What's Your Breakdown Of Fishing Gear Of Baitcasting And Spinning For Bass? 2025

tcbass reply :

I have added them up and I am done buying rods and reels. I actually don't have enough room on my boats deck to keep the rods and reels I have (which isn't many compared to some), so I definitely don't need to buy anymore. I have 5 baitcasting set ups and 3 spinning set ups although one of the spinning set ups is an ultralight for panfish that I keep for kids. I never thought I'd have so many rods and reels. My 2 favorites of each: Abu Revo Rocket matched with a Cabelas Tournament ZX heavy Frog rod and a Shimano Ci4+ 2500 matched with a Cabelas Tournament ZX Dropshot rod.

What's your breakdown of fishing gear of baitcasting and spinning for bass?

And what's your one favorite of each?

J Francho reply :

6 or 7 spinning

23 casting

1 spincast

1 underspin

2 centrepin

4 conventional w/levelwind

1 conventional w/out

2 linecounter trolling reels

3 flyrod

I like them all, save the trolling gear - it was inherited. Each piece has a time and place. I wouldn't want to use a spincaster for steelhead in the winter, just like a centrepin is useless without current... Thay are all just tools. The longer I fish, the more I accumulate. Some stuff is just interesting to have - I don't really need it, but I enjoy having it.

fishballer06 reply :

I don't even want to count...

I'm probably at around 10-12 casting rods, 8-10 casting reels. And probably 5-6 spinning rods and reels.

Favorite casting - Shimano Chronarch ci4 on a 2014 Shimano Crucial 6'10" MH-F

Favorite spinning - Shimano Saros 3000 on a Dobyns 6'9" ML-F

Mike L reply :

7 Baitcaters

Favorite is 7' MH/F Fenwick Techna AV w/ Cuado E7

3 Spinning

Favorite is 7' 2" M/XF Phenix M1 w/ 3000 FJ Symetre

Mike

OntarioFishingGuy reply :

4 casting

Favourite casting: 6'8" LTB with Chronarch 51e/ 10lb sniper

7 spinning

Favourite casting: 6'8" Light Fenwick EliteTech River Runner with pflueger Supreme 25/ 2lb floroclear.

.ghoti. reply :

18 Daiwa baitcasters (but only 16 rods)

7 spinning combos

2 long UL crappie rods

3wt, 4wt, 5wt, 6wt and 8wt flyrods

They are all favorites, at one time or another, or I wouldn't still have them.

sold all of my muskie gear

Oh, and one Alvey rod and reel. I still have that monster because it's so much fun to watch a super spook fly 150 yards.

gulfcaptain reply :

Ummm, brake down huh?

Offshore: West Coast Set ups (all conventional)

6 bait rods

3 jig sticks

2 heavy jig

1 light small two speed

1 MH 20 size stand up 2 speed set up

Freshwater

3 swimbait rods

16 baitcasting Looking at getting another 3 by Xmas.

3 spinning

Favorite, I don't have a favorite, they all are tools and each get used at different times when needed.

FlipSide reply :

3 spinning

Favorite: Dobyns champion 702sf w/ Lew's team gold carbon

9 casting

Don't have a favorite. I love them all

thehooligan reply :

5 casting combos

2 spinning rods

Sold my spinning reels to force myself to get better at finesse fishing with casting gear.

Favorite setup would be my 6'5 cumulus with aldebaran bfs xg.

new2BC4bass reply :

Hmmmmm.

8 spinning combos, but I seldom use them. A 6'9" MXF Fenwick Smallmouth / Supreme XT may become my favorite, but too early to tell. An old favorite still in use is a 430SS Penn / 6' Berkley Lightning.

Casting I still have about 5 more reels than rods. I'm a little afraid to mention how many. A few favorites: Zillion 50th Anniversary / 7' MHF Rainshadow RX7, Curado 51E / Fenwick 6' 10" MF Smallmouth, Purple Alphas / 7'3" MF ***, TD-Z 105HL / 7 ' ML Fenwick HMG, Fuego / 7'2" MHF Cumara (black). Better stop there before I get carried away. My favorite combo is often the one in my hand.

Oh yeah. Can't forget T3 MX1016XHL / 7' MHF Aetos.

aavery2 reply :

I don't know exactly but I have a bunch. Let's just call it 20 casting setups with a bunch of backup reels, and 7 spinning setups. My favorite rod, is a Dobyns Champion 734C, I have much more expensive rods, but I love the action and versatility of that rod, if I could find an NRX with its action it would be perfect. Spinning is an LTB MXF I have too many reels to say that I have a favorite, but I have used Abu Revo Gen 2 Premiers for several years now, and while I have owned many other reels from most every company out there, nothing I can afford has impressed me enough to get rid of them. If I had to pick one I would say my original JDM Revo Elite IB.

