Anybody catch the latest episode of Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show with Kevin Short? Z-Train and K-Pink were throwing jerkbaits to lethargic, cold-water bass in Arkansas. Not sure if you caught it, but Z said he was using a G. Loomis saltwater popping rod (probably one of these), because the soft action helped him make a better presentation.
Obviously that rod wasn’t actually designed for that purpose, but according to Z, it was the best stick he had for that situation. And judging by that big ol’, barely-hooked slaunch donkey he landed at the end of the show, it’s tough to argue with his logic.
Being an inshore (speckled trout, redfish, flounder) and bass angler, I’ve got a pretty varied selection of rod and reel combos ranging from heavy-duty flippin’ sticks to medium-light buggy whips. Back in the day, I used to keep my salt and fresh combos separate, but in the last couple years I’ve started mixing it up and using the “saltwater” combos for largemouths and vice versa.
I take a lot of heat from my bass buddies when I bust out my medium-light trout rod and fish a flick shake with it. Likewise, I’ve garnered the nickname “Broomstick Bryant” from my saltwater buds that swear my medium-heavy worm rods are overkill for redfish (they ain’t ready for the 7’6″ mag).
How about you? Are you a rod/technique purist? Does your “spinnerbait rod” or “crankbait rod” ever see any action from other baits or presentations? Like Zona, I’m an all-purpose kind of guy. I don’t care what a rod says on it, I’ll use it the way I think it works best. I’ve got a flippin’ stick that spends just as much time rigged up with a RedEye Shad (can’t beat a heavy rod for ripping a lipless crank out of grass) as it does with a 1-ounce weight. My Loomis CBR896 crankin’ rod works like a dream for throwing slow-sinking plugs for paper-mouthed specks. And like I said earlier, I’ve got a 6’9″ medium-light, extra-fast action “saltwater” rod that’s easily my favorite selection for throwing lightweight plastics over submerged hydrilla beds.
Do any of you guys get innovative with how you use your sticks? I’d love to hear some off-the-wall ways you use different lengths and actions for purposes they’re not intended for. Or maybe you’re like Rick Clunn and you use a 7′ heavy-action rod for everything?
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Dwain
April 19, 2011 at 4:16 pm
I use a Castaway Carolina Honey Rig – Medium for my spinnerbait rod, its too light to rig with, but i love it for spinnerbaits.
Joe
April 19, 2011 at 4:33 pm
The extra fast action and limber tips of drop shot rods make for phenomenal top water rods. Built as a casting rod, my drop shot rod is the best rod I’ve ever seen for throwing 1/8oz. buzz baits and other wind resistant lures. Popping rods have a strong following among rod builders for use as crankbait rods.
Jason_Komo
April 19, 2011 at 4:47 pm
I sometimes use a 7’10” crankbait “launcher” to toss a chatterbait over shallow weed flats. Ultra long casts let me cover some water quick.
Austin L.
April 19, 2011 at 4:48 pm
My rod was a gift from a friends divorce / garage, I have no idea what it’s even “supposed” to do. The rod I bought from TackleWarehouse hasn’t seen water yet, but I bought it with multi-tasking in mind.
Jay
April 19, 2011 at 4:56 pm
Winner, winner. Chicken dinner.
Martin
April 19, 2011 at 5:38 pm
I have a bunch of different G-Loomis rods, most of them I use as intended. A very good angler I know uses a salmon backbounce rod ( G-Loomis too ) as a frog rod, he swears it’s much better than any frog rod on the market.
Jeremy Adair
April 19, 2011 at 6:00 pm
I just picked up a flippin’ stick that I plan on doing double duty between flippin/pitching/punching and topwater. We’ll see how it goes since in the past I’ve run mostly MH’s and this one has an entirely different feel. Looking forward to throwing into the back of the thick stuff.
samuel groves
April 19, 2011 at 6:10 pm
i don’t have a rod for every technique.i will use the same rod for sereral different applications.
Dan
April 19, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Sure would like to win that last Loomis!
Chad Keogh
April 19, 2011 at 6:30 pm
I’m pretty boring in that I use what I feel is the right tool (rod) for the job pretty much at all times. However, I fished a tournament a couple years ago where the weather changed drastically just before the event and what I thought was going to be a day of fast-moving horizontal baits like cranks and spinnerbaits, turned into a cold-water grind.
I didn’t have a single spinning rod in the boat, but I knew I needed to break out the tube jig (smallie lake). I took my (TKVD7106M) Tour KVD 7’10” crankbait rod and tied on a 1/4 oz 4″ tube jig. Worked like a dream and came in tied for 2nd place!
