Rod selection?

[Bass Yakker]

Considering getting a baitcasting rod and reel.  Right now I have a spinning med power 6' and a spinning med light power moderate fast action 6' 6".  Should I get a med heavy power baitcasting setup or something else?  Mainly using this for kayak fishing and a little bit of bank fishing.  Targeting largemouth and smallmouth bass.  I've never used a baitcaster before so any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.  Thanks.

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

7' medium heavy is about the most versatile set up you can get, Check out sportsman factory outlet they have some great deals right now.  They have a combo right now for 49.99 that is 7' medium heavy.  I got one a few months ago just to have an extra and it casts great. Cant go wrong with that set up

[Greasy B]

Are you a right hand caster? If so I would recommend a left handed reel. There’s no better time to avoid being a rod switcher than now. 

[Gavin]

You will probably end up with several  bait casting rods. You kayak fish, so a shorter bait casting rod can be advantageous. I usually bring 2 bait casters when I float fish. One is a 5'6" Medium action, fast tip for walk the dog baits, the other is a  7'' Medium Heavy for chuck & wind and heavier jigs.

[Flysmallie]

I mostly use a baitcaster anymore when floating. Like Gavin mentioned a short medium rod is nice to have for a variety of reasons but a heavier setup is good too. If I was only choosing one it would probably be a six six in med to med-heavy.

It would also depend on what I was planning on using it for. 

[Al Agnew]

Yep, there isn't really any do-it-all casting rods.  What you need for fishing soft plastics or jigs and needing to set a hook through plastic is far different from what you need for fishing topwaters, etc.  However, I'm going to make a recommendation here...I think if you are used to fishing spinning tackle, keep using it for all your soft plastics, jigs, fluke type baits, soft stick baits.  Where a baitcaster really shines, in my opinion, is in fishing the faster-moving stuff, where you will be making a lot of accurate casts.  So your baitcasting rod or rods should be able to handle stuff like topwaters, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits.

Not all medium or medium heavy power casting rods are alike, either.  So figure out what you're most likely to use with it.  Walk the dog topwaters?  Medium or medium heavy, shorter rod with shorter handle will work best from canoe or kayak.  Spinnerbaits?  Longer rod in medium or medium heavy.  Crankbaits?  A crankbait special rod works best, but a medium or medium heavy that isn't an extra fast-tip action will work, and handle the spinnerbaits just as well.

You can spend $60 or so on an okay baitcast rod, or $200 or more for a really good one.  You don't need super sensitivity fishing the stuff I'm recommending you use it for, but the more expensive rods are usually lighter in weight and better balanced, so they don't tire you to fish all day making all those casts.

[Basfis]

Several years ago I went to a Rick Clunn seminar. One of his very logical choices was to use the same length rod for as much as possible. May be different powers and tip speed, but same handle type and length to improve casting accuracy. It does make switching rigs much simpler.

Other than very cold jerkbait or flipping, I use 7’ exclusively. It does aid in casting accuracy for sure.  Just a share of the Zen masters rod advice...

btw, I second the motion to pick one hand to cast and reel with the other. Spin or bait cast. 

[Gavin]

The size depends upon your level above the water & rod angles. Would not vary much if at all if fishing out of the same  boat all the time. You can cast or you can't. It is the same motion.

[Gavin]

Wish I could cast allot better BTW. Al A is a machine with a caster in his hand. Probably fires 2-3 to my 1.

[Bass Yakker]

Thanks you guys for all the input. I cast right handed so I think I'll go with a left handed reel.   Probably a medium heavy 6' 6" or 7'.  Then I'll just have to practice casting it and using it.  Picking out a rod and will be the easier of the two.😀