What action rod and length do you like to fish with for different situations

[Hoffer]

What action - Heavy, med. heavy, light etc...do you like to fish with and also what length to match?? Feel free to address different set-ups for different conditions/species fished for.

[Fisher Dave]

This is an impossible question for me.. I have *open water* rods that range from 4'6" ultralights to 12' heavy surf rods.. and 30 rods that I use regularly besides these of every action and length in between...

It really depends on the species of fish you target, and how you target them(boat, shore, etc).. bottom rigs, bobber rigs, jigging, cranks, trolling, open water rigging... if casting, whats the cover, no cover, accuracy, distance, finess, presentation...

so many variables...

The most all around rod I have is a 8' 6" Medium Heavy St Croix rod with a Shimano Spirex 2000 reel.. It is usually spooled with 10 lb mono, but I have an extra with 20 lb fire line.. this rig will let me jig for walleyes, toss a bait for bass/northerns, cast a spoon 100 miles if Im messing around on the north shore, and it will cast a fairly small presentation if absolutely needed... Its good all around if im not shore fishing on a shore with heavy cover.. I would need a chainsaw to make a good cast(takes room).

My 2nd always on hand rod is a 6' 6" light action rod (rated 4#-8#) with a 1000 series reel spooled with 4 lb test.. this is my primary panfish and trout rod, and it also covers much of my walleye fishing with light presentations.. great for jigging and throwing light lures(rapala's, etc)... It also is ideal for catching catfish bait..

My other *go to* rod is an 8' south bend Catfish rod with a 6500C3 reel... this rod will hoist 5 lb fish out of the water without a problem.

I guess if I knew what you liked to fish for and how, I could likely make a very good recommendation on rod combonations... theres a whole lot of variety of fish that swim in our waters.

[Hoffer]

Thats a great response. I am no where that well equiped. I was just looking at some new rods to purchase. I want 2 rods a 6'6 and a 7. I mainly fish with open fac reels for either walleyes(mainly trolling - some jigging) and then I fish bass, northerns - basically just working the shoreline with smaller to medium size artificials or spinner baits. I wanted to get one rod that is Medium and one that is medium heavy (or maybe I should go medium light with one...) - but I didnt know which length rod should go with what. That is why I posted the question. I was thinking of going with Mediume heavy for the 6'6" because I may jig with the shorter rod more - and the mediume heavy might be better for that. Any opinions welcome.....Thanks!

[knoppers]

for walleyes I use a 7 foot medium rod, which is good for live bait riggin' and slip float fishin'. for bass/walleye I use a 6 1/2 ft rod which works great for throwing cranks to spinnerbaits with baitcasters also medium action. for panfish, its the ultra light 6 footer. I also use my 7 ft walleye rod for downrigging for inland lakers, which works better than my downrigging rods when fishing inland lakes.

[guideman]

I wouldn't recommend anything heavier than medium action for walleyes. I use medium lite 7.6ft rods for lindy rigging, and medium action 6ft rods for jigging. Slip Bobber rods are all 6.6 medium lite

with soft tips.

I have a few multiple purpose rods that costomers use for casting. They run from medium to medium heavy and they work good for pike and smallmouth.

They are all spinning rigs because a number of my clients don't want anything to do with a baitcast reel.

Unless you fish really heavy cover most of the time, medium to medium heavy rods will cover most applications for bass and pike. You can also use a medium action for walleyes, without losing feel for those lite biters.

"Ace"

[jigginjim]

Hoffer, You need to know what type of fishing will I be doing most? Then build you rods round your what your going to do.

Everyones taste is a little different.

For myself and my guide service, I have several different rods. My reels stay the same unless casting or spinning.

* Jigging- below the boat- 6ft med St.croix Avids with 1500series reels, spooled with 8lb fireline.

* Casting jigs- shore or boat- 7ft medlite,

with 6lb Hi-Vis Green.

rigging- 7ft med. action rods, only 8lb smoke fireline to the swivel than mono for the leaders.

Slip floats- 7ft med. rods, only 6 or 8lb mono.

casting or trolling cranksbaits-

7ft med. catsinf rods. with shimano curado reels, 14lb fireline up to 30lb spider wire for cast for bass in heavy cover.

deep trolling 7'6" med heavy rod, with diawa linecounters

spooled with leadcore line.

shallow trolling- ie(trolling Mille Lacs at nite)

9ft med. rods with diawa linecounter reels spooled with 10lb fireline.

[slick814]

Depends on exactly what you're gonna do with them, but if you don't have the budget for 30!?!?! rod/reel combos (how many of us do?) I'd go with a 6'6" med/fast for jigging, 7' for trolling (med/slow or med/med) for Walleye rods. I like the slower action for trolling, because it gives you a little room for error compared to a fast action rod. I know that some folks would disagree with the length of the rod for jigging, but I've found it to be perfect for my jigging needs. If I was looking for ONE rod to buy, I'd go with a 6'6" med./fast... good all around rod for walleye fishing.