Give this rookie bass fisherman some pointers

[Stick'n'String]

I just recently got into bass fishing and noticed a wide array of technique specific rods. When would it be beneficial to use a spinning reel rather than a baitcasting reel and vice versa. I mostly fish on lake from a boat. I may do a little fishing from the bank for some panfish and I might occasionally rent a kayak to fish while I'm at school in San Marcos but the majority of my fishing will be from a boat.

Also, what are y'all's opinions on types of fishing line? My dad and I exclusively use a low visibility braided line. But the more I read, the more I see people recommending fluorocarbon.

[ultralite09]

Bait caster will give you better accuracy once you know how to handle it.

As for a beginner technique, I would say throwing a 5 inch watermelon red stick bait (Yamamoto senko, yum dinger, etc) weightless on 12lb florocarbon will get you bit pretty quickly. Just cast it out along the banks and pop it every now and then.

My favorite line to use is Seguar tatsu or invizix. It's a little pricy but I love it. If you're just getting into bass fishing, you'll be fine with 12 or 14lb Berkley trilene, it'll be easier on the wallet.

Bass fishing is never ending when it comes to set ups, techniques and baits.

Don't worry about what technique the rod is labeled for most manufacturers have a different feel. I would say go ahead and get a medium or medium heavy rod and if you're gonna try to use a baitcaster, get at least a 7' rod, much easier to cast than a short rod.

The only time I use a spinning rod is drop shot or wacky rig but even then I prefer to use my casting rods. Good luck and post any other questions and I'll be happy to give my input.

[jooger17]

Spinning rods/ reels should be used when you're using less than 10lb test. I use it for drop shotting, shaky head, and wacky worms.

It really depends on how serious you want to get as to how many rods you want/ need.

Texas rigging, a 6'6"-7'4" medium heavy action will be great.

Top waters, depends on what you're doing. Open water across points, 6'10" to 7'4" medium action.

The shorter the rod, the more accurate you'll be able to cast. The longer the rod, the more distance you'll get.

As far as line, no one line is perfect for every application. On my spinning gear, I have 6-8lb fluorocarbon. Deep diving crankbaits, 10-12lb flourocarbon, Tx Rig, 15-20lb Flourocarbon, Flipping jig, 65lb braid, top water, 15-17lb copolymer, frog, 65lb braid, and 3/4oz football jigs or Carolina Rigs, 20lb copolymer.

[JTRichardson]

IMO, all you need is a worm rod, a spinnerbait/crankbait rod/ and a spinny rig for flukes etc. etc.

I prefer bait cast reels, I am more accurate and have more control and feel for working the bait.

Line is a personal choice mostly, but I prefer 8-15 lb P-line (green) depending on what bait/where I'm fishing. Lake Falcon/Toledo bend: 12 -15lb test Bastrop/Fayette/Gibbons: 8 - 12 lb test

hope this helps, any more specific questions Im more than happy to help bro. I am much more a bass fisherman than a hunter

[DRT]

Spinning is for very finesse applications generally. I run braid but also use mono and flouro. I prefer braid for abrasion resistance, lack of line memory and no stretch on hook set.

[ultralite09]

Spinning rods/ reels should be used when you're using less than 10lb test. I use it for drop shotting, shaky head, and wacky worms.

It really depends on how serious you want to get as to how many rods you want/ need.

Texas rigging, a 6'6"-7'4" medium heavy action will be great.

Top waters, depends on what you're doing. Open water across points, 6'10" to 7'4" medium action.

The shorter the rod, the more accurate you'll be able to cast. The longer the rod, the more distance you'll get.

As far as line, no one line is perfect for every application. On my spinning gear, I have 6-8lb fluorocarbon. Deep diving crankbaits, 10-12lb flourocarbon, Tx Rig, 15-20lb Flourocarbon, Flipping jig, 65lb braid, top water, 15-17lb copolymer, frog, 65lb braid, and 3/4oz football jigs or Carolina Rigs, 20lb copolymer.

I'm pretty much the same, don't let the image of bass guys running 10+ rods scare you, that's mostly cause we're too lazy/wanna cut down on time retying. I could honestly get away with 3 or 4 rods for all my bass fishing but it's a whole lot easier switching rods than swapping baits.

Since the bass will soon be on their deep water summer pattern, I'd suggest to learn how to fish a c-rig, jig and deep diving crankbaits.

I love being able to go out on the lake with only 3 tackle boxes and 2 rods and hammer the crap out of them.

A box full of citrus shad and powder blue back will get you bit just abut any lake. My favorites are 6xd, 10xd and crush 500dd.

