BassCats

I suggest calling one of our sponsors and asking them. Two of them make great jigs to choose from: Siebert Outdoors NorthStar cutom baits both are on the right and if you click it will take you to their website. Personally I prefer *** jigs.

Out of the choices you offered I would suggest the Berkley lightning rods. these are comfortable and affordable. I still have one and use it daily, even though I also have some high end rods as well.

You can try the Zman plastic baits. They are almost impossible to tear off. Budget minded anglers love them.

After reading the article I feel that it is justified in their world. They mostly use high end gear and JDM products. So a workhorse reel that the general public uses. In their world the reel is heavy and basic, to us it is a workhorse of ease and reliability. Tackle Tour is good if you have ton of money and want to spend it on fishing. The everyday angler should stay off that page and focus on down to earth forums like this one. Though we do have some heavy hitters on here that push expensive things, the average angler outnumbers them.

I forgot about the mettle, I you live near an academy I suggest that one over all the others.

Yes thats the company

Skeet Reese reel is very similar but with centrifugal brakes. can usually find them cheap just about anywhere.

Keep up the hard work and survive to catch your dream.

It is not possible to buy AAAA cork anymore. The cost has skyrocketed for cork with both the fishing industry and the wine industry. I prefer a split handle because it gives me better leverage when casting, though it does cause tip heavy rods. I like the new EVA foam that companies are using now, it no longer falls off or tears up like the old EVA foam. I have yet to try the other materials out there, I just don't have the budget to buy that many rods currently. I am in the process of testing different reels to see what I like best now. Next year will be the year of the rods.

if you like 13 rods then I suggest the 13 ***. It is small like the curado 50. and weighs next to nothing. I love the real.

What techniques will you be trying mono with?

I prefer a split grip. I feel I get a better grip when casting with the split.

The problem with safety inspectors/teachers/man, is that they are only told to repeat what they are told. They do not learn why certain things are there for certain reasons. Proper training would include what each item is for and what that item can and can not do to help protect. Our current way of running things and teaching is to teach what to do and not include why or how. Example: Military required wearing sunglasses while deployed to Middle East. Most people think it is to protect eyes from shrapnel. In fact they were first required to protect from sand blindness, then realized they can also protect eyes from sand grains. Wasn't till Oakley showed photos of sunglasses surviving shrapnel, that they realized this was an added benefit. Unfortunately most commanders use the shrapnel example when telling Soldiers to wear Eye protection. Many Soldiers in Kuwait and non-combat areas don't wear them. Sand grains damaging eyes and sand blindness are both on the rise because of improper information going out. PS. My first tour in Iraq they did not give us sunglasses. I have since suffered from sand blindness.

I would use a lighter weight than normal if you are throwing from bank. I would stick with 1/4-1/2 oz instead of 3/4-1oz.

added frogs and other

Whats favorite style of soft plastic

Great weightless for fishing under overhangs and docks

Get you some number 8 hooks, and get some of the tiny berkley gulp minnows in chartruese. We slay them on this combo. I let mine free fall no weight, takes forever. My partner uses a bobber and weight. I outfish him 2-1 usually on this.

Basscats was name of College fishing team

I hate cats, but I respect that one.

Has anyone had any experience with ALX rods? Are they worth the cost and did you get a zolo or custom order?

Does anyone use Ande fishing line and if you do what line of theirs do you prefer and why?

Has anyone tried the Rapsody rods out? Saw that they co-own facility in Mexico with St. Croix. Was wondering what peoples experience with their rods was. http://www.rapsodyfishing.com/

I am and always will be a bottom feeler. I hate the constant pressure of a plug or spinnerbait. Slow and Steady wins the race every time. I may not get the numbers but I will get the size.

Buddy of mine Texas rigs them and drags them on bottom. Lots of people call him the Fluke Dragger. He has caught a Texas Share Lunker of 13.5 using this technique on falcon. I have seen him catch 8 and 9 on Lake Austin.