loomis spookwalker

Duh ???? Chrome/Black Spook with Gamakatsu red hooks.

That's an odd story. Sounds like you probably stepped on it before you casted and it was broke already. For $150.00 i would buy a Shimano Crucial / Compre, G Loomis GL2 or St. Croix Avid. For a good , cheap spinning reel I would buy a Shimano Sonora or a Daiwa Regal XiA. Each are about 50 bucks. I never buy "combos" . You always come out better and have a greater selection if you buy rod/reel separate.

I've determined that the height of your rod tip is the key for depth when using a lipless crank. A Rat-L-Trap is to me one of the best search baits. Just cast and reel in.

I like either a Fat Free Guppy / Shad or Dt's

Downsize and pray.

Hopefully you had an extra set of clothes in your dry storage. I do.

Agreed. Pflueger reels are at the top in their price range. As you probably already know Pflueger is the high end subsidiary of Shakespeare.

Going backpacking in the Smokies... try Lake Fontana it has nice smallmouth.

Well now I see allot of ambition here. Try : http://www.rodbuilding.org/faq.html You will find an abundance of info on all aspects of rodbuilding here. Good luck.

Try a All Star Select or a Shimano Convergence. I have used both and find them to be about the lightest and toughest in that price range.

I find that bass tend to roam around at night hence I use a lure that would act like a searchbait but larger with lots of noise and vibration. Try a 3/4 - 1oz. black spinnerbait or a large topwater plug.

Welcome to Bassresource DADto4. Stick around and you will learn allot.

Wow and owwwwww.

Try a #11 Husky Jerk. I guarantee it.

Man, at Lake Murray all I have to do is find a calm cove with channels and tie on a # 11 Husky Jerk to catch Chain Pickerel. They are about the best fighting freshwater fish out there.