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!?

This is my baitcasting array, many set-ups can have multipal purposes. I am limited to 6'6" rods due to my rod locker size, so your options may be more varied, but this is where I am at currently:

Shimano Castic

flipping reel

6:2:1 gears

8 – 10 - 14 test

Pinnacle

flipping rod

fast - heavy

14 - 30 test

1/2 - 3 oz lures

65 Braid

flipping baits, flipping jigs, top water

Revo S

top water in weeds

6:4:1 gears

12 test

CarbonLite

top water

fast - medium heavy

10 – 20 test

3/8 – 1 oz lures

50 Braid

frogs/flipping jigs

DaiwaProcaster 100

cranks on bottom

6:3:1 gears

12 – 14 test

St Croix

dragging cranks

fast medium heavy

10 - 20test

3/8 - 1 oz lures

20 Braid

dragging cranks (walleye fishing)

Daiwa Viento

larger lures

6:3:1 gears

12 – 14 test

Shimano

larger lures

medium fast medium heavy

10 - 20test

3/8 - 1 oz lures

20 Fluorocarbon

swim-baits, lipless cranks, Med/Deep diving cranks, football jigs, plastic stick baits, Vib-E, large spinner baits

Daiwa Viento

medium baits

6:3:1 gears

12 – 14 test

St.Croix

medium baits

fast medium

10 – 17 test

1/4 - 3/4 oz lures

12 Fluorocarbon

shaky head, jerk baits, wacky worms, football jigs, drop shot, small cranks and smaller spinners

CarbonLite

smaller baits

6:4:1 gears

6 – 12 test

CarbonLite

smaller baits

fast medium light

6 – 14 test

1/16 – 1/2 oz lures

8 Fluorocarbon

shaky head, plastic jerk baits, wacky worms, drop shots, small cranks and spinners

Good medium action spinning rod covers tubes, grubs and dropshot. Crank rod for cranks and jerkbaits. And a medium heavy baitcaster for 1/2 to 3/4 football heads, and C rigs. With these 3 rods, your smallie ready.

7' Medium action casting rod, 7' ML spinning rod. Bases are covered.

I never leave on a smallie trip without a

dropshot

jerkbait

spinnerbait

spook

tube

I also throw senkos, grubs and crankbaits but not near as often as the five above.

How many can you deal with in the boat or canoe? Fewer to me is more enjoyable cause I hate a crowded deck. Depends on if you are fishing big flat water, below a dam, or clear, small stream. Size of your vessel is important to consider as well as your bank account. Time of the year can have an influence too. I have fished with lots of anglers who have shiny new stuff tht don't know the first thing about using it. So it's worthless for them to even own it.

After many years of packing in to remote lakes, I learned to enjoy limiting myself to a shoebox sized tackle box and ttwo rods. One medium light spinning rod with 6 or 8 lb, and one baitcaster with 10-12 lb. medium weight rod. Caught everything from 30 lb. lakers, giant Pike, waleye, and smallmouth. This is obviousdly not ALL the combos needed for all situations, but it was what fit the bill for me, and that's all you need to figure out: what fits your needs?