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In my personal opinion, finding a knot that you can tie quickly, comfortably, and cleanly is more important than searching for the "best" knot. I use the Improved Clinch with lots of spit. Fluorocarbon burns very easily, so using adequate lubrication is very important.

8# is a little springy on a spinning reel. The 6# is plenty strong for a medium-power rod. If you're using a ML and have the drag set lightly, 4# works very well. 10-12# is the perfect line for moving baits (cranks, buzz, spinners, etc) fished on a baitcasting setup. I have no need to go with the 15#, but some other may want to try it if they're breaking the 12#. I've always used the Improved Clinch on mono, copoly (Hybrid), and fluorocarbon. I see no reason to switch.

Most are going to recommend a ML-powered rod, but you might want to consider an M-power because it's more versatile if you ever choose to toss other lures with it. A 7' M/F is perfect for shakyhead fishing, IMO. Nothing fancy. A flea market Dobyns Champion 703SF will run you about $150, and a sale price rod will be $190-200. I usually use the DX 703SF for shakyhead fishing and I'm very happy with the action and power.

The Avid 7' MH/F is a solid rod for toads, but it's underpowered for fishing hollow-bodied frogs. I used to own that rod, but I gave it to my dad. He has been fishing hollow-bodied frogs with it for the last couple seasons. I just gave him a Dobyns 735C to replace it. Personally, I would recommend a Dobyns 735C instead of the Avid.

I like to keep my plastics either in their original packages or quart ziplock bags, stored in small 12 x 8 x 8" locking-style Rubbermaid containers. I also squirt a little JJ's in each bag with an eyedropper.

If you're looking for Northstar jigs, buy them directly from their website. Otherwise, 90% of my tackle/rods/reels come from either Tackle Warehouse or Bass Tackle Depot. They both offer excellent sales at various times of the year. They also offer free shipping year round on relatively small orders or $50 or more. Not to mention, I don't have to pay sales tax because they are out-of-state companies. Occasionally, I'll buy a used rod from an online flea market, but usually I wait until TW or BTD have a 15-20% off sale to buy rods.

Invisx is a great line for spinning reels in the 6-8 lb test range, but it stretches like a rubber band, especially in the higher tests. I would never again used it for fishing jigs/worms on a baitcasting setup with higher tests, though it make a pretty good crankbaiting line if the cover is not too abrasive. I opt for Trilene 100% in 15-17 lb test on bottom-contact rods. I have had tremendous results from Trilene 100% over the years, despite not being the most manageable line on the market. It has low stretch, great abrasion resistance and sensitivity, and excellent knot strength. I have a spool of 8# Tatsu that I'm excited to try out this season.

Funny. That's the same place from where I purchased mine. They're legit. One should be plenty confident when buying from eBay retailers with nearly flawless feedback ratings and quality return policies. If you research both, there should be no surprises.

Thanks for clarifying. I was under the impression that he was using a hollow-body frog with a heavy weight in front of it.

If you call in sick to work to go fishing, make sure you don't have a sunglasses sunburn when you return the next day.

I think he's trying to throw you off. I wouldn't be taking anymore fishing advice from that guy.

Whether or not it's bad etiquette depends on how you approach the person, and whether you plan to keep the fish that you catch. If you just walk up to them and ask, "Hey, what are you catching 'em on?", then yes; it's bad etiquette. If you do this with a bucket in hand, it's even worse. If you engage them in a friendly conversation about fishing to show them that you're interesting in becoming a better angler, then it's not bad whatsoever. Both anglers can learn from these exchanges. Many of them will gladly volunteer information without you even needing to ask.

People tend to exaggerate a little when complaining about the G-series or raving about the E-series. If you equip either of them with upgraded bearing and keep them clean and lightly oiled, they're both excellent reels for the money. The G-series is a slightly cheaper model, both in price and performance. The G-series costs about $20-25 less than the E-series in it's heyday (cheap avg. online prices), so the consumer should be willing to accept a small decrease in quality without losing their minds over it.

Catch and Release. Your local lakes and rivers aren't grocery stores.

A 2500-sized reel is ideal for that rod. Anything bigger or smaller would feel strange to me.

Spin casting reels are extremely easy to use. If you're bringing someone out with you who fishes about once every 5 years, then they're a decent option. Personally, I wouldn't bother keeping one for those rare occasions, unless I was hosting small children. I've seen people learn to use spinning tackle in a couple minutes well enough to begin catching fish.

I've tried that. It didn't work as well as I though it would. The best way to untwist fishing line is to drag it behind a boat at idle speed for 5 minutes+, with nothing tied on, of course. This can also be done while standing in a river or stream by facing downstream and just letting the current take the line.

I'm not a big fan of them. They're very mediocre spinnerbaits, but if the price is right, then give it a shot. They're worth about $3, not a penny more. If you want to spend $5, then give these a shot. They're the real deal. http://shop.assassinatorbaits.com/Assassinator-Pro-1-Spinnerbaits_c3.htm

I've tried using heavy jigs for river smallies in heavy current, but they also managed to get wedged in the rocks. One of my favorite uses for heavy (3/4-1 oz.) jigs is ripping them through the grass along weed edges in 5-12' of water. I use a flipping stick for this presentation, making short sidearm casts or pitches to the weedy side of the edge, and give the jig a 2-3' hard rip after it has dug deep into the weeds, let it fall, rinse and repeat.. I'll often try this technique during midday when nothing else seems to be working. It provokes reaction strikes from finicky fish. Be warned; it will make your forearms and wrists very tired.

Don't forget about balsa jerk baits, or any jerk bait for that matter; they also shine in cold water. My favorite cold-water crankbait is, hands down, the bargain-bin Cotton Cordell Super Spot with some upgraded hooks. It has an unusually tight wobble, which simply produces fish in cold water. By the way, true cold-water fishing only takes place in the late fall for me, due to the fishing opener in MN being so late in the season. That might make a difference, or it might not, but I figure I'd mention it anyways.

I prefer the Double Palomar for braided line.

Absolutely. I'm looking forward to it.

I don't think it makes any difference at all. The hooks will wear out long before the crankbait does.

I've noticed that the panfish are highly attracted to the Crazy Legs. It's irritating, so I won't be buying any more of those.

Rod power is largely a matter of personal preference. I tend to lean towards more more powerful rods. Thankfully, there are plenty of online flea markets where you can sell rods for a fair price if they don't meet your expectations.