How I use my Spinning Rods for Bass Fishing.

In this video I go through my spinning rod set up. I really like the sensitivity and action of my St Croix Legend Xtremes. I also bring in a new member to my spinning rod line up for certain situations and that would be by new Dobyns Spinning Rod. I mostly use a 7' medium or 7' medium light, depending on the situation. All of my spinning reels are Shimano Stadics in the 3000 series. I also love using Power Pro braid with most of my spinning reels. I always have a few spinning reels ready to go for largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing.
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Travis Manson's Guided Bass Fishing Trips
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Who is SmallmouthCrush?
Travis Manson was born and raised where the giant Smallmouth Bass of the north live...WISCONSIN. He started fishing from the bank as at a young age and spent most of his childhood with a rod in his hand. Travis is primarily a self-taught angler that is always learning and experiencing this amazing sport of fishing. He started out fishing for walleyes and fishing in local walleye tournaments, but then in his mid 20's, he caught the BASS BUG and has been hooked every since. He competed at the highest level in bass fishing on the Bassmaster Elite series for a number of years, until he ran out of $$ money $$. This led to a move across the country to the Northeast where he got things right again and is back on track, but now on his own terms. Perhaps he will make another run at the Elite Series if the opportunity allows. In the meantime, he is a fishing guide offering trips on the Chesapeake Bay for largemouth bass(year round), guided trips for smallmouth back in Wisconsin (during select times) and trophy smallmouth bass guided trips in Upstate New York (May-November) His youtube Channel is named after his passion for the smallmouth bass and will be used as a platform for "how-to" videos, on the water instruction, crazy on and off the water topics and vlogs on the day in the life of a fishing addict! Hope you enjoy!

[@brandonholliday7927]

That's like the ultimate combos! 👍

[@brucer9409]

thoroughly enjoyed this video! Was very curious what gear you were using. I'm more comfortable with spinning gear myself and only recently ditched that painful and expensive FC for braid to leader, for which I've learned double uni knot for connecting. So these are the st croix rods you mentioned elsewhere that you later replaced because those micro-guides didn't love the connecting knot. I'm short, but over the years have gravitated to the longer spinning rods, especially because of the good smallmouth fishery we enjoy at Candlewood Lake in CT, but it aint no Lake Ontario!!! Just got done with your 4/12/20 live streamed video on all components of drop shot fishing - entertaining and useful! I've got some nice rods and reels but have been lax about using rod sox and reel covers - do you have a recommendation as to a type? I have probably 7 or 8 spinning rods 7'4" to 7'6" that may be too long for sox?

[@SkeeterAdventures]

I also use the same rods and reels, love my St. Croix Extreme's and CI4's they match up perfectly but i'd agree i prefer the older reel handles too! The 7ft ML are awesome for DS

[@rubenand4825]

I for the most part have the same setup. Just not that many rods. Excellent video. You should make more videos like this.

[@JLeeChron]

Map on the wall! Door county is so much fun to explore. Shimano’s are great. Your channel is interesting, possibly better than tv.

[@SmallmouthCrush]

Thanks I appreciate it.....this video was one of the earlier ones I did.....I hope I am getting better and am proud of the more recent ones!

[@garylukas3476]

To save a little money i use the mojo bass rod with the saros reel but same braid 8 of them. Love it

[@SmallmouthCrush]

That is a great set up

[@shpuply]

Man I wish I had your setup. But I'm getting there...

[@koolhandluke5892]

Definitely better than tv

[@rockylatham1849]

Greetings Travis! I have been using the St. Croix Legend Tournament series of rods for years. To be honest I can't afford the higher end rods though I have no doubt they are awesome considering the performance of the Legend Tournament rods. I live now out in California near Lake Castaic with its clear water. I talked with a well known big bass angler out here about a favorite technique of mine for smallmouth (the Float-N-Fly) that he also uses for largemouth bass. I am looking at the St. Croix Legend Bass 8'6" LBS86MLXF Spinning Rod to up my game for this technique as St. Croix does not make a long rod in the St Croix Legend Xtreme series. I wish they did as I need the length of rod to pick up line and cast from a distance to the shadow lines of the cliff faces here in CA in the ultra clear water. The Float-N-Fly works on big bass and smallmouth out here as they so rarely see it. Best of luck and tight lines!

[@SmallmouthCrush]

Thanks for the comment...I use a st croix steelhead/salmon rod for the float and fly technique. It is a long rod though I believe 10 feet or so.

[@dylanmorgan8620]

I don't know how you afford all that man but awesome for you your able to have all those. Wish I could have one of those legend extremes

[@SmallmouthCrush]

Takes time, Purchase One rod or two a year and now I have a nice collection. One thing about high end rods from a reliable company is that they are lifetime warranty. So basically if one breaks I can get another in its place not costing me anything. So realistically I probably have enough spinning rods to where I would never have to purchase a new one in my life if I decided to stick with St Croix Rods.

