Rod Snapping Fish

[nyrsimon]

If you have read any of my earlier posts, you know I'm a total beginner. Got some advice off this board and have been having great fun.

So this morning my dog threw up (after she ate all the dirt in a plant pot) - so after cleaning it up, I headed out to Bucks Mill.

Had a few small bass, lots of action, then I hit one. The drag started spinning and the rod was doubled over. Eventually got it close to shore and trying to land it, my rod snapped. Fortunately it was close to shore and I was able to land it by pulling it in by hand. The guy across the pond reckoned 5 pounds, not sure, but my PB by FAR.

So 2 questions:
1) I need a new rod - any suggestions? I've heard good things about Ugly Stiks, clearly my $20 special is no good...
2) Do you carry a landing net when you shore fish? I have never needed it before but have thought about it...

Thanks
Simon

[Kikofishnfool]

Wow, surprised nobody replied yet:D!
Anyway, Walmart has some nice combos at reasonable prices. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Quantum-Triax-TR-TRX30F-Spinning-Combo/16523918
Very smooth casting reel and the rod has nice action. Both my boys have been fishing with this model and love it. LMB,SMB and catfish have been the targeted species.
Tight linez! Good luck!

[Kikofishnfool]

And on the net question. Totally up to you, I never carry a net as I release all fish anyway. Usually just lip em and take hook out. A little advice, never lift fish with your rod or lift the fish out of the water with the line. One of the two usually will break....

[UglyStick]

For the rod I suggest making a little more of an investment than an Uglystick. Uglysticks are decent and nearly indestructible rods but the problem is they have very little backbone for a good hookset and aren't very sensitive.

Take a look at what St. Croix offers. Their base Premier models are very good rods and are quite affordable. Take a look at the better ones also, especially the Avid (not the Avid X). The 8 or so different freshwater rods I use weekly are all St. Croix's except for 1 Grandt. I use primarily Avids, Legend Tournaments and Legend Elites but the latter 2 are likely too pricey for this discussion. They have other mid range models too such as the Mojo Bass and other but I haven't fished them so I can't say if I like them or not.

[Wilson]

If you are on a budget look at the Cabelas brand of spinning rods. They are having a sale on the Tourney Trail rods. They are half price about $35.00 right now. I have 3 of them and bought 2 of them 6 years ago when they were priced at $39.00 full price. No problems and I fish the crap out of them.
I also have some more expensive rods and don't see much difference between those and the Cabelas rods.
The St. Croix rods are very nice indeed but too much money for me.
A $20.00 rod from Walmart though would not be my choice.

I will spend more on a good well built reel with a smooth finely adjustable drag.

As far a landing nets only if I'm fishing for large fish from a boat do I ever need a net. If I lose a fish at my feet well so be it:)

Good luck

[nyrsimon]

And on the net question. Totally up to you, I never carry a net as I release all fish anyway. Usually just lip em and take hook out. A little advice, never lift fish with your rod or lift the fish out of the water with the line. One of the two usually will break....

When you say 'lip em' - do you mean you unhook them in the water so you never have to take them out or you grab them by the lip and pull them out the water...

I fish from the bank and release everything, but getting them from the water out to me seems to be the weak point for me - hence the net!!!

Thanks
Simon

[gary305]

Four or five weeks ago you had never caught a LMB and now you pull in a 5lb bass Way to go

[Chrisper4694]

For the rod I suggest making a little more of an investment than an Uglystick. Uglysticks are decent and nearly indestructible rods but the problem is they have very little backbone for a good hookset and aren't very sensitive.

Take a look at what St. Croix offers. Their base Premier models are very good rods and are quite affordable. Take a look at the better ones also, especially the Avid (not the Avid X). The 8 or so different freshwater rods I use weekly are all St. Croix's except for 1 Grandt. I use primarily Avids, Legend Tournaments and Legend Elites but the latter 2 are likely too pricey for this discussion. They have other mid range models too such as the Mojo Bass and other but I haven't fished them so I can't say if I like them or not.

