Bluebasser86

A Youtube search turned up several videos of ice fishing for bass.

I almost went this morning in the 20 degree temps and 20+ mph winds but then my common sense took over and I went to bed.

Bought a couple Real Prey swimbaits that I love the action of, and I can get hits on them, but I've only managed to stick one little 14 incher on them so far. Other than that, the few other new lures I tried this year have all been successes.

I have the speed spool with the magnetic brakes that has been great for spinnerbaits and bladed jigs. I haven't used it for regular jigs but I'd have no issues with doing so if need be.

I wouldn't have even tried to go to Melvern yesterday. Looks like it worked out pretty good for you though.

50 or 65 pound for me. Lots of water willow lining our shorelines, pretty much the only fishable vegetation we have in much abundance around here. Nasty stuff with a super strong stalk that's almost like wood when they're at full force in the heat of the summer. I love flipping that stuff though and it always holds fish.

Sunline Super Fluoro

M/F in whatever length you want is going to be the way to go. It's going to be under powered for stripers and overpowered for panfish but that's probably the best you can do if you're trying to get away with just 1 rod.

Man I wish. If my work didn't require me to shave I probably wouldn't. I was just off for 2 weeks on FMLA with my wife and it was nice not having to shave every day, or at all

Typically I fish the skirted jigs in lakes that contain both but I'm mainly targeting largemouth with them when the smallmouth bite. When I'm specifically targeting smallmouth with a jig it's almost always a finesse or football head jig and usually slightly smaller skirt size. All these were caught on jigs while I was targeting largemouth.

I like bright braid because it's easier for me to see. Only reason I've used bright mono is when I'm catfishing.

Our garage walls are slowly disappearing behind pegboards covered with fishing tackle, don't know how it's happening but it is

I use a 6 something ratio for all my topwaters but a high speed reel makes fishing buzzbaits a lot easier.

If I could get all mine done with handles like St. Croix has on the Rage line up, that's what I'd get. I like EVA and cork, doesn't really make a difference to me.

I had the exact rod you're planning on using. Not my favorite for those baits but it will certainly work.

Agreed

Don't go cheap on braid (either if you can afford it). Sufix 832 is the way to go and just be done with it. Fluoro you can get away with going a little cheaper if you don't mind it being a little stiffer or less abrasion resistant. I've had very good luck with the Sunline Super Fluorocarbon.

Get the ladies edition Zebco 33. Proven reel, plus it's pink, which is always a plus when you have a little fishing princess

I fish a 7' 10" H/F custom build with a 300E Curado and 25lb McCoy copolymer with mine. I usually rig it up with 1/8 or 1/4 ounce swimbait heads that I pour tipped with grass pigs, swimming flukes/swimming fluke Jr, or swing impacts.

Seems little ones are drawn to fishing rods. I was at our local tackle store dropping off some baits a few weeks ago when my son snatched a little Falcon spinning rod off the overhead rack while I was talking to the owner. I couldn't hardly pry his little fingers off the rod. He wasn't hurting anything (minus a little drool maybe), so I let him hold it, which he did for several minutes and even posed for a picture with it. His obvious excitement while he was holding it gives me lots of hope

I have a few of the old greenies and a 200BSF (super free). My super tuned 200B's will outcast every other reel I own.

If you're near an Academy they'll swap it out for a new one in my experience.

They can add Kansas to that list. http://kdwpt.state.ks.us/KDWPT-Info/News/News-Archive/2013-Weekly-News/7-25-13/LAKE-SHAWNEE-ANGLER-CATCHES-ALIEN-FISH

Already have a Curado 200 IHG on the way

Keep the colors simple like others said. Get some black and blue and green pumpkin and you're good. I'd probably go with a 3/8oz head as it will cover a lot of fishing situations. I change trailers out when I need to. Sometimes you'll go through one without ever catching a fish. I've been using the new Zman Batwingz jig chunks and have used one for 2 trips now and caught a couple dozen fish on it and it's still fishable. Most jig trailers are only going to be good for a few fish though.