For the majority of anglers, the hardest choices in life are what color pickup truck to buy and what brand of boat to get.  Sorry ladies, it’s the truth.  You’re hubby can tell you what color crankbait he caught his last fish on, but probably does not the color of your eyes.  For the record, my wife’s eyes are blue…I think, but I do know that the last fish I caught was on a foxy shad pattern Bomber Fat Free Shad crankbait; no wait, her eyes are brown…I think.  After buying that pickup truck or getting his boat, the next hardest choice is what rod to pick.

For Bassmaster Elite Series professional angler Gerald “Gman” Swindle, his pick of color for his Toyota truck is black and yellow (Tundra Fishing Team Pro wrap colors); brand of boat, Triton of course. 

Swindle, like every professional or weekend angler is extremely selective about what rod he uses.  “It all depending on the technique I am using; if I am throwing a crankbait, I like a slow tip with a medium to medium light action rod;  when I am fishing a jig, Senko, or worm, I like a 7-foot medium heavy but it has to have a little tip so its responsive; as for topwater rods, I want one with a medium to medium light action; for flipping, I use a 7-foot, 4-inch heavy action rod; for spinnerbaits, I like a 7-foot medium heavy with a soft tip that allows me to respond slower to a hit, so I do not pull the lure away from the fish and frog fishing, I use a 7-foot medium heavy rod,” Swindle continued, “I use the lighter rod for frog fishing because it does not wear me out by the end of the day; usually, I it’s a Spro Frog on 50-pound Vicious braid when I am frog fishing.”  Swindle noted that it was important to have a little tip action on a frog rod because it made walking-the-dog easier and makes the frog go back and forth twice as fast; plus with braid not having any stretch, the softer tip sets the hook better without losing the fish.

When not using the either of the Quantum Tour Edition Signature Series Gerald Swindle rods, Swindle will be using the Quantum PT SuperLite rod.  “I have been fishing with the SuperLite rods for 2 years now and I have had no problems with them, even using braid line frog fishing,” Swindle continued, “they are lightweight, sensitive, and strong.”  Amusingly, the R/D staff has been quoted as saying, “If it can withstand what Swindle puts a rod through, it will hold up for anyone.”  Could Swindle narrow it down to just one rod to fish with?  “Not really, for example, you are only allowed to have ten rods in the boat during Bassmaster Classic Championship and I will probably have six SuperLite 7-foot medium heavy action rod along with three other SuperLite models depending on which technique is catching fish.”  It will be Swindle’s 10th Bassmaster Classic Championship he fishing in down on Lay Lake in Alabama.  The Quantum SuperLite rods are constructed out of HSX72 high-strain graphite with Fuji VSS and ACS reel seats, lightweight EVA foam grips, American Tackle titanium frame guides with diamond polished Nanolite inserts, no fore-grip allowing direct contact with the blank, and a hook holder.

Finding and picking out that perfect rod can be challenging.  Just remember, it maybe that you need a couple rods.  Before ordering any rods, go complement your wife on how beautiful her eyes are.  It may keep you out of the doghouse when the UPS truck shows up with your new rods.