I often feel like I'm the only bass angler on the planet not using 30lb+ braid with leaders and a heavy-arse rod. Is there something I'm missing? I mean, I understand the general concept behind ripping lures through cover and whatnot, but it sure seems like overkill for fish that rarely get over 5lbs. Personally I love using a med-light spinning 6.5 footer with 8lb test max, it's like fighting a tarpon when you connect with a lunker, but I'm just curious what y'all have settled on as your preferred rigs. Thoughts? Opinions? Eggs of knowledge?
It all depends on the application. During the summer when you just have the giant fields of weeds pads and matts, you arent going to be able to fish them with a spinning rod and light gear. You can pick off one or two on the edge but to really get into them you need some of the heavy stuff. Or if you come up on a nasty looking downed tree, you may get the bait around the edges but to really fish the meat of it you need heavy line and rod.
In terms of the heavy rods that also is based on the type of bait being used, more specifically a hook. For bigger jigs they are big gauge hooks and you need a stout rod to drive the hook into the basses mouth. If you use light spinning gear on a heavy hook, you wont get any penetration. It goes bothways, you dont use light wire hooks on heavy gear because it will straighten the hook out.
Outside of my punching, flipping and jig rod, all my set ups are 12 lbs and under. My two most used rods are a 6'8 MH with 10 lbs line and a 7'3 MH with 14 lbs test. I have my spinning rods spooled up with 8lbs and 6lbs for light worms, drop shot, shakey head etc
Its all relative to the type of bait and application.
Last edited by biggz53 on Tue May 20, 2014 11:19 am; edited 1 time in total
In terms of the heavy rods that also is based on the type of bait being used, more specifically a hook. For bigger jigs they are big gauge hooks and you need a stout rod to drive the hook into the basses mouth. If you use light spinning gear on a heavy hook, you wont get any penetration. It goes bothways, you dont use light wire hooks on heavy gear because it will straighten the hook out.
Outside of my punching, flipping and jig rod, all my set ups are 12 lbs and under. My two most used rods are a 6'8 MH with 10 lbs line and a 7'3 MH with 14 lbs test. I have my spinning rods spooled up with 8lbs and 6lbs for light worms, drop shot, shakey head etc
Its all relative to the type of bait and application.
Last edited by biggz53 on Tue May 20, 2014 11:19 am; edited 1 time in total
Over the last couple of years I have become technique specific. Jig rod, worm rod, flippin stick, 3 different craanking rods to cover all depths, frog rod, buzz rod and a medium light spinning rod. The only rods with braid are the flippin stick and frog rod. All of the others have either fluoro, mono or copolymer.
For bigger jigs they are big gauge hooks and you need a stout rod to drive the hook into the basses mouth. If you use light spinning gear on a heavy hook, you wont get any penetration. It goes bothways, you dont use light wire hooks on heavy gear because it will straighten the hook out.
That makes far more sense than any other reasoning I could come up with. I do have a heavier setup, I've just found myself using it so rarely I was beginning to wonder the big difference was.
That makes far more sense than any other reasoning I could come up with. I do have a heavier setup, I've just found myself using it so rarely I was beginning to wonder the big difference was.
Over the last couple of years I have become technique specific. Jig rod, worm rod, flippin stick, 3 different craanking rods to cover all depths, frog rod, buzz rod and a medium light spinning rod. The only rods with braid are the flippin stick and frog rod. All of the others have either fluoro, mono or copolymer.
Yeah, I think I'm just going to have to accept that that's where I'm eventually headed. Just got my first baitcaster a couple weeks back (baby steps, haha).
Yeah, I think I'm just going to have to accept that that's where I'm eventually headed. Just got my first baitcaster a couple weeks back (baby steps, haha).
Over the last couple of years I have become technique specific. Jig rod, worm rod, flippin stick, 3 different craanking rods to cover all depths, frog rod, buzz rod and a medium light spinning rod. The only rods with braid are the flippin stick and frog rod. All of the others have either fluoro, mono or copolymer.