Jeff H reply :

On 9/12/2014 at 3:31 AM, tcbass said:
I have added them up and I am done buying rods and reels.

For now. We all claim to be practical but it really never works out that way. However, you will find practical reasons to buy more.

I don't know my counts right now but I'm over 20 casting rigs and under 10 spinning with additional rods in reserve.

Bass_Fanatic reply :

I have 24 casting combos and 1 spinning, and I've never caught a fish on the spinning rod lol. My favorite would have to be a dobyns 805cb w/daiwa Tatula right now. I've caught a lot of big fish on a 10xd on this combo this year.

SirSnookalot reply :

Have about 6 perfectly good spinning reels that are collecting dust and 3-4 rods, probably never use them again.

Just the combos I use

Freshwater:

6'6 light redbone........... 25 supreme

6'6 ml clarus.................. 30 supreme

7' med calico jack........ 35 supreme

Inshore:

7' med redbone.........20 soron, double duty bass fish with sometimes

7'6 med redbone.......40 soron, favorite beach set up

7' mh redbone..........40 soron

7'6 mh redbone..........4000 stradic

7' star..........................4000 stradic

7' blue runner..............50 arbor

7'6 star........................40 cabo, my #1 favorite

8' tsunami med............tierra 3000

8' okuma mh ...............30 cabo

Offshore:

7' 25# star inshore....... 60 soron

7' 30# redbone.............8000 spheros

7' 40# redbone..............6000 conquer

7' 25# star.....................avet mxj, only conventional

Tywithay reply :

37 casting, 14 spinning.

Favorite is probably my Daiwa SS SV 103H on a 6'10" Med. Expride. Stupid light, and just a joy to fish with. Second favorite is an Antares HG on an Orochi XX Extreme Mission. It will throw a 5" senko into orbit.

Jar11591 reply :

In the starting line-up:

2 baitcasting

3 spinning

On the bench:

1 reserve baitcasting

1 reserve spinning

1 stream trout spinning

1 bluegill/crappie spinning

1 big game spinning

1 fly rod

Josh Smith reply :

Well, crap. I don't like this thread. It's reminding me how much stuff I have.

1. Supertuned and modified '60s 5000 on a Daiwa "Bill Dance" spinnerbait rod.

2. Abu 5500c3, supertuned and modified, on a BPS 5'6" MH rod.

These two tie for first place.

3. Modified and supertuned 5000c on a Daiwa Jupiter medium 6'6" rod.

4. Modified and supertuned 5000 on a MH Daiwa Jupiter 7' rod. (This reel is still being built and doesn't see the water often for this reason.)

5. Supertuned and modified 5600c5 (I think) with MagTrax. I know it's a 5600, I know I've supertuned it, I just forget the number of bearings. It came with a provision for centrifugal brakes but none installed, with sole braking being magnetic. I installed the centrifugal brakes and now I have a dual braking reel. The rod is a 7' Berkely Lightning Rod. Both of these are a few years old.

6. Pflueger President spinning ultralight on an ultralight rod, Berkely Limited Edition I think. I got it when I was a teenager. It's something like 4'6", perfect for pitchin' and flippin', and is sensitive a rod as I've felt.

7. I have a Zebco 33 that was Grandpa's installed on an old Rhino rod of mine I found in my parents' garage. I gave it to Mom as it was her dad's, but I still sort of consider it mine as it's mainly decoration.

8. Grandpa's Cherry Rod with a bluish-green (Bronson, I think) spincast.

9. Silver Quantum 1310 on a Lew's MH rod from the '70s.

10. Black Quantum 1310 on another rod, forget which.

11. Black Quantum QL1000 (?) on a Fenwick MH rod that's probably a heavy rod now. The tip got broken sometime in the past (was one of Dad's rods) and I fixed it with a new tip.

12. I have a couple, few reels that aren't mounted to anything at the moment:

• There's a '70s 5500 I just bought and tuned.

• I have an ultralight Zebco Feathertouch spincast under-rod (what became the Bill Dance special, or whatever, more recently) that I've had since age 14 or 16. It still works well and I'm considering bringing it out of retirement to go on an ultralight rod for panfish. It's a slow retrieve reel and is better suited for bobber fishing.

• I have a Bronson baitcasting reel of some sort that was Grandpa's, and it was previously on the Fenwick rod.

• Old spinning reel I bought as a teen. It's never worked right and I need to get inside and see what's rubbing.

• Garcia Mitchell 301 that I bought to fix.

