elkriverangler

Sounds very similar to my Home Water here in WV. All good advice so far but you should throw some 3-4" Senkos/Yum DIngers in the mix also. In Shallow RIvers you can Fish them Wacky or Texas Rigged drifted in moderate current as well as Eddys and slower Water. Topwater Poppers like Rebel POP R, Rapala Skitter Pop and others can be pretty effective if conditions are right. I will use them even in the Dead of Summer on Shady Banks.

Rapala Floating F-9 in Silver or Gold Rebel Pop R I have done well with the Foxy Momma Color

Another St Croix Fan here. In my opinion you can't go wrong with an SC Avid 6-3-6'8 in ML or M for Smallmouth. My Favorite outfit for River Smallmouth which is practically all I Fish for is a SC Avid 6'3 MLXF with a Shimano Stradic 1000. I also have a 6' ML Avid and looking around for a 6'3 MXF to complete the Arsenal. I am also using a 6'3 MXF Shimano Crucial 2011 Model that is also a Darn good Rod, almost on par with the Avids.

I have a St Croix Avid 6' ML that works great for everything you mentioned in your Post. I use it more for Small Cranks, Topwater and Jerkbaits because I have another Avid that I use for Senkos and other Plastics but the 6' works great for Plastics too. The Avids do Fish a little heavier than their Rating. I Fish almost exclusively for River Smallmouth and the ML is perfect for me. I used SC Premiers for Years, they are very good Rods also just not as sensitive as the Avids for Bottom Bouncing stuff.

Checkout the Native line of Sunglasses.nativeeyewear.com They are Polarized and have a lot of nice Features. Most models are around $100 even cheaper on ebay. I just got the Endo Model off ebay with extra lenses for $60.

To setup the SX for different Lures, First set the Magnet to the off position then adjust the Cast Control until the Lure starts to fall very slowly then set the Magnetic Control. I would recommend if you are just starting out with Baitcasters that you set the Magnet about halfway or a touch more. Once you get used to the Reel you should be able to set it to around a third of the way on and not have any Backlash problems Just be sure to repeat the process when you change Lures. You will like the SX once you get used to it.

I have Stradic FI 1000's on my SC Avids for River Smallmouth. Great combos. You will love the Stradic. I have used Sahara's for Years before I recently upgraded 2 of my Outfits to Stradics. The Sahara is a very good Reel for it's price range but the Stradics are a cut above.

The Sahara is a great Reel for it's price range. I used them for years before I moved up to the Stradic. I still have a Sahara 1000.

I had a 6'3 M Vendetta that was definitely more like a MH. They are nice Rods but just too stiff to suit me.

I only have 2 matching outfit, a 2011 Shimano Crucial matched with a Sahara. My other Spinning outfits are SC Avids matched with Shimano Stradics (By far my Favorites for River Smallmouth} My other matching outfit is a Revo S matched with an Abu Vengeance Rod. My SX is matched with a Falcon Bucoo.

I have the newer Model SX and also an S Model.I have not had any issues with Backlashes on the SX. I had heard of some problems before I got the Reel. On the SX it is crucial when changing Lures and adjusting to have the Brake Off then adjust the Cast Control for the Lure you are using then reset the Magnetic Brake. This tip was passed on to me from DVT when I got the Reel and I have not had issues at all when dialing in this way. The SX in my opinion is a little smoother than the S but overall the S is about as good for less Money.

I don't own a LR Shock but I was looking at them Yesterday and they do seem to be a pretty nice Rod for the Price. They are light and pretty well made. You might also check out the Berkley Amp and the Abu Vengeance. Pretty decent Rods for the price for the price you mentioned. Like ww2farmer said above they ain't Avids, I love my Avids, but good for the price. That Sahara 2500 was a good choice. Very good Reels.

