What do I need to focus on when choosing a rod??? (Series 1) 

Definitely continue to do the Rod Series! Maybe list all the types of lures you throw on each rod also. Might even be interesting to bring Hallman and Upshaw in on it. Thanks for taking the time to do this!

I would love if rod manufacturers would standardize power and actions on rods because you're 100% correct it's all over the place and makes it extremely confusing for the newer people... Great video as always keepem coming brother!!!

Is 6" a big deal? Oh man you had me cracking up. Good job at keeping it clean. Todd you put out some of the best content to date. Thank you man I appreciate you buddy.

Very cool video. I'm terrible at getting myself into paralysis by analysis and hearing this viewpoint helps me relax a bit. Instead of comparing arbitrary numbers printed on rods, just try them and see how they work. Thanks Todd!

Man ya get me thinkin Todd. Yeah its a suggestion on what works well from weight - weight

Good point about playing a big fish down with a longer rod. I love to fish in and under cover a lot, and while I’m more accurate with a shorter rod, a big fish can give you fits once you get it around the boat.

Really cool stuff Todd! Most people dont fish enough to know what they want in a rod. I was looking for a good crankbait rod when I saw your video. I wanted some versatility in lures. You sold me on the 5XD rod. Like you, I can tell by actually picking it up. Thanks again.

TODD, I love this kind of stuff!!! Keep it coming if you choose to!!! I learned a bunch today about choosing a rod, never had it put this way before!!! Making a series is a good deal I think, mixed in with the other videos that you do!! I like the way you fish and especially the way you think on the water!!! Love your videos man!!!

Thanks for sharing I think it’s good to get another perspective on topics. It gave me another avenue for thought. Keep up the good work much appreciated.

Awesome series looking forward to seeing more.

Love how authentic you are!

That was like looking in the mirror. I also take the rating on the rods with a pitch of salt. My squarebill and lipless crank rod is a med/heavy extra fast. I picked the rod up without looking at the ratings, instantly thinking this is the perfect crank rod. Well I bought 2 of them and they are the perfect crank rods for me. Very refreshing video so keep them coming.

Keep it up man love how you keep it simple! a lot of your videos have changed my approach to tournaments this year and put some money in my pocket keep bringing the juice!

Yes please would like to see more of this type of video's thanks for your time and effort you put in to make these video really appreciate it 😊👌

Hope to see more of these rod videos! I liked this one a lot.

Hey your No mechanic stick with fishing 😀. Thanks for all the videos, you’ve help keep my sanity through a torn ACL.

I just started watching your videos and I really like your style , I will be watching all of your stuff from now on . I dont just follow every "great" angler out there but guys like you , Hackney and a few others just have a way of teaching that I can wrap my head around . Good luck in your fishing endeavors . By the way , the way I feel about all of the know it alls and haters is you are a professional bass fisherman they are not , if they are so good then why arent they out there doing what you do ?

Hey Mr castledine thanks for the help I'm going with falcon rods and I really think these rods are what I'm looking for. God bless you and your family your pal fisherman Mike from Missouri.

Definitely keep doing these. Really like it.

I like the video but here's a suggestion. Make a video that shows how to repair a rod how to replace a tip or how to replace a guide or even fix a reel seat. It's not rocket science but there is a process. And I think many guys would be interested in learning how to fix their broken rods.

Really interested in this series. I like your no BS approach to things.

Man this is the video we all needed!!!!

Man I could not agree more!. I was looking for a couple new rods at bass pro and the salesman was trying tell me I needed this or that and the rods I was looking at were to light for the job. I said Hey , I've got arthrits in my hands and cant fish with the standerd size rods most people use. It hurts my frigging hands and I wont last no time before I have to stop thowing lures. So just show me strongest light or ultralight rods in the store and let me make my choice. I dont car what everyone else is throwing. Great video man.

Good video and ideas for the videos to come 👍👍

Another awesome video! Thanks for the clarity!

Great info! Ready for more private group content.

Would like to see the rod video continue I really enjoyed it.

What's up Todd!!!🤓"Let's be Honest"the rods I throw is the one's in my budget😬😬😬Cool in-depth topic😁

Love the common sense approach on rod selection. We all starred fishing with one rod and threw every bait we owned on it.

Well, one of the GOATS of all time, Rick Clunn is a big believer in using the same rod and reel for everything.

