craww

Yozuri hybrid in 12lb test has been the best all purpose line for me for close to a decade. Three double digit fish. I use it for topwaters, rattle baits, jigs, Texas rigs, etc..Without any issues with breaking offs, abrasion, etc. People will tell you lime conditioner doesn't matter on hybrid- but in my experience liberal amounts the night before does matter.

A light action spinning Rod for farting around in creeks. Need to research more, want something that's truly a fast action. Most rods that will drift down to 1/32oz or so are too parabolic or whippy.

There are quite a few high bearing count reels that don't have as many bearings as advertised when torn completely down from knobs to sideplates.

Power worms and those old mister twister phenom worms in some of the Blues and pinks drive river smallies bat crap crazy.

The original yozuri rattling vibe is king for me casting/covering water. R.E.S. for jigging/yo yo retrieves. Classic Bill Lewis trap does it all quite well. One trick I use If theres alot of grass is cut the middle treble, (the one which would point forward if you're retreiving). You don't foul up as bad and can bang the bait into things a bit more.

I'll second that...Ive owned an O/U SKB for 20 years and absolutely love it. Everyone that's ever held it has commented on the feel. The weight and balance is just "right" for pulling up quick on a flying bird. For the price they can be had used I don't think you'll do much better.

From handling in store several times I think you can get better rods at that price range, some $100 rods feel better IMO.

I meant vertical. My wording could have been better but they make lures like the boo bug and pigskin which are horizontal. The jigs I use from them all have vertical line ties. It makes a noticeable difference in my filementous algae covered water when casting and is also better in milfoil.

It's a good jig, I've caught fish on two trips with them and don't think I missed a fish and had no issues in moderate wood. If you can get past the ridiculous name, the Booyah jig line up is very,very good. Quality hooks, every color you need, silicone and living rubber options, vertical line ties on certain baits, available every where, reasonably priced. If anyone likes Mop jigs try the A-Jig. It's a better bait IMO.

Siege in 17lb is my square bill line of choice. Handles exceptionally well for its strength and diameter. I cant break it on a straight pull from a boat... Just a nice, problem free line that excels with treble hooked baits..Used it in 12lb and it handled well, but seemed to not be as strong as comparable lines.

I Live and die with a 3/8 or half ounce single prop buzzbait tied on. Virtually all of the brands that use quality components catch fish equally as good. A local guy makes some with a gamakatsu hook for $4.00 and I kind of settled in on those and just buy a dozen or so for a season. Catch a few 6lb+ fish and even the most expensive models get out of wack and won't plane quite right. Ive noticed a bait that tracks to one side or runs with the prop and jig head not straight up and down catch fish fine in shallow water, ( I have some that run so hard to the left or right I mark the props and use em for going under docks) but in open water the prop/head orientation really does matter..Retuning a buzz bait after an encounter with big fish can work but my batting average isn't that great. A few store brands that I like -secret weapon with the Colorado blade (my favorite) -The strike king KVD models -Boo yahs are great for the $ -damiki (more subtle if that matters to u) -Cavitron Only ones I disliked was the old titanium terminators. Great Idea, potentially a game changer for me but they never ran right from the get go. Tight lines!

Update. Picked up the 6' 10" Med pwr spinning rod and fished it for about 45 mins today. Fish didn't cooperate and half the pond had ice on it. I can report the rod is very, VERY sensitive for $130. On one particular lay down that I know and drag a bait through often, each branch was very sharp and distinct when the bait made contact. With the little hood above the reel seat and full grip the rod is very comfortable. Our local store has about half a dozen models, they are marked 150 but ring up 130 like online.. I may grab the 7'3" casting model for jigs.

Sammy 85 in MS American Shad. Casts like a dream and catches good quantity and quality of brown and green fish. Xrap-walk 14 in glass ghost. Discontinued, originally a saltwater bait. Basically a big one knocker spook that looks just like a large shad. Not big on the Xrap colors but glass ghost is perfect for topwaters. Reaction Innovations Swamp Donkey ( I bought a bunch for $2.00 a piece years ago). Any 3/8 black buzz bait with decent components Scum frog. An underrated bait. Much more subtle and less likely to spook shallow fish than other frogs. Wish the hooks were better. I bend them out a bit with pliers. Once or twice a season in late summer I break out the old crick hopper popper. The hooks are bad but it's a really fun bait when the time is right.