Yeah, I think I'm just going to have to accept that that's where I'm eventually headed. Just got my first baitcaster a couple weeks back (baby steps, haha).
Once you go down that path there's no turning back lol
you can do a lot with heavier spinning gear, light jigs, frogs, etc. some guys prefer spinning for frogging. you don't have to go completely over to the dark side.
EXATCLTY, it's what works for you!
Believe it or not, I catch fish on non specific lure/species/type of water/phase of the moon/whatever type rods
! I'm being a smart ass there for those that don't get sarcasm 
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depends on where/what im fishing.. i ALWAYS carry a wacky rig around everywhere i go , so much that i have a setup that is designed to throw nothing but. 6' medium pflueger trout rod, with a little 30 size spinning reel,8lb nanofil and it will throw a 4" yumdinger a mile and a half into the wind lol. other than that i always have a top water setup 7' medium heavy baitcaster,cheapy daiwa 7:1 ratio reel and 15lb mono,, and a jig and frog rod both 7'6" jig rod is heavy with xtra fast tip and 65lb powerpro on a us reels super caster 1000. frog rod is medium heavy xtra fast tip with 50lb super slick power pro.... i also always carry a littl 5'6" ultra light with 4lb mono and ill use this for casting wacky rigs too if the water is relatively free and clear of weeds cause its just a fun way to fish
I often feel like I'm the only bass angler on the planet not using 30lb+ braid with leaders and a heavy-arse rod. Is there something I'm missing? I mean, I understand the general concept behind ripping lures through cover and whatnot, but it sure seems like overkill for fish that rarely get over 5lbs. Personally I love using a med-light spinning 6.5 footer with 8lb test max, it's like fighting a tarpon when you connect with a lunker, but I'm just curious what y'all have settled on as your preferred rigs. Thoughts? Opinions? Eggs of knowledge?
i agree here, over the past couple years i have tuned myself in with light tackle. i use mostly co-polymer line 6lb- as high as 12lb. i do use 65lb braid for my big swimbaits. i dont really throw frogs and rarely throw c-rigs to use more braided line. i prefer light tackle its more fun to me and adds alittle more excitement when you hook a big one cuz you cant winch the fish in, you battle.
i have 2 braid rods 1 for frogging in the lilies and the other is for throwing sluggos, swim jigs into trees and reeds
Other than that.... 6lb test for small mouth applications tubs raps etc etc even husky jerks i wont go heavier than 8lb ... i just think the action of the lure is so much better with lighter line
Other than that.... 6lb test for small mouth applications tubs raps etc etc even husky jerks i wont go heavier than 8lb ... i just think the action of the lure is so much better with lighter line
I look at line diameter more than actual test. I have 17 pound nanofil on my spinning setup and thats roughly equivalent to 8 pound mono. Its going to fish roughly the same way as the 8lb (stretch aside) but if I hook into a hog I wont need to worry about the line. 30lb suffix is about the same diameter as 12 pound mono I believe and I dont have to worry about throwing it into cover at all.
if you're really throwing frogs or punch setups etc. in the thickest and heaviest cover, you won't land as many good fish with spinning gear and light line.
on other end of the spectrum...you won't be catching many fish drop shotting ultra clear water with a flipping stick, 65 lb. braid, and heavy gauge hooks.
i think there comes a point where you need the right tools for the right job. it doesn't mean you need to spend a ton of money on the best stuff but you'll catch a lot more fish. and it doesn't mean a 6'8" heavy rod is going to be a deal breaker vs. a 7' heavy rod.
on other end of the spectrum...you won't be catching many fish drop shotting ultra clear water with a flipping stick, 65 lb. braid, and heavy gauge hooks.
i think there comes a point where you need the right tools for the right job. it doesn't mean you need to spend a ton of money on the best stuff but you'll catch a lot more fish. and it doesn't mean a 6'8" heavy rod is going to be a deal breaker vs. a 7' heavy rod.