Rod, Reel, and line selection.
I am trying to get into fishing, but have a hard time understanding rod and reel selections as well as line selections. Currently I am trying to keep the baits I use small. I have a few top water baits such as poppers and frogs. I have some jerk baits, lipless crank baits, and square bill crank baits. Along with that I have some spinner baits, jigs and some swim baits. I struggle with figuring out what rod length and the rod power. I struggle with reel and reel speed and line to use to fish these baits. Any help will be appreciated.
I also don't understand what baits need casting reels vs spinning reels.
A good starting place on rods is what size are the hooks on the lure. Often lighter baits (with smaller hooks) are easier to cast, fish and feel bites with lighter spinning tackle. I can't think of a bait under 1/8oz or under that I want to throw on baitcasting tackle, maybe a Rapala shad rap, but you'll do much better in the wind with that bait on spinning tackle as well. There are some heavier baits like a 1/4 jighead I may still throw on spinning tackle, if it has a lightwire (thin gauge) hook. Big single hooks lures like jigs, spinnerbaits and bigger (heavy enough to cast) treble lures like jerkbaits and crankbaits can be thrown on casting tackle, but you probably want a lighter action, as you don't need to set the hook as hard and you will have a better chance of landing fish if the rod has some give. As a general rule, if you are coming through plastic, using a heavy gauge hook, or setting the hook in cover (in grass, trees, etc) you want heavier line.
Probably a great place to start is our 101 series, Ike covers rods, line, lure sizes and more in this series
https://bassu.tv/program/4
* In the previous post, treble baits on casting tackle usually perform better on lighter (slower/tapering tip) rods and single hook lures are more suited for heavier action (faster tip). This may not be true for baits that need a lot of action, like ripping a jerkbait or lipless crankbait.