Alot of ponds I can fish have the filamentus (sp?) algae and even smaller 1/32 oz tungsten bullet weights can be an issue. My advice if you want to bottom drag baits: -Get some nail weights make sure you bury the eye of your hook in the plastic. Don't have a peg sticking out of the weight. You can get creative. I never like those jerkbait hooks with the lead keel on the hook. If its an erratic bait that you're not necessarily swimming in a straight line you can slice a big fluke and glue a bullet weight in the head. I've also used that on big lizards when bed fishing. No issues with missing bites from a fish picking up the bait and not the sinker; yet it stays in place and looks more natural. -Use heavier plastics such as those made by yamamoto. A 3/8 senko gets down there pretty well so a weight isn't often needed in a shallower pond. - use jigs and jig heads with a vertical, not horizontal line tie. For example I can cast and drag a Booyah "A" Jig in 3/8oz with alot less issue than a Mop jig with its horizontal loop. Virtually the exact same baits but the line tie comes through the snot alot better. In rocks I think a left to right tie may be better, in any kind of vegetation vertical is the deal in my experience.

Stopped by the store to buy a rifle scope and ran across these. The looks arent anything to get excited about, but good gracious do they balance and feel crisp in hand..On a rack with Avids, IMXs, low riders, etc, the 3 models I looked at seemed to transmit vibration when rubbing the cork of another rod with the tip better than anything else on the rack. It's hard to describe but the blank just feels good. Toray graphite, K frame guides with Sics, not sure what to make of the ad copy about shape shifting under load but marked down to 130 bucks I think the 7' Med spinning Rod is calling my name. I like the little hood and full grip on a spinning rod, its comfortable for shakeyhead fishing..Anyone have any experience with these? Not much info out there and I think they may be getting discontinued.

They are decent reels. I think they made an impact due to they're weight/price point at a time that reels that light typically cost 300 bones. At the minumum with the cult following they have you should get you're money back if it's not for you.

It's par for the course on the Abu rods. Even the treble hook specific and slower action models. Some people love them. They're certainly light weight and plenty sensitive, but the tips (or lack there of) just aren't for alot of guys myself included. Not referring to overall power of the rod, just the tip itself.

Ive used both for years without any issues. Got a couple bulk spools of 30lb stealth in a bargain bin and it's done what Ive asked and hasn't let me down. In that lb test at least its as good as PP, I think the stigma from the original spiderwire may influence opinions on what is a good option for the price. I also haven't had any issues and like PP. Pro tip, line conditioner will help the coating stay on a bit longer.

Monofilament fishing line (shortened to just monofilament) is fishing line made from a single fiber of plastic. ...Monofilament is made by melting and mixing polymers and then extruding the mixture through tiny holes, forming strands of line, which is then spun into spools of various thicknesses Notice the part of mixing of polymers??? Thus the term Copolymer. One filiament...Different recipes and blends of polymers to achieve desired results. You're clearly dead set on arguing for some reason. I'm done here.

I knew there would be one guy...As I said and others have told you...the line is blurry. Very generally speaking they all fish like Nylon lines, absorb water, stretch and retain they're strength well (because it's still predominately nylon), and have issues with breaking down due to UV radiation. YOU'RE point is moot because virtually all "mono" lines, are a copolymer of sorts...with the exception of fluroclear are all virtually all nylon. And they fish like it too. There have been lines over the years that have had "copolymer" on the box and ad copy at times and didn't at other times. They all very generally fish extremely similar with trading varying degrees of handling for abrasion resistance, stretch for knot strength, etc. Manufacturers sell alot of line by doing things like putting fancy words on the box and cheating diameter up and down on "tough" lines. My post was relevant and in the spirit of helping the OP'S by not limiting his choices. Good day.

The line between what's called a mono and what's labeled a copolymer is blurry; but for general conventionally sized bass plugs yozuri hybrid in #12 is an all time favorite. I keep a rod spooled with it and a sammy 85 or 3/8 buzz bait tied on for half the year.

Spro Phat fly in 1/8 oz...Technically a lure made for the float and fly presentation they catch a ton of bass on a straight retrieve with a little gentle Rod English. I've found the solid white model works everywhere. 7' Med pwr fast action spinning Rod w/15lb braid and you're set. A leader is a good idea around toothy critters. Chain pickerel like them.

Trigged Berkley Power Worm or Senko. Use of bullet weight, size of weight, etc as conditions dictate. Prefer fishing senkos weightless like most, but I sure caught alot of fish with a weight before I "knew" better.

The 1/16 and 1/8 oz spro phat flies in white were my best largemouth numbers bait for years. Really made for fishing under a bobber those things would kill when cast and jigged back. A very carefully tied loop knot seemed to give more erratic bait fish like action.

They do it to generate people talking and clicks. Nashville sold its soul long ago. We live in a weird time for music. There's good music still being produced a lot of it actually. If you know what you like it's very easy to get without leaving the house. Conversely, unless you know where to look it's harder to find