OkobojiEagle

I think you've got yourself a spinnerbait outfit... oe

Don't confuse me with the facts... oe

Another alternative: http://www.jigfish.com/product/title-shot/ The keeper "spear" is designed to accept a skirt. oe

Brad, I'm going to disagree with you here. I want the lure weight and/or action of the lure to tip the rod out of balance. This aids me in feeling the lure. Additional lure weight or loss of lure weight is a pretty good indication I should set the hook. oe

I hope this comment will stay under the "snark radar"... quite a few years ago I developed tennis elbow during my fall walleye fishing. I tried ice packs after fishing, heat ointment before fishing and compression bands during fishing. All of these remedies helped a tad, but didn't cure the symptoms. This annoyance continued for two fishing seasons until I weighted the butt of the fishing rods I was using. I weighted the rod butt to the point of the rod/reel balanced on my index finger where I held each rod (without lures attached). I've not suffered with tennis elbow since. Maybe its a witch doctor's spell, or the planets aligning just so, but I'll continue to give credit to balancing my fishing rods/reels. oe

Isn't the bass spawn complete before the bass fishing season opens in Minnesota?

Nope! Lakes I live around claim the state record smallmouth and musky. I'm sure I caught the lake's largest turtle... on spinning gear with 10lb PE line... had an 8lb flouro leader... used a Crazy Alberto joining knot. ... backreeled. oe

Where your scissors are at...

Once I'm in a committed relationship I demand fidelity

There seems to be a misconception that using a drag system and back-reeling are mutually exclusive. Not so. Both of these systems benefit the process when used together. My drag is set pretty tightly; to slip only slightly with a full force hook set, that in itself depends on the power and action of the fishing rod. The majority of fish in any given day never provide the need to go further than use the reel's drag when landing them. An un-expectantly powerful fish hooked with light wire hooks and lighter line can overcome this drag setting and bend hooks, break line or thrash a wound in its mouth that releases the hook. Being able to leave the drag setting constant but considerably lessen the pulling force during hard surges does a better job of protecting hook, line and flesh. When the drag begins to slip during an extended fight, I flip the anti-reverse switch and back-reel during the surges. When the fish's pulling force isn't over-coming the drag I hold the reel handle firm and let the drag work as usual. If the fish is quicker than my ability to back-reel, the drag will give line while I'm working to keep up. After the fish has sufficiently tired and is near the boat to be landed I flip the anti-reverse switch back on. Back-reeling is not an either/or proposition. Practicing this technique has allowed me to land far more powerful fish on lighter tackle than I would otherwise expect to. I don't expect the majority of today's anglers to fall in step with me, as most use far more stout rods and heavier test lines than I do, but my light tackle helps to hook more and larger bass in my pressured lakes than I would without it. I also am able to land the occasional surprise musky, pike, walleye, catfish and over-sized drum. I don't care if you ever use the anti-reverse switch on your spinning reels, but please don't belittle my use of it and suggest the switch is un-necessary and should be eliminated from new models of spinning reels. oe

As Kent mentioned above... If I'm spending 200+ for a rod it'll most likely be a custom built rod. oe

Many people have never driven a manual transmission automobile either... oe

They were both hungry... oe

Years back anti-reverse switches could be found on the back of spinning reels, my favorite location... oe

We are usually fishing slower than you young bucks... oe

It sure would be nice... but fishing isn't that structured.

So now you have 3 nice rods... you're just getting started. oe

I wouldn't consider your new rod a replacement... there's room in any smallmouth/walleye arsenal for both a medium and medium-light spinning rod. oe

Do you think anybody uses every presentation option... NOT! Cover the water column with 4 or 5 options taking into account water temp and time of year and you've got a pretty good start. After that, fine tune your selections with experience. oe

Why hasn't anyone suggested AMBER...

... then FISH ON!

I've had several rods with stainless steel guides... I've changed the tip guide to a ceramic on those that I continue to use. oe

Diawa gives you the best quality, Pflueger offers the best value. oe

Tournament Pro, "I'm in this tournament and would like to fish this spot, do you mind?" Everyday Angler, "Sure, we can share the spot. I'd like to watch how you fish it."

Since he's a pro fishing for a big paycheck... how much did he pay those kids for "keeping his spot" for him? oe