[jooger17]

I'm pretty much the same, don't let the image of bass guys running 10+ rods scare you, that's mostly cause we're too lazy/wanna cut down on time retying. I could honestly get away with 3 or 4 rods for all my bass fishing but it's a whole lot easier switching rods than swapping baits.

Since the bass will soon be on their deep water summer pattern, I'd suggest to learn how to fish a c-rig, jig and deep diving crankbaits.

I love being able to go out on the lake with only 3 tackle boxes and 2 rods and hammer the crap out of them.

A box full of citrus shad and powder blue back will get you bit just abut any lake. My favorites are 6xd, 10xd and crush 500dd.

That's absolutely right. You may see 8 rods on my front deck... 4 of them might have the exact same crankbait tied on with line ranging from 10-15lb test. Also if I'm fishing brush piles and I hang a jig up, rather than screw up the pile, I'll click the casting button, set that rod on the deck and throw an identical set up into the pile. I may catch a few fish before I go retrieve my jig.

You can do just about any technique out there with a 7' medium heavy rod and 15lb mono or flourocarbon.

[Stick'n'String]

Thanks for all the input, I've been searching the Internet a lot lately trying to learn some of the basics. I'm looking at getting by with 3-4 rods. I'm wanting something for cranks/chatterbaits, another for Texas rigs, another for topwaters/buzzbaits, and maybe a spinning rod and reel for wacky and drop shot fishing

[Capt.Bryan]

I like to use a spinning rod also for 3.5" tube jigs with 1/8 ounce jig head to skip up under docks and willow trees. I usually use 10 pound spider wire braid (maroon box) with good success. I have some spinning reels that I use for bass, crappie and salt water fishing that I have this braid on and it is going on 6-8 years old.

[spiraltrue]

Florocarbon - Seaguar InvisX
Mono – Berkley Big game
Braid - PowerPro

[raceruss2003]

I grew up on spinners so I use them for everything. I have tried some really nice (>$300) baitcaster setups that friends have and couldn't get the feel for them. So I go with what I know. I find I am just as accurate, if not a little more than my baitcaster buddies but I believe that is more due to feel and comfort than capabilities of the rod/reel setup.

I run all spinners with braided line as someone mentioned above.

Also, I have caught big bass on $30 rod/reel combos as well as the expensive stuff. In my opinion it is all in the presentation and lure quality. With that said, I won't spend more than $3 on a lure, $40 on a reel, or $100 on a rod as I am cheap.

[TexMax]

Top waters/buzz baits and crankbaits/spinner baits should not be grouped together in rod type. I won't get into rods brands etc. And since your mainly from a boat I wouldn't recommend anything less than 7' (as an all around usage, I'm aware that there are cases where it is useful)

7+' medium action. Really I'd prefer a 7'2". This will cover topwaters, squarebills, flukes, weightless senkos and other various shallow-medium diving cb's

7+' heavy. Again I'd get longer up to 7'6". Jigs, texas rigs, spinnerbaits/chatterbaits/buzzbaits, some light frog work and a good c-rig rod.

6'9" - 7' spinning rod. I really find 7+ to be unwieldy for some reason. Medium power x-fast action. Will pretty much cover every fines application including your pan fish from the bank. In light line it'll zing a beetle spin pretty dang far.

That's it for 3 rods year round. As mentioned were rolling up on a time of year where A deep diving cb will be highly desired and you'll want 3 jigs a c-rig and a jigging spoon all tied on at once. And thus we end up with 20 rods

[stxhunter]

I'm by no means an expert, but found this information very informative:

http://www.scout.com/outdoors/wired2fish/story/1465944-6-rod-and-reel-bass-fishing-system-rods

http://www.scout.com/outdoors/wired2fish/story/1465964-6-rod-and-reel-bass-fishing-system-reels

[Chew]

The best advice I've been given that works for me (fishing worms/softbaits), is when you think you are working it slow enough, cut that speed in half.

I got nothing else except "go fishing with Jooger17, he will put you on 'em". =)

[dustoffer]

It's amazing how much fishing has changed since the days of the Rebel Deep Wee-R, Tom Mann's Jelly Worms, etc. I can't even pronounce the names of the lures today. I stick with a 4" black worm w/chartreuse tail, and a blue/chartreuse skirt on spinner baits. Found a bunch of reddish-purple and black curly-tailed ring-worms in the bulk worm boxes at GM in Houston several years ago and killed the fish with them. Next trip to Houston, went back and bought every one they had. Still have several dozen left but have never seen the color combo anywhere else.

Friend of mine keeps telling me to fish the "fluke" but so far haven't felt the need to do so.