Hi, I am a casual fisherman who spends a decent amount of time on the water. I’m looking for a single rod that can do just about everything. What would the specifications of said rod be? Do I want medium power? Fast action? Help.
A 7'-7'3" Medium Heavy fast action rod is usually considered to be an all purpose rod. It can really be used to do anything, except for the extremes of finesse and swimbaits.
No such thing
Megabass Diablo Spec R.
My reply is vague, but you OP says you spend a decent amount of time on the water. Well what rods do you already have and fish with?
LMB, SMB? Boat, bank? Spinning, casting? Few more details will help to have a more specific answer
No matter what, trying to have a all around rod will always be a compromise somewhere.
Having just one fishing rod is similar to a Golfer trying to compete with only a Driver. It’s possible but not ideal. I recommend a 6ft10 Medium Fast Spinning Rod and a 7ft Medium Heavy Fast Casting Rod. There are a lot of bases you can cover with those two rods .
If I had to choose only 1 rod to fish with it would be a gloomis glx 844mbr. Not much this rod can’t do well.
Spinning rod - 7ft, medium power, fast action
Casting rod - 7ft, medium heavy, fast action
6' 10"-7' medium heavy fast or extra fast ????
If you only bring one, MH/Fast.
I bring six on my kayak and three are MH/Fast.
Jack of all trades, master of none? Likely the general consensus would be 7 footer, M power for a spinning rod, MH power for a casting rod.
For fishing out of a kayak or canoe where I can closely approach my targets? If I could only take a single rod out, it'd be my 5'6" M powered St. Croix spinning rod.
Brad
On 5/14/2019 at 3:35 PM, Kidflex said:If I had to choose only 1 rod to fish with it would be a gloomis glx 844mbr. Not much this rod can’t do well.
Very good rod, but I like the Daiwa Tatula 7' M/MH AGS a little better. It can throw a 1/8oz + TRD with a SV spool fairly easily and also handle the heavier range lures.
On 5/14/2019 at 3:35 PM, Kidflex said:If I had to choose only 1 rod to fish with it would be a gloomis glx 844mbr. Not much this rod can’t do well.
I counter with the 783mbr. I have been using one for a season or two now and I have yet to find a presentation (within it's weight range) that it doesn't do reasonably well or better. Usually better.
I do think it comes down to the conditions one fishes in. I can get away with the 783mbr as my bank fishing doesn't involve a lot of cover most of the time. If it was reversed I would reach for the 884mbr a lot more often.
i have the Loomis E6X MBR 903c which is the 7'6 MBR taper rod, MH Fast action and I love it.
the extra length combined with the MBR taper is awesome.
On 5/14/2019 at 6:08 PM, Catt said:6' 10"-7' medium heavy fast or extra fast ????
^. Yeah, this.
g loomis 844
On 5/14/2019 at 3:35 PM, Kidflex said:If I had to choose only 1 rod to fish with it would be a gloomis glx 844mbr. Not much this rod can’t do well.
I think the 843 MBR falls in the same boat, if you can get a rod with this type of performance it would be a great all around rod. I have this in the IMX and E6X.
On 5/14/2019 at 2:36 PM, J.Vincent said:Having just one fishing rod is similar to a Golfer trying to compete with only a Driver. It’s possible but not ideal.
Sometimes I wonder how much good those clubs are actually doing me as I spray them all over the course. I think there are days I could shoot within a couple shots of my best score if I just had my 7-iron and a putter.
A 7' MH/F casting rod is like my 7-iron.
And I agree with the other people who said make it a 7' M/F if you're fishing a spinning rod.
Gloomis Medium.
I love the GLX 842
On 5/14/2019 at 12:18 PM, Fisher8729 said:Hi, I am a casual fisherman who spends a decent amount of time on the water. I’m looking for a single rod that can do just about everything. What would the specifications of said rod be? Do I want medium power? Fast action? Help.
Bait casting or spinning and budget??
Tom
Plain and simple the rod you're looking for doesn't exist. That being said if I could only own one rod it would be a 7' MHF casting rod with 40lb braid. It will do okay with 90% of baits but the far upper and lower end of stuff will be eliminated basically. Your true heavy cover techniques like heavy frogging and punching are out, and on the lighter end like tiny jerkbaits, ned rigs, drop shots you won't be casting them very far and will need to significantly back off on your drag to avoid bending out hooks.
Power: Medium Heavy
Action: Fast
Length: Anywhere between 6'6" to 7'3" (I'd go with 7')
As already mentioned compromises are made the closer you move toward finesse and the other end, heavy jigs and swimbaits.
I don't get into companies however. Dodge, Ford? Whateva, I'm stuck with a rice rocket, lol.
PS I am of Asian/Pac. Island heritage, so there shouldn't be anything racist in my last sentence.
I think you’ll need two rods, but if you want just one, then a rod that is light enough to throw 1/4 oz lures and is strong enough to horse a bass through moderately thick cover seems like a good choice. Some GLoomis med/heavy rods and a few St. Croix medium power rods have this capability. I’m sure that there are other brands.
