"Tip of the week" thread revival

[cjac]

I could use some help on preparing for the upcoming season that I'd guess would help a lot of other "recreational" bass anglers like me. I still struggle at times with matching up the rod/reel/line to match a presentation, especially as I look at my pile of rods, reels, and spools of line, and the ever-changing equipment advances and new lines being offered.

Going off the In-Fisherman formula of F+L+P = Success; I think many of us would benefit from a Rod + Reel + Line (RRL) = Presentation. I may need to seek a Trademark on that!

I'd benefit greatly from a general reference list of RRL combinations for several common presentations. Without getting down to the gnat's azz, can we compile a reference list of overall combinations of RRL for some of the basic presentations?

Spinnerbait

Jig 'n' Pig

Swim Jig

Texas Rig

Carolina Rig

Froggin'

Topwater Buzzbaits

Topwater Prop Baits

Drop Shot

Crankbaits (deep)

Crankbaits (shallow/weeds)

Jig head and grubs

Football Jigs

And so on....

Can we compile a "cheat sheet" to help out guys like me that "kind of get it" but are missing out on the details that can make the difference being adequately rigged vs. well rigged?

Someone could make good money as a "rigging consultant" if they came to my boat and paired all my stuff up, this may be a new business proposition for someone!

I'm sure much of this was covered at the T Bros bass day, but unfortunately I was shoveling snow from my boat while sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.

Thanks, Chris

[mww24]

I think a lot of it comes down to personal preference and lure weight. Line wise. I try and get away with the smallest test possible. I only use braid or fluoro now and back my reels with mono to make the expensive stuff last longer.heres what i have rigged in my boat which by bassin standards is probably a pretty small arsenal.

Spinnerbaits and heavier texas or carolina rigs. 7 ft. casting medium heavy with 15 pound fluorcarbon.

lighter texas rigs and jig heads. 7 foot casting medium with 15 pound power pro.

jig and pigs and heavy cover fishing. a 7'6" flipping stick and a 7'5" flipping stick both with 50 pound power pro.

small cranks and lipless. 7 foot casting medium moderate action with 10 pound fluoro.

deep diving cranks. 7'4" medium heavy glass crank rod with 12 pound fluoro.

close cover or accurate casting short distance with any lure. I have a 6 foot casting heavy action rod with 17 pound fluoro. i like to use it if i'm fishing under trees or real close to shore.

senkos in light cover. a 6 foot spinning with 10 pound fluoro.

drop shot shaky head and other finesse stuff. I use a 6'6" medium light and a 6'6" medium depending on weight of lures. both with 10 pound power pro. And I'll use a fluor leader.

I'm sure if you ask a 100 different people you will get a 100 different answers. Find what feels good in your hands and roll with it.

[Larson15]

Here is my list:

Spinnerbait - 15lb fluro/7'MH-F

jig 'n' Pig - 20lb fluro/7'H-F

Swim jig - 40lb powerpro/7MH-F

Texas Rig - 15-20lb fluro/7'MH-XF

Carolina Rig - 20lb fluro/7'3H-F

Froggin' - 65lb powerpro/7'6"XH-F

Topwater Buzzbaits - 15lb mono/7'M-F

Topwater Prop Baits - 12lb mono/7'M-F

Drop Shot - 15lb powerpro w/ 8lb fluro leader/6"10M-XF

Crankbaits (deep) - 12lb fluro/7'6"MH-M

Crankbaits (shallow/weeds) - 12lb fluro/7'6"M-M

jig head and grubs - 12lb fluro/7'M-F

Football jigs - 20lb fluro/7'3"H-F

[EBass]

I look at the size/thickness of the hook. If the hook is huge like a 6/0 Extra Wide Gap (EWG) then I'll need a rod with some backbone to drive that hook home. Thus I'll need some stronger line.

If the hook is small like a like a size 1 then I can get away with a lighter rod, and line as I don't need to swing for the fences with a tiny hook. Just a snap of the wrist and the hook is set.

I hope that makes sense.

[slopmaster]

Here is my list:

Spinnerbait - 15lb fluro/7'MH-F

jig 'n' Pig - 20lb fluro/7'H-F

Swim jig - 40lb powerpro/7MH-F

Texas Rig - 15-20lb fluro/7'MH-XF

Carolina Rig - 20lb fluro/7'3H-F

Froggin' - 65lb powerpro/7'6"XH-F

Topwater Buzzbaits - 15lb mono/7'M-F

Topwater Prop Baits - 12lb mono/7'M-F

Drop Shot - 15lb powerpro w/ 8lb fluro leader/6"10M-XF

Crankbaits (deep) - 12lb fluro/7'6"MH-M

Crankbaits (shallow/weeds) - 12lb fluro/7'6"M-M

jig head and grubs - 12lb fluro/7'M-F

Football jigs - 20lb fluro/7'3"H-F

Although I don't have this many rods, for the applications that I do have special rods for this is right on the money for my standards. Good list to reference off of. Also instead of using fluro i usually use co-polymer, but thats just a personal preference but another option to throw into the mix of lines.

Also I like to "punch" which is the same as pitching/flipping heavy mats and for that i'd use the frog rod set up.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Ok, while I often have multiple combinations for each of these, this is my go too RRL combinations..

