Shallow/med crank

Deep crank

Light tube jig rod

1/2oz+ tube jig rod

Dropshot rod

Jerkbait rod

possibly jigging spoon rod?

That's all I can think of for SMB. anything else?

I know you can never be 100% complete as the search never ends, but given the rods listed, is pretty much every application for smallies covered!?

I catch more smallmouth on a spinnerbait, hair jig and senko than I do any other of those baits you have listed. Also a swimbait has been very productive this year for me.

Trying to find reasons to buy more rods?

I second the spinnerbait rod...I also always have a grub rod on my deck and sometimes a fluke.

Just one. A jerk bait rod. It will also double as an all purpose rod if you feel the need to stray.

Absolutely...Can't believe I forgot the jerkbait rod!!!

Trying to find reasons to buy more rods?

Lol yesir

I catch more smallmouth on a spinnerbait, hair jig and senko than I do any other of those baits you have listed. Also a swimbait has been very productive this year for me.

Really? Never caught a fish on any of those.

I'm guessin it depends on the lake you fish out of?

I fish mainly lake Erie, tried spinnerbaits n swimbaits, never caught a bite before.

Really? Never caught a fish on any of those.

I'm guessin it depends on the lake you fish out of?

I fish mainly lake Erie, tried spinnerbaits n swimbaits, never caught a bite before.

I went to Erie about 9 years ago and killed them on a 3/4oz hair jig, around the bass islands.

Recently been to Erie and stickbaits caught more than anything else we used

Just one. A jerk bait rod. It will also double as an all purpose rod if you feel the need to stray.

I couldn't agree more!

Just one. A jerk bait rod. It will also double as an all purpose rod if you feel the need to stray.

i've never caught anything on these neither. I know your an Erie guy too...... what kind of depths are you fishing jerks with? any other information you can share?

got myself, from a recommendation, a few megabass visiosn and livex-Revenge, and some LC pointers. Not sure if I'm not fishing them right or what, I hear people say they kill it with these on Erie all the time, but I can't buy a bite for some reason.80%+ of my fish come off dropshots.

from the other recommendations:

I'll pick up a few stickbaits, and some hair jigs. Never even threw these even, ever before.

You would need 3 rods

1- tube/rage craw rod

2- jerkbait rod

3- dropshot rod

I carry 4-5 on the river.

5' ML Casting rod for walk the dog lures.

5' M Casting rod for buzzbaits & cranks

6' ML Spinning rod for jerkbaits & flukes

6' M Spinning rod for bottom baits.

9' 7wt Fly Rod for poppers & streamers.

You can never have too many dropshot rods. I have 3 rigged up every time I'm out...and I'm building myself a 4th.

Here's what is on my deck at all times....

-Spinnerbait (Many to pick from)

-Senko (4 or 5 inch Gary Yamamoto / Case Plastics Jack's Worm)

-Crainkbait (Deep & Shallow - Love the KVD 1.5 & 2.5 Silent Series)

-Fluke (Case Plastics Sinkin Shad / ZOOM Super Fluke)

-Popper (Pop R / Gary Yamamoto Sugoi)

-Jig (Casting jig w/ Craws)

-Drop Shot (Gary Yamamoto Pro Senko / Roboworm)

Don't forget your JJ's Magic to dip your soft stuff!

Sometimes I have 2 of each, I prefer to grab and cast than to waste precious time on the water. Buy good equipment, remember in the fishing world you get what you pay for. Spending a little extra on your gear will save you grief and money in the long run. I'm not saying buy a $300 reel and $400 rod just don't skimp on the goods. Check out the Quantum Energy reels and Pfluger reels for some quality at a decent price. Also St. Croix has some rods in the $100 range that are very nice, I have a few Mojo Bass rods by St. Croix that are awesome.

Strange. I try to use rods that multi task too but,

Spinnerbait, spook, light carolina casting.

Glass crankin stick for traps and divers.

Jerkbait/topwater casting.

Tube,grub spinning.

Dropshot spinning

On special days I have a dedicated rod for the spook with braid. I do carry matched spinning rods, one for tubes and one with a hula grub so I can switch up quickly. Six sticks is plenty.

I love smallmouth fishing more than anything. Here is what I will have tied up for tomorrow morning when I go out with my brother:

DROPSHOT - ROBOWORMS

CRANKBAIT - 1.5 SQUAREBILLS - RED EYE SHAD 1/2 OZ

CAFFEINE SHAD - 5"

SENCO - 5"

KEITECH SWING IMPACTS - 4" ON A DARTER HEAD

SCROUNDER HEAD 3/8 OZ - FLUKE 4" OR LAKE FORK SHAD 4.5"

TUBE

JERKBAIT - LC POINTER, RAPALA XRAP, RIVER 2 SEA SUSPENDER 88

I will usually switch up till I find them and then stick with whatever is working.

I have 3 all the same rods

simply for convenience of being able to change to different bait quickly and easily

1 with top water jitterbug or popr

1 with spinner or buzz or crank or different color top water bait

1 with rubber lizard or worm

"how many rods do you need?" ....you sound like my wife, so i will give you the answer i always give her.. "just one more."

"how many rods do you need?" ....you sound like my wife, so i will give you the answer i always give her.. "just one more."

Just one more!

Apparently way too many...As I can't quit collecting expensive custom North Fork Composites and Loomis GLX factory rods.

I think one could easily get by with about 1/4 of the rods I have in my arsenal...but where's the fun in that. When you love your gear it just makes fishing that much more enjoyable. I love watching a quality rod load up on a fish....ahhh it's just a wonderful feeling.

Just one. A jerk bait rod. It will also double as an all purpose rod if you feel the need to stray.

Similar....I have three though, but they're all drop shot rods, LOL.

One for live bait PR844S/ Stella 2500FE

Another for topwater PR844C/ Core 100

Jerkbaits AVC66MF/ Scorpion 1000

Small, shallow crankbaits AVC70MM/ 50MG

Soft plastics, especially single tail grub AVS66MLF/ Stella 1000FA

Small swimbaits (Shadalicious & Hollowbelly) MBR842C/ Core 50

Spinnerbaits LE70MHF/ Calais

Deep Crankbaits (DD22, DT16) Lamiglas SR705R/ CTE200GT

And a spare...ES70MF/ Stella 2500FD

I'm thinking there is no absolute correct answer except maybe "just one more". I like three crankbait rods minimum with different colors and maybe different crankbait actions. Then the regular spinnerbair, jerkbait, spinning (grub), Jig, fluke. That's eight, but I usually have several more.