A couple, few of these that I didn't get from Dad or Grandpa and/or aren't sentimental and aren't favorites will probably go away. I am only a fan of spinning when it's ultralight, and the other spinning reels I have I bought solely to rebuild and learn from. I do the same thing with guns, but the guns I like are so much more expensive!

Josh

GANGGREEN reply :

Some of you guys have a lot of stuff. Ha! I happen to be in the minority here because I use primarily spinning gear. I have more combos than this but of those that I frequently fish for bass that I'd consider my normal rotation, I'd guess that there are 6 or 7 spinning rods and 2 baitcasters. For the last many years I've tended towards finesse fishing and I also tend to be a multi-species guy in that I love to fish for yellow perch and walleye too.

I'm presently doing an upgrade on most of my gear and I'm going to purchase at least one good baitcasting combo this winter for next spring's use but for now, I probably have 3 times as many spinning combos as baitcasters. Then there are the fly rods and trolling gear but that's not for bass.

ww2farmer reply :

2 spinning combos:

A dedicated for dropshotting combo: Abu Garcia 6'9" ML/XF Vendetta w/Abu Orra S20 spooled with 10lb braid, and usually an 8lb fluoro. leader.

And a "do all" set up seeing the most use for wacky jigging, skipping docks, and shaky heads, but also used for tons of other stuff: Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth 6'9" M/XF w/Pfleuger Purist 1330, 10/lb braid, and an 8,or 10lb fluoro. leader.

7 casting set ups:

A 7'MH Berkley Lightning Rod Shock, and a 7.3:1 Daiwa Exceler spooled with 50lb braid. This is my frog, swim jig,spinner bait, buzz bait, and chatterbait, rod.

A 7' M/MF Abu Garcia Vendetta, and a 6.3:1 Daiwa Exceler spooled with 20lb braid. Square bills, lip-less cranks, mid depth cranks, finesse jig/worm work.

A 7'3" MH/XF Abu Garcia Vendetta, and a 7:1 Revo STX spooled with 30lb braid. Power shot, light pitching, c-rigs, wobble jigs,

A 7'6" H/F Abu Garcia Vendetta, and a 7:1 Revo STX spooled with 50lb braid. Flipping/pitching, punching, A-rigs, stroking big jigs.

A 7'6" MH/Mod. Abu Garcia Veritas Winch and an Abu Orra Winch spooled with 20lb braid. Deep cranking.

A 6'9" MH/F Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth and a Shimano Curado 51E, spooled with 30lb braid. Close in pitching, power flicking, dock skipping, weightless soft jerkbaits and stick baits.

And a 6'9" M/XF Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth and a Shimano Curado 51E, spooled with 20lb braid. Jerkbaits, topwater.

I use fluoro leaders for almost everything. Lb. test ranging from 10-20 lbs, depending on the conditions. 15 and 17 being the most used size.

I have a couple "back up" rods that are not carried in the boat, and an UL spinning combo for panfish that I take with me often.

Rusty Shackleford reply :

Casting Rods Action Length Lure # Line # Reel Gear Ratio IPT

Dobyns - Champion (704CB) M/MF 7' 1/4-3/4 8-14 Lew's Tournament Pro TP1H 6.4:1 28

Dobyns - Champion (734C) H/F 7'3" 1/4-1 10-20 Lew's Tournament Pro TP1H 6.4:1 28

Dobyns - Champion (735C) MH/XF 7'3" 1/4-1.5 12-25 Lew's Tournament Pro TP1SH 7.1:1 31

Dobyns - Champion (764CBRM) M/MF 7'6" 1/4-3/4 8-14 Shimano Curado 200E5 5.1:1 21

Dobyns - Champion (765CB Glass) MH/F 7'6" 1/4-1 8-20 Lew's Tournament Pro TP1S 5.4:1 23

Dobyns - Champion (795MLSB) MH/F 7'9" 1-5 15-30 Shimano Curado 300E 6.2:1 28

Dobyns - Champion Extreme (DX744) H/F 7'4" 1/4-1 10-20 Lew's Tournament Pro TP1SH 7.1:1 31

Dobyns - Champion Extreme (DX745) MagH/F 7'4" 3/8-1.5 12-25 Lew's Tournament Pro TP1H 6.4:1 28

G. Loomis - NRX (893C) MH/XF 7'5" 3/16-5/8 12-16 Lew's Tournament Pro TP1SH 7.1:1 31

Tackle Industries - Musky MH 7'6"/8' 1-6 30-60 Abu Garcia Ambassador C3 6500 5.3:1 25

