Rod recommendations - Bass

I have the panfish/trout rod, steelhead rod, and I am looking for
recommendations specifically for a bass rod. Appreciate info as to
brand name, Sage, Orvis, St. Croix, etc., as well as length, line
weight and action/flex.

Appreciate the help, guys.

Regards,

Dick Williams

hermit wrote:
I have the panfish/trout rod, steelhead rod, and I am looking for
recommendations specifically for a bass rod. Appreciate info as to
brand name, Sage, Orvis, St. Croix, etc., as well as length, line
weight and action/flex.

Appreciate the help, guys.

Regards,

I'd be looking for a fast action 7 or 8wt. I fish from a
canoe (sit low on the water) so I like a 10' fly rod, but
9' is more "standard". I may have just described your
steelhead rod, there's not much difference for me in a
bass rod and a steelhead rod except my steelhead rod is
slower. As for brand names nobody can really give you good
advice about that, you just have to cast as many as you can
and decide your personal preference.

--
Ken Fortenberry

hermit wrote:
I have the panfish/trout rod, steelhead rod, and I am looking for
recommendations specifically for a bass rod. Appreciate info as to
brand name, Sage, Orvis, St. Croix, etc., as well as length, line
weight and action/flex.

Appreciate the help, guys.

Regards,

Dick Williams

I'm using a Sage XP 609-1(sal****er model), or a Temple Fork, TiCr 9'
7wt. I tend to use the 6wt more, because I like casting it, on day long
trips. I will use the TiCr 7 when the fish are bigger, and the weeds are
thicker. The 7 also throws big hair bugs a little easier. I have used a
8wt on occasion, but I don't care for a rod that big, unless I have a
shot at large LMB.

brians

"hermit" wrote

I have the panfish/trout rod, steelhead rod, and I am looking for
recommendations specifically for a bass rod.

Seems to me that there is an excellent chance that steelhead rod would be
just fine for bass




One thing I have found ( I don't do bass very much, so I'm just flappin' to
hear myself talk, here ) is that the 'bass bug taper' LINES are probably a
better upgrade than a new rod, IF you already have a fast 6 to 8 weight rod.
They are 'extra' weight forward and really help throw a big, air resisting,
deer hair bug.

"Larry L" wrote

One thing I have found ( I don't do bass very much, so I'm just flappin'
to hear myself talk, here ) is that the 'bass bug taper' LINES are
probably a better upgrade than a new rod,


Indeed, as I think about it ... extra LINES / spools for the rods we already
have can often be a great way to do some 'comfort spending' ... get that 15
minute joy of purchase ... to a real practical advantage. One can open
up at least as many new technique options as a new rod, similar to ( within
a line size or so ) one already owned ...especially in stillwater situations

"Larry L" wrote



One can open
up at least as many new technique options as a new rod, similar to (
within a line size or so ) one already owned ...especially in stillwater
situations


That may be the most difficult to parse sentence I've ever written ... and
I've written some bad ones


Larry ( who must really be bored to answer himself ...twice ... and who will
now force himself to go outside and find something better to do )

Your steelhead will work great, the bass taper line with a short 20 lb level
leader on it will work great for surface work. Your casts will usually not
exceed 35 ft so that's another reason for the short tapered line.
A trick I picked up over the years for fishing cover is to use a heavy full
sinking line with my surface bugs again on a short leader like a foot long.
The sinking line pulls the bug down where your can use it and the mono
weedguard usually lets your bug move unmollested as it dips down with every
strip and rises up at every pause. Drives the fish nuts. At a sportsman
show many years ago I showed this technique in the fish tank. The bass were
hitting the bug like mad and during the gear classes they weren't touching
anything. One bass grabbed the hookless hair bug and didn't let it go till
I had him out of the water completely by an inch or two.