KY Bass Boy

With my birthday coming up I told my parents to just give me some money. So like last year Ill probably be getting around $150 and Im wanting to get a baitcasting reel. Since Ive only used a friends Abu G. baitcaster before im not too sure whats good in this price range. So please, any recomendations for a good caster around 150???

I was just wondering if anyone has used the bass profs. fishing snake. Just wondering if it really works or if its just another gimmick lure like banjo minnows, mighty bites, etc... I do love the footage of the top water bites that its been getting though, nothing beats a big ol bass jumping out of the water.

And just so you know, Green Turtle Bay is actually on Lake Barkley not Kentucky Lake....but the fishing should be the same. Ive fished the rock jetti there as was mentioned earlier. Fished with a chatterbait and didnt come up with anything, but I was only there for a short period of time as we were visiting the owner (friend of the family), was also getting towards mid day so that could have been a factor.

I live in western Kentucky and there are a few stip mines that arent too far from my house. I dont own a boat so I can only fish the bank for now. I mainly fish one of the largest pits I know of out there because it has the easiest access to the water. Ive been told there are some very large fish there but all ive been able to catch is small large mouth, id say not much over a pound if that. The water is pretty clear im guessing because the bottom is mostly rock and there are a lot of dead trees sticking up out of the water. Ive been fishing texas rigged worms of various colors for the most part because I havent been fishing that long but still Im not really producing fish. I know they are there because the come up and hit the surface of the water all over the place, especially as it starts to get dark. Any tips for fishing this type of lake?