Bass

The all round bass rod

For an all round bass rod, I would normally be looking at 8'6" to 9'0", rated to around 35g, with a 3000 size reel. Most bass lures across the country are going to be somewhere around 12g to 23g, with the odd heavier metal or rougher condition asking for more.

An 8'0" to 9'0" rod is the nice average if you are unsure where your fishing is going to take you. Rods around 8'6" or 8'8" make great all rounders.

If I was to own one rating on a bass rod, it would be something like 10-35g.

Casting weight and headroom

Most people do not need more than 30g, even in very rough conditions. Normally the sea scares them off before there is actually any need to go higher. A rod rated to 35g makes good sense for fishing a 30g lure though, especially into a breeze.

That is why rods around 7g to 35g or 10g to 30g are so popular for normal shore bass fishing. They will very rarely be used right at the minimum, but they have enough room for the lures most people actually fish.

If you are unsure about pushing a rod near or beyond its stated rating, best bet, ask me before you buy.

A rod around 30g can be a lovely pick for lighter soft plastic fishing. Some larger soft plastic shads with weighted heads can easily exceed 20-25g though, and can put a 30g rod under excessive strain on occasion. That is where a 35g rated rod is often the better pick.

Power, action and forgiveness

For an all round bass rod that will fish hard and soft lures in one session, I would generally be looking for a fast action rather than getting too caught up in a medium label.

Balance and reels

A 3000 size reel is more like the standard for a rod rated to around 35g. Once you are into 40g plus, especially over 9'0", a 4000 starts to make more sense. At 8'0", I would still put a 3000 on a 40g rod. At 50g, I may step up to a 4000.

On the whole, a 3000 suits a 9'0" rod and a 9'6" rod is better with a 4000. Power matters as much as length though. A 45g or 50g rated 9'0" rod can happily benefit from a 4000 as well.

A 4000 or 5000 on a 9'6" rod also has a larger spool lip, so there is less friction as line leaves the spool during the cast. The extra reel weight can help balance a longer rod too.

Starting out

For anybody getting into bass fishing, I would usually start at 35g, or possibly 40g depending on where you live. If rougher seas are likely to be part of your fishing, I would have to go for 40g. Even if the lures you use do not weigh that much, a little extra power gives you scope when there is more wind in your face or you need something heavier to get down a little deeper.

An 8'0" to 9'0" rod rated 10-40g will cover possibly 90% of bass fishing for somebody starting out. A 3000 size reel would be the norm on a typical rod under nine foot with those ratings.

Your first bass setup does not need to cost a fortune to catch fish. £70-£80 can give you a really lovely rod, with £50-£60 on the reel making a really nice setup. It is good to get to know the sort of marks you enjoy fishing first, then when you step up you will really notice the difference.

Shorter bass rods

A rod around 7'6" to 8'3" can be great for close range fishing, especially in calmer conditions or tighter places. There are useful lightweight bass rods rated 24g, 28g and 32g in this sort of length, as well as more powerful options.

They are useful in harbours, tight rock marks and from a boat, where casting distance is less important than keeping control of what the lure is doing.

An 8'0" rod can be a great choice if you are moving between boat and shore, or fishing calmer water most of the time.

Seven foot rods are more specialist from a bass perspective. They are useful from a boat, or up estuary creeks where you are fishing very close range. A 6'0" rod would be doable from a very small boat, but 7'0" is a better minimum as it gives slightly more lure movement with every lift or sweep.

For bass fishing from a boat, a rod around 7'6" is normally a really nice length. On the whole, 8'0" is about the maximum I would recommend.

There are exceptions. If you are fishing a French traction style retrieve, ripping a lure up and down through the water column, an 8'0" to 8'6" rod gives a little more vertical movement with each sweep.

For trolling bass, a 15lb class rod or a lighter spinning blank around 8'0" can both make good sense.

Longer bass rods

Not everyone needs 9'6". These longer rods are often rated 40g or more for bass fishing, and are for distance, surf fishing, or just windier horrible conditions.

One rod for more than bass

If I wanted one bass rod that could also do a bit of mackerel fishing, pike, perch and inshore boat work, I would be looking roughly between 8'0" and 9'0", rated somewhere around 35g to 42g. A 40g maximum can be a sensible all-purpose choice without making the rod feel like it only belongs in horrible conditions.

Further reading

• Casting weight and power explained
• Rod length explained
• Rod action and taper explained
• Rod balance, weight and handles
• Rod build: joints, tips and guides