bigfruits

i own an avid 69mlxf. i have the legend elite version of the 68mxf and it is a great stick. for bottom baits id get one of those two. the ml will be a bit more sensitive and great for 1/8oz lead with finesse plastics and thin good quality hooks. the mxf is going to be a better all-around stick for heavier bait (1/4 jigs and t-rigs, 5" senkos) and for fishing moderate cover. hope this helps you make your decision.

i like the e2 shakey jig to have it stand up. little twitches will move the claws. i also like 1/4oz arkie jig heads for the hula grubs. i think theyre a good all around jig for different conditons. baby paca craws id put on a 7/16oz eakins jig with matching skirt.

either rod is going to be great. stop torturing yourself and pull the trigger.

LES66MLF with stradic 2500 for 1/16oz i might use the AVS63MLXF or even an ultralight Rogue SP602S with symetre 1000 in creeks for smaller bass.

snow has melted, going to drive up to the Harper's Ferry area to do some hiking tomorrow. i plan on driving along the shores and marking waypoints on my gps at areas where i can put my kayak in and take out down river (shuttle with another car). a few questions for you: what roads should i drive down? which river has better smallmouth fishing? how does the fishing compare to the point of rocks > algonkian park section? should i be driving towards the Brunswick instead of Harper's Ferry for better fishing? are there any outfitters in that area that offer shuttles in season? please PM me if you dont want to post. i release everything i catch. thanks -z

big scattered clouds, mid 70's, small ripples breaking up the surface. water temps and water flow (baro. press., ph, oxygen, moon, etc) keeping forage and bass at 1-8 ft depths. kayak- slight breeze at my back, allowing me to drift with the rudder, that miraculously stops when i want to fully cover an area. see above. edit: and the bass are biting the bait i feel like tossing around that day.

fenwick HMG w/citica i think i heard the HMGs are on sale for 60 or so... if im lieing, get a citica combo from bps or cabelas

vaya charquito que tienes!

you can fish any bait on a spinning rod with proper specs. its all personal preference. if i were him, id practice on the baitcaster he has (leave the spinning at home) for a few trips and then decide what to buy. why does he want a new combo? is it for a particular presentation or bait type?

leave while you still can! this site has gotten me to spend thousands!

Catt- i think the confusion was that your first post about the "rate of fall fact" seemed to suggest they bite it on the fall 100% of the time

i personally would not spend the same amt of money on a crank rod that i would a plastic/jig rod. sensitivity is not as important when using a crank. although it is nice to have a decent rod to be able to detect when youre hitting grass etc.... most people like a moderate action so as not to jerk the bait out of the fishes mouth. do you lose many fish on your fast action rod because of the taper? maybe use mono for a little more strech? i dont use cranks much so i dont own anything more moderate than a fast action but i dont seem lose too many fish on the hook set when i do toss them out. if i bought a moderate or mod/fast rod id probably spend less than $150. i'd look for an avid on sale.

id use a white color during the day, clear to stained water. if i only had 3 spinnerbaits id have black, white and chartreuse.

bsr852 - stradic 2500 le66mlf - stradic 2500 bcr803 - chronarch 51MG mbr783 - curado 201e7 mbr844 - curado 201e7

im not familiar with that rod but i would prob get something with a slower taper. why dont you throw a few swimbaits on your rod and see how you like it? i use a 7' Heavy Fast (mbr844) for small swimbaits, although if i had a dedicated swimbait set up, i'd use a longer rod and one with a more moderate action.

i think lighter is better most of the time. i use 3/16oz when i can get away with it. i carry from 1/16 to 3/4oz.

in-line spinners

yes.

i dont know how i've never seriously hooked myself. probably because i tend to stay away from crankbaits.... it was the very first day my father let my brother and i use real fishing hooks without supervision. we were using bent sewing pins before that but could never get a hook-up. i was standing on the shore behind a friend making a long cast. i wonder what he was thinking when the bait did not fly over him and out over the water as he made the overhead cast. the eagle claw bait hook was buried in my cheek almost to the line and a piece of an earth worm was still attached. the park staff called an ambulance. emergency room doctor gave me a local anesthetic shot and pulled the hook out. it did not come out easy but the i remember that the worst pain of the whole ordeal was from the shot.

do not resist the ape. i like my curado but id love to get a core for my bcr803. hit the piggy bank. college is overrated

clear water - smaller, thinner blades (willow) muddy water and/or night fishing - wider blades (colorado)

from your list ive only fished with st. croix avids. i would not hesitate to buy an avid. you can always upgrade it for $50 plus difference, should you decide you need a brand new legend elite worm rod in 3 yrs. check out st. croix's warranty

i tie palomar knots when i can get away with it.

ive never fished an imx but i have a few of the glx rods. the glx are great and im sure the imx is too but i think avids are a better value. for spinners and crappie jigs, i'd go avid hands down.

i think firetiger is a good bluegill imitation.