Darren.

Agree. Way back when I was a kid, my Dad used to bring a coffee can with used grounds and full of night crawlers. Worked great -- but then so does a nightcrawler fresh out of the soil. Whether the scent actually increases your catch is open for debate. I've seen minnows go hawg wild after spit, sooooo..... But undoubtedly, coffee scented baits smell good!

I'm a fan of snakes here. Don't kill 'em, they serve a purpose!! I've encountered copperheads a number of times, never an issue. They're docile compared to Cottonmouths! When necessary, I just use the tip end of my rod to move the snake from point A to point B. If you don't feel comfortable moving a snake in such a manner, don't. Just move yourself along.

Interesting, Diggy. I've got a spool of Red in 10lb. Haven't used it in a long time. May have to try it out at least for comparison against 10lb XPS fluoro. Have always used it for leader since I bought it. Not sure anymore why I stopped using it. But my confidence is still in P-Line Floroclear #1, and Yo-Zuri Hybrid #2...

No experience with Dobyns, but I can suggest St. Croix anywhere from the Avid series on up to your price-point. They'd make phenomenal rods for the Chronarch.

Year around for the most part here in VA. Sometimes I'll take some breaks, though, but I'll pretty much hit water 12 mo out of the year.

Welcome aboard! Vacationed at SML this summer, state park. Nice bass fishing in that area!

It would be Shimano -- if they still made shorter bass rods in the Compre and Crucial lines. I can find sizes I want in St. Croix, but I'm not yet 100% going down that road... I have two, an Avid and a Premier.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Ever watch the X-Files? He's always where trouble - or mystery - abounds.

Welcome aboard, Zack!

Welcome aboard, Jason!

Was there a cigarette smoking man anywhere along the shoreline?

Welcome aboard, Caleb!

Oh yes I do!

Good point! But this is one bait I'll gladly pay for! For me and my experience, I'd gladly pay for the Senkos (and knock-offs) that actually catch me fish as opposed to the cranks that never (or rarely) do!

Hey Cody! Welcome aboard!

No way no how. Unless there was a money-back guarantee if it doesn't catch you a fish on your very first outing with it. Likewise if you snag it and lose it. Point being, they wouldn't be crazy enough to warranty it on those terms, and I wouldn't be crazy enough to buy it. Now if money were no object, I might even drop $400 on a Roman made lure.

I'll second the Sedona, and personally, I've no problems shopping on ebay, providing the listers have at least a 99.7% rating... http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0&_nkw=shimano+sedona&_sacat=0&_from=R40 That said, Pflueger makes a fine, well-respected reel. Daiwa as well. If you upped your limit, I'd say jump on a Lexa 2000SH. I love mine. Extremely smooth. I really like mine, even compared to my two Shimano Stradics. Great reels.

Absolutely love my 50e, bought it this summer. Use it for almost everything I use spinning for, except skipping under docks, trees, etc. So that means, for me, plastics all the way down to weightless 4" Zoom Finesse worms, TX rigs, split shotting, etc. I have 20 lb yellow Power Pro spooled on it and attach various leaders from 10-15lb test. Although I should note that I've been practicing skipping with it on a 6' MF rod. Sometimes it works great, other times, nests - but I've never had to cut one out yet.

Welcome aboard, Phil!

Agree with Jeff 100%! Don't let it get you down. I've lost two in the past few weeks that could have been beasts, I'll never know, but I can tell you they pulled like recent 6 pounders I've caught. Both broke my line after a good struggle, drag was set correctly, I played them right, no snags, no objects in the way, they just won those battles just before breaking the surface. Sad, but now the hunt is on!

Welcome aboard, Joe!

Well done, Zach!

Jay, you've asked a highly polarizing question! You'll get a lot of opinions, but to find what fits you and your style, you may have to drop a few bucks on several spools of different lines to try them out. With that in mind, I'd suggest you do just that! Here's my suggestion(s): 1) Braid: Power Pro in 10, 15, 20 pound tests (I use 10 on spinning, 20 on baitcasting) 2) Leader material: (I always use braid for mainline and tie on a leader)... --- Fluorocarbon: I like XPS FC, but others feel Seaguar, others are better. I'm not an expert by any means here. --- Copolymer: Personally, P-Line Floroclear is my favorite, Yo Zuri Hybrid comes in second. I prefer Mist Green color for P-Line... Both of these lines work well, for me, PLFC has worked the best. Both are very strong, some hate P-Line, some hate YZH. I like both, use both. --- Mono: don't use it anymore, but when I did it was Trilene XL, and I'd also try the Sufix varieties. Anyhow, point being, if braid was your mainline, you could swap out leaders to your heart's content. A spool of line, then, will last you a looong time. 2 cents.