Lamiglas - Certified Pro Fiberglass (SR705R) MH/MF 7' 3/8-1.5 8-20

Spinning Rods Action Length Lure # Line # Reel Gear Ratio IPT

All Star - Team All Star (TAS845STR) M/MF 7' 1/8-5/8 6-17 Daiwa Exceler 3000 4.7:1 31.1

ALX - Zolo B Dipolmat (OBS-2-82XF) ML/XF 6'10" 1/8-5/8 4-10 Team Daiwa Advantage-A 2500 4.7:1 27

Dobyns - Champion Extreme (DX743) M/F 7'4" 3/16-5/8 8-17 Shimano Stradic 2500FI 6.0:1 34

iceintheveins reply :

I have 7 casting and four spinning.

1. 200 Curado E5 with a 7' M BPS Crankin' Stick - Shallow cranks, medium cranks, small deep divers, light spinnerbaits, light topwaters, light lipless cranks (10 pound mono)

2. BPS PQ 5.2:1 with a 7' MH BPS Crankin' Stick - Most spinnerbaits, heavier lipless cranks, heavier topwaters, heavier shallow cranks (12 pound mono)

3. Lew's Tourny MG Speed Spool 5.4:1. 7'11" MH BPS Crankin' Stick - Big Deep Cranks (10 pound fluoro)

4. BPS PQ 6.4:1, 7' MH Abu Veritas Micro Guide - Jigs, creatures, bigger plastics, light to moderate flippin/pitchin' (15 pound mono)

5. BPS PQ 6.4:1, 7' Cabelas Pro Guide H - Frogs, Heavy flipping/pitching (50 pound braid)

6. BPS PQ 7.1:1, 7' MH Quantum KVD All Glass Crank Rod - Buzzbaits, rage shads/buzzing frogs, burning spinnerbaits (14 pound mono)
7. Shimano Cardiff 300A, Okuma Guide Select Big Bait Series 7'11" XH - Swimbaits (17 pound mono)

Spinning:

1. Pflueger President 1636652, 7' MH Quantum Alliance - Senkos, flukes, lighter plastics, mojo rigs, worms, finesse jigs (8 pound mono)

2. Pflueger President 1636652, 7' M Browning Silaflex - Light balsa cranks, finesse cranks under 1/4 ounce (6 pound mono)

3. Pflueger President 1636652, 7' BPS Bionic Blade M - Hard Jerkbaits (15 pound braid)

4. Pflueger President 1636652, 7' Abu Veritas M spinning - Drop shotting, shaky heads

Coherence reply :

5 Casters

7' MH Abu Garcia Vendetta w/ Revo SX (gen 2) - Jig Rod

7' M - Mod Kistler Carbon Steel w/ Lews Tourney Pro - Chatterbait Rod

7'6 Hvy BPS Carbonlite w/ Lews Super Duty Speed Spool 65 pound braid - Frog Rod

7' M Shimano Compre w/ Revo SX (gen 2) *soon - currently has a BPS Pro Qualifier (gold) Crankbait Rod

6'6 Team Daiwa T Cast w/ BPS Pro Qualifier (old gold colored one) - reserved for fishing in tight feeder creeks

My favorite two are my 7' MH Vendetta w/ Revo SX (Jig set-up), and my 7' M - Mod Kistler Carbon Steel w/ Lews Tourney Pro (chatterbait set up)

5 Spinners

7' M Fenwick HMG w/Quantum Energy

7' MH Veritas w/ Shimano Symetre 2500 FL

7' MH Field and Stream w/ Shimano Solstace 4000

6'9 MH Fenwick HMX w/ Shimano Sahara

My favorites two my 7' M Fenwick HMG w/ Quantum Energy (Senko Rod) and 7' MH Veritas w/ Shimano Symetre 2500 FL

These are not all the rods I own (left out some saltwater stuff and reserve rods), but they are definitely the ones that are always in the boat on tournament days - and I do use every single one of these frequently.

It isn't much or anything overly fancy, but on my college budget, it helps me survive the tournaments I participate in and have a chance at making a little bit of money. I love all of my gear and treat it better than I treat myself

masterbass reply :

I have too many and I'm trying to thin the herd soon. I have a bunch of spinning combos, but I use the pflueger president/daiwa cielo 6'11" ml/xf the most for drop shots and shaky head. Favorite casting combos: scorpion xt/dx743 and curado 51e/ megabass x7 extreme mission. Just picked up a tdz r+, but don't have enough time with.

Bankbeater reply :

On a regular basis I use 3 round baitcasters, 2 low profile baitcasters, 2 spinning reels. I have a few more in the drawer for safe keeping. I guess I have around 30 or so rods. I like to switch things around every now and then.

