bazzelite19

To make it simple, muddy is 6"<, stained is 6"-2', slight stain is 2'-4', and clear to me is 4'+.

I usually lock my drag down, but with crankbaits i may back the drag off some, maybe 1/2 theline rating. Bit for the most partvif a fish surges I just disengage the thumb bar.

Use KVD line and lure conditioner and Blakemore reel magic. Don't stick your rod in the water that just makes them freeze quicker after you take it out. Also, never oil your reels right before you fish because they will gum up. As for line i think there is brands out there that are made for subfreezing temperatures, google em

The wright and mcgill teserra rods are pretty cheap technique specific rods and perform nicely. You could go with the Short MAG crankbait, the crankbait, or IMH the spinnerbait/worm is actually a good squarebill/ medium diver rod because it is very parabolic. I would go with the spinnerbait/worm because it is thinner and lighter then the straight glass rods so it easier to make accurate casts to tight cover.

Since Fluoro/braid is so expensive (to me anyway) i usually spool in a 1/4 spool of cheap 12# mono, maybe more then that then fill the rest with my main line i'm gonna use. i just tie a uni to uni knot with only two wraps on each side, you don't want it to be bulky and you should already change the line before the knot comes out of the spool. that's what i do, it saves money in the long run and works for me.