MichBassMan

As previously stated a hook cutter. Mine is an 8" bolt cutter from Menards. Under $5 and lifetime guarantee. It's not only handy for cutting heavy wire or nail weights, it's a life saver for fish hooked through a gill plate, an eye, or in the throat. Not to mention getting a hook free from a hand or a head.

In my opinion, of the three rods you mentioned the Avid M extra fast is the clear winner.

In the sun it gets VERY hot

Slug-go

Doesn't everyone? Zoom or Berkley split tail trailer most the time. Some times a 5" fat albert and sometimes a 4" chigger craw.

YES, just get the ***.

By far !!

WRB outlined a perfect Texas Rig for brush. The only thing I would add is "in brush" always peg your weight tight to your bait.

X4

It sounds to me like a sheared or missing pin at the prop.

I use catch n release. I've heard that "Rejuvenate" actually irritates the gills of the fish causing them to be agitated and appear lively for a short time.

Braid = original 50# power pro Mono = Trilene (XT or Big Game) Floro= seguar invizex

I keep two Tupperware containers in the boat. One is for used soft plastics. The other has repaired soft plastics in it. I take an hour here or there on a rainy day or in the winter and repair the repairable used ones with "mend it". It's fun and the money saved easily covers the cost of the "mend it"

Big, Slow, and Deep

If you like a nice traditional all cork handle then the Premier is a very good choice. If you like the new look and feel of a split grip handle then I'd buy an *** black rod. They are both very good rods and both feel and fish nice.

Out of the box it's hard to say how the centrifugal drags and spool bearing knob was set.

Revival, both of the fish were caught later the same day on a weightless rigged 4" Berkley power noodle. This was one of the best follow up baits/finesse baits I ever used. Berkley discontinued it. But Ive also caught previously hooked fish the same day using weightless zoom French frys (centipede)

I've had several fish hooked up good and had them tangle in branches and break off. More than once I've gone back and caught these fish, one with my hook and senco still in it's mouth and once with a hole where my jig had been. Both times it was only a couple hours later.

I have cabelas rain ponchos that I bought in about 1998 and they still work great. 2 weeks ago I fished a tournament and it rained hard for 5 hrs. I stayed pretty dry. After the tournament I heard cuss words I had never heard before anywhere from a couple guys with regular frog toggs.

What Francho said

leoard color spro anywhere there are pads and water is less than 6feet

I've only used rod return service from two companies. I used other rods but haven't broken any that I wanted to replace. I would say # 1 Gander Mtn . Over the counter exchange no problem and this is even on Rods selling for under $80. And I might add that at that price point I don't know of another rod than can compete for sensitivity and balance. #2 I'd say St.Croix. They are currently NOT running the upgrade option at St Croix. Also the better rods are $75 not $50. ( I sent them an Avid & a Premier yesterday) They are however always friendly and always American.

Judging by where you are from I'd say IF it's a male it's guarding fry. The active spawn should be done in your area. Now about the dead gills. Many Wisconsin lakes as well as many lakes here in the U.P. experienced larger than average winter die offs of panfish this year. Lakes being frozen longer and deep snow preventing sun light to penetrate slowed down oxygen production from the vegetation. Over population exasperates the problem. Many of these fish sink in the cold water. As water warms up gasses build in them and they float up and wash to shore.

The harder the rain the more aggressive they become. Big creature bait, big worm, or bulky jig in cover, spinnerbaits in more open areas.

"i dont understand, or dont know, how can i let the worm fall vertically, but still keeping enough pressure to detect bites..." That's one of the main reasons I don't use braid for bottom contact fishing. Even with mono you can feel a bite on slack line and fluorocarbon you can feel it even better. I use braid for frogging in pads, grass, or slop. Mono for top water and spinnerbaits. My texas rig and jig fishing is all done with fluorocarbon. I did try braid for bottom baits but like you I could only detect bites on a tight line. That wasn't acceptable for me. I'm sure other will chime in as many folks like braid for everything.