Spinnerbait=Shimano Crucial TC4 crankbait rod, 7' MH(not really a MH, much more a M) Shimano Calcutta 50, 17lb copoly

JigPig= Shimano Crucial 7'6" MH, Fast, Shimano Castic, 20lb Floro or 65 Power pro Braid.

Swim Jig= Shimano Cumara, 7' M, Fast. Shimano Curado 50e 12lb Copoly.

Texas Rig= Shimano Cumulus 6'10" MH, Etra Fast, Shimano Core 50, 14 Copoly.

Carolina Rig= Shimano Crucial 7', MH, Fast. Shimano Curado 200D, 30lb Power Pro Main line.

Frog=Shimano Crucial 7'6" MH, Fast. Shimano curado 200E, 65 Power pro.

DropShot- Shimano Crucial Baitcast Dropshot rod 7' M. Curado 50e, 10florocarbon.

Deep Cranks- Shimano Cumara Reaction 7'7" M, Curado 200e5 10 copoly

Shallow Cranks-Shimano Crucial 7', Med, Shimano Chronarch, 10 lb copoly.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Thats said... I use a lot of the Shimano Cumara 7'2" MH Fast for a lot of texas rigs and jigs.. probably my most used rod.. its has a Core on it.

[RK]

Hiya -

Honest to God, this is the kind of stuff that keeps me awake at night before the season. Balance between right rod for the job and the possibility of needing to tow a dinghy behind the boat to hold all my stuff... I hate uni-tasker rod/reel combos unless I have a real good reason for it (like it's a technique I use a LOT, or is something really unique), and try to get by with multi-purpose set-ups for stuff I don't do as often. That evolves over time. I used to carry a dedicated Carolina rig rod, but I do it less than I used to so get by with a multi-purpose stick for it now...

Adding reel choice too. I think that matters a lot.

Anyhow:

Spinnerbait - 6'9" MH Mod-Fast/6.3:1 reel/17# fluoro

jig 'n' Pig - 7' Heavy X-fast/7.1:1 reel/17# fluoro (weedline jig and pig)

Swim jig - 7'2" Med-Hvy X-fast/6.3:1 reel/40# braid

Texas Rig - 6'8" Heavy X-fast/6.3:1/20 Copoly (heavy shallow cover rod)

Carolina Rig - 7'6" flipping stick/7.1:1 reel/17# fluoro (also a pitching setup)

Froggin'- 7' MH Fast/6.3:1 reel/60# braid (pitching rod doing double duty as I don't use frogs much)

Topwater Buzzbaits - 6'9" MH Fast/6.3:1 reel/17# mono

Topwater Prop Baits - Same as above

Drop Shot - 7'2" MH X-fast (crucial drop shot rod)/30-size reel/8# Fluoro

Crankbaits (deep) 7'5" Heavy mod-fast glass/5.3:1 reel/14# fluoro and 7'10" MH Mod-fast glass composite/5.3:1 reel/12# fluoro

Crankbaits (shallow/weeds) - 6'9" MH X-fast glass composite/6.3:1 reel/17# fluoro

jig head and grubs - 7'6" ML X-fast/40-size spinning reel/6# mono

Football jigs - 7'6" flipping stick/7.1:1 reel/17# fluoro (also a pitching setup)

I'd add:

Jigworms - 7' MH Fast/30-size spinning reel/8# fluoro

Jerkbaits/small topwaters/small cranks - 7' ML X-fast/30-size spinning/10# braid

Lipless cranks - 7' MH Fast/6.3:1 reel/14# fluoro

[Irish]

Why do you guys choose braid for fishing swim jigs? Better hook sets? The rod/reel combo that I use for swim jigs is currently spooled up with 20lb floro. Would this still work well?

[Larson15]

Much better hook ups and easier to snap through cover.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I am not a fan of braid for swim jigs...

[cjac]

Thanks, as this helps...sort of.

Lots of different schools of thought on mono vs. fluoro vs. copoly... If anything it told me I'm too braid dependant. Fluoro in 17lb seems to be a consistent theme.

Good stuff....let's keep the ideas coming!

[Cecil]

I use braid for swim jigs as well

[RK]

I use braid for swim jigs because I'm fishing them in hardstem bullrushes most of the time, and I can bust fish off with 20# fluoro or mono. It also helps me lose a few less jigs to the pike. Pike like swim jigs as much as bass do, and with mono sometimes you don't even get a chance to set the hook and the jig's gone.

You do have to account for the no stretch with braid though. When I first started using swim jigs I used braid on a rod that was too heavy with too stout a tip and I missed a lot of fish. I use a rod with a lot of backbone, but with a very light X-fast tip. It gives a little on a hit and keeps me from pulling the bait away from them. I also sweep set rather than snap set like I would with a jig and pig. The rod also makes it easier to cast a 1/4 oz jig a long ways.

[cjac]

Good stuff, thanks to all. Made some fluoro and copoly purchases this weekend. There are some nice $5 rebates out there right now, BTW.

Stupid Q but just to make sure: When using a copoly or fluoro line it's still the standard mono backing with a uni to uni knot approach as with a braided line, correct? I want to make sure I get 2 reels out of a 200yd spool.

Thanks, Chris

[mww24]

i back my fluoro with mono and uni to uni. works for me. never have fished with copoly though.

[SledNeck]

I probably use all the wrong stuff besides the lures.

Results lead me to believe most of the mixing and matching is hawgwash