MichiganFishing1997

Thanks for everyone's help you have given me some great feedback. I planned on waiting thanks for reminding me!

Thanks, that helps. I heard the tatula seemed really nice at its price point, but just came out, I was really looking into a Duckett, how good of a bottom contact rod are they? I heard the GL2 isn't as comparable to others at its price point? And I have no idea on the crucial lol.

I just got a Diawa Ballistic T3 in a 7.1:1 ratio, and so far I love it. Based on just playing around with it I'm very impressed. I don't find the material to be cheap like some, but am really enjoying it all around. I'm thinking I want to use this real for a new jig setup, but heres the catch, based on giftcards and all that good stuff, the rod needs to be from BPS. No Dobyns then:( Its going to be higher end, most likely $150+ 7'+ and I'm new to jigs so I don't really know weight. 4 power maybe? No brand prefference. What would you choose? Any help would be great. Thanks!

Based on what you just responded to me with, I think there's a few options. The *** may have a softer tip and with that Cirica may make it easier to cast your senkos. You could try turning your drag down when fishing treble hook baits also. Or get the three main setups, jig, crankbait, and spinning, and slowly upgrade each piece of them as you get more money. I think you will be happy with your choice wither way.

If I'm understanding it right, braid is lighter than mono or flouro, so if you use it as a backing for flouro, the spool is lighter which may help you cast farther, and save money on flouro.

I'm around your age, I'm assuming, from what I have learned in the past, I'm a quality over quantity kind of guy. My gear will last longer, be more enjoyable to fish, and should treat me betger overall in the long run. I would choose one really nice jig and worm setup over two other ones at half the value. Just to clarify, I'm not saying you need to expand your buget or spend hundreds on new gear. And there are always quality bang for your buck rods and reels, like the ***, Veritas, or BPS PQ reel, which are great, and fit that great balance of price and quality. I am just saying when you have your set budget, try to get quality gear, that will last you longer, rather than a lot of half way decent gear. Hopefully this helps.

I love my Sahara. I got it last year and never secpnd guessed my choice. I have had zero issues and I have found it to be a great reel at its price point

Don't forget to make yourself a small budget for customizing your new toys! Maybe even save a little for some JDM baits. Have fun and good luck with your search!

I think personally I'm going to start with a jig setup, I have my eyes on a Dobyns Champion 734, with a Diawa T3 Ballistic 8.1:1. After that I am between getting a swimbait combo, which would most likely be a Okuma Guide Select with a Shimano Cardiff or Calcutta, or a spybait setup, which would probably be a Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth and a Shimano Symetre or a Stradic.

The only things that I have really used them for is gill accents on streamers and the arms of crafish flies. I agree with the above posts about using maribu instead.

Very interested to see the outcome. Sounds like a great project, theyre one of my favorite lures to fish.

As in something like a 2 piece rod? Oil, I'd say no, it will fly off and you can say goodbye to the top half. I do anlot of fly fishing with 4 piece rods. They make stuff call furrel wax, I think that's how you spell it, put some around the outside of the male end and you will be good all day. In a pinch, roll the outside of the male end on the crevice of your nose outside of your nostril where skin oil builds up during the day, trust me, it works if your having issues with the piece flying off.

Pm me I have some stuff

My ML Spinning rod is a St.Croix Triumph, not bad for $90.

It works well for a lot of the weights in its rating. Tiny crankbaits, and spooks, small plastics, drop shot in light cover. I enjoy using mine.

So between a medium to medium light rod? Or basically a rod rated up to about a 1/2oz or 3/4oz I'm guessing? Sounds like I need the rod a lot longer than I was originally looking at. Thanks for the replies!

So while I was making my off season wishlist of things to pick up, I thought of the techniques I have yet to venture into. Dropshoting is very popular, and Spybaits seem to be a new entry into the western bass fishing world. Both of these styles of fishing interested me, so I looked into it. Both seem to require around a ML Rod, Fast Action, And are light line presentations. Around 6Lb Test. So could I double up these two presentations in one combo and have a set up that is not decent, but very proficient in both styles of fishing? Just a thought. Thanks Christian

All my BPS Fly rods were one year no questions asked

Are you making sure your throwing the correct lure weoght for the rod? Usually the rods sweet spot is right about in the middle of its lure weight rating. For example if a rod is rated 1/4oz to 5/8oz it should cast a 3/8oz lure quite well. Just an idea.

I tried on a pair of ray bans today just because I liked the frames, how do their polarized lenses compare?

$800 on a single combo at my age? HA! I paid 900 for my boat and two motors.. I find a balanced budget with combos that cost less than half that is plenty.

Good to know, thanks. Definitely something to consider. Good for square bills maybe?

Mitchell reels seem to be an underrated bang for your buck spinning reel. You can't go wrong with Shimano or Pflueger at any price point in my book. Heres a few options for every price point that I'm guessing you are looking at. Around $70-$80 Combo- Reels: Pflueger Trion or Shimano Sienna Rods: Berkeley Lightening Rod or Lightening Rod Shock, Abu Garcia Vengance, or Shimano Sellus Around $160-$180 Combo- Reels: Shimano Sahara, Shimano Sedona, Pflueger President Rods: St. Croix Triumph, St. Croix Premier, Shimano Clarus, Abu Garcia Vendetta I would just check them out, mix and match, and find out what you like. Hopefully this helps.

While browsing tackle warehouse the whole line of Halo fishing rods caught my eye, but why no action or lure ratings? This is making it nearly impossible for me to even think of buying one. They look great and I have heard some good things about them, but as a consumer I don't really know how to figure this one out. Any info would be great.

I use the 7'6 MH as a dedicated frog rod. Plenty of backbone. I would recomend it.