Hammer 4

Irod...they make some great rods. Genesis II runs $149.99..

Caught many bass on baby bass flukes..

Well, keep an eye on anything you built out of plywood. Should last for at least 5 yrs or more. Also, Never use MDF on a boat.

Did you use Marine grade plywood..?

The fish thinks it's time to get fed..My Oscars did this all the time.

Some years ago, when I was working, making good $$$, I had about 1500.00 worth of custom 3:16 baits, which ran from about $90.00 to 250.00..I was throwing the 250.00 trout on 25 lb Big Game mono..Never lost one of those lures, wound up selling all of them when I stopped fishing. Now I wish I had kept them..Most expensive lure I have now are my Huddelstons.

Dang Sam, your a good man..Karma will pay you back 10 fold someday...Good on ya.

I have the Feugo, Ct 100, 150, 200, and the Tatula type R. I like them all.

I just got 6 packs of them today in various colors. Always had good luck with Rage products.

^^^^^ This, and small swimbaits like a Kietech 2.8 with or without an underspin should work. Any small bait is the way to go, fished slow, and for the jerkbait, longer than usual pauses.

I would figure out the total weight of the A rig, then decide on a rod to match the weight.

In my experience, dollar for dollar, the Diawa spinning reels are much smoother. Also, they didn't abandon the reverse switch on their lower line reels like Shimano did. And I use to be a big fan of Shimano.

Tn the last..oh 45 years, I have never used any line over 8 lb test, that includes fluro..I don't know what brand of line they spooled for you, but it may have been on that has lots of memory, combined with over spooling, is just asking for trouble. First, I would ditch that line (recycle it) Buy some fluro that was mentioned above in 8 lb test, and spool that up. If your not certain how to do that, youtube has some good instructional videos on how to do it, it's really very easy. With Quality fluro, you really don't need to add any conditioner..On a baitcaster, yes, spinning, no.

Have the 200 on my Irod 783 sb...17 lb test, and it works fine for the 68's, ect.

Was a very nice day in so. Cali today..70 and sunny. Hope we get some cloud cover here soon..

I'll second Tom's post. Grab a bunch in various weights.

Either later this month or next, I want to send you a couple of reels for service and upgrades. My Old shaky hands just can't deal with the itsy bitsy parts anymore..I'll contact you when I'm ready.

Bought a new Shimano Citica about 6 months ago, took it out and it wouldn't cast worth a hoot. Got home took it apart, and the bearings were pretty dry..Lubed it up, took it out the next day, and what a difference. So yeah, the factory can go both ways, under lube, and over lubed.

I've fished Newport Harbor a ton times, from a float tube. Never used "bait" only Big Hammer 3" lures on a 1/2 oz jig head, on 8 or 10 lb line..FWIW, I mostly targeted Spotties, but have my share of checkers ( Calico's). Look for ambush spots, salt bass are just like freshwater bass. It's been some years since I've fished there, and can't recall the colors of big hammers I used, but the redish color, and colors that could imitate a crab will work good. Also, straight braid will work if your so inclined, I always used Yozuri hybrid line. Also, incoming or high tide is the best times, low tide always kinda sucked.

My wife who was legally blind had it done in the mid 90's..She was able to stop wearing glasses, cept for reading really small print. To this day she rarely has to use glasses to read. Me, I wasn't so lucky, I have cataracts, well, in one eye now, I had a lens replacement from the same Doc that did my wife's Lasik.

Twin tail grub, Rage bug, rage craw. Rig em normal..

Not about me, but rather my Son. So get out on the water at a somewhat local lake. There's this one tree stump I knew always had bass by it. At the time my Son was 9, and he couldn't cast to accurately..So, I took his rod with a spinner bait tied on, made a cast and hit the stump, as soon as the bait hit the water, fish on. I quickly handed my Son the rod, the excitement he has was unbelievable to say the least, I told him to try and relax, and keep pressure on the fish. I must say, he did a pretty dang good job of getting the bass to the boat. He asked me to lip it, and I did, I removed the spinnerbait, let him lip the fish, broke out the scale, to his pleasure it was a chunky 5.4 lb'r. Unfortunately I didn't have a camera. But I'll remember that day till I die, he was so proud, as was I.

2003 Chevy Duramax Xtra cab 8' bed..I keep jumper cable, a tow strap, vice grips, and No fishing gear. Oh, I keep my golf clubs in there too.. When I do go fishing, I toss however many combos I want to take, and my back pack with all my lures, ect.

IMHO, the Irod Genesis is a great rod for the $$$, the 738sb for me has great action tossing 2 to 2.5 oz baits. Plus the rod is so light and well balanced.

Do you like the reel, and have you used it..? If it were me, and I did like the reel, I'd put it to good use. Then again in maybe 2 or 3 years down the road, they may go up in price, kind of a gamble if ya ask me.