K_Mac

Crankbaits, esp med and deep runners, are at great risk when I throw them. I don't fish cranks too much and don't have an extensive collection, so finding one that works on a given day dramatically increases the chance of losing it. Having only one of that particular bait in the box just about guarantees its loss. I think that is why shallow runners/squarebills are my favorites-I can usually get them back.

This is a very timely thread for me. I camped for 5 days last week at my favorite So Illinois lake. The land is owned by the Forrest Service and you have to boat everything in. We had a beautiful spot in a clearing in the woods, except for ticks and chiggers... I used the Deep-woods Off in liberal doses, and still managed to get bit up. Most years a tick or two is all you can expect-I probably found a dozen or more while there and another 5 when I had the wife do a close inspection when I returned home. The up-side is this provided a recreational opportunity...

I have been using a 4" curly tail grub lately with some success. The jury is still out...most of the time I use the trailer that comes with the original CB. A buddy swears by the Lake Fork Magic Shad without a skirt...

That right there is funny and could be true...

I will give my choice, with the disclaimer that it is exactly that. I would add a crankbait rod to the mix. My first choice would be 7' or longer in the 1/4-3/4 range. This will cover a wide variety of treble hooked baits. A longer crankbait rod in the 3/8-1+ range would be my choice if big, deep divers is your main choice in lures. Good luck.

Since the question is best for the price, I voted other. For $80 the BPS Pro Qualifier is my choice. I just added one for throwing cranks, and it does everything I need it to do. I prefer the 6.4:1 for most applications, including jerk baits. Since most of the work is done with the rod for JBs, the 7.0:1 would also be a good choice.

I agree with you .ghoti. I think while replacing or rebuilding a damaged rod for substantially less than the cost of a new one adds value to the the cost of ownership for some, it also adds cost to those of us who don't want to pay more to cover the cost of replacing rods broken or damaged by neglect or abuse. I think Gary Loomis's view is exactly right. Whether I spend $50 or $500 for a rod I expect it to be free of defects and to perform exactly as advertised; if I do something boneheaded and break that rod, replacing it is the cost of ownership in my opinion.

I have 4 PQs. They are my primary reels. I find them to be very user friendly, and could not be happier with them. I have compared them to much higher priced reels, and for the money they compare very well. That is not to say that all are perfect, but my guess is the problems mentioned are more related to the user than the reel. BPS customer service is exceptional, and if a reel does not meet expectations they would certainly make it right. I would also guess most of the complaints are from the same people who have problems with reels by all manufacturers at every price range... I find it interesting that with 570 reviews of this reel on the BPS site, the reel rates 4.8 of 5 stars. That is a 96% approval rating. I also don't put a lot of stock in the reviews, but I think with this high a number of responses and a rating this high, one gets the impression the reel is a quality product. It gets a 5 based on my experience.

Same here.

Big-O I like your style. Zoom is a big favorite of mine, and I am one that is not quick to change something that is working. Cost is always a factor, but I am willing to pay for results (within reason). I don't fish for a check, but I will give your lizards a try. I will not order them for a while; I have broken the tackle budget for the year according to my wife. At least for the spring anyway... The only Rage product I have tried is the 10" Anaconda. When a big worm is called for they now are my first choice. I may even try your jig trailers, but I have this thing about NetBait craws and chunks...

Amen brother BB!

Yes it is a copolymer. I could not find where it says it either. It used to say it on the spools. Go to the TW website and click-on P-LineCXX. EDIT: I asked P-Line for their description of the CXX product. I will post their response.

My neighbors all think I'm a little nuts for "fishing" in my yard all the time. I am improving my pitching skills though. I fish with a guy who is a master, and I have to get better to keep from embarrassing myself, and hit the an occasional prime spot. Watching someone who is really good has made a huge difference. I thought I knew what I was doing until I started fishing with him. Nope. Don't make it too easy when you practice...pitch under a bush, your truck, boat trailer, swing set, lawn chair-you never know where that big one will be hiding.