Ztrain
April 19, 2011 at 6:33 pm
It was a PR844S….Its a kick ass jerkbait rod, but you’d be frightened all the finesse uses this model has. One reason I use it jerkin is to play big fish down, but the primary reason is how subtle the bite is on the jerk in 39 degree water, i can feel it so good with that model. Extremely versatile. Fish on z
Flip 'N' Pitch
April 19, 2011 at 10:58 pm
ZTrain in da Bass Parade Hoooouse!
Steve
April 19, 2011 at 7:43 pm
My multi-purpose utility rod is a BCR803 MossyBack. It’s light, sensitive and accurate. Perfect!
Big Brake Basser
April 19, 2011 at 8:35 pm
I have a 6″6″ crankbait rod that keeps a topwater on it more often than a crankbait this time of year.
Dan Roberts
April 19, 2011 at 9:17 pm
I’m not too innovative myself. Of course, I really can’t be because I’m in college and can’t afford it. I pretty much use 7′ MH on just about everything.
BryanT
April 19, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Before float n fly rods were readily available. I had to buy 9’6″ fly blanks and make my own. Don’t know if that’s innovative, but it made it a heck of a lot easier to cast the rig.
Jason Douglas
April 20, 2011 at 12:31 am
Ya I usually just stick to a MH for most trips. Don’t money or the resources to be to innovative,
Bass Pundit
April 20, 2011 at 1:16 am
Doing an experiment this year. Trying a St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass Carolina Rig rod as a frog rod. The rod has the exact same specs as the St. Croix Avid’s I love for frogs. Since I got the rod (Ebay), I’ve come to discover that the LTB has a much lighter less stiff power and action than the Avid even though both are called Medium Heavy Fast. It may very well be a better rod for “walking the frog”, but I’m not so sure it’s going to have the power for pencil reeds.
I tried an experiment with a Loomis Bronzeback topwater rod for jerkbaits, but it didn’t work out.
Tater Head
April 20, 2011 at 8:28 am
I have a custom made G Loomis Heavy action X fast tip that’s only 22 inches long….. I use it to scratch my back.
tumblebug
April 20, 2011 at 8:37 am
Pay no attention to the label. I use the one that works the best. It’s a matter of feel.
Jeremy S
April 20, 2011 at 9:02 am
I’m usually wading cranks or walking the shore of area ponds, so whatever rod I grab is used for whatever technique(s) I decided I want to fish that trip. I tend to stick with M or MH, fast action rods.
Jeremy S
April 20, 2011 at 9:03 am
Hmm, could have sworn I wrote creeks, not cranks, but you get the idea.
Boar Hog
April 20, 2011 at 9:06 am
I’ve got 2 Loomis PR844’s that I use for rattle trappin’, jerkbaitin’, top water – whatever bait or technique requires a soft tip. They work great.
hippie
April 20, 2011 at 9:56 am
I just need a rod.
Rich Arnold
April 20, 2011 at 10:25 am
I use a big ol 7’11 Flippin Stick to throw my carolina rig out on the ledges. I can sling a 3/4 oz weight a long ways with that rod. It is a heavy action rod too so the fish usually get beat down pretty quick.
Sid
April 20, 2011 at 11:15 am
I use a Quantum KVD crankin rod for throwing a chatterbait. It’s too darn heavy to use for crankbaits. I only one one G. Loomis rod. I sure could use another.
Trevor Trousil
April 20, 2011 at 11:33 am
843’s and 844’s do the majority of my work. I think they are the best all around rods
The Bass chronicles
April 20, 2011 at 12:01 pm
My favorite rod is a 6’9″ Fenwick elite tech pitchin’ stick. I’ve used it for every technique and it hasn’t let me down yet
MNAngler
April 20, 2011 at 1:03 pm
I can’t afford to be a purist.
Chance C.
April 20, 2011 at 2:39 pm
I have developed a liking to the longer rods with a faster tip to be able to sling the baits further. 7′ 6″ is what I like the most.
carl h
April 20, 2011 at 2:48 pm
By the end of the day I have all sorts of stuff tied on to any rod I can grab
Jesse Hall
April 20, 2011 at 8:45 pm
I can use several different baits on one rod. I like my spinnerbaits, crank, traps, topwaters, and jerkbaits fished on a rod with a fairly soft tip. I also use the same fairly stiff rod, for frogs, swimbaits, and sometimes swim jigs.
MNBASSER
April 21, 2011 at 1:12 pm
A Kistler 6’9″ MH Z-Bone is one of the most versatile rods around! Spinnerbaits, topwater, jerkbaits or wormin!