Im thinking a modfast taper medium heavy, the modfast taper helps it cast smaller lure and the medium fast power helps it in heavy cover. Out of all the rods if used the most versatile was falcon bucoo modfast medium heavy. That rod could do anything, it sadly broke after being stepped on
...If I had to pick one, G. Loomis 6'6'' MH Fast 783C GLX but an alternative St.Croix Avid 7' MH Fast (way less sensitive but it covers everything).
On 5/15/2019 at 9:57 AM, d-camarena said:Im thinking a modfast taper medium heavy, the modfast taper helps it cast smaller lure and the medium fast power helps it in heavy cover. Out of all the rods if used the most versatile was falcon bucoo modfast medium heavy. That rod could do anything, it sadly broke after being stepped on
Was thinking same thing. That is a very versatile rod for just about everything up to 1/2 oz.
On 5/14/2019 at 12:18 PM, Fisher8729 said:Hi, I am a casual fisherman who spends a decent amount of time on the water. I’m looking for a single rod that can do just about everything. What would the specifications of said rod be? Do I want medium power? Fast action? Help.
"I'm a casual golfer who spends a decent amount of time on the links, I'm looking for a single club that can do just about everything. What would the specifications of said club be? Do I want a driver? An iron? maybe a wedge? Help."
I think 75% of bass fishing can be covered with a 7' mh/f casting rod with 12# fluoro or 50# braid. Is the best for that 75%? Maybe not, but it will serve you well. Now, if you are encountering something totally different, or just want to fish with wacky rigs, Ned rigs, and small inline spinners, then I'd say a 7' m/f spinning rod with 6# fluoro. or 15# braid. Braid and fluoro are much more stable and won't become brittle like mono. I've tested Seguar Invisx and Tatsu on a pinning rod for four seasons. The line showed no signs of degrading. Braid would another durable option for you.
On 5/15/2019 at 11:09 PM, BassWhole! said:"I'm a casual golfer who spends a decent amount of time on the links, I'm looking for a single club that can do just about everything. What would the specifications of said club be? Do I want a driver? An iron? maybe a wedge? Help."
4-7 iron would suit your needs well
On 5/15/2019 at 11:34 PM, CroakHunter said:4-7 iron would suit your needs well
Yeah, but what do I spool it with?...
This seems like a question well suited for this website in January, not mid-May...
On 5/15/2019 at 11:31 PM, J Francho said:I think 75% of bass fishing can be covered with a 7' mh/f casting rod with 12# fluoro or 50# braid. Is the best for that 75%? Maybe not, but it will serve you well. Now, if you are encountering something totally different, or just want to fish with wacky rigs, Ned rigs, and small inline spinners, then I'd say a 7' m/f spinning rod with 6# fluoro. or 15# braid. Braid and fluoro are much more stable and won't become brittle like mono. I've tested Seguar Invisx and Tatsu on a pinning rod for four seasons. The line showed no signs of degrading. Braid would another durable option for you.
Hard to beat this advice. I took Francho's advice last year on 15# braid on M/F 7ft spinning set up for Senkos and it changed my world.
I went through a couple of braids, before settling on Sufix832 and am using Seagur this year, with good results.
On 5/14/2019 at 12:18 PM, Fisher8729 said:Hi, I am a casual fisherman who spends a decent amount of time on the water. I’m looking for a single rod that can do just about everything. What would the specifications of said rod be? Do I want medium power? Fast action? Help.
Spinning or Baitcast? Budget? Preferred techniques? Shore or boat? Most used lure weights? Are bass your primary target? Not knowing any of these makes it a crap shoot as to which rod to recommend.
Others have given excellent options in power and action for general bass fishing. I assume this is your primary goal since this is a 'bass' forum. I'd jump at the chance to do some Calico Bass fishing, but my all around rod choice for Crappies wouldn't be anywhere near my all around choice for Largemouth bass.
I'm a bank fisherman and bring 1 rod with me most of the time - Phenix M1 MXS72M. Anything up to 1/2oz it can throw with no problem, and you can go to 3/4oz if you're attentive to your casting.
Most people usually say a MH/F casting rod with 12-15lb mono/fluoro or 30-40# braid is the single best all-around bassing setup, but I will argue that a M/F casting rod with 12lb mono/fluoro or 20-30# braid is every bit as good, it really depends what you like to fish.
However the reason I would suggest a MH/F rod is that it is just more versatile as to where you can fish as it will allow you to fish in moderate cover.
Would I have to buy a single Rod, I'd probably opt for for either a Mojo Bass Casting 6'8" MF or Mojo Bass spinning 7'1" MF as both fish halfway between a medium and a medium-heavy...
One rod to do it all is a relative term...species,lures u have i think i can do all the fishing that i do with a 6 Ft med action 2 peice ugly stik and a dawia 1500 size with 3 spools of dif line braid around 20 lbs mono around 10 and 6 lbs...give me some mepps purple manns worms rapalas a 2 inch grub a spook...i think i got most of what i like to catch covered short and med range casting..if you dont think one setup can do it i got ocean front property really cheap in montana ill sell ya..btw i did it all when i was a kid with one setup and a box of lures a bike crappie bass perch catfish bluegill all day..i didnt no or care there if there were better rods reels lures i was doin it all fine and dandy...now i got so much stuff i acquired over the yrs i forgot what i was really fishing for ...