BPS Pro Qualifier POX70MT, a 7' MXF paired with a PQ reel. They don't make this rod anymore-I should have bought several when they last had them on sale. If I had to fish only one rod, this would be it.

Since you now know the capacity with a given diameter you can at least figure the capacity of other diameter lines. 14# Cajun Red is .36 millimeters in diameter. Lets say it holds 75 yards. 75 X.36=27 27 is your number. Now lets say you want to know how much 20# Cajun Red it will hold: 20# is .46 mm in diameter .46/27=58.7 yards. 10# Cajun Red is .3mm. .3/27=90 yards. How much backing to put 50 yards of 10# you ask? 50 X .3=15 27-15=12 14# backing at .36/12=33.3 yards of backing. Raul posted this formula a while ago, and I have used it a few times since. My teachers told me there would be real-world applications for this stuff...

Learning to control an aluminum boat in the wind is a challenge. A friend who has a Nitro Z8, and I were fishing a small lake from my aluminum boat one windy day last week. I was retying and he took the trolling motor. He was talking to himself the entire time. I though it was funny, but a tin boat is far more vulnerable in the wind than a glass boat. Working into the wind is just a fact of life when slowly fishing a bottom contact bait. I have fished with guys who did not have a weight in their box over 1/4 oz. Some days that just won't get it done, and as Lund Explorer said, leave the weightless rig in the box until you get out of the wind. There is a huge amount of info on this site that will help you learn. Time on the water is where you will learn to put the stuff you have read to the test, and find what works for you. Fishing with experienced bass fishermen who are willing to teach you will save you much time, money, and effort. A guy with a brand new boat should be able to find another fisherman or two... good luck.

I am not familiar with the rod, but have 4 PQs. Casting distance will NOT be a problem. I have a 6'6" MH glass rod that combined with a PQ and 12# CXX will throw a 1/4 oz Bandit 100 well into next week. Enjoy your new combo!

I use it for everything. I have 6 baitcast and 2 spinning rigs for bass fishing. 12# or 15# CXX on the baitcast, 6# CXX on the spinning. It is strong, abrasion resistant, offers decent sensitivity, and behaves well when treated with KVD Line and Lure. EDIT: It is also cheap!

I can only speak to the effectiveness of Zoom lizards. I have used them for years, and they have put many fish in my boat. My wife's go-to bait is a T-rigged junebug lizard. A C-rigged lizard on deep-water structure is one of my favorites. I have also caught fish dropshotting them rigged weedless on an EWG hook using baitcast gear.

Cold rain and temps has a real impact on fishing. Fishing was really starting to turn on around here until some cold rain and overnight temps down in the 40s dropped water temps from lower 70s to lower 60s. Usually slowing down and fishing tight to cover/structure is my plan in these conditions. I fished most of the day yesterday on a very good lake and caught only dinks. I threw the entire box at them, and fished depths from 6" to 20'. Although I won't say for sure, my guess is they had moved out and were suspended in deeper water. I did not spend any time proving that theory, as I have never had much luck catching those fish. We just enjoyed the day watching eagles, falcons, deer, and other wildlife. Whether the fish are biting or not, it still beats most other things...

Chris Lane is one of the good ones in my opinion. I would love to be able to attend the trip, but it just is not in the cards this year. Y'all have fun and give us all the embarrassing details. We won't tell a soul...

SirSnook the trouble with BPS is they will mail me just about anything my fevered mind decides I must have. We make a pilgrimage or two each year to the nearest store (about 180 miles round-trip). My wife is worse than I am. Not only does she want all sorts of tackle, but clothes, hats, baubles, etc. I usually end up spending more on gas and lunch than I do at the store, so I can't really complain. It is the afore mentioned mail orders that get me in trouble.

The smaller size has also been producing well for me lately.

I do not split them. For me beavers are a bait that works best when the fish are looking for a smaller profile or subtle movement. l use a baby or full size Brushhog or creature bait, a worm of some sort, or a skirted jig when they are interested in a larger bait or more action.

Hang in there man. I quit several times before it finally took...the only thing that sucks more than quitting, is smoking. Good luck.