Rod and Reel Set ups

Id like yalls professional opinions on best combination to set up what Ive got.

Reels:
-LEWS m58 7.1.1 w/ 60lb braid
-Shimano Curado Bantom CU200 5.4 w/ 20lb braid
-Shimano Curado 200e7 6.3 w/ 25lb fluoro (didnt know any better and learned real quick the line needs to be sized way down)
-LEWS Tournament MP 7.5.1 w/ 17lb Fluoro

Rods:
-Shimano Compre 7'2" Med Heavy, fast action "worm and jig"
-13 fishing Origin LTD 7' Med Heavy, extra fast action
-St Croix Legend Elite LEC70MF 7' Med, fast action
-Falcon 7'3" Heavy, Fast action

The LEWS Tourny MP is brand new and on the Falcon rod, plan is for that to be my main flipping rig

The LEWS m58 is on the Compre rod and has been my flipping and jig rod
The Bantom is currently on the 13 rod
The Curado is on the St Croix rod

If these were yours....what would you change, what uses would you primarily use them for.....im new to the bass game and want to optimize my gear

Also with these in mind...what is one more rig you'd add to the arsenal? Thanks in advance for the advice

That 7'3 Falcon Amistad is hands down the best rod in your fleet!

Without going into detail and critiquing your stuff .......

You need a spinning rod to throw 1/8 to 1/4 baits on (hair jigs, grubs, etc) with 8 to 10 pound line

A crankbait rod.

A good worm rod

A good topwater rod.

I like to have a spare in the boat for using different baits without having to re-tie, and in case I have a problem with one.

Don't get caught up in the "rod of the month" club. You don't have to buy 20 rods to have what you need. A good rod should be balanced enough and versatile enough to handle a few different bait types (within reason).

All that said ..... everyone has their own preferences about their personal equipment. What works for me might not be what you like. See if your fishing partner will let you make a few casts with his stuff. Ask around at local bait shops and see what everyone else is using.

Good advice here and also depends on what Water/Lakes you plan to fish the majority of the time.

I have a spinning rod, it is a Shimano Sahara 4000, 50lb braid on a 6'6" AllStar Elite Fast Lite rod


But critiquing is exactly what im after here... Most of those I bought second hand from a buddy, best way to get in the game at a reasonable price. Ive been bass fishing heavier for the last 4 years since my inlaws bought a lakehouse on Tyler East, that is the main area I fish on my 12'JB and their pontoon. Im hoping to get a legit bass boat in the next year or two so I can have more freedom and also try out other east Texas lakes within driving distance

Did you swap out the gears in your E7 to make it a 6.3 gear ratio? If not then I'd say that's the best reel you have. I'd put that on the Falcon rod and use it for all tx rigs/jigs. And you don't have to scale back on line size too much. I stick with 20 typically 17 minimum.

I did not, I asked my buddy and he couldnt remember the exact gear ratio...he sold it to me a few years ago. Do you have a better idea what it is? That reel absolutely hates the line I have on it, backlashes no matter how I set it, line just doesnt seem like it comes off clean, stays kinky which I didnt think it should being fluoro. I was planning to put 17 on it

Your idea to downsize to 17lb line over that 25lb fluorocarbon will make a huge difference in castability. Try some 16lb line like a copolymer McCoys Mean Green or the like and you will be amazed and the smoothness. That Lews or the Curado on that Falcon rod is a great heavy “do everything” set up. Worms, jigs, swimbaits, chatterbaits, medium cranks, heavier topwaters......I’ll bet you will wish you had more of that rig as you get used to everything. Might be a bit on the heavy action side but that’s a great rod! Not to start a whole new line debate but unless you are punching, flipping THICK cover, going fishing in Mexico or for Peacock Bass in South America that 25lb. fluorocarbon is like a: https://youtu.be/yNlOfDHyaXg

The 200E7 is a 7.1 gear ratio reel.

Great reel for sure.

As far as setups go you really need to go with what you like and what feels right to you. Heck I change my stuff around a few times a year as my mood changes.

Good luck bud.

E7's are 7.0:1 gear ratio. Take the side plate off and make sure you have plastic on each of the break pins. and turn them all on to start then push them down one at a time until it starts casting right.

Anyone else have good recommendations of a rig to add to the collection? Maybe another heavy action rod?

I would only add a 2nd heavy action rod if I had at least 8 or more combos.

Can't go wrong with a 7' - 7'6" MHVY. While maybe not ideal for every situation you can throw anything from deep diving crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwaters, swimbaits, t-rigs, c-rigs, jigs, etc.