Cool idea for series. I like to know your thought process, and reasoning behind things. Pretty informative

Real talk and I couldn't agree more.Love the honest approach you take to the videos. I do the same when I find a rod I love,I look for baits that fit my preferred rods as opposed to doing it vice versa.If you get it right you go from hooking big bass to catching big bass and the rod is a huge factor

Yep keep this stuff coming it helps people. I'm same way I could care less what the manufacturer puts on them blank ratings cause they're most all different. My current favorite frog rod is only rated for up to 17 lb and you could pull a dang truck with it

I gotta say I have been fishing Hank Parker IM-8’s for the past year for my cranking and for my jigs, I like em and they are very friendly on my bank account. I will venture out but I’m happy with my purchases so far

I can completely relate to everything you just said about that rod... I've only found one 'TWEENER' rod in all my years of fishing that I would be comfortable calling it that kind of rod after fishing as long as I have with as many brands as I have... and and I just found it last year.. it's the 13 fishing Omen Black 7'6 mdhvy.. that's a rod that I'm 100% comfortable with a 7lb or 8lb 🤞🤞🤞 fish hitting it and being able to fight it and play it the right way without losing it... Not saying that I've not been lucky in the past and caught some big ones and was able to land them, and I'm also not saying that haven't ever lost some big ones because we all have.. but I think it comes down to 100% preference, 100% comfortability to you as the angler and what's comfortable for you, yeah that's the only one I have found that I would call that kind of rod!!

Always enjoy your vids. I also like the idea of filming any boat maintenance/repair as well. We all have to do it, and I find it helpful because someone might have a better way to complete a task than what I would normally do.

GET 'ER DONE , Todd! Cool series , can't wait for more!

Hope you make more videos like this..🤘

Great video Sir! I have to feel that rod and see how it feels before I decide that it is one I want to buy. Most everything else in the fishing world I could buy online or without having it in my hand. Fishing rods are a whole nother matter. Thanks. for taking time to do this. Good fishing!

yes sir, please continue with the series. there is so much confusion in the industry.

Awesome video bro

Bro, whatever you want to post, I will watch and in my opinion, there is always stuff to learn. I am going to learn as much as I can whether it is fishing or fixing my boat myself to save some bread. Come on with it.

I like your concept for a rod series I build my own and boy are you right about the ratings on the rod being just a suggestion because all the blank makers put their own “spin” on the ratings. I agree with you about knowing generally what feels right and what kind of flex and backbone you want for the application and who cares what someone wrote on the blank. Interesting that you talk about the trend toward longer rods. My last couple of builds have been longer rods than I had been using I have realized better distances in my casting and they have the same flex and backbone as the slightly shorter rods so I’m using them for the techniques I was previously using the shorter rods. Thanks for all the work you put into your videos. Appreciate your honesty and always telling us what is going through your mind and the heck with the consequences because you want to speak truth. Keep up the great work.

I gotta say I have been fishing Hank Parker IM-8’s for the past year for my cranking and for my jigs, I like em and they are very friendly on my bank account.

Keep 'em coming. We can use that type of information.

I took a rod building class and the knowledge I gained really changed my focus. For example: spine or spine of the rod, real seat, guide wraps and guides. I was assuming all those things were correct on production rods. I found out they’re not. A huge percentage of factory rods, in the stores, have glaring defects.

Makes sense longer rods hold fish better. So I'm a kayak angler so shorter rods are or I should say I thought they were easier to fish with because of how close I am to the water & for netting fish at the yak. Then couple yrs ago when I got into fishing big swimbaits, I needed a heavier longer rod for those big baits. I got used to using them & I just got a new net with a longer handle! That solved that issue. I agree longer rods are better

I hadn't thought much about it till now but that's what I've been doing is find the rod then see what fits the rod best seems to work for me so far.

thanks for this

Really good video keep on doing your rod video like it I would learn alot from you doing a lot of rod videos like your channel you do a great job thanks TODD 😊

Hey Todd, what do you think of Lew's rod....just kidding. I do like this type of video from you and getting your perspective on what rods you think are good and why. Can save some of us from avoiding some rods as well (Berkley rods). As a short guy and primarily fishing out of a kayak, it's harder for me to find rods that feel good and work well. I wish I had and could fish with 5'10" rods. Trying to walk baits etc. in a kayak I'm constantly hitting the water with the rod - just walking a poppin perch last night I'd have this issue. Biggest things I look for would be concern on my frogging rog breaking, it not being too long, and how comfortable the rod feels with that little nub pieces that rests between your fingers on your non-reeling hand. As for doing the other type of videos - do what you enjoy, not what others enjoy. People tend to sense if you aren't enjoying it and it'll hurt the video and add unneeded stress etc. to you, not something we want. God bless! **Edit** I had no idea there wasn't a standard for the Heavy/MH etc...wow

I geek out over this stuff. What works for one doesn't work for another. I like soaking in all I can for rod recommendations and seeing what I like from there.

