimano Clarus MH 8-17#, 1/4-3/4 oz. Fast Action

6 1/2 St. Croix Triumph 6-12#, 1/4-5/8, Fast Action

Baitcaster

Shimano MH Fast action, Convergence Matched with a Abu Garcia 4600C3

I may add another baitcaster

Any advice or input would be apprecaited.

Thanks,

Tony

I'll have to say from experience Bass Pro Shops makes the best rods out there.  Before deciding the spend the money necessary to get a quality rod I was breaking rods left and right.  If I were to just take a stab at it I would have to say that I have broken close to 18 rods throughout my lifetime.  I used everything from Quantum, Berkley, and even some Shakespeare and Mitchell rods.  After using those cheaply designed rods I decided to go Bass Pro from then on out.  I have never had a break since.  You wonder why you spend the extra money on them well it's because they take the place of 3 or 4 cheap rods.  

Now, for my favorite BP Rod I would have to go with the Pro Qualifier series.  All the others are just as good, but I prefer one in a Med to Med-Heavy Action.  Bionic Blades are good as well if you are looking for a low priced BP rod.  Do not buy one of the Johnny Morris signature rods unless you just have to have one.  All they are is a Pro Qualifier rod with a little different color scheme.  You are buying the autograph on those.    You mentioned the Extreme series, and they are just as good as the rest.  I just prefer the Pro Qualifier due to the thinner tip.  I do have some Tourney Special series rods that I fish when I don't need the tip to be as sensitive as for Stripes and such.  The Pro Qualifier allows a lot of versatility.  I can run a drop shot rig, and just flick the end of the rod and move the bait up and down with minimal effort.  With the Tourney Specials and Bionic Blades I use them for spinner bait, cranks, and some other rigs, because I know that the business end will hold up when it counts.  I have had one of my BB rods in a complete question mark, and it showed no signs of giving.  

I hope I've helped you out some.  

Big T,

You have some perfect rods for bass fishing... I'd choose the applications by trial. We all have our preferences. If I were in your shoes, I would the my casting rods for t-rigs, if 7' then also c-rigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, frogs, jigs, or anything else without treble hooks. (but I'm not much of a spinning rod guy.) I use spinning for finesse, treble hooks and lighter wacky rigs. You can also mix and match any of the other things on the spinning rods.

I'd hit the lake with your rods and start fishing each of them with varied techniques... it won't take long at all to develop preferences.

Do not buy one of the Johnny Morris signature rods unless you just have to have one.  All they are is a Pro Qualifier rod with a little different color scheme.

Read the write ups from BPS... different blanks, guides, etc.  definitely NOT the same rods.  The cost difference in guides alone (Alconites vs. titanium SiC's) is more than the difference in rods.  

Besides, he's already got the rods.

Thanks Flechero,

I will give it a try. Right now I just need the weather to cooperate with my work schedule.

Thanks

Big T