I was going thru my collection of baitcast rods and noticed I only have one that's rated medium power. I have mostly medium heavy and a few heavy. I didn't really plan it that way, it's just how it turned out. My spinning gear is at least 50% medium power.

I'm interested in how other bass anglers decide the right mix of powers and actions for them. Just for discussion, if you had a hypothetical collection of 10 bait casters and 10 spinning rods, how many would be XH, H, MH, M, ML, L and UL? Any science to your choices or mostly an art born of experience?

Ready... go!

That's a very good question. I have never really sat down and really thought about it. I know for a fact I don't own 10 spinning rods I own two and both are mediums like you were saying. I find with spinning a medium is best around for the applications that you do with it shakey head and dropshot. My casting rods are mostly made up of medium heavy's. Do own a lot of heavy's and Extra Heavy's because the bodies of water I fish the most is made up of mostly grass so I opt for mostly Heavy's and Extra heavy's. I have got into off shore fishing a lot so I have changed up my powers some, but generally pick of the applications I normally fish.

I have 3 spinning rods and all are medium. the only difference is the length.
In my casting rods I have a couple of Medium Light and a couple of heavy with the rest being medium heavy. But there is a difference in the actions of my casting rods. One of the heavy rods is Extra Fast and the other is Fast. The medium heavy ones are split into lengths of 6'9" 7'0" 7'3" 7'6" and have actions from medium for crank bait rods to fast and extra fast for the rest. 2 of my casting rods are ML that I throw weightless Flukes and other bait I want weightless.

I'm experimenting with different setups to determine the optimal baitcaster for weightless T-rigs like Power Worms and Swamp Hogs... Weightless Senkos are easy to cast on anything, but the lighter stuff tests me, so I usually end up fishing them on a spinning rod. May have to try a ML rig...

2 power for drop shot
3 power for light tx. rig and weightless
4 and 5 power for tx. rigs and jigs depending on rod brand

1/4-3/4 lure rating M/H
3/8-1 M/H
1/2-1 1/2 H

Then if you are going to throw crank baits get a rod made for cranking and then the one you choose will depend on what size crank bait you plan to throw.

Assume those numbers equate to the following?
2 = Medium Light
3 = Medium
4 = Medium Heavy
5 = Heavy

Thanks!

Kistler Zbones:
1- medium light (2 power)
3- medium (3 power)
3- MH (4 power)
1- H (5 power)
1- XH (6 power)

Assorted crankbait, jerk bait, spook, A-rig rods in glass, hybrid or graphite � about 10.-11

Not including spinning rods.

Nice collection of Kistlers... I've thought about picking up one but I don't think I can convince Mama of the need for one in the Z Bone line...

I have two Shimano Crucials that are identical in length and listed as M/H rods. One has a lure rating of 1/4-3/4 and the other is 3/8-1.

I use a Powell 683 for wacky rigging a Senko type bait and a 684 for a Tx.rigged weightless Senko type bait.

Good articles that might interest you:

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

Tight lines!

Yes, I've seen those articles... they were very helpful in building my original setup. Thanks!

That's funny, I was just going through my collection earlier and noticed the same thing. I have one mediumb action rod and all the others range from MH to Houston. I saw a post on Kistler rods on here earlier and ordered 2 Medium composite crankin rods. Awesome sale on their website with promo code FRIDAY. check it out.

Any recommendations for a heavier topwater rod for working say bigger spooks on 17 lb test?

Powell Max 705 3D crank bait rod. It works well for spooks as well as well as throwing square bills. I bought one and liked it so well that I bought two more. I can also use it for throwing my Yellow Magic +1. It is very versatile.

Depending on the manufacturer a 3, 4 and 5 power rod could all be rated as a M/H. I have a Loomis 743 (1/4-3/4) and it is listed as a M/H. A Powell Max 704 is similar in action to a 705 Dobyns Champion.