Toeshots

I use 12# Sufix Siege mono. Probably a shade on the lighter side but it has worked fine for me.

The action determines how quickly you reach the backbone as the rod starts to bend. The faster the action, the quicker you reach the backbone on a hookset. For fast/extra fast, the rod will bend nearer the tip, as opposed to moderate which will bend nearer the middle of the rod. In regards to reel gear ratios, for the most part I ignore them but will instead focus on the Inches-Per-Turn (IPT) number. This tells you how much line you will take up with each crank of the handle. Based on the kinds of baits I'll be throwing, I may want a faster reel (higher IPT) or slower. One additional consideration is that lower gear ratios tend to have more torque and can be useful when more effort is required to get the bait back to the boat. A good example of this is deep cranking which can be quite tiring on higher gear ratio reels. It can also be good for baits requiring a slow, steady retrieve or for anglers who tend to work baits too quickly. For me personally, I have mostly higher speed reels as I find it much easier to slow down a retrieve if necessary. I also don't think high speed reels are quite as lacking in the torque department as they used to be. That being said, throwing deep cranks on a 7:1 or 8:1 reel would make for a long day.

Looks great! Love the fact that you can add a picture straight from your phone's library. I only have 1 question - In the mobile version, is there a way to get back to the main index from any place on the forum? Like if I'm reading a thread do I need to navigate back through each subforum to return to the main forum page? Not a big deal at all, but just curious if I am missing it somewhere because I know the previous version had this.

Hmm, I guess I'm one of the few that really likes the Crankin' Stick. Hard to beat for the price, especially when it's on sale (like it is now).

For me it's the 1/2 oz Red Eye Shad, especially in Gold/Black Back!

Welcome, Tom. Honestly, just about any reel in and around the $150 range should be fine. I would just go with your favorite brand. My personal preference would be Shimano or Lew's. If you're not throwing braid, just make sure the reel has sufficient capacity for long casts at deeper depths. My assumption here is that you'll be using FC or mono in the 15-25# range. In that case a size 50 Shimano may not be ideal, for example. It's been a couple years since I've had to buy a new reel, so others may be able to chime in with specific models currently available.

Seaguar Tatsu FC 15-20# for bottom-contact baits Sufix Siege Mono 12# for everything else (except frogs)

Here's what I use: Jigs - 20lb Seaguar Tatsu FC T-Rigs - 15lb Seaguar Tatsu FC Frogs - 50lb Power Pro Braid Tubes/Finesse - 8lb Seaguar Tatsu FC Cranks - 12 LB Sufix Siege All Other - 12 LB Sufix Siege

Sounds like a great target spinnerbait rod.

I definitely feel the longer rod allows for increased distance and accuracy when pitching. Obviously shorter rods tend to be more accurate in casting, but when I'm pitching, having the rod tip closer to the target is quite helpful. I don't own any rods over 7', however I have several right at 7'. I'm 5'7" and a 7' rod is the maximum length I am comfortable with.

I'd say Fast action and at least 7' in length. Could go XF on the action if you want, but Fast has always worked great for me with jigs and it makes the rod a bit more versatile.

BPS Sinker Stops. You get 45 of them for about $2 and they work great.

The Zoom Horny Toad hooks have worked really well for me with the Rage Toad. They are screw lock so the baits will last a bit longer.

Just wondering which jighead you guys prefer for your tubes and why? Which weights? Do you prefer a 90* or 60* eye? Vertical vs. horizontal/flat eye? Looking for some recommendations as I need to stock up on some to match up with 3 1/2" SK Coffee Tubes. If it has any bearing, I will be throwing these on a M/XF Fenwick ET Smallmouth spinning rod with a size 30 Pflueger MGX and 8LB Tatsu. Mostly will be thrown in and around the rocks and some submerged timber. They will be be both stupid rigged and standard (just pushing jighead straight up and into tube) Thanks

I believe he's just saying that if you don't have a scale, taking measurements and using a weight calculator will give a better estimate than scaling it up against a rod and reel.

I am a big fan of the 1/2 oz Red Eye Shad in Gold/Black Back. I'll switch over to Blue/Chrome or Sexy Shad for clearer water, if necessary.

This is the knot that I started using last year and it worked great. Extremely strong. Definitely worth taking the time to learn. Once you get the hang of it, it's really not too bad. Just tie it slow and neat and use plenty of spit when cinching it down. I have complete confidence in this knot holding up.

$15 in IL

I feel like I don't consciously try to get a fish in faster or slower. I will try to keep a fish from diving into cover or will lean into them if I have to get them up and out of the heavy stuff, but I never try to muscle a fish into the boat or prolong the fight unnecessarily.

I use cheap mono as backing for both FC and braid. FC is expensive so the backing allows me to get more for my money by only replacing the portion of line that will actually come off the spool while fishing. I use backing for braid partially due to cost but more so to help prevent the braid from digging into itself on hooksets. I know some people also use backing with braid to prevent it from slipping on the spool, but I've personally never had that problem. I haven't had any performance issues with either but it is important to tie a neat, slim connecting knot like the Alberto.

15-20LB Tatsu. Super strong, super sensitive. Awesome stuff.

I generally stick to black/blue, green pumpkin/orange, and brown/orange. I am looking forward to trying a few variations on these colors with the Sieberts I picked up this winter, namely Blue Craw and Alimony (black/blue/chartreuse).

Spring WAS in the air up here near Chicago. It was 55 yesterday and 50 today. Naturally, we will be getting 5-10 inches of snow tonight and it will be back down to the 20's tomorrow.

Will they take any rod? I've looked at the flyer before and it says that the rod has to retail for $50-$75 to get the $10 off. If it's $30-$50 they'll give you $5. I haven't done it before so I am just going off the flyer. I do have some old, cheaper rods, but I don't know if they'd give me anything for them. Either way, though, the rods would be going to a good cause.

I generally focus on dark colors (black/blue/purple) and natural colors (green pumpkin/brown). Most of my soft plastics variations on these two color categories.