which techniques do you feel can be combined in a setups without much loss from application specific setups. for instance using the same set up for topwater "walking the dog" baits and jerkbaits. The setups im looking for would be: t-rigs,c-rigs,jigs,shaky heads, hard jerkbaits, topwater"walk the dog", poppers, frogs, shallow and medium crankbaits, deep crankbaits, lipless crainkbaits, spinnerbaits

T-rigs, C-rigs, jigs, spinnerbaits, and some froggin' (minus the super heavy slop), all can be done with a MH/F rod and a good 6.x:1 reel. Some prefer a 7.x:1 reel. I would too mostly but not especially for spinnerbaits, I sometimes want to slow these down and that 7.x:1 reel would make it hard for me. There are so many things you can do with a MH/F rod and 6.x:1 reel that I found myself wanting two identical setups of this so I don't have to cut and retie so often.  I think when I get that second rod though, one will have a 6 reel, and the other a 7.

Then for hard jerkbaits, topwaters, and some crankbaits I use a M/F rod with another 6.x:1 reel again.

   

Maybe this will help:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1141187546

Specifically:

Technique specific rods are for "enthusiasts".

Almost all your fishing can be done with just

one rod. Beyond that, you only "need" three rods:

Spinning: 6 1/2' or 7', M or MH, Fast Action

(soft plastics and light lures)

Baitcasting: MH or H, Fast Action

(jigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and all single hooks)

Baitcasting: MH, Moderate Action

(all treble hook lures)

8-)

6'6"-7', M or MH, Fast action would be the best all-around rod for those techniques you mentioned. power depends on cover and bait weight.

XF actions are good for bottom baits

most people use Moderate or Moderate/Fast for crankbaits.

This is what I got for rod powers:

L

ML

M

MH

H

XH

With the exception of the XH ( extra fast ) the rest are fast.

Depending upon what bait I 'm going to fish, the type and cover density I mix and match reels for that purpose, that means, yup, you guessed right, that I can fish a carolina rig with a L rod if the cover density and type allows it.

I tend to fish more treble hooked baits with lighter rods ( L, ML, M ) and single hooked baits with more powerful rods ( MH, H, XH ) but it 's not a rule.

almost all my fishing anymore can be done with either a mh/m, a mh/f or a mh/xf.

i like to keep things simple.

which techniques do you feel can be combined in a setups without much loss from application specific setups. for instance using the same set up for topwater "walking the dog" baits and jerkbaits. The setups im looking for would be: t-rigs,c-rigs,jigs,shaky heads, hard jerkbaits, topwater"walk the dog", poppers, frogs, shallow and medium crankbaits, deep crankbaits, lipless crainkbaits, spinnerbaits

6'6" Medium/Heavy action rod will work for all of those. Might not be the best rod for all of those but it will still work.

And a 6-to something gear ratio. Whether it be 6.1:1, 6.3:1, or 6.4:1, these gear ratio's work best overall.

Definitely go with a 6-to something gear ratio with a 6'6" medium if you like to throw mostly light lures, or medium/heavy if you throw a lot of heavier stuff.