Master Bait'r reply :

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone in this thread who has made me feel like I don't have a problem hahaha

My philosophy is thus: if I only keep a half dozen combos or so, it doesn't look that bad- she has no idea how expensive they are so she doesn't know I could have a dozen combos for the price of 3, she just knows I'm "trying to keep it under control"

olegs reply :

3 casting:

St Croix LTB 7'1 mf / Shimano Citica

Dobyns DX743 mhf / Shimano Chronarch CI4

G Loomis GLX 854 hxf / Shimano Cronarch 201E

I love them all

3 spinning

Favorite: St Croix LTS 6'8" mxf / Simano Saros

hatrix reply :

10 casting

I think thats about right but I don't use them all and made some changes so I am not sure exactly. I have many more rods though.

LDC M/H - Diawa Lexa 300 is the most used of all my casting rods.

3 spinning

Pflueger President - Fenwick Elite Tech or HMG for the rod. I don't use them much but the HMG has been used more this year since I have done like 0 drop shotting or anything of that nature and it was new this year.

This I know for sure but that is only counting ones I would actually use. I have way more all over the place that are never used or for other people. Then more I leave on other people boats for out on the lake. Those are usually a UL or something light

I have some fly rods I have not used in ages also.

Lucky Craft Man reply :

I had to consult my Equipment Spreadsheet for this one. I know you asked just about bass, but I list it all (which was more for my own purpose, as I have never listed everything in categories like this).

Bass

32 Baitscasters (Favorite: G Loomis NRX 916C UBR & Shimano Core 100MgFV)

13 Spinning (Favorite: G Loomis NRX 822S DSR & Pflueger Supreme 8030)

1 Fly Combo (Favorite: Sage Z-Axis 697-4 & Lamson Konic 2.0)

Muskie

17 Baitscasters (Favorite: Custom SH Fishin' Sticks 10'3" Bulldawg Rod & Shimano Calcutta TE 400 LJV)

4 Trolling Rods (Favorite: Shimano 8' H TDR & Daiwa Accudepth ADP17LC)

1 Fly Combo (Favorite: Redington Predator 1090-4 & Lamson Konic 4.0)

Trout

10 Fly Combos (Favorite: Sage Z-Axis 496-4 & Lamson Konic 2.0)

Steelhead

1 Spinning Rod (Favorite: Cabelas XML & Pflueger President)

3 Trolling Rods (Favorite: Shimano 8' M TDR & Daiwa Accudepth ADP17LC)

3 Fly Combos (Favorite: Custom SH Fishin' Sticks 10'0' 7 wt on Sage One Blank & Sage 4560)

Salmon

3 Trolling Rods (Favorite: Shimano 9'6" MH TDR & Daiwa Accudepth ADP17LC)

2 Fly Combos (Favorite: March Brown HW909-7 & Lamson Konic 4.0)

Panfish

3 Spinning Rods (Favorite: Browning Rod & Reel Panfish Combo)

Carp

1 Baitcasting Rods (Favorite: G Loomis GL3 MBR 845 & BP Qualifier LTD)

Ice Fishing

1 Baitcasting Rod (Favorite: Berkley ProLight Lightening & Daiwa Triforce)

2 Spinning Rods (Favorite: HT Artic Bay SLX Rod & HT Artic Bay Reel)

Inshore/Surf

3 Spinning Rods (Favorite: Cabelas Tourney Trail IM7 & Cabelas Salt Striker 40)

This list doesn't include all the "excess" rods and reels I have laying around.

Before marriage and children (especially before children), I used every rod and reel listed at least once a year. Unfortunately, most of those combos have now been put on the a once in a several year list. One day I hope to get them back into annual service.

21farms reply :

as far as my bass gear, i have:

29 casting rods, favorite: g.loomis NRX 893C (blue)
22 casting reels, favorite: abu-garcia eliteIB rocket9 (JDM)
7 spinning rods, favorite: cabelas XMLTi 69DS
8 spinning reels, favorite: shimano sustain 3000FG

mjseverson24 reply :

in the line up:

Casting combos ---> 25 ( a ton of different brands and models)

favorite ---> falcon bucoo micro 6'10" H with W&M skeet reese 7:1

Spinning combos ---> 5 ( mostly st croix rods )

favorite ---> St. Croix mojo bass 7' MF with Pflueger president

not in the line up:

4 casting combos ( entry level gear )

13 spinning combos (mostly walleye gear)

4 trolling set ups (walleye)

Mitch

4450

What's Your Breakdown Of Fishing Gear Of Baitcasting And Spinning For Bass? 2025

related Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic