Lots of rods vs. Lots of tackle 2024

bowhunter22 reply :

This is just something that I was thinking about today..

Would you rather have a basic selection of tackle (pretty much all the basics covered but only in a couple sizes and colors) and a lot of technique specific rod and reel combos

Or...

A lot of tackle (every color and size in everything, jigs, cranks, topwater, plastics, etc.) and just a couple rod and reel combos (say 2 combos, one spinning, one casting)

NHBull reply :

I don't think it is an all or nothing decision given many of the rod selections available, ie the Loomis MAG series. Seams 2 or 3 rods could handle the bulk techniques

LonnieP reply :

Both. Lots of tackle and lots of combos.

DINK WHISPERER reply :

On 2/27/2018 at 8:56 AM, LonnieP said:

Both. Lots of tackle and lots of combos.

This^^^

Dens228 reply :

I think I could get by with limited rods/reels easier than limited lures.

bowhunter22 reply :

On 2/27/2018 at 8:36 AM, NHBull said:

I don't think it is an all or nothing decision given many of the rod selections available, ie the Loomis MAG series. Seams 2 or 3 rods could handle the bulk techniques

Exactly, so you would rather have 2 or 3 rods that could handle a variety of techniques and a lot of tackle rather than a lot of rods each for one technique and not so much tackle?

NHBull reply :

On 2/27/2018 at 9:13 AM, bowhunter22 said:

Exactly, so you would rather have 2 or 3 rods that could handle a variety of techniques and a lot of tackle rather than a lot of rods each for one technique and not so much tackle?

Only if I had to choose......

That said, if I was going to have 3 rods, they would be high end with reels to match

MassYak85 reply :

Depends what you consider basic tackle, if all I get for worms is a 5" senko and all I get for crankbaits is a squarebill and a deep diver I will take the limited rod selection. But if you give me 3 sizes and 2 colors of all the different types of worms, give me 2 colors of all the different types of crank baits, 2 colors of all the different types of jigs etc, etc, etc...then I'll go basic tackle.

MIbassyaker reply :

I'm having a hard time making sense of the question -- the main reason for lots of rods is that you have lots of different kinds of tackle that require different rods. No?

I mean, I have a bunch of crankbaits of different colors, depths, weights, and shapes. I have one dedicated crankbait rod, plus a few other rods that can be used for crankbaits. I could get another cranking rod and make more effective use of some varieties of crankbait (for instance, I could maybe use a longer and heavier cranking rod than what I currently have for deeper runing crankbaits). But I only need that sort of rod if I have the tackle.

Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :

Each type of lure should have separate setup that why you hear ppl asking all the time for spinnerbait rod, chatterbait rod, topwater rod, whopper plopper rod, lipless crank rod, shallow crank rod, deep diver rod, Senko rod, jig rod, wacky rig rod Ned rig rod, soft swimbait rod, etc.....

CroakHunter reply :

Limited tackle for sure for me. I have 2-3 colors of everything and I feel like that's all I need. Natural, black, white. Now that I have expanded my arsenal to 14 rods I sometimes forget how I did it with just 2 or 3

Raul reply :

On 2/27/2018 at 8:56 AM, LonnieP said:

Both. Lots of tackle and lots of combos.

/ thread

WIGuide reply :

I'll go with neither as my answer, I'll balance the two. There's no reason to go all or nothing. I don't need a 2 oz tungsten weight to punch with if I don't have a rod that I can use it with. Conversely, technique specific rods are nice to have for every technique, but what good does a 7'11" XH/whatever do me when I have a don't have anything to throw on it? I would balance mine arsenal and let some rods do double duty.

Catt reply :

Topwater, mid-depth, & bottom contact are the only lure category one needs!

It's more important to know where to use em than how many of either!

Bankbeater reply :

I would rather have a little of both than a lot of one or the other.

thinkingredneck reply :

Fishing from a kayak I can only take a couple rods and a small selection of lures. But I have a lot to choose from. However, it is easier to go with fewer rods.

junyer357 reply :

Im basically going with lots of rods and basic lures now. I have 17 or 18 rods. I have them down to technique specific. I have a dedicated rod for senkos, but i only keep about 4 or 5 colors on hand. I keep only 3 or 4 colors of jigs in diffrent heads and weights. 3 colors of spinnerbaits and a selection of blades. I have a 3700 each for squarebills, 6-10', 10-15', and mag/xdeep cranks. I have 4 cranking rods. I have a frog and topwater rods, and they share a 3700 box. And so on and so forth.

I like being able to have a rod specifically for what i want to throw, not one that "this will make do". It makes it easier and more enjoyable casting those lures. I could throw squarebills on my mxf worm rod, but my hook up- landing ratio is much better with my med-mod rod. Im at a point where i am slowly upgrading my rods and reels to better ones. As i have expanded to new techniques, i wait and save up to buy the better rod and a nicer reel, because its cheaper in long run to me, rather than spending 80-100 now " to get by with", and then spending 200+ on one later. I wait and save longer to get the good rod to begin with. I spend more on rods far more than reels. Yea a better reel can cast better, but its no good if i cant feel squat with the rod.

Team9nine reply :

I'm the opposite, striving for limited tackle AND limited combos (simplicity)...making progress, but I'm not there yet

fishwizzard reply :

I like having a lot of combos and limited tackle. I go both ways, where most of my rods are more on the versatile side, with a few oddball technique specfic rods mixed in. I just picked up what might be the untimate "1/16-1/8oz Inline Spinner Rod" and I am pumped to get a reel sorted out for it.

For lures I try to keep it simple, with only one or two different brands/ colors per different lure type/style.

Ratherbfishing reply :

Assuming the rods/reels aren't purpose built for very strict applications and are flexible in their application, I would much rather have 2 spinning/baitcasting combinations and have a plethora of baits than vice versa. Sometimes the fish are not that picky but sometimes they are and it's for these latter times that I make my choice.

bagofdonuts reply :

i have way too much of both, but just bought a new tatula sv and a st croix rod. its a problem. I think i could go several years and buy nothing but line.

WRB reply :

Having lots of lures in a wide variety of colors and size is a waste of time, money and energy to buy and use them.

Lures accumulate over time and very few make the cut that you actually use and catch bass with.

Rod & reel combos you do use, again go slowly and learn how to use 1 outfit at a time.

Tom

Steveo-1969 reply :

Neither. With where and how I fish, I can (and do) get by with minimal rods and minimal tackle.

RPreeb reply :

For me it's going to be trying to put a firm limit on both. I'm never going to be doing any tournament fishing, strictly for my own pleasure. I'm retired so I have all the time I need to tie on different lures on a couple of fairly wide range baitcasters and one spinning combo. I have several 3600's for hard baits and terminal tackle and one 3700 deep for plastics.

I'll be fishing either bank on small ponds, or canoe for larger water, so too much clutter will just be more trouble than it's worth. This is actually the first full season in my 71 years that I've ever owned more than one rod at a time.

bowhunter22 reply :

I guess I was more looking for if you had to choose one not what you are currently doing.. obviously you would pick a lot of both..

RPreeb reply :

On 2/28/2018 at 4:27 AM, bowhunter22 said:

I guess I was more looking for if you had to choose one not what you are currently doing.. obviously you would pick a lot of both..

I still don't think that I'd change much. Too much tackle I just find confusing, and more than my 3 rods would just clutter up my canoe. I guess I'm just a fan of simplification.

It also means fewer issues trying to explain things to my wife, who has no grasp at all of what is involved. As far as she is concerned, I've already gone off the deep end.

JoshFromBolo reply :

Honestly if I had to choose between a lot of rods or a lot of lures, I would go with a ton of the different types of lures/colors 5000 spinnerbaits, 5000 swimbaits, I'm in heaven . But in reality, I'm going with a bit of both lol.

Sam reply :

Bass Fishing Rule 1 - You can never have enough rods.

Bass Fishing Rule 2 - You can never have enough tackle.

Bass Fishing Rule 3 - Keep adding to your arsenal.

DropShotHotShot reply :

I have limited my tackle, i find i only throw what i have confidence in. So i am in the camp of having several rods rigged with my most confident presentations. I always have a weightless senko, a spinnerbait (swim jig is phasing out), a deep crank bait, a dropshot, and a few more that i think will produce on the lake that day. I loke the speed of changing presentations without retieing. Faster fishing, also lets me better match rods to techniques.

I normally have 5-6 rods on deck, and several more in locker

N Florida Mike reply :

This is hurting my brain to figure out...????

Angry John reply :

Less rods and more lures. I only say this because I keep moving and what I was using in that other state does not work. To be fair I move from NE to pnw to tenessee and nothing is the same.

WRB reply :

I have over 15 rod & reel combos that get used during the year. I have more lures then I can remember.

If shore fishing I prefer only 1 outfit with limited lures like worms or whatever that may work where I am shore fishing.

