All Purpose Combo

[PainInTheBass]

Hi all.

I was wondering: If you have to choose a single rod and reel combo to take with you to cover as many applications as you like to fish, what would it be? And for what applications? Why did you choose that particular combo?

This could be spinning or baitcasting or even spincasting if that is what you like.

For example, if you only flyfish, then your combo would most likely be a fly fishing combo. If you mostly worm fish, your combo would match that. If you liked to worm fish, fish spinners and crankbaits too, your setup would also differ from the previous 2 combos.

So what is your one combo? and Why?

TIM

 

[disspatcher]

Medium action spinning with 8lb braided line...with the tension set right you can land anything with this set up.
Having some f/c for a leader may help too tho!

 

[Bigfisherman]

Depends on how much you want to spend, you can get a 6.6-7ft medium spin cast combo for as little as $40 or as much as $400.

 

[slimy]

I agree with the above, a medium spinning rod and reel.. you can us this for pretty much anything, small and large lures, windy days, casting, trolling......

If you're buying just one, you can't go wrong with the ugly stick combo spooled with 8 or 10 lb. I think it''s about 60 to 70$

 

[efka]

i double ugly stik lite

 

[GB2pair]

For me, it would have to be a 7ft medium action rod with a medium size spinning reel. This will be a good set up for panfish, bass, pike and you could also do some trolling (for trout, etc) with this set up as well. Line is a personal choice, I prefer mono but many like the braids, it's really up to you. Hope this helps.

Cheers,

 

[Garry2rs]

There are too many compromizes when one outfit has to do everything. You are in danger of winding up with something that is fair at most things but not very good at anything...
If I could suggest dividing the baits along the line of weight...3/8 of an ounce and heavier, or 1/4 and lighter, then I think you'll really only need two outfits.
My heavy outfit would be a 6'6" medium heavy G.Loomis Mag Bass C784 rod with a Shimano Chronarch reel.
That outfit would handle anything I was likely to catch. It would throw spoons, spinner-baits, bucktails, crank-baits and jigs over 3/8 of an ounce. It could work jerk baits, glide baits, Frogs, Hula poppers, Pop-R's and other top waters, and throw Carolina rigs, Texas rigs, etc. It will also be strong enough to troll with.

For the other end of the weight spectrum, I want a 6' 6" to 7 foot Medium Light St.Croix rod with a Stradic 1000 reel. This outfit will fish weightless plastics like Flukes, Senko's, light jigs like shaky head worms and also throw tiny crank-baits and Mepp's type spinners. With a small bobber I can cast flies, or live bait and tiny jigs for Crappie etc.
The heavy outfit would have Power-pro 30 or 50 pound test, and the light rod 10 or 20 pound Power-pro.
I know many people love the Ugly Stick, but I wouldn't even give one to a child.
In my opinion the Ugly Stick is to fishing rods what Chef-Boyardee is to Italian cooking...:mrgreen:

 

[slimy]

There are too many compromizes when one outfit has to do everything. You are in danger of winding up with something that is fair at most things but not very good at anything...
If I could suggest dividing the baits along the line of weight...3/8 of an ounce and heavier, or 1/4 and lighter, then I think you'll really only need two outfits.
My heavy outfit would be a 6'6" medium heavy G.Loomis Mag Bass C784 rod with a Shimano Chronarch reel.
That outfit would handle anything I was likely to catch. It would throw spoons, spinner-baits, bucktails, crank-baits and jigs over 3/8 of an ounce. It could work jerk baits, glide baits, Frogs, Hula poppers, Pop-R's and other top waters, and throw Carolina rigs, Texas rigs, etc. It will also be strong enough to troll with.

For the other end of the weight spectrum, I want a 6' 6" to 7 foot Medium Light St.Croix rod with a Stradic 1000 reel. This outfit will fish weightless plastics like Flukes, Senko's, light jigs like shaky head worms and also throw tiny crank-baits and Mepp's type spinners. With a small bobber I can cast flies, or live bait and tiny jigs for Crappie etc.
The heavy outfit would have Power-pro 30 or 50 pound test, and the light rod 10 or 20 pound Power-pro.
I know many people love the Ugly Stick, but I wouldn't even give one to a child.
In my opinion the Ugly Stick is to fishing rods what Chef-Boyardee is to Italian cooking...:mrgreen:

But, you can only pick just one combo!!!!

and BTW, Chef-Boyardee rocks!...

 

[Bigfisherman]

Not really defending the ugly stick but I had snags in windy conditions where the rod was bent under the boat and it never broke. On that note I'm going to pick up a 7ft shimano rod tomorrow to compare to my 7ft ugly stick. I want to put together a musky combo for next month.

 

[PainInTheBass]

What is with the Ugly Stik hate? Beauty is in the eye of the baitholder...

Seriously, why do people dislike the Ugly Stik?

 

[Spinninreel]

What is with the Ugly Stik hate? Beauty is in the eye of the baitholder...

Seriously, why do people dislike the Ugly Stik?

My best speculation would be that the Ugly Stik is very durable but lacks sensitivity.