Matt 825

I was very unimpressed with these baits. They are so small and look like they will break. I was hoping they would be similar to the Spro BBZ Shad, but they are not even close. I'll pay the extra $10 and go with the spro BBZ Shad.

very boring way to fish. There are better ways to catch cold water smallmouth in the NE.

Fireline is the worst braid IMO. I'll take some big game braid for 1/2 the price any day.

Got that right, there is no going back. A LE rod is top notch!! ;D

I agree with RW, Fluro on a spinning reel is a nightmare. I tried a bunch of brands a few years ago and never really found one I felt comfortable with. P-line was the best of the bunch for me, but not by much. After spending some serious $ on fluro and getting very frustrated with the results, I made the switch to braid on some of my spinning gear. I decided to use braid for my main line and then tie on a fluro leader. 2 years later I have never looked back.

I have them. I caught a few Bass on them in December. I like them, they have a good action. I think they will work better when the water gets up in the mid to high 40's up here. The pointer is the bait when the water is in the 30's.

I would love for Shimano to make 2000 sized spinning reels again. I love the old Stradic 2000 FG. If they would make a Stradic 2000 FI I would be in cloud 9.

If you are using braid line and you think that the fish can see it then you might as well be fishing with a huge thick rope for line. If it is affecting your confidence at all then use a Fluro leader.

I had one in 2007 and used it pretty hard for about 3 months. The clutch went and I called Cabelas to get some parts to fix it and they wanted to send me a new one, but I paid a little extra to upgrade to a Shimano Citica. Best thing about Cableas Rods and Reels is that they stand behind them. If it brakes they will make it right.

For thick weeds I would go with Braid and for the open water I would go with Fluro. If you only have one rig, you could use braid for your main line and then tie on a Fluro leader when you need the abrasive resistance and/or when you think the fish can see the braid.

It works great from the bank. Get the finesse drop shot weights and keep them as light as you can for the depth and the wind conditions and you will be all set. It one of my favorite methods to use when fishing from shore.

I thow Super Spooks for Smallies to start out and if they are not eating it then I may switch to a Zara Spook or a Super Spook Jr. I always catch my biggest top water Smallie on a Super Spook. It is like candy to a Big Smallmouth!!!

Man $145 is a sweet deal. I have been thinking about getting one off TW for $185. That is an awesome reel. So light and smooth.

I disagree and agree at the same time. lol If I am a non boater and I know what I am doing, prefished and am on good fish and competing against both boaters and non-boaters then....... a.) if I get paired up with a boater who is a real dink, hasnt prefished and wants to try to backdoor the crap out of me all day when I am paying the same entry fee as he has and the same expenses then I will take my time at the front of his boat and I will backdoor him just as he did to me. b.) if I get paired up with a respectable guy who has prefished, is on good fish and is not making it his secondary goal to make sure I dont catch any fish as a non boater, then I will have no problem fishing in the back of the boat all day. The problem with the boater/ non-boater at the state level is that they put them competing against one another. If they want to have them competing then its only fair for the non boater to have the option to take his time at the front. There should be respect and consideration on both the boater and the non-boater's part. If there is then there are no problems, but we all know that there are some giagantic egos in Bassfishing. LOL I think they should not be competing against one another and boaters should compete against boaters and non-boaters against non-boaters and the boater should have control.

Nice looking jig. Everytime you post a new jig I run right over to Fishingskirts and place a new order for skirts. LOL I just cant get enough of those living image skirts. Nice jigs Man!!!!

I have been tying hair jigs the past couple years on Snootie jigs for fishing in grass and football heads for fishing in rock/gravel. Of course the round head is a good overall head for a hair jig.

I use 7's for pitching jigs & soft plastics, burning a spinnerbait or a buzzbait and a carolina rig. I have a friend who is a great crankbait fisherman and he uses a 7 gear ratio for that, but the norm for cranking is a 5 or lower.

A 6.2:1 or a 6.3:1 is you standard do everything with baitcaster. If you could only have one set up this would be the reel to use. You can do everything with this reel from deep cranking to fishing a texas rig to a topwater bait and everything in between. The other speed reels are for more efficiency with specific techniques. 5.0:1 for crankbaits (genrally) 7.0:1 for jigs, burning lures (generally)

I am all over the place with what brands of rods I own. I have rods by St Croix, G Loomis, Shimano, Daiwa, Bass Pro, Cabelas, Lamiglass, Sage (Fly Rods), Rainshadow (blanks), CTS (Blanks). I look for deals and when I see one I grab it. I do have my preferences but $$ is not growing on a tree outside my house right now so I buy what I feel is a good value. I wish I could have all G Loomis rods for bottom fishing and mix in a few St Croix Legend rods but for the vast majority of us that is a pipe dream. As for reels I am slightly less all over the place. I have reels by Shimano, Daiwa, Abu-Garcia, Bass Pro, Cabelas, Quantum. I prefer Shimano and will only buy other branded reels on sale now. Over the years my Shimano's are the only ones that have lasted and still perform as they are new. For me the botton line is value!!!

I really like the Shimano Cumara 7'2" MH for throwing football heads. Light and sensitive!!!

TW has become my go to online store. Love the free shipping on orders over $50. Not a big fan of getting whacked for $10-20 shipping from Basspro or Cabelas on a rod or some tackle.

I would drop shot the crap out of that place in the summer. If you can get a boat in there, throw some top water baits over the humps in the early AM for some big Smallies.

I use 20# Berkley Sensor or Big Game

That is one sick set up you have going there!!!

Nice fish there.....Melt Ice Melt