My boat is my tackle storage unit and full of rods, reels and everything.

When fishing from a partners boat it takes me lots of research to limit 4 or 5 rods what to take for lures and it’s not an easy decision.

Tom

bigbill reply :

I fish from shore all the time, five spinning rod outfits. From ultra light to heavy. Different line test. Line test does influence how your bait runs and reacts. A baitcaster for a jig n pig. Lighter line test for smaller lighter baits with a lighter rod setup.

Five tackle boxes. One with all crankbaits of all brands, sizes, colors. Second all topwater baits of all sizes, styles and colors. Third topwater with newer style baits, frogs, in-line spinners, spinnerbaits, propbaits etc. Fourth plastics with rig setups in zip lock bags, from worms, creature baits, minnowbaits etc. Fifth, weedless baits.

i probably look silly with everything but since I fish near the car now I fish out of the car. Or set it up and park the car. I can’t seem to limit my tackle. I’m using Plano 9606 hip roof boxes filled to the hilt. Plus I’m a decaded serious color freak. On a slow day, I know the fish are there just not biting. Is it the color of the bait that matters the most? Sometimes, we’re like a baseball pitcher we need to toss a change up pitch.

Plan A i start off with a variety of baits, sizes and color till I get action. Plan B second pass I go with different presentations. I’m in no hurry to figure it out. I take my time and stay motivated and focused. It can be as little as changing from a orginal bass attractant to a garlic scent that triggers them. Never give up there’s always that split shot rigged plastic worm. Don’t put all your fan casts next to each other. Skip fan casting, move your casts away from each other. I also like to cast past my targeted area and work my baits 10’ from where the fish are. Make the fish come to your baits don’t spook them.

On 2/28/2018 at 12:40 PM, Angry John said:

Less rods and more lures. I only say this because I keep moving and what I was using in that other state does not work. To be fair I move from NE to pnw to tenessee and nothing is the same.

Your hot baits can change from place to place. Even if there a mile apart. Everyday in the same spot baits can change. Even when the bite slows down I up size my baits first. The scale down if larger sized baits don’t work. The more knowledge we learn it works at different places too.

Angry John reply :

On 3/1/2018 at 4:36 AM, bigbill said:

Your hot baits can change from place to place. Even if there a mile apart. Everyday in the same spot baits can change. Even when the bite slows down I up size my baits first. The scale down if larger sized baits don’t work. The more knowledge we learn it works at different places too.

Yea but mostly the forage is different. They have no shad in the PNW and in CT alewife was the primary forage in most lakes. Now here in TN shad is the main feed. I used a lot of watermelon in both CT and PNW but the water here in about half of the lakes and ponds i frequent need green pumpkin or black blue in a soft plastic. I dont by a lot of plastics for this reason and i may have 10 or so bags that dont get use. The good news is when i go on trips to Texas the water in Austin is crystal clear so i use them up there when i visit. I have prevented a huge pile of plastic by sticking to the basics and not going color crazy.

roadwarrior reply :

pondbassin101 reply :

I only have 3 rods either way, so I would go with a large assortment of lures to work with.

haggard reply :

I'd go with fewer rods and less tackle but that's not one of the choices.

I'd go with lots of rods and then just take four rods max with me at any time, because lots of tackle means lots of choices to make and retying every time.

I'd go with lots of tackle because lots of rods take up way more space than lots of tackle.

I'll go with lots of rods and lots of tackle so I can sell lots of rods and lots of tackle and just go back to 2 or 3 combos and a single box of tackle

On 3/1/2018 at 9:15 PM, roadwarrior said:

That post gets a lot of mileage and rightly so.

LionHeart reply :

Lots of rods. I use less than half the tackle I have, and hate stopping to re-tie just to change lures, then regret changing lures and re-tie the original lure back on.

Pitch'nCypress reply :

More rods less tackle for me. I'd rather have multiple bottom baits and reaction types baits all rigged at once. In all honestly the same basic baits have caught bass forever. So much stuff out there to catch fishermen more so than fish. Believe me, me and my wallet speak ths truth.....lol.

Scrapiron reply :

On 2/27/2018 at 10:53 PM, Team9nine said:

I'm the opposite, striving for limited tackle AND limited combos (simplicity)...making progress, but I'm not there yet

Same here. Still working and toying with getting down to three freshwater setups and two inshore. As a kayaker, for me, more than 3 rods gets unmanageable as I'd rather just focus on fishing. Of course same goes with lures.

3065

Lots of rods vs. Lots of tackle 2024

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