I need help to build the right combos with my reels and rods

[freelancer27]

Hi all,

I have to admit that I am a bit all over the place with my gear lately. What I mean with this is? I am reviewing my gear constantly to see how I can optimize it to address all of my 'bass needs'.

What I am struggeling with is figuring out right now what reel to pair with what rod to optimize if for the different techniques that I am using for my bass fishing.

Maybe you want to have a look and tell me what rod you would combine with what reel for which application, so that I can get a better picture what adjustments I need to make (what gear is missing to complete my arsenal).

So here is what i have:

Rods:
* G. Loomis E6X Casting Rod 6'8" Med Hvy 803C JWR, Lure weight: 3/16-5/8oz
* St. Croix Avid X Series Cast Rod 7' Med Hvy, Lure weight: 3/8-1oz
* Bass Pro Shops Extreme 7'0'', Medium heavy, Action: fast , Lure Weight: 3/8 - 1 1/2 oz
* Okuma Scott Martin TCS Casting Rod 7'11" Heavy, Lure Weights: 1/4-2oz


Reels:
* Lews Team Lew's Custom Pro Speed Spool (7.1:1)
* Reel: Shimano Curado 200 I
* Daiwa Coastal (7.3:1)
* Lew's BB2 Inshore


My techniques that I want to cover:

1. Spinnerbaits (3/8oz - 1/2 oz)
2. Smaller Swimbaits (up to 1oz)
3. Lipped and Lipless Crankbaits (3/8 - 3/4 oz)
4. Jigs
5. Weighted plastics
6. Jerkbaits
7. Topwater (Frogs, Spoons, Buzzbaits)

It would be great to see what combos you would build and which combo(s) I am still missing.

Thank you very much!

Cheers!

[freelancer27]

Here is how I am currently using it:



Casting Combo 1:
* Rod: G. Loomis E6X Casting Rod 6'8" Med Hvy 803C JWR
* Reel: Lews Team Lew's Custom Pro Speed Spool (7.1:1)
* Line: 12 pound Fluro
*Applications: Drop shot, light plastics, light jigs and Jerkbaits

Casting Combo 2:
* Rod: St. Croix Avid X Series Cast Rod 7' Med Hvy
* Reel: Shimano Curado 200 I
* Line: 12 pound Fluro (thinking of putting 20 pound braid on it)
* Applications: Big bottom bouncing lures (Weighted creature baits, Jigs)

Casting Combo 3:
* Rod: Bass Pro Shops Extreme Casting, Medium heavy, fast tapper
* Reel: Lew's BB2 Inshore
* Line: 14 pound Mono
* Applications: Spinner baits, (lip less) crankbaits, small swimbaits

Casting combo 4:
* Rod: Okuma Scott Martin TCS Casting Rod 7'11" Heavy

* Reel: Daiwa Coastal
* Line: 50 pound Praid
* Applications: Top water and heavy punching


So combo 3 is where I am combining a bit of too many techniques for my liking.

I am playing with the following thoughts:

1. Use Combo 3 for spinnerbaits and small swimbaits and get a combo for lipless crankbaits and lipped crankbaits.
Combo that I would consider here is:

Reel: Daiwa SV TWS 6.3:1
Rod: Megbass SWINGFIRE

2. Use combo 3 for Crankbaits (not optimal but ok) and get following combo for spinnerbaits and small swimbaits:

Reel: Daiwa SV TWS 6.3:1
Rod: Megbass DIABLO SPEC-R

3. Sell combo 3 and get 2 new combos:

Spinnerbaits and samll swimbaits:
Reel: Daiwa SV TWS 6.3:1
Rod: Megbass DIABLO SPEC-R

Lipless and lipped crankbaits:
Reel: My old Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier 6.4:1
Rod: Dobyns Fury Casting Rod 7' Med Hvy Cranking


Thanks for your thoughts!

[JerryC]

All you have are MH & Heavy rods?

[LowRange]

It looks like you have your existing combs paired well. The rod in combo 3 is an affordable and versatile moving bait stick. Versatility is a good thing. If you would like to replace combo 3 with something much more sensitive and even more versatile I'd recommend an Extreme Mission Type F (XMTF) taper. If I was starting over from scratch and looking for a versatile workhorse arsenal, I'd go all Orochi XX paired to a mixture TD Zillions and Tat Zillions SVs.

All you have are MH & Heavy rods?

I believe the BPS extreme is a heavy powered rod. I've got a 7' H BPS extreme power wall rated between 3/8 and 1 1/2 ounces. It's one of the few rods I still use from my pre-enthusiast days. I like it as a spare spinnerbait and chatterbait rod for its combination of soft tip and heavy powered rod backbone. That rod has been through hell back and hasn't died yet. The last time I threw it I caught a 39'' barred Musky on a Terminator spinnerbait that decided to spaz out next to the boat bending the rod every which way.

[Teal101]

A fast taper wouldn't be my first choice for moving baits, especially treble hook baits. You want a MH moderate action for the dingle hook moving and start with a M moderate for the cranks.

[freelancer27]

Thanks guys!

Would something like a Megabass SWINGFIRE work?

Happy Sunday,
Seb.

[Teal101]

For cranks yes, the XX swingfire will work. It may be a tad soft for swimjigs and spinnerbaits which is where the XX Diablo Spec-R steps in.