WanderLust

Shimano Curado 51E / G Loomis BCR803 GLX is spooled with 12# Tatsu Fluoro Shimano Curado 201E / St. Croix Avid AVCMHF is spooled with 40# Daiwa Samurai Braid Revo Winch / Shimano Compre Crankin' stick is spooled with 12# Yo-Zuri Ultrasoft I use leaders at times and change line frequently although I'm pretty set for this year.

St. Croix... Great rod for the money especially at a discount.

shhhh Yeah, that's a great deal. I was looking at it as well and I had a bunch of great rods. We can always use one more.

Outstanding!

Lamiglas Excel Bass spinnerbait rod gets decents reviews... Shimano Compre (I have 2) is good for the money as well. Haven't used a Veritas yet but I heard they are decent. I like the Premier better than the Triumph by feel but have only owned and fished Avid \ LTB.

LOL yeah the Daiwa Steez isn't bad. Or a Shimano Core 51 on a G Loomis NRX. I love gear but it tools in the toolbox. Researching, aquiring and tuning your gear is part of being a complete angler. The right tool for the job.

It'll be the perfect rod for you. You'll enjoy everything about it, because you chose everything, where as a factory rod you may need to compromise a little. Indeed and if you work with a pro rod maker they will certainly steer you in the right direction.

Solid choices... Without straying to far off topic what size and style of hook for the trick worm?

The white bait I use consistently is flukes but of course that's a great point.

I would start with (3) baitcasting rigs and (1) spinning rig... Or if I was just getting back into it (2) solid setups... One of each. Reel Gear Ratios: -7.1:1 for soft plastics, burning spinners & traps -6.x:1 for small cranks, slower presentations, topwater, jerkbaits -5.x:1 for large cranks, swimbaits, deep cranking For Rods: -6'8 MH F for soft plastics, finesse, topwater, jerkbaits -7' MM for a crankin stick -7'3+ F fo flipping, pitching, froggin etc For spinning a really nice reel & rod for finesse, tubes and dropshotting... and really ugly windy days. I won't mention brands just buy quality gear with solid reviews. Try to handle it and decide with your own hands.

That sums it up minus the red ear.

Great suggestion. I'll try this for my older cranks that look similar.

I lost a LC Pointer 128 to a large pike last year... Got inhaled 10 feet from shore. Watching $10 -$25 swim away makes me a sad panda.

I organize them like that in Plano Boxes. Shallow Medium Deep Jerkbaits etc...

I have a Shimano Curado 51E... Nice reel for this. I have it paired with a G Loomis BCR803 GLX which I got used in the flea market. Fantastic setup for light plastics. As bought a backup 6'8 rod (Powell Max 683C) which is also really nice for this application. Curado 50 $150 - $200 Powell Max $140 new So well within your price range. If you can find a used GLX Loomis for a reasonable price I highly advise it.

I've seen this happen as well. I also saw a dude thread the line through the hook ( ) keeper once with comical results.

I usually start weightless T-rig and switch it up to wacky if the bit is slow. For weightless presentation I look for two things... Relatively shallow and favorable current. Rocks, weeds, whatever is never really a factor.

All good suggestions... Ike posted a finesse tube article on bass that includes weightless instructions. I have to say I was messing around with a few methods. Stupid rig works well but the method posted by Bobby Megastrike is simple & effective. It involves using an external shakey head jig (t-rigged). I need to field test it but it seems pretty darn good.

These colors have been solid for me: Green pumpkin \ watermelon Junebug Black \ blue GYCB & Zoom have really soft tubes but I prefer Yum, Lake Fork and Strike King.

Good pair of needle nose pliers with a clipper or my knife... Both are always with me. Or a lighter.

My two boys (7 & 8) use Power Pro 20# on their spinning setups with no leader. Results were excellent.

I have the giant one... Its been demoted to the leftovers tacklebox. My son throws it on to see how far he can cast.

USMC 1992 - 1996. Get the job done and get home safe.

I've never fished one more than a few casts but I like St. Croix. If you can get a deal that makes them more affordable than that sounds good to me. I have an Avid and its been a workhorse for me.

Martens is a great angler but just doesn't fair well in the spotlight. and nothing against him but KVD is in fact... BETTER.