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The only scent that I've seen make a difference is JJ's Magic dip and the implanted scent of Berkley Powerbait and Gulp plastics. I haven't had any additional luck with the greasy spreads and gels, and I've spent about $75 on them.

If these gloves are comfortable to you, that's awesome. I should try some! If you like following the new trend, go for it! But if this is a method of self-preservation, know that skin cancer of the hands is extremely rare. The major risk factor of disease include tobacco use, excessive alcohol use, physical inactivity, overweight/obesity, high blood cholesterol, unhealthy diet, high blood glucose, and stress. All of these are FAR more likely to kill you than some sun on your hands, so if you're truly interested in a full lifespan, check all these factors off your list before concerning yourself with skin protection of the hands. It needed to be said. These gloves aren't saving anyone's lives

High-quality 30lb braid. The braid rips though weeds better, and the extra few buck for smooth, quality braid means a few more yards of casting distances and less annoyance from the sound of cheap braid whizzing through the the rod guides. I don't use a leader either. I don't feel the heavy cover requires it. I like Samurai or 832, as far as lines go. Use one end for half a season, then reverse it for half a season and use the other end. You'll get your $10-15 worth over the course of a year.

Who hasn't smashed a rod in something or other? That's why it's always wise to consider a company's warranty replacement plan when buying rods. Personally, I'd replace it and chalk it up to experience. A rod never fishes the same with a glued-on tip. However, that's not to say it's worthless, but it will be different.

I would recommend the Dobyns 733 or 734 for those techniques. Personally, I'd do a 734, but I like my rods a little on the heavy side. The 734 is perfect for spinnerbaits and an all-around workhorse. I know it wasn't among the lures you mentioned, but it's a 10-out-of-10 power/action for lipless cranks in grass, as well. Since you mentioned moving baits, I wouldn't necessarily think you'd need to spend the extra $50, which will only get you a little more sensitivity and maybe a fraction of an ounce less weight. I'd go with a Fury 733 or 734 and start putting money away for a boat! That's how you're going to get fish. Then you can can put 10 rods in there!

Best frog on the market IMO. I love the amount of ruckus it makes. It gets the most and biggest bites, and I never had any issues with hook-up ratios. I once went an entire season with a black Phat Frog on my setup, as sort of an experiment to see if color even matter with frogs. I don't think it does. I nailed them all year if all conditions.

With 50-55 degree water temps, they'll move in.

Smithwick Devils Horse in chrome

If braid is wearing out a reel, it's the junky reel that's the problem, not the line.

What an odd duck. That should be the last fishing trip with him.

My local natural lakes are like that too, but that doesn't mean they don't have some rock/gravel areas adjacent to weedlines. Sometimes an irregularity in an otherwise straight weedline is due to a change in bottom content, e.g., a gravel, hard sand, rock, or shell patch that isn't suitable for that species of weed to grow. Probing like I described will find you some Honey Holes. Try and locate unusual hard-bottom patches near weed lines in an area that otherwise has a soft bottom, like most weed-choked areas do. You might be surprised with what one can find by dragging, especially with tungsten.

A heavy bottom-dragging lure like a 3/4oz. football jig or 3/8-1/2 tungsten-weighted Texas rig are ideal lures to probe the bottom and find hidden logs, rock piles, and gravel patches, etc.

I didn't know that. I actually found it floating in a lake, slightly damaged. I used the warranty to replace it, and then tried to sell it on here for cheap, $200. Nobody wanted it, I made it into a jerkbait rod and learned to really like it. Sometimes I use my 7' cranking sticks, but I just can't get used to the length. It's not like additional length is really needed for casting purposes; jerkbaits cast a mile.

I like the company usually, but I catch more fish when I'm by myself.

I generally do it myself, but a couple years ago DVT cleaned and repaired a couple reels for me that I thought were completely shot. He restored them to like-new condition, including an older D-series Curado that I still use.

6' M/F GLX spinning rod. I've always been in the spinning rod camp when it comes to jerkbaits.

Dobyns 703sf, in whatever price range you wish to go. The 703sf Champ Extreme is the best spinning rod I've ever owned.

I've never used the Fenwick but I'm very pleased with that specific Dobyns crankbait rod. It's the only Fury I've used, but it's impressive for that price range.

Rather than focus on one bottom type, try focusing on areas where one bottom type transitions into another bottom type. That's where I have my best luck. Oftentimes, when you find one weed type transitioning into another weed type, they're a transition line where one sort of bottom content meets another. Those areas hold fish. I'm willing to bet that most people's "Honey Holes" are on a bottom-content transition line, even if they don't realize it.

Now you're talking! Bass tastes awful, and I know how to cook seafood! I've never eaten a worse-tasting fish, even when they're caught through the ice. Even the frozen, farm-raised tilapia fillets from Wally World taste better, and they're like a $3 per pound.

I'll consider it, although the reviews are all over the place on Gliss, it seems. This will be a full season evaluating NanoFil for the first time, both in 6# and 12#.

Two panfishing setups for my dad and I. Both are identical St. Croix Panfish Series 7' 0" light power, extra-fast action poles with Shimano Sedona 1000 and 6# Berkley Nanofil with 4# YoZuri Hybrid leaders. I figure these will also come in handy for finesse dropshotting and Ned-rigging.

It will almost certainly be a spinnerbait or a swim jig to cover some water.

You'll be fine. Those ratings are a rule of thumb, not anything definitive.

Have you fished a Dobyns Champion? They're the first rod that really 'wowed' me with their quality, having previously been a G.Loomis and St.Croix guy. I have nothing to gain from pushing Dobyns , BTW. I never paid more than 150-$200 for a Champion, and I have about 10.