Different rods or all the same? 2025
flbassmaster reply :
Do you prefer to have all the rods that you use be the same manufacture or different? And same question for your baitcasters as well.
For example; all your rods are Fitzgerald and reels only Shimano. Or do you mix and match?
NorthernBasser reply :
I have all different rods.
As far as reels, I'm mainly Shimano and Daiwa with a few Abu's thrown in.
Until one company decides to sponsor me, that is. 
I will admit. I am weird about pairing a Shimano reel with a Daiwa rod, and vice versa. Dumb, I know.
ItsHardwick reply :
Mine are all mixed at the moment except for the last 2 I bought. I’ll be buying Dobyns rods and Daiwa reels from now on. I bought the first one of each after trying 7-8 others respectively and once I got on the water with them it just kind of clicked and it was like “oh, this is what I’ve been looking for.” Haha
flyfisher reply :
Reels are all shimano but one Kastking i bought on a whim. Rods are all over the board...i have shimano, duckett, kistler, abu garcia and St Croix in my normal usage arsenal.
CroakHunter reply :
Reels are all daiwa with 1 lews mixed in.
Rods are lews, dobyns, duckett, cabelas, and daiwa.
flbassmaster reply :
I thought I was the only one! I had like an ocd about having all the same rods and same reels. But lately I’ve been switching it up. My reels are all Shimano curados and chronarchs. That I won’t switch but the rods I’m thinking of getting some Dobyns. I hear they are very good.
On 9/7/2018 at 9:54 AM, NorthernBasser said:I have all different rods.
As far as reels, I'm mainly Shimano and Daiwa with a few Abu's thrown in.
Until one company decides to sponsor me, that is.
I will admit. I am weird about pairing a Shimano reel with a Daiwa rod, and vice versa. Dumb, I know.
I’m weird like that sometimes as well! You are not the only one! Haha
PersicoTrotaVA reply :
All my spinning reels are Pluegers except for 1 which is lews. Rods I’m all over the place, mostly st croix, daiwa and Powell I also have 1 kistler and a damiki dark angel. Baiatcasting reels I don’t have a preference. I have 2 Pgluegers, never again, a ***, my favorite and a few lews. I’m not partial to any brand really. It’s more on who makes what I need and what is in stock, and not 400 dollars...
Vilas15 reply :
All St Croix! I can go to the factory and get my panfish, trout, walleye, bass, and musky rods.
Reels are any number of brands. Abu, Pflueger, Shimano, Daiwa, Lews. Leaning towards sticking with Daiwas for casters and Pflueger/Shimano for spinning in the future.
TBAG reply :
Rods are 90% St. Croix with a couple Loomis and one Dobyns.
Reels I have a mix, spinning are all Shimano, baitcasters are a mix of Shimano and Bass Pro.
Todd2 reply :
AllStar is my favorite. I still use every one I've ever bought. They make up about half of my collection.
NYWayfarer reply :
Variety is the spice of life.
I have rods and reels from different manufacturers. I do have my favorite brands though and tend to purchase more from those companies.
Troy85 reply :
I use a few different brands, Shimano, St. Croix, Abu and Okuma.
islandbass reply :
On 9/7/2018 at 9:50 AM, flbassmaster said:Do you prefer to have all the rods that you use be the same manufacture or different? And same question for your baitcasters as well.
For example; all your rods are Fitzgerald and reels only Shimano. Or do you mix and match?
Absolutely not. We’re not using golf clubs after all, where it would be beneficial. And for me this goes for both rods and reels. Gear makers need to earn my trust for each and every item. I won’t go with a brand for everything just because I might like one thing from them. Nope, no way, no how.
Therefore, put me in the mix and match group.
flbassmaster reply :
Makes Sense. I am starting to do the same. 
Log Catcher reply :
I am using 3 or 4 different models of BPS rods. Baitcasters are mostly Lews with and odd Shimano or Abu to use once in a while. Spinning reels are Daiwa.
Angry John reply :
Reels all daiwa, sv103 and steez with a few alphas. Rods mostly st croix with a steez or two.
MIbassyaker reply :
I would love to have a nicely-matching stable of rods from the same line with matching reels. But I'm more interested in getting a deal, so most of what I own I bought on closeouts and other sales, here and there. Most of my rods are Fenwick or St. croix, in several lines each. Reels are Daiwa, Lews, and Pflueger.
HeyCoach reply :
Most of my rods and reels are Bass Pro lines since all of my rods and reels were stolen last year.
I do have two, what I consider nice, baitcasting rigs.
Both are St. Croix Mojo Bass rods with Lew’s LFS reels, one MHF and the other Med/Mod for jigs/Texas rig and treble hook lures, respectively.
I’m thinking about buying another spinning rig for shakey head by going with a St. Croix Mojo Med/Fast rod and Lew’s spinning reel.
I don’t know if I want to stick with that similar of a setup or go with a G Loomis E6X and a Shimano reel.
NorthernBasser reply :
On 9/8/2018 at 5:40 AM, HeyCoach said:Most of my rods and reels are Bass Pro lines since all of my rods and reels were stolen last year.
That's terrible. Sorry to hear that. That should be a minimum life sentence!
haggard reply :
I'm brand loyal, but only because when I find a brand I like, I tend to stick with it. I think it's driven by a desire for simplicity and having fewer decisions to make. With the exception of one combo, all my rods are from the same manufacturer. Same goes for the reels (a different mfr, but all reels from the same one).
The downside is it keeps me from trying many of the other great brands. I'm sure I'm missing out on some great products that I'd fall in love with.
LCG reply :
I mix but have a few brands that I gravitate towards. St Croix, Fenwick, Pflueger, and Daiwa get my attention first whenever I start looking for something new.
J.Vincent reply :
My Rods are 90% Abu Garcia Veritas and my reels are Abu, Shimano, Okuma and *** Fishing.
Stephen B reply :
No need to be brand loyal in my eyes unless you are extremely happy with what you use. It's best to try a bunch of different rods and find what you like.
Rods: G Loomis, Megabass, St Croix, Dobyns (May try Phenix K2s soon)
Reels: Shimano and Daiwa
5by3 reply :
Reels: Shimano curados and chronarchs mostly
rods: G. Loomis for contact presentations, dobyns for moving/reaction baits
burrows reply :
Abu,stcroix,shimano,powell,ducketts, gloomis and The brand that shall continue to remain nameless I’m all over the place I don’t stick with one brand but I have my favorites.
basseditor reply :
We (my two adult sons and I) have 75 Kistler Rods.
60% of my reels are Daiwa. After I converted all my rods (over 10 years span), I’m slowly replacing the reels to Daiwa. Ebay is my friend for Daiwa reels.
Steve Arthur reply :
My new baitcasting combos are Diawa tatula SV TwS with tatula elite rods..
Spinning reels Penn Conflict & Clash on Dobyns rods.
Matt_3479 reply :
I like variety, that way you can judge for yourself the difference between manufacturers. There is a few I do like better then others and after having fished a bunch I’m more inclined to go with them for future purchases but as of now I have st. Croix, loomis, dobyns, daiwa, kistler and a company that can’t be named. As for reels, I’m partial to shimano but love the daiwa as well. I don’t wonder too far from them when making a new purchase for a reel
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