webertime

$300. I'd get the pq/carbonlite combo (7' MH) and a spinning set up too (Sahara and Diesel 6'10" M) . You'll get more versatility and 95% of the performance of one $300 combo.

Fat Ika. Casts well, weedless, can be a Goby or Craw or Bon Bon.

Coming to a clearance isle around summer 2014...

Mudhole sells the "plastic" spraypaint and says it works (get it at a hardware store for 1/2 price).

Light fish "blondes" were caught off or near some sand. Dark Fish are rocks and deep Barred Fish are rocks/wood with weeds (shallower) That's been my experience.

Make a mark on the spool (on the line) with a sharpie. No slowly crank the reel handle one revolution and count how many times you see the mark. That's your ratio (on full crank and you see the dot five time is a 5:1).

White

If they are around the floating ribbits are money with a 4/0.

I can't get it out of my text messages, but it was a 5.97. AKA "Dwight's Bait".

Time to think about learning to wrap a rod? Plenty of spinning rod blanks that match what you need. You could scavenge guides from an old rod to save $$$$.

Prostaff special is a green pumpkin back with an orange belly. For your bluegill it should be good. Try silver flash for the crappie.

Times a bajillion.

LL Bean's are nice and on sale now. I hear frogz togs toads are great as well. That said save up for the best you can afford. It's a great investment.

NanoShield is just a coating (paint or anodizing). "Xcraftic" is a marketing ploy for aluminum of a certain alloy. Again, that component is a cast piece and dollars to donuts there was a void in it. Happens from time to time (I saw a Stratic do the same thing) .

Laguna

Not macro photos but it looks like there was a void in the casting (think cheese bubble on a pizza) .

Whiskey River whiptail. Strike King 3x finesse worms (elaztech stuff keeps the rats and panfish from stealing them) .

Our club (Chittenden County Bassmasters/CCB) is holding our 28th anual Open Tournament on Sunday July 14th 2013 at the Malletts Bay launch in Colchester Vermont. $100 per 2 man team until 7/13. $125 day of, 6:30am cut off. 80% Payback and we'll pay Lunker for both Smallmouth and Largemouth. 2 man team, 6 fish limit. If you are in the area we'd love to show you a great time. Malletts Bay is on fire right now with 100 fish days still happening! questions, PM me or email ccbvermont@gmail.com Thanks!

Owner Nervous Rex and Sluggo

So I know that the Pflueger is a good reel, but every pflueger spinning reel I've every had felt loose and worn out after a season (Supremes). My older (19 year old first production run) Shimano Sedona feels and fishes better. If it were me I'd get the Powell Diesel Spinning rod ($50 at Fish Ranger) and a 2013 Shimano Sahara 2500 ($68 at TW now) (older models on the auction site are substantially less and arguably better)and then pick up some line.

Most all sports do this. I know a few pro cyclist that have custom frames made for them, then have painted and stickered for their "paying" sponsor. Skiers, snowboarders, surfers, climbers, baseball players (bats) ALL do it.

With a Tube I'll lift/reel for a hookset. With the Ika I do a snap set (I use braid to a leader for my drop shots).

My internet low point...

Fat Ika as the "weight" of the drop shot. Tubes work as well. I use a long dropper to see if the fish are picking along the bottom or a couple feet off munching minnows. Then I'll switch to one or the other (less to lose).

My mh 765 diesel is stouter than a H carrot stick of phenix recon