[@fi7-t6p0SNAPPL.E]

8:01 id like to see a video of you pitching drop shot baits in tight cover

[@logicalrationalfishing7481]

Love my spinning combo's. Have one 2500 older Stradic Ci4+ FA (like yours, the new one you have is FB I think) and its a great reel. Shimano claims they got rid of the anti-reverse switch because it is an extra unnecessary point where water can enter. I think THEY SAY that after polls so few people use the anti-reverse switch there was no reason to make them. My Revo spinning reel still has one (I use drag only), but the refinement isn't what the newest Stradic Ci4+ has.

[@SmallmouthCrush]

I do like the Anti Reverse but it isn't to critical I guess....I am getting use to it.

[@jamescorsiglia8997]

Looking for your opinion on a versatile spinning set up. I own a 6’6” light action spinning and a 7’ medium finesse casting. I float tube and look to carry 4-5 rods a trip. I like to wacky rig, Ned rig, jerk bait, drop shot, blade bait and throw small swim baits and under spins. I’m choosing between a 6’10 or 7’ medium or medium light.

[@SmallmouthCrush]

For that application I would go with a 7 foot Medium Light, but a 7 Medium would also be in the mix. If I only could have one it would be the Medium Light. The ML will work great on neds, small finesse baits, and the Medium would be for jerkbaits, blade baits, and wacky rigs

[@jamescorsiglia8997]

Thank you, I really appreciate it!

[@jakeorr23]

What kind of hooks do you use for drop shoting? I love watching you when it comes to finesse

[@SmallmouthCrush]

I use the Gama drop shot split shot size 1 mostly

[@bchristenson26]

Can u run thru your baitcast set up sometime also? Great channel!

[@SmallmouthCrush]

I certainly can this winter for sure!

[@malidcurrington70]

I share appreciate your extreme investment on your spinning rod setup. I am employing some of your practices in my setup albeit with an ugly stik rod locker. Lol!

[@SmallmouthCrush]

Hey, it all works.....gotta do what you gotta do! I use a spinning rod a lot so having the right set up is important to me. I know a lot of good anglers who don't even own one....it's just not there thing!

[@nawinchester]

Hello Travis, I know this is an older video, but I wanted to know how you felt about the Dobyns Champion Extreme ? Did you keep it in your line up, or did you move away from it when you realized the St Croix went to larger guides on their Extreme line up??

[@nawinchester]

Great video. I fish exclusively spinning rods for my bass fishing applications, so this is a topic I am really interested in. When you say small crankbait on your ML rod setup, how small are you talking?

[@SmallmouthCrush]

Things like Shad Raps or smaller balsa type cranksbaits....The Smaller Blitz Crankbait....old flat sided balsa as well.

[@nawinchester]

Is there are weight you target for this rod power that you won't go above, ie 1/4 ounce? I only ask because the shad raps go up to 3/8 and 9/16 oz sizes. Today I only fish drop shots on my ML power rods, and I think I may be missing other applications I could fish on these rods. Thank you for your time. Great youtube fishing channel.

[@SmallmouthCrush]

Yes probably a 1/4 ounce.....when I cant throw a crankbait on the a regular baitcasting crankbait rod because of size of the bait or the wind that is when I will use the spinning rod. I also started to use a smallswimbait on a 1/16 or 1/8 head on that 7'6" ML and it works great.

[@purewaterswva.5409]

What is your opinion on gloomis MTX and NSX rods, I'm looking for a really sensitive rod for shaky head...my duckett rods dont have the sensitive

[@stevesteve9202]

Travis, what did you think of the Dobyns 743?

[@SmallmouthCrush]

Those are great rods! Love the 743!

[@stevesteve9202]

Thanks for the reply. How does the Dobyns compare to the St. Croix? Do you think the 743 would be a good LM Senko, light T-rig rod?

[@riverrat6998]

I have the champion extreme 743 and it’s a great rod for senkos light t rigs and also light shakey heads 1/4 oz and under.

[@bethlehemlacrosse24]

Where on the Chesapeake do you guide out of?

[@SmallmouthCrush]

I guide on the Upper Chesapeake Bay....Havre De Grace, Maryland and North East, Maryland. Also do trips in Upstate NY on Lake Ontario/Thousand Islands.

[@gordjohnson70]

If the new Stradics don't have anti reverse..... DON'T buy them. There are a lot of other good reels out there, that are built the way YOU like them.

[@claytonmacha4423]

You should look up 13 fishing.com they are really good rods and really good reels for baitcaster and spinning I use both and they are awesome