For bass anglers who buy fishing rods like golfers buy clubs, having so many different kinds of technique-specific poles in the boat might seem like it can put the odds in your favor.
However, for tournament angler Jason Pittman, having so many different kinds of poles can sometimes lead to a little confusion.
“I just recently started throwing the Abu Garcia Veritas rods,” Pittman said, “and out of all the great choices I have, I have found three that I rely on to throw just about anything I would ever tie on my line.”
First, Pittman pointed out the 6-foot-9-inch medium-heavy action Veritas with the micro guides as one rod that covers four different styles of fishing.
“It’s medium-heavy, but this 6-9 has a soft tip,” he explained. “I can throw a spinnerbait, buzzbait, jerkbait or a small crankbait with it, and I’ve even started throwing a wacky worm on it.”
Moving to something for a little bit heavier presentations, Pittman selected the 7-foot-3-inch medium-heavy Veritas for pitching jigs, worms or crawfish.
“The 7-3 is what I call my small pitching rod,” he noted. “I use it any time I’m pitching around cover rather than right in the middle of it.”
Finally, Pittman chose a 7-foot-6-inch heavy-action rod with a little more meat on it for dragging heavy Carolina rigs in deep water; pulling swim baits; punching heavy jigs, worms and craws; and fishing frogs over grass mats.
“I’ve got three rods that I can use for just about anything without cluttering up my mind about whether I’ve got the right rod for the technique,” Pittman concluded. “And nowadays, I’m for anything that can help me simplify my fishing.”
