Rookie Question

[BassKnuckles]

Can anyone point me to a good HSOforum that may describe the information I'm looking for? Or if you have some incite that would be great also. Would any of this information be something that might be at that April workshop? Is that free by the way?

1. What are the differences when it comes to rod's? Such as UL, L, M and H. What situations would I be in for those sizes?

2. Reel ratio and what it means and how they should be applied.

3. Rod length (I know I'm asking it when asking this question)

I want to purchase 2 rod/reel combos this year and I just don't know what I should be looking for and I want to see what I need from what I already have.

Thanks for any input

[delmuts]

1. What are the differences when it comes to rod's? Such as UL, L, M and H. What situations would I be in for those sizes?

2. Reel ratio and what it means and how they should be applied.

3. Rod length (I know I'm asking it when asking this question)

I want to purchase 2 rod/reel combos this year and I just don't know what I should be looking for and I want to see what I need from what I already have.

You have already found the RIGHT web site!!

1. The UL,L,M , and so on mean ultra lite, lite, medium action. An ultra lite is wippy where a medium is more stiff.

2. Reel ratio means for every turn of the handle the spool/line pick up turns that many times. I.E. on a 6.1:1. The spool turns 6.1 times for every turn of the handle.

3. Length depends on the action of the rods some what, but more of what you prefer to use and how/where you will be using it.

Give us an idea of what, where and how you like to fish. Then you can/will get some great advice !

[Deitz Dittrich]

Yes.. the workshop will be free.. Please look me up and I'll be more than happy to walk you though all your questions. Much easier than typing it all, plus actually being able to put it in your hands will help the learning curve as well.

Otherwise, Dell did a good job above!

[KickNBass]

Another way to answer your question:

Look at some rod websites, i.e. St. Croix; if you look at their Mojo series rod, they list the recommended applications with each rod.

Obviously, everybody has their own opinion, it's somewhat subjective but it should give you a good reference.

Due to this HSOforum's link posting policies, I can't post a link for you but if you seach with this term: "help me select a rod" you will find several sites that have articles.

[mainbutter]

Just to touch on the subject of "I'm looking for information to help me choose new fishing equipment":

Everyone has their own preferences, and there is no strict formula of "You can ONLY catch fish with THIS setup". Rod and reel manufacturers make so many different styles of rods and reels that there are literally billions of different ways to combine your possible options.

Personally when it comes to bass fishing, I don't like anything more than a medium rod, though I can be talked into a medium heavy at times. Plenty of other people go heavier on rods than I do, and again it's based on PERSONAL PREFERENCE. I like the feel of medium rods, I like how they cast the lures that I use. Also, the longer the rod, the better I like it. Essentially rods are levers, and I make good use of the mechanical advantage you get with one that is long rather than short. HOWEVER, if you give me any rod 3 ft long to 12 feet long, from ultralight to XXXXHeavy, I can fish for and catch bass on it. I have a strong feeling so could you.

When I fish, I really just like to have "all around, all-species" setups, which for me with an affordable (<$100) medium action rod that is 7+ feet long, a quality reel with a 5:1 to 6:1 gear ratio, and braided line with a breaking strength high enough that I won't ever have break-offs. With the exception of larger pike and musky lures, I can cast any lure I want, and I have landed multiple 30+lb open-water fish on such setups, so I'm not dying for heavier fighting gear.

Ask most anyone else who is serious about bass, you'll find they'll have a MH or H rod for one application, a medium rod for another, a short rod for jigging, a long rod for casting cranks, some particular speed reel for topwaters, a different speed reel for a different application. If it was me though, I'd take two or three of the exact same setup, just with different lures tied on.

You'll find what you like and what you don't like by getting out there and fishing, and thinking "gee I wish this rod was shorter/longer/heavier/lighter".

[CAMAN]

Mainbutter-

If all you use are medium, how do you get fish out of slop with something that light? Not saying you're doing anything wrong, just curious how you work it. Do you fish more open-water structure than weeds? I've had some fish buried so deep my heavy action jig stick was doubled over trying to pull them free. I swear at times, every weed in the lake is wrapped around some fish.

My goto rod which I have 4 of the exact same setups just with different lures and line spooled up is a 7' medium-heavy, I like them more for spinnerbaits, swimjigs and worming but I do have others I prefer for other situations that don't work well with those rods.

[bucketmouth64]

Yes.. the workshop will be free.. Please look me up and I'll be more than happy to walk you though all your questions. Much easier than typing it all, plus actually being able to put it in your hands will help the learning curve as well.

Otherwise, Dell did a good job above!

Or give DD a visit at Cabela's this weekend. Most likely you'll walk out of there with good equuipment in hand. He will get you on some good stuff. I have a feeling it will be a zoo there.

[mainbutter]

Mainbutter-

If all you use are medium, how do you get fish out of slop with something that light? Not saying you're doing anything wrong, just curious how you work it. Do you fish more open-water structure than weeds? I've had some fish buried so deep my heavy action jig stick was doubled over trying to pull them free. I swear at times, every weed in the lake is wrapped around some fish.

I fish weed beds more and IN the weeds less, though I do hit them. I've never had so many weeds on my rod that I couldn't pull them up, and I've certainly had 5-10lbs of weeds attached to a 3lb fish on plenty of occasions. It just takes a little bit of time for the pressure to release the weeds.