Glenn: Hey, folks. Glenn May here with BassResource.com and I'm here with Hank Parker with another episode of Hank Parker's Tips and Tricks. Hank, this week's question, it comes from Jordan from Orange, Texas. And he wants to know if you were only allowed to use one combo in a tournament, what would it be? And he wants to know the details. He wants to include what rod power, length, etc., gear ratio, all that information.
Hank: If I could just use one rig.
Glenn: Just use one rig.
Hank: Well, I just ate at a Whataburger in Orange Texas, right during the Bassmaster Classic so I know right where Orange Texas is. That's pretty cool.
If I could only use one rod/reel combination it would be a seven foot rod, medium heavy. It would be a 6:1, 6.4:1, no more than 6.5:1 gear ratio. I would probably use some 12 pound fluorocarbon if I were in water that was not just totally crystal clear. And that way I could fish a spinnerbait, I could fish a crankbait, I could fish a shaky head. I could fish a football jig, I could fish a variety of baits and be effective with a 12 pound line of lipless crankbait and still be a heavy enough line that I could get the job done if they got in the brush. But I would hate to be limited to one. Being versatile is a big part of being successful as a fisherman.
When we fished the Bassmaster Classic in the early years, we were only allowed five rods and reels. I looked at Mike Iaconelli the other day at the Bassmaster Classic and he had 60 something rods and reels in his boat. I couldn't find what I was looking if I had that many but I always have 15 or 16. So to limit to five was tough. And now you're making me limit to one? That, that is really tough. But it would be as I described and for those reasons.
Glenn: That's sort of your all purpose, all terrain vehicle, basically a Swiss Army knife of rods.
Hank: Yeah. You could get by doing anything with 12 pound fluoro. And I use Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon, tougher than nails. So I can get by with throwing spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, top water, shaky heads. It's small enough in diameter I can throw a shaky head or a football jig, whatever I needed. I could be versatile enough with that seven foot medium heavy. And the reason I wouldn't want a real, real fast gear ratio is if I started fishing a spinnerbait, or a jerk bait or a crankbait, I like to create a rhythm and it's hard for me to do that with these 7:1s and real fast gear ratios.
Glenn: Well, great answer Hank. Jordan, I hope that does answer your question. For more tips and tricks be sure to visit hankparker.com. And if you want to be notified the next time we post Hank's Tips, subscribe to our channel. Until then, have a great day.
