Dwight Hottle

The hype around shimano is reel quality. You get what you pay for and they last forever.

I only use high end rods for jerk baits. The better the sensitivity the easier it is to work the bait most efficiently. If you want to use larger jerk baits & top waters I would suggest the 843 or 844. The 844 is great for 7/8 or 1 ounce baits. It will also handle an occasionally bigger bait.

Nice December bass.

PB's are always sweet. Congrats.

Sweet.

Florida & Mexico.

Great trip. Sounds like you have caught the fever. Your second trip is already scheduled, right?

Both Beckman & Frabile make quality nets. Stowmaster makes a folding net.

Best of luck to you Michael. I hope it all works out for the best.

X2 Mike said it better than I could.

I have the same rod and I agree with you 100%. Great blank sensitivity & light as a feather.

I learned a long time ago on other species it is best not to horse them in. I play them out but quickly.

Added a thought.

Get both. The 128 runs a little deeper & has a more audible knocker & weighs more than the 127. Both are killer baits for smallmouth & just about everthing else. I have caught 10 & 11 lb walleye on the 128 as well as largemouth, steelhead, lake trout & pike. The 128's shape replicates a shad or alwife better while the 127 looks more like a smelt.

Like John said you need to look for bait fish in the 20-40 foot depths. On Erie they can be found as deep as 50-60 fow.

Another aspect to consider is that most 19' 20 & 21 footers require a dual axle trailer to carry the weight & load. 18 foot & smaller are usually on a single axle trailer. Dual axle trailers don't pivot like a single axle does either but do cost more. When fishing big water the bigger boat is always preferred.

Jim are you from Maine or Canada? Canadians refer to lures or baits as hooks. Most US guys will think you are talking about fishing hooks not individual baits.

Pitt is lot tougher than people give them credit for. They like playing the under dog role. They beat Clemson & Penn State last year. Ten years ago they beat WV to ruin their national championship hopes.

I didn't either. When ever I look up lc jerk baits they always list hook sizes as part of the description. Maybe a detailed search with the manufacturer will help out.

If you look up each bait on TW’s website the description gives the hook size for each bait.

The conquest 844C MBR is a very versatile blank. Match it up with either the Met mgl or Ant dc. It will probably balance better with the Ant dc.

Largemouth SK red eye shad scrounger jig/sluggo 6" swim shad swimbait 1/2 oz spinner bait 1 oz spinner bait Smallmouth hair jig rapala taildancer lc pointer 100 rapala husky jerk smithwick rogue dd

St Croix Avid

Think sound & vibration as the main attraction rather than visibility.

RIP Al. We will miss you.