I am on an endless search for the "perfect" rod and reel combo for each technique I fish (kind of a side hoddy, I guess). I was just wondering if any of you have found that "perfect" combo for a particular technique that you would never change out even if money and resources were not an issue. If so, what is that combo and what technique do you think it is "perfect" for?

I just got a Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth 6'9" M/F spinning rod and paired it with a Shimano Symetre reel. I used it in a tournament on Saturday throwing XRap suspending jerkbaits and found it to be incredably sensative and smooth. I don't think I will throw XRaps on anything else in the future.

Almost all of my rods are perfect for what they do. If not, I buy another. How do you think I got so many?

Perfect rod for almost anything: GLoomis CR723 IMX

Perfect reel to match tho that rod: well, can´t say which one of this list is more perfect...... Shimano Chronarch 50 mg, Shimano Scorpion 1000 Mg, Daiwa Alphas Itö, Alphas R Edition, Alphas Type F, Z 103H

Perfect rod for light fishing: GraphiteLeader Bosco GLBS602ML

Perfect reel for tht rod: Team Daiwa Revros 2004

Hard to say this one or that one is "perfect", perfection is a matter of opinion and opinions are like belly buttons, we all got one.

Looking for just one?

MBR842C/ Core 50MG

My new favorite rod and reel is a Dobyns champion series 734cfh and an Abu Garcia REVO stx. it's a lightweight, sleek, sensitive and good looking combo.

Steez xbd frog rod paired with the daiwa Z

My perfect setup is my texas worm rod. Its a Daiwa Aird 2500 spinning reel with 8 lb fluorocarbon on a 6'8" medium xfast BPS Carbonlite. Its very light weight and sensitive. And it has plenty of back bone for hauling fish from under docks and out of trees drives any hook through a fish's mouth with ease.

A very close to perfect setup is my finesse jig/drop shot rod. Its a Daiwa Aird 2500 with 8 lb fluorocarbon on a 6'6" medium fast BPS Carbon Black. I got the rod on clearance during the Fishing Classic and found it to be very well balanced and plenty of back bone with a soft tip.

Love my 893 NRX with Chronarch 50e for 3/8 oz jigs... also doubles as a nice Ika/Senko rod.

JB Custom "snake" rod with a lews tournament pro. Ultra light, and sensative on a scary level. Use it for shaky heads and texas rigged plastics, along with the occasion light jig.

id have to say a dobyns champion 735c with a lews tournament pro. amaaazziing jig combo. also a powell max 766flip with an ardent f700 flip/pitch reel.

My Dora the Explorer combo. Perfect for playing with the cat. I may upgrade to the Barbie. The rest of my stuff works pretty good too.

My "perfect" Texas Rig ;(

Shimano Calcutta 100A: Solid as an anvil, versitile as a pair of Channellocks, dependable as a 30/30

Shimano Crucial CRC-X610MH X-Fast: scary sentitive

Berkeley Big Game 15# Mean Green

Mustad Denny Brauer Straight Shank Flipping Hook 4/0

Tru-Tungsten 1/4 oz Bullet Weight Black

Setyr 6'6" MH-F casting rod, tuned up Daiwa Fuego, spinnerbait. Since I put this reel on this rod and tied on a spinnerbait, the combo has been together. I haven't thrown anything but a spinnerbait on this rig in at least four years. Guess that means I think it's perfect for that app.

7'1" M-XF Loomis GLX, Alphas R, tube. I sometimes throw a fluke on this combo, but it's perfect for tubes.

Airrus Tradition spinning rod 7'2" MH-F, Pfleuger Supreme XT. Of the four spinning combos I have, this gets the call 99% of the time. It just feels "right".

St Croix LTB 7' M-F, JDM Zillion. Senkos, Ikas, light t-rigs and jigs, etc. For me, the perfect lighter weight bottom contact rig. I have a hula grub rigged on an Fin-Tech Skip jighead tied on more often than not.

St Croix LTB 7' M-F, JDM Zillion.

That is one of my favorites.

I have several "perfect setups", but the one I fish with the most is Loomis MBR844C w/Chronarch 50Mg. Jigs, worms, creature baits, it's my go to rig.

Ronnie

My perfect set up for me is a custom spiral wrap rod made by the one and only ALPSTER (6'8" MH-F) paired with a Chronarch 50MG. Use it for jigs and most plastics.

^{I enjoy seeing everyone's responce. As Raul said, there is no "perfect," just peoples opinon of perfect. I myself have over 100 combos (only about 50% are for bass) and I sold countless more and I can't say I have found a perfect one yet for a specific technique. I was hoping some of these new NRX rods I purchased would fill the "perfect" niche for me in a few areas, which they are extremely nice, but being a little tip heavy takes it out of my "perfect" catergory. I would say the G Loomis GLX BCFR863 with a Shimano Core 100MgFV is close to perfect for pitching weighted plastics (this would be the one combo that I would list as perfect). Everything else I have, I can think of minor improvements that might make it perfect, but as they are now, they are not my ideal. Many are extremely close to "perfect", which in reality is probably good enough (though, like I said, I am extremely picky). Again, thanks again for the responses.}

I have an Ardent Edge Inshore Pro 5.1:1 on a G-Loomis GL2 Crankbait 6'0" Medium, my favorite set up I have ever used.

I'd have to go with my St. Croix Legend Elite 7 MHF paired with a pflueger patriarch XT casting reel. They really feel like they were made for each other.

Mike D

Looking for just one?

MBR842C/ Core 50MG

Have you traded your Chronarch 50mg's for the Core 50 mg? IYO is it better or just different? What have you noticed are the improvements?

I think I'm fishing 'my' perfect dropshot spinning set-up. Custom 6'9" ML/XF SCV. Split Tennesse grip. Fuji Ti/SiC guides. Shimano CI4 2500.

my favorite set up is my legend extreme 69mlxf spinning rod with a stradic ci4 1000

If I had to pack just one, I would have to go with a good 7' graphite composite spinning rod and pair it with a quality reel with some extra spools. That way you could fish with 4 or 6 lb mono, or up to 20 or 30 lb braid. That covers a lot of bases with one setup. Sure, there's a lot of stuff that rig won't do, but the list of stuff it can do is longer thn the list of stuff it won't. Back when I used to do 2-3 week floats down the Buffalo, I carried two setups like that. I made plenty of trips where I never even set up rod #2.

My perfect set up is a Loomis SBR752C 6'3" matched with a Core 51MG7. The best spinnerbait rig ever created, IMHO.