Hey does ugly stick know your using their name and turning people from their rods!? Haha

Bring that broken rod back to where you got it get a credit and put it towards a pflueger...their lower priced stuff is pretty good, unless you want to spend more money and get some bells and whistles like lighter weight more sensitivity etc.

I'd recommend a net, you can keep the fish in the water while you unhook and let it recoup a bit after the fight instead of pulling it right out of the water after it has exerted itself.

[HighHook94]

For a beginner, an ugly stick combo is the perfect setup. You can beat the hell out of them and it will last 10+ years easily. I have ones 20+ years old that are still going strong. Don't buy a St. Croix as a beginner. Yes they are absolutely beautiful rods, but they are too expensive for a beginner fisherman. And for freshwater bass fishing, you don't need anything fancy. I buy all of my fancy gear for saltwater fishing. Freshwater I find the cheapest setup at Dick's Sporting Goods and stick with that. Saltwater is completely different though. And no you don't need a net from shore. When you get a fish close to the edge of the water, just drag it up onto land if it's an average/below average size. The bigger ones you have to keep in the water, grab their lip, and pull them out of the water. Then unhook them, take a quick picture, and release them.

[Skunk City]

If you are on a budget look at the Cabelas brand of spinning rods. They are having a sale on the Tourney Trail rods. They are half price about $35.00 right now. I have 3 of them and bought 2 of them 6 years ago when they were priced at $39.00 full price. No problems and I fish the crap out of them.
I also have some more expensive rods and don't see much difference between those and the Cabelas rods.
The St. Croix rods are very nice indeed but too much money for me.
A $20.00 rod from Walmart though would not be my choice.

I will spend more on a good well built reel with a smooth finely adjustable drag.

As far a landing nets only if I'm fishing for large fish from a boat do I ever need a net. If I lose a fish at my feet well so be it:)

Good luck

I have had the Cabelas Pro Guide 7ft medium action rod for almost 2 years now and love it. Have landed everything NJ has to offer on it, including Muskie and river Stripers (I was slightly overmatched but managed to land them). It seems about half the time, it is available on sale or in the Bargain Cave for $29.99, which is what I paid for it.

[NJSquatch]

Hey does ugly stick know your using their name and turning people from their rods!? Haha

Bring that broken rod back to where you got it get a credit and put it towards a pflueger...their lower priced stuff is pretty good, unless you want to spend more money and get some bells and whistles like lighter weight more sensitivity etc.

I'd recommend a net, you can keep the fish in the water while you unhook and let it recoup a bit after the fight instead of pulling it right out of the water after it has exerted itself.

X2 on the pflueger reccomendation

[UglyStick]

Don't buy a St. Croix as a beginner. Yes they are absolutely beautiful rods, but they are too expensive for a beginner fisherman. And for freshwater bass fishing, you don't need anything fancy. I buy all of my fancy gear for saltwater fishing. Freshwater I find the cheapest setup at Dick's Sporting Goods and stick with that. Saltwater is completely different though.

I respectfully disagree with this...

It is common that a person will spend more on gear as their skills increase and focus more money on what they primarily fish for (fresh vs. salt, bass vs muskies, etc.) but to say the cheapest setup is fine for freshwater & bass but salt is a different story and requires fancy gear simply isn't true (noting that gear size/weight must be matched to the species being sought and that some specific techniques require more specialized gear). I fish for most all species fresh and salt and although I do have a lot of expensive and specialized gear at this point, I also still love some of my more modest set-ups (my favorite inshore porgy / seabass rod is still an Uglystick I've had for many years.) I find that in general, for casting, higher quality rods are much more important for freshwater fishing. Being able to accurately present baits, sense pick-ups and deliver a good hook set on over-pressured fish are critical. As for price, at $130 for a good all purpose St. Croix Premier I think this is a good value and money well spent on a quality rod for someone looking to get more serious about the sport. I recommend St. Croix's because they are my favorites out of all the rods I have tried but I acknowledge that there are other good ones out there also. I can't comment on the Cabelas recommendation here since I have never fished that rod.

My point is that quality gear does make a difference and a beginner will be able to progress more quickly and enjoy the sport more if they make a modest investment in a good rod & reel from the beginning.