yellowcard129

Thanks for the help guys. I went with the core and wow this is one small but super smooth reel. It just feels right in my hands and better then my chronarch ci4+ thats for sure. Can't wait to use it.

Im looking for a new reel something with good casting distance. Will be using it mostly for 1/4oz-1/2oz topwaters with 20-30lb braid. I like the core 50mg7 but heard its more of a finesse reel and am wonder how the casting distance is. Seems like a pretty small reel would upgrading to the core 100mg7 be better even though I dont plan on throwing any very heavy baits. I can also get the core 80$ cheaper then the Met. Any feedback on these reels only would be great thanks

Cool thanks for the help guys ML it is

I throw mostly 1/8oz tubes looking for a new rod. Im interested in the fenwick elite tech smallmouth rods. Im just not sure if I wanna go with the 6 9 M XF or the ML F?

I was just wondering if anyone has tried this? Ive heard a senko under a bobber works well in the north country and was thinking of trying it out.

Here in Minnesota swim baits seem to produce very well in the spring and in the fall but not so much in the summer. I stick with the mimic minnow silver shiner 1/4 oz size or 3/8oz if the current is fast. My buddies have alot of luck on the berkley hollow belly swimbaits very expensive though. http://www.northlandtackle.com/Category/main.taf?cat=213

These rods are great for finese fishing or using soft plastics for some hogs. I own a St. Croix Premier and the 6'9 Daiwa I picked up is definetly a better rod. Great sensitivity with alot of back bone. Like I said in an old post. I have caught catfish well over 20lbs on this rod and it held up no problem. Daiwa has been making some some aweomse products for the smallmouth angler latley at very reasonable prices. Very happy with the quality in these rods.

These rods are sick for the price. Picked one up last spring and caught a 20lb catfish on a drop shot so you know they will hold up. http://www.***.com/descpageRDSDAIWA-DSMS.html

Ive been fishing pool 4 lake pepin mostly latley. The hatch has been hot and I have been throwing topwaters for the last few hours of the day and getting really good results. Ive been getting most of the bigger ones on a Lucky Craft Mini SSr crankbait though. Expensive lure but just a great all around lure for river fishing and throwing into the current.

Been having a great year so far up here in MN. Coffee tubes, Northlands Mimic Minnow and shallow crankbaits seem to be the hot ticket right now-

I catch this hog in the first 5 minutes thinking this is going to be the best day ever then dont catch another fish for the rest of the day haha funny how that happens

Has anyone used this rod or know anyone that has? If so, how do you like them?

You can't say jerkbaits are always the better option. I think that has alot to do with where you fish. I caught well over 1200 smallmouth last year and 90% of them were on topwater. Keep in mind im not trying to brag here, im just fortunate to fish waters where a 100 fish days are common and have very low pressure from other anglers. On the rivers I fish the topwater usually out fishes a jerk bait 4:1 but on the lakes the exact opposite. Ive used almost every topwater out there and my most poductives are the Owner Cultiva Gobo Popper, Daiwa TD Popper Zero, Super Spook JR., Reg Super Spook in the fall for the hogs, XCalibur Zell-Pop and sometimes the Lucky Craft Sammys but the hooking percentage is usually low for me on those so I usually change the hooks on them to a smaller size. I Definitely agree with Edkras on the White Belly for cloudy days and Silver for sunny days. As for when is the best time to fish them? Cloudy evenings and mornings are always best for me but you can fish them anytime and they can produce. The good thing about topwaters is you never know what might hit your line. I caught muskies well over 40" on small poppers. Also keep your eyes open for the new Strike King Wake Shad. I've heard alot of good things.

Yeah, Im surprised only 2 votes for topwaters. Don't understand how anything eles could even come close. Check out this video and it might change your mind haha ;D

GOBO POPPEr

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish/bass/small_large.html

weird Ive caught some with red eyes but 95% of the time there just black

Ive caught thousands of smallmouths and only a few have had these crazy cool looking orange eyes. Anyone know why that is?

I use XT also and everyone laughs at me for it. The line isnt the best but it simply does not break and when I fight fish that get into fast river current, you need some strong line. The line seems like rope more then fishing line haha but ive never lost a fish or had a problem catching fish with it so I figure why switch. If your going plastics or finesse fishing, XT is obviously not the way to go.

I caught that top one way back in a giant sewer drain connected to the river. I casted as far as I could towards the back with a topwater into the pure darkness and when this fish smoked it, it echoed throughout the drain . crazy fish!

Wow thats expensive The ones ive been looking at are around 13$ an inch but im not going to lie, the detail in that picture is impressive. When all is said and done were talking over 400$ for a smallmouth replica. Maybe I should have just kept the fish lol

how much did it cost? $

Just wondering if any of you know where to get a good replica mount online? I need something with driftwood or somekind of backround. Also ive never had a replica made, is it pretty easy to tell the difference between a fiberglass replica and a real skin mount?

caught this hog today! its getting really cold here and it suppose to snow in a couple days. I went out for my last time and I caught this monster on my first cast. Guess ill be going out a few more times haha

Yeah, that one at night I caught on a spinnerbait. I cast out and let it sink to the bottom. Then slowly jerk it along the bottom and it seems to get a bite here and there when just a normal retrieve isnt working. You gotta change it up, I casted in that exact spot 15 times trying different retrieves before that one finally hit.