RichF

St Croix all the way. I agree you should probably go with a medium heavy if you want the rod to pull double duty.

I steer clear of Oneida. I grew up only an hr from it and hardly ever fish it. It's one of my least favorite lakes up there.

Dad and I put together a 23.35lb bag for our first win with the Northern NY Bassmasters Team trail 2 weekends ago! I guess I'm a fan of the St. Lawrence and those pesky brown fish again.

HA! As have I!

Burnie is crazy with that light line business! He knows what he's doing though, that's for sure.

I trim the weed guards and skirt a little but I never trim my trailer. The bigger the better, especially if you're looking for better than average fish.

Like, @MassBassin508 said, jigs will definitely get hung up in grass. It doesn't matter what type of head the jig has, there's just no avoiding it. You just gotta learn how to work them through the stuff. It's worth it...

Def a bluegill.

A rage craw on a big jig is a personal favorite of mine.

I'd be dunking a big jig or texas rigged creature bait right in the heart of that stuff.

I'm know plenty of folks that catch plenty of LM on them, I just don't fish a lot of places that have shad as a main forage base so the keitechs aren't my usual go to's when I'm going after green ones. I almost always flip/pitch/frog for LM. I have thrown the 4.8" on a belly weighted hook (Owner Beast 4/0) and they work well. Like the post above, they are great as a swim jig or bladed jig trailer also.

The Shimano Curado is always a good choice for that stuff. It's plenty of reel for grass fishing and can be found for around $120 to $140.

I really like the 3.8" and the 4.3" for smallmouth. I actually really like Strike King Shakey Heads for these but I use Strike King Squadron heads as well.

If you're just starting out with a baitcaster, go with the 12lb mono until you're comfortable. Mono is cheap to replace if you make a mistake. It's a good option for poppers and cranks and though not ideal for plastics, it will certainly work.

I'll actually fish a heavy jig in thick grass before a texas rigged flipping bait. Like @Catt said, it's more about technique than head style. You just have to understand...if you fish in grass, you're going to get grass on your baits. There's just no way around it. It's 100% worth it though, I promise you.

How old are you, if you don't mind me asking? The reason I ask is that tournament fishing can be extremely draining on your wallet and mental stability. I fished my first tournament as a non-boater when I was 16. It was such a rough experience I actually didn't fish another one for like 5 or 6 years. I absolutely bombed and that was with 7 years of experience bass fishing behind me. I was, however, able to bounce back after I honed my skills and have enjoyed quite a bit of success over the years. My point is, starting out in the tournament scene too early can be pretty frustrating and heartbreaking. I'd hate to see young anglers get turned off to the sport so early because they aren't prepared mentally, physically, financially, etc. With that said, if you're looking to start, a local bass club is always your best bet. Many of them follow a boater/non-boater format which allows folks without a boat the opportunity to compete from the back deck of another members rig. You can also check out the ABA (American Bass Anglers). It's a national organization that have divisions all over the country. They follow a boater/non-boater format as well. Going as a co-angler/non-boater is important when you're just starting out. It'll allow you to see how an actual tournament is run. It also gives you insight as to how experienced tournament guys prepare and execute during a tournament day. Tournament fishing can be incredibly fun and rewarding. I'm absolutely addicted. I hope you find as much enjoyment in it as I do. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Good luck!

The Trokars are probably decent, it's the VMC's that stink.

HA! I was literally just looking at the rates! Insane!

After watching a couple Zona episodes shot at Grosse Savanne in Louisiana, my suggestion would be there. It looks pretty stellar.

It sounds like you're doing the right thing and using the proper gear. I actually place a lot of blame on that hook. I've had terrible luck with those in the past. I really like the concept, I just think they're sub par in quality. Gamakatsu splitshot/dropshot hooks all the way for me. Summertime smallies are the absolute worse. A 70% catch rate with those is actually pretty good imo!

Decent stuff from Gander at 60% off. Still spent more than I wanted. Same thing with the Keitech.com haul...Felt good buying it but now I just feel shame.

Dean's a hammer on the river and Ontario for sure. The river can be tough because you can basically fish from 3 to 50 ft deep all year round and catch smallmouth. There are usually fish on just about every shoal you find. Drop shot and tubes fished on the bottom or you can throw jerkbaits and spinnerbaits in 8 to 15 ft in heavy current and grass. Covering water is key. Black lake is fishing very tough right now. It's my absolute favorite lake up there (35 mins from my parents place). I was there last sunday and could only manage 9 bass. The grass is really messed up and has been all year. If you can find any clean milfoil in 5 to 8ft you should get some bites. The islands in the main part of the lake are always a good start too. And yes.....poutine is delicious.

Too bad I just ordered a bunch off Keitech's website before I saw this..paid $2.75 -$2.99/pack + $5 for shipping. Sucker

Major difference...the shakey head is semi-acceptable bait/technique, the Flanders rig is a down right disgrace to bass fishing!

I love both. But I'll tell you, catching a 4 -6 pounder while fun fishing is great but catching it during competition is otherworldly. EVERY time it happens I get so pumped I feel like my heart's going to explode. Competing just provides a whole new level of excitement and enjoyment to fishing, for me. That being said, I would like to start having more relaxing outings every now and again. Actually bring lunch and some cold ones...that could be fun too.