GOOCHY

I really like my Phenix Recon in this price range. I think the M1s replaced the Recons in their lineup.

I have a 6'6" Carrot Stix that I bought early last season at half price on-sale at Gander Mountain. It's an alright rod and it's still in one piece. I really don't like the tip compared to my Phenix Recon. It's pretty stiff and not the most sensitive. I'll keep it around as long as it hangs in there. It's probably going to be relegated to frog duty though.

My wife bought me one of these guys for Christmas this year. http://www.amazon.com/TackleTime%C2%AE-fishing-backpack-lightweight-versatile-Offer/dp/B005GKF7K2 Seems like it'll get the job done nicely.

Those Mojo's feel really tip heavy to me. YMMV.

I think darker is better in low light conditions. This morning I was fishing a black buzzbait while it was lightly raining and they were absolutely destroying it at every opportunity. I think the rain mixed with it being an overcast early morning helped. It seems to me that the less opportunity for a fish to identify that something is wrong (dark, can't see it as well) is only going to work in the fishermans favor.

I dunno... I like my Lew's Speed Spool way more than I like my Citica.

Put some time in this morning on Lake of the Hills and caught 7 bass over a few hours. Mostly little guys but still fun. They were really liking the hula popper and a white/colorado blade spinner.

I like my Phenix Recon in that price range. It's very sensitive and light.

They seem to be out deeper where it's a little cooler and there's more dissolved oxygen. The shallows are so hot right now in Iowa that I'm having a lot of trouble catching fish right now (shore fisherman).

I just bought a Lews Speed Spool from TW during the Memorial Day 15% off sale. $85 shipped. Had a chance to use it today for the first time and it is truly a winner. This thing is solid. Time will tell, but I'm pretty sure I like it better than my Shimano Citica E.

I've found this as well. I've caught several decent bass out of Railroad Lake this spring. They're definitely a bit easier to catch early. The pressure on these lakes is unbelievable.

I wonder if the time involved to go back and forth on an internet message board over whether it's worth the upgrade was worth $325?

I agree with ww2farmer. I had a bunch of luck in late March and was catching multiple per day and then just went cold through most of April. Weird cold fronts at night just threw everything off here in Iowa, for me. I'm not the most experienced fisherman but it slowed way, way down.

I just clipped it off with some wire cutters. It cut my finger and that was that. It had to go.

I bought one of the 6'6" MH PG Carrot Stix during that same Gander Mountain sale. It's performed flawlessly so far.

From what I've read the Crucials aren't even in the same ballpark as a Cumara and the Cumara's are going away. Read that on another bass fishing forum.

Phenix Recon 714 or 715?

I couldn't find much information on the conservation club. Do you have to be a member to fish there? How's the shore fishing?

Any of you guys ever use sweet beavers on top of moss, etc.? Never really used 'em but wondered if they work kind of like a frog if t-rigged weedless.

One of these guys (or similar) - http://www.lowes.com/pd_313582-62860-2182ST-0_0__?productId=3108657 ...and a wooden dowel. $10? Maybe? I think it was even cheaper than that. The paper towel holder is mounted in my garage so I just do it that way.

Nice! I've been catching some decent ones out of Railroad Lake over on the west end of Davenport. I'm going to try out Lake George out in Andalusia sometime this week I think.

I dug through the Yum box and cleaned them out of senko rip offs and ribbon tails. The rest were lizards and other creature baits that just seem a little too out there for me.

I think the OP is butthurt because he saw a guy wearing a Loomis shirt fishing a Shakespeare rod and outfishing him. Lookin' good, using cheap gear, and outfishing the OP? It pushed him over the edge into the abyss.

I thought the Mojo Bass rods felt pretty tip heavy compared to a lot of stuff in their price range.

I came here to post this! Just got back from our local Wal-Mart and I picked up a half dozen bags or so of Yum plastics that were on sale. Some ribbon tail stuff and senko knock offs. Anybody have experience with the white Yum senko rip offs? It's a color I wasn't willing to try out at $6-7 bucks a pack for the GYBC brand but I'll give it a shot for $1.97 knock off. We'll see if the Iowa bass care for such a bright color. They usually dig on the darker stuff.