Those are 3 excellent choices you are considering and you wont go wrong with any of them. All 3 have very comfortable Seats although I would give the edge to the Coosa Hi Low Seat. If weight is a consideration to you the Coosa and Ride are about 12-15 LBs heavier than the Manta Ray. If you plan on doing any standing up Fishing both the Coosa and Ride have that capability, not so much on the Manta Ray. The Ride and the Manta Ray have the Slide Trax type Rails on the Front for Mounting Rods and Accessories which the Coosa doesn't have but the Coosa has a lot of nice features too. Another one to consider if you want to save some Money is the Perception Pescador. For around $600 it is a very nice Boat. It is the same as a pre 2009 WS Tarpon. I have a 10' Pescador which serves me well for the River Fishing I do but if I needed a larger Yak I would be considering the same ones you are.

My Favorite is a 6'3 MLXF Avid with a Shimano Stradic 1000 FI. This Outfit has caught a bunch of RIver Smallmouth.

Falcon Bucoo Shimano Compre and Clarus

A Yum Dinger in 4" Pumpkin/Chartruese Tail was my best producer by far last Year for River Smallmouth. I have also done well on the BPS brand. Would I have done better with a GY Senko? I don't know. I do have a hard time understanding why the GY's are so much more expensive than other Brands.

Is anyone here aware of Aftermarket Handles available for Revo S ? I would like to get a handle for my S that is Curved like the Handle on my Revo SX. Will the SX Handle fit the S alright? Is it available from Abu Garcia or an Aftermarket source?

I went to HI Vis Yellow last Year due to "Old Eyes" and it makes a world of difference when Fishing Senkos and other Plastics.

retiredbosn beat me to the punch. A lot of good info on this link.

Go down to the Fishing Tackle Forum and look at the First Post. There is everything you need to know about Senkos.

I picked up several of them to try this Season along with some X Rap's. What I like about the Flat Rap is he Dual purpose Jerkbait/Shallow Crankbait applications. I assume since it is a Balsa Floater that it could be also be worked like a regular Floating Rapala and Twitched on the Surface. Good to hear it is a good River Smallie Lure as that's what most of my Fishing is. I have heard that the Lips break easy on these. hopefully that issue has been fixed.

Is anyone fishing the new Model Shimano Convergence or Clarus BC Rods? I am considering either the 6'8 M in the Convergence or Clarus or the 6'8 M XF in the Clarus for a light duty Worm/Jig Rod. No Heavy Cover, Grass etc. I mostly fish a River for Smallmouth but occasionally fish a small Lake for LM but don't want to invest in the High End Rods for the little LM Fishing I do. I would mostly be using 1/4 OZ Jigs and 7" Worms with 1/4 OZ Bullet Sinkers but just wondering about the max 1/4 OZ Rating for the Medium Version. The XF Clarus is rated for 3/8. Shimano lists these as a Worm/JIg Rod, just curious about what those that use them think about them.

Elk River, That Diesel and Smoke is a fine looking Outfit. Let us know how it works out after you use it. I am starting to think about another BC Rod and the Diesel is one I am considering. Good to see the Sahara too, I have a couple of them, they are really good Reels for the Price.

The Vendettas are a pretty nice Rod but the ones I have handled were all very stiff and not very suitable for Trebles. I see that they do make a 7' M and a 7'3 MH that are listed with a Medium or Moderate action, those may be OK but the Fast actions are definitely stiffer than most Rods. Take a look at the Falcon Bucoo's they make several with a Moderate action. I have a 6'6 M Medium Fast that I use for River Smallmouth with Cranks and 1/4 OZ Spinnerbaits and I am very happy with it. Falcon makes the Bucoo in a 7' Medium Moderate and a 7'3 MH Medium Fast.

Like I said in post #2 this was the first negative I had heard on Lew's Reels. So if it was just Operator Error I still haven't heard anything negative about them. I like the Revo line of Reels but I think my next BC I will try a Lew's. Glad you got it worked out and don't feel bad we have all done similar things at some point.