Fishing rod manufacturers have created a slew of technique-specific rods, yet most anglers will do just fine with a handful of versatile setups. Bryan New shares his top 4 mixed-use rods based on his primary fish styles. From cranking to topwater, New delves into the importance of having versatile equipment for every fishing scenario.
ROD LISTING (retail links)
- CRANKBAIT ROD – ARK Invoker Pro Series Casting Rod, Medium – Regular: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- CRANKBAIT REEL – ARK Gravity 7 Casting Reel, 5.4:1: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- ARK Essence Series Casting Rod, 7′ Medium Heavy – Extra Fast: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- MEDIUM LIGHT SPINNING SETUP – ARK Randall Tharp Honey Badger Series Spinning Rod, 6’10” Medium Light – Extra Fast: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- MEDIUM POWER SPINNING SETUP – ARK Brandon Cobb Series Spinning Rod, 7’1” Medium – Extra Fast: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
CASTING SETUPS FOR MOVING BAITS
- Medium Power Regular Action Rod. This medium power all-arounder is ideal for cranking but is adept at other moving baits like crankbaits, soft jerkbaits, and swimbaits. New favors a relatively slow reel for this rod, typically around 5.4:1. The more parabolic rod bend absorbs shock and prevent hooks from tearing out with trebled baits.
- Medium Heavy Power Fast Action Rod. This rod excels in various topwater techniques such as buzzbaits, prop baits, and walking plugs. Furthermore, it proves equally adept for spinnerbaits and light flipping.
THE IDEAL SPINNING RODS
New narrows down to two key spinning rods that can cover a wide range of fishing needs.
- Medium Light Power Fast Action Rod. Perfect for drop shotting, Damiki rigging, and other light wire hook and line finesse techniques, this rod’s fast action and sensitive blank efficiently transmit subtle bites. Likewise, its lighter action prevents overpowering the bait during both working and on the hookset.
- Medium Power Fast Action Rod. Offering more power and hook-setting ability, this rod is ideal for shaky heads, wacky worms, and other baits requiring weedless rigging.
Bryan New’s bass fishing rod selection approach balances technique-specific performance with versatile options. By understanding the nuances of each rod and its ideal applications, anglers can confidently tackle any situation on the water with just a few rods.
