drew4779

Feugo is a great choice. If you go with something else, my emphasis would be on the aluminum frame over the drag. But with budget setups you often have to make sacrifices. Good luck.

No

I prefer amber. I had a pair of typhoon mariners a few years back that I liked a lot. I think they were around $75. I have a pair of Costas now. I like them a lot.

I agree with Team9nine. In my area, I start with chunks (or pork if you can find it) in early spring and move to trailers with more action as the water warms.

Haven't been to St. Clair in 20 years, but we would always find off shore grass beds and toss tubes. We would stay in Belle River and usually go in June. Some of the best fishing I've ever experienced. Have fun!

I never have before but am considering trying my hand at it this coming year.

I'd throw t-rigs on the SLX.

Caught a lot of fish on those.

Of those three?...Johnny Morris 2.0.

I've caught a lot of LM on 9" magic swimmers.

Had it happen to me some years back at a farm pond I would fish. You could catch this bass twice a day, everyday, for about a month always in the same laydown. Turned out, it had a soft plastic lodged deep in its throat. This was before I knew how to get a gut hook out (thank you BR). I believed it was starving and in turn, was super aggressive. I hoped the hook would rust out before the fish died but it didn't turn out that way.

I haven't been to LSC in a number of years. Good to hear it still produces like I remember.

7'-1" M XF E6X Nothing wrong with the rod. I bought it with the intention of using it as a finesse rod paired with a Daiwa SV 105. It absolutely launches a ned rig. However, I quickly learned that the ned rig isn't for me and doesn't fit my style of fishing. I can't seem to find another presentation that I enjoy fishing that suits this rod better than others in my collection.

I used to miss a lot too. I switched to a moderate action rod and now I miss very few.

I agree. I haven't fished them yet but picked up a couple last week and they seem of high quality out of the box. Hope they produce as I expect them to.

Love the E's

I'd rather push my way through the briers than wade through the ponds in my area. I'd sink at least 18" every step.

I grew up in Ohio too and it was always ruh-pal-ah. I learned about 10 years ago that I've mispronouncing it for 30 years. I've tried and tried and can't seem to break the habbit.

I weighed them about a month ago and if memory serves me, I believe you're right.

Love the xcals. I've swam on a couple of occasions to free them of snags.

Fast = single hook presentations Mod = treble hook presentations Frog - Most people use fast action rods. I prefer a H/Mod rod with braid. This slows my hook set just long enough, helping me counter my excitement that occurs everytime there's a blow up.

For me, I wouldn't be comfortable flipping with an XH mod rod. I prefer MH/F or H/F for that task. I can feel so much more with a fast action rod which is ideal for single hooks on the bottom. I would probably use XH for big swimbaits w/trebles, muskie plugs, or maybe even for frogs. What's the lure rating? Although I rarely throw lipless cranks, I tend to throw them on mod action rods. Know that there's no real right or wrong way. Especially since all rod manufacturers have different ideas on how to rate their rods. I personally throw hollow body frogs on a H moderate action rod and do much better than when I used to use a fast action rod. The slower taper counters my fast trigger on top water explosions.

Can't say for sure...but my favorite is Venom salt series tubes.

They will work year round but an absolute killer in cold water. It's the first lure I throw after ice out.

I've personally done well at cave run in the past but I hear that Cumberland has been on the upswing. Saw some real nice bass at the marinas at Cumberland last time out but boat breakdowns killed my last trip. Been hearing the opposite of KY lake...downswing. Good luck!