Goose52

Yep - I just happen to have a whopping 8,000 yards of 6lb YZ Ultra-Soft on hand...

X2. BPS just lowered the price of the PQ rod down to $99 in the 2011 hardcopy catalog - PQ owners speak highly of them. On the Extemes, I have 7 of them - they are not the best value at their usual $99 price point. However, I got all of mine at sale/clearance prices of $39 to $69 and at those price points, they're not a bad rod.

Well, forget what I said in post #2 - the bait monkey won and I ordered two of the "30" size reels this morning...

I'll give it a go!

Great Texas fish!

Most of the bass in my lakes are very lean. I expect mostly due to poor forage, not much cover, etc. My PB was a a respectable 26", but only 7-12 - it was a BIG head on a skinny body. I rarely catch a bass with any kind of belly.

Thanks guys! Paul - I'm in Crossville up on the plateau and we stayed iced over longer than some lakes down the hill...but that warm weather we had for a few days sure brought the water temp up. However, I have a feeling that the water temp in this lake will be back in the 30s by tomorrow night or Wednesday morning... :-/

Another data point - I got 5 more spinnerbait bass today - 14.81 lbs total - biggest was 22"/4.6 lb. Cold front coming in - surface water temp is dropping fast and was down to 42 degrees at the bank today (water temp was 49 two days ago). I have a feeling that my spinnerbait party is just about over for now with the colder weather we have coming in...shallow water temp could be down in the 30s by tomorrow night... :

Had a good spinnerbait bite today. My lakes "iced-out" about a week ago and we had a few warm days since then. Water temps rose quickly and I started getting some shallow fish on a spinnerbait in 46 to 49 degree water. Started getting colder yesterday and today the cold front got here and water temps started plummeting back down, it was raining, and winds were gusting over 20mph. With the headwind, I decided to fish a spinning rod and worked a couple of tiny coves in my favorite lake - fishing from the bank. Surface water temp was 42 degrees. Got 5 LMB: 22"/4.60lb, 19"/3.02lb, 19"/2.99lb, 17"/2.33lb, and 16"/1.87lb = 14.81lb - a good day for sure. The photo shows the 4.6lb fish. Hard water a week ago, and a 14.81 bag today - can't beat that for my little lakes on a winter day! 8-)

WOW - that's a GREAT price on a fine reel. I ALMOST pulled the trigger on an on-line order, then I grabbed the bait monkey by the throat and choked him out - I just don't need any more spinning reels right now... ;D

x whatever for .ghoti.'s post. FWIW - I got another spinnerbait fish today (same lake/place as yesterday's fish) - 46 degree surface water temp at the bank - 3.04lb LMB - hit in less than 5 fow. Lost a bigger one that hit the SB in less than 2 fow just as I was getting ready to pull the bait out of the water at the end of the retrieve. Just another data point...

Great fish! Light tackle is lots of fun for sure!

A coincidence - I just got my first spinnerbait fish of the year today; surface water temp at the bank was 49 - probably colder out where the fish was. I started fishing SBs when the water temp went above 40deg. (which was only 3 days ago!)

If you decide on the Surpreme, you can save about $15-$20 by getting it from a eBay seller. Something to consider...

In addition to the rods already mentioned, All Star still has a 6' and 6'4" MH. St. Croix Premier 6' MH. Team Daiwa-S Bass 6'3" MH. Shimano Compre 6" MH. Falcon LowRider 6' MH. Probably others. You'd have to read-up to check the tips on these and I can't say whether these MH rods are "light" MH. The 6'4" All Star and the 6'3" Daiwa might be good candidates.

X2 ! Sounds like you had a great day!

Still in Florida, huh... ;D

Yep - it comes back at you... Hang in there - you'll eventually get some soft water... : 9 of my 11 lakes were mostly iced-out yesterday and I fished for about 2 hours. Water temp was still 39-40 though so no fish for me. I'm leaving in a few minutes to try about 5 of the lakes. It was sunny yesterday, and sunny and warmer today so water temps might get up to 45 by mid-day. I might still just haul water but it will be nice to be outside and get some casting practice... ;D

January 1, 2011 Surface water temp 45 deg Water clarity - very clear (it was ice two days before) Depth - 18ft Bait - Zoom Ultravibe Speed Craw t-rigged on a 3/0 EWG Additional - Catch - one 3.76lb LMB\ Not much fishing since New Years - lakes iced over right after that and only opened up again a few days ago. Water temp should be back over 40degrees by tomorrow so hopefully will be able to catch something pretty soon... ;D

I don't know - if your hand is anywhere near the size of mine - that brim is at least 3 1/2" - maybe 4", with much more girth than a 3" bass. Lee.MD - you have to have a photo! ;D

I don't know - I'm in the running for that contest. See my avatar - 3" bass caught fair and square on a 3/8oz roostertail! ;D

That's a good canoe and $600 is a great price! Probably looks something like this I bet!

Sounds GREAT. I only caught 22 fish in that weight range all last season, fishing nearly every day between end of March to end of November... ;D All about location, if a 1 technique fisherman like me can catch them here anyone can. It's where you're at my friend. Yup, and my 11 lakes aren't the "location" ... ;D

Another outstanding fish! Hey - you usually fish alone, right. How do you get your photos? Do you have a clamp-on mono-pod or something for your camera and then use the timer?

Sounds GREAT. I only caught 22 fish in that weight range all last season, fishing nearly every day between end of March to end of November... ;D