RyneB

River largies fight like a smallmouth. The thing I notice most about smallies is they dont give up as easily. A 4lb largie is a hell of a fight, but it doesnt have the stamina. A 2.5 lb smallie on spinning gear will be several runs just when you think they're done.

I would take a Promise 7-3 or a deputy over a ToadFace for jigs. I even like my Ikos Hammer 7-3 for jigs more than my Toadface for jigs.

I have no experience with Dobyns. So I cant speak on the Sierra. I like my IKOS more than the Loomis IMX.

ALX Ikos Promise 7-3. You wont find a better rod in that price range.

I had 5 of them. I loved them, until I purchased a ALX Zolo series. Sold all of the IMX pros for ALX rods.

keep it simple. Junebug, black an blue, and green pumpkin. If I have plastic on deck, it's usually 1 of these 3 colors.

I love punching mats. Big rod, fast reel, heavy tungsten, heavy braid, and bass. The process of figuring out the color, cadence, where they are positioned and finding productive mats. That's all fun. Then you add in the hook set and tons of vegetation with a bass. fun stuff. 2nd would be smallmouth fishing in the spring with a topwater. Evergreen Shower Blows is my bait of choice for that. It doesnt get much funner.

I fish the hennepin canal a lot, punch those mats. That's the best tactic this time of year.

tubes, poppers, finesse jigs, Ned rigs, senkos, spooks, buzzbaits.

I have found some good deals on ebay. basstackle has great molds as well if you want to buy new. Dont get into it expecting to save money, you just wont. The good news is, aluminum molds hold value. So you can buy a mold and shoot a couple hundred baits and sell the mold for a little less than what you paid for it. good luck

summer time is punching time for me 1. Gambler BB Cricket 2. Gambler Why Not with a punch skirt 3. D & M Punch craw 4. Evergreen Shower Blows in Bluegill 5. 3.5" junebug tube when I hit the rivers

ALX Ikos Hammer 7-3. You wont find a better rod for the price.

I usually start with 1 oz, and then go heavier as needed. I prefer Gamblers baits for punching. They are durable, catch fish, and enter and exit the mat better than most baits. BB Cricket, and the Why Not are my favorites. I usually have 1 setup with a Why Not and and a punch skirt, and a setup with just a BB Cricket. Reins and Hawg Tech are my favorites weights for lunching.

If it's a finesse rig, I just put a peg stop between the hook and weight. I can adjust length of "leader" easily. I use a 6th sense peg and it holds. I dont usually throw anything over a 1/4 oz on my finesse rigs.

it's been tough. We had a tourney last weekend in a body of water that usually puts out big bags. I got 3rd with 1 fish for 3lbs. Usually it takes a 3 fish limit of 10 pounds to even crack top 5. Took 9 to win. Even some private lakes I fish are spotty at best.

I throw braid with a fluoro leader in my Ikos Promise and hammer. I have not thrown it on any of my Zolo series. Not sure what kind of jig fishing you plan on doing, but a Zolo Deputy is a great rod for pinpoint casts to objects. Not exactly a rod I'd throw heavy jigs in heavy stuff, but almost perfect for everything else. I prefer it for the jig fishing I do over the Dragger. The Ikos Promise is my favorite rod of them all. Good luck.

If you're punching mats, the Why Not is more durable and gets in and out of the mat easier. Sometimes they want the extra action of the D Bomb. They both serve a purpose for me as mat baits, and I prefer the Why Not in mats.

a Curado K in a 70 series would be really really nice.

#2 for the ALX Toad Face

I love my Promise. I use it for jig and t rigs. I use it as my precision flipper when i need to make pinpoint casts. I have it rigged with a Abu ALX reel and 30lb power pro. Match made in heaven. I own 4 Zolos and a Ikos Promise, and the Ikos promise is arguably my favorite rod to fish with.

ALX Zolo. I have never held a NRX, but the ALX Zolo embarasses a Loomis IMX.

I have never fished for spawning smallies. Do they still relate to flats? or are they up on the Sandy points and banks?

Heading to Leelanau in 2 weeks. What stage are the smallies in up in that area?

I have laminate plates, and have had the twin injector. I didn't like the twin injector, and baits with small appendages sometimes have a hard time shooting right if using a plait. Finesse worms do the best with a plate. If you are a beginner bait maker, I suggest the laminate plate route. Much easier and cheaper.

If you want a true punching setup. Get yourself a IROD Genesis Bubs punch rod, some Reins or Hawg Tech tungsten in 1 ounce, some BB Cricket, and some punch skirts and Gambler Why Nots. Also, whatever straight shank heavy duty flipping hook you prefer.