Love this series and would also like to hear your thoughts on reel gear ratios and how you apply those to what you do on the water

I like a stiffer rod to make the lure dance better.

Release more of these

Post ‘‘em up!

Yes, would like to see videos on how to fix stuff. If they're titled correctly, they can be found years in the future by people having the same problems.

You would probably like the Daiwa Tatula 7'6" MH/F.

Todd I'm sill using shimano beastmaster super magnums from the early 80s with Lew's reels I have looked at the Lew's rods but haven't had the chance to try one out on the water . I like this video thanks

Might get me one. It’s hard to find the right 7’6 mh that’s not a cranking rod. Looks like a good rod for big top waters also.

If you want to talk about skipping in the learning phase for a neophyte, move down to a 5'6" pistol grip, if you can find it.

A little unrelated but what kind of camera mount is that?

Appreciate the videos as always Todd, keep up the good work. Hope we can talk in Sept. at Texoma. 4 baits you throw on that HH rod.

Please do any videos on boat repair that you can

i think alot of it is a learned preference over time. i do feel like the deeper the rod bows down the blank, the more pressure you can keep on the fish and the more you can move the fish. i caught a 6 lb steelhead on one of my 6 ft heavy short catfish rods and it was a pain to reel in. most of my chrome fish rods are 8 ft and 10 ft. the crazier the fish fight the longer the rod in my view. so would think as bass get to that temp where they fight the hardest one might want a longer rod?

Love the videos. Keep the series a coming. What happened to the new Lews deep crank rods that you liked ? Maybe some RU-vid only secret tricks. Lol. Thanks Todd. Keep’em Jacked. 🎣

Make a silent Hybrid Hunter please!

The Hybrid Hunter is the shiz , I feel the same about rods if I like them I fish them I have high end rods I have low end rods and my favorite rod is the mojo bass by St Croix they back there products I broke mine in the car door I told them they told me what too do and I got a brand new one for 50 bucks now after that customer service I only buy st. Croix rods made in America made by fishermen you can’t go wrong priced for every kinda angler

My wife says you shouldn’t do any more of these videos. (Do them anyway) Any teasers you can do for new baits would be cool too.

Film it allllll!

Hey Todd 2 Q questions what rod are you using for deep diving crank baits I’m talking that 15 to 20 foot range and what rod are you using for your worm ride as far as laying in action if you don’t mind me asking sir

💯 most over rated is specs on rods!! All companies have different actions that are labeled as the same.

So true about all rods being different, I just got a 7' medium heavy fast action Duckett rod and the tip is so soft it's like a crankbait rod. Wish I could return it. Not a fast tip at all!! Disappointing for sure...

Please do one on the XD series. I picked up the 6xd and like it but would love your to hear your opinions on the series. Seems more versatile than just cranking so would like to hear your thoughts.

👍

TODD!?!?!….. what kind of chesty for that GoPro are you wearin???? Love it!!! Is that a magnet through your shirt or a clamp and, is the lanyard weight on your neck comfortable? I wish you and your partners in crime (Bradley and Andrew) used or posted some or more affiliate links to the gear y’all use fishing AND filming…. I’m sure I like others would more than support you guys and your sponsors gear with links to your sponsors sites or the discount tackle houses u use… i know ad sense is fruitful but the other income streams are low hanging fruit for you guys. ….nevermind, found the camera mount

From the day when Castaways and All-Stars had actual quality.

🇺🇸

About the only true thing in rods that is comparable from one to the other is (for the most part) length.

And I wont buy I rod with out putting a reel on it first to see how it balances out .I make the sales man get one out and let me screww on.

Start with a 7’ MH multipurpose rod and build off of it for diff techniques. Trial and error. Feel, touch, execution of bait delivery and fishe catches. Sad that this has to be told to the younger guys. There is no cheat code for Getting the right rod. Personal preference (x)+ technique(y)= unknown (z)

Personally, I use exceptionally expensive gear. Do I catch more fish? I seriously doubt it. If you look at the top pros, most of them use garbage. So, it's really the Indian, not the arrow.

I hope 6 inches is a big deal!!! Lol

Thanks for sharing I think it’s good to get another perspective on topics. It gave me another avenue for thought. Keep up the good work much appreciated.

Ok, so my first thought about this was" he has stated before this that he just ignores the line rating and everything else printed on a rod. This has got to be good". And it was 👍 Keep em coming. Even though I'm a non boater, put the repair videos in, never know when a co can help from the back of the boat.