rippin-lips

I've been using 2 of their spinning reels for years now. They're very popular in the fly fishing world. Actually been around for a while.

I have an okuma evx 7' med. It's a great little rod for the money. I use it for both of those techniques that you mentioned.

Mine is the jerkbait. Never caught a fish on one. I've tried it throughout the year and it just won't produce a bite. I hear so much good stuff about them. I've read up on them and tried different cadences as far as jerks/twitches/pause times ect.

The larger the diameter mono, the less backing it takes to fill the spool. Like mentioned I try to match the line diameters when I do it. Usually #12 or #10 mono will match up with #50 braid and #12-16 fluorocarbon. I've done it enough that I basically know where to stop on the spool to give me 70 yards of good line. If you are new to this then fill it to about 1/8" from the lip. Tie on a 1/2oz trap and go bomb a cast somewhere in you yard or a field. Mark your spot where you casted from. Walk up and get your lure and then walk it back spooling line out. Then just pull off a few arms lengths and tie on your good line. You'll have enough to get you through the season unless you waste a lot on reties or get a bad backlash.

As long as he uses the rubber band then yes you can slide them on a punch hub.

Not with the T rig. A weightless senko on a T rig is probably the biggest staple in bass fishing that I can think of,it just works. Usually very well at that. I throw a rage craw on a T rig with a 3/16 tungsten weight and have great success with it.

^^^ $49.99 at the fish ranger

For a 7yr old the president combo will be just fine. I used a $50 combo when I first got back into fishing because I wasn't sure if I'd still enjoy it as much as when I was a kid. Caught plenty of fish on it. I still keep it hanging in the back window of my truck on the rack in case I discover a new body of water.

This is why I just pack it up this time of year. Nothing exciting about leaving a tube just sit on bottom and waiting for a bite. I prefer active fishing. Plus I'm not a fan of cold weather. Maybe try a shaky head trick worm this time of year.

I just typed in micro guides using the search function and it had plenty of threads about the topic. It's a very common reoccurring question. Maybe this will help. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/120858-micro-or-standard-guides/?fromsearch=1

The tatula can be had for under $120 from that popular auction site we all love to hate.

Ti max Endurance Max Inferno Diesel Considering the endurance can be had for 139.99 all day I'm going to say the inferno will be right up there close to it. Especially since it's a new rod and some thought has went into it so it's competitive at it's price point. Heck the endurance and max were 109.99 for a good while. So what does that tell you? No place is going to sell a rod and lose money on it. The inferno will carry an over the counter warranty/exchange regardless of how it breaks for $30. I spoke with Keith on the phone over the summer when I had some questions. He told me that tackle tour would be reviewing their whole line up.

The diesel had no warranty because it was a $50 rod. By the time you pay shipping and whatever it cost for a replacement you could of just bought a new one.

You said mats and heavy cover in your initial post. I would not suggest any MH rod for that. You will want a heavy at least. Maybe even XH depending on the lure ratings. If you're punching mats then you'll be using 1oz+ weights plus then your punch hub "if you use them" and your bait. That goes over what any MH rod is capable of. The *** 7'3 H only goes to 1.5oz. This is where you have to figure out what best fits your needs. I would go XH if mats were my thing. Not sure how that's going to double as a frog rod though.

Well considering that wasn't the question he was asking. Try some common courtesy man. No need to try and be a salesman. Op I'm sure you'll be please with it. This is their introduction in to the $100 ish price point. So I'm sure they spent done time on developing this. Before it was the $50 diesel and then the max and endurance series for $150-170. Both are great rods. Though I'm not sure at full retail. Still trying to figure that part out. Even the diesel is a good stick for the money. It's a little heavy but not terrible.

Tackle hut

Yeah no testing for me at least until late March.

This is the problem I run into. Not exactly sure what things are worth. Reels it's not so bad because shipping is $10 max usually but for rods it's terrible. $125 rod and you ask $100 shipped. When it's over I get $70 for what I paid $125 for. I'd rather just keep it honestly.

Yeah that's my other concern. Typically it's #12 fluoro for my square bills. I've only lost a few. Less then 5 this season. I wonder if #20 mono would be ok for these 4-5" baits for bass. I might even try #30 braid at first. I guess it's a trail and error situation.

Yeah last outing I lost a brand new live target perch on my 3/4 cast. $15 lure gone in 5 min.

^^^ yes exactly. My home lake is filled with toothy critters. Luckily they've only managed to steal a few square bills and a live target jointed perch. I really don't wanna start donating 30-40 dollar swimbaits every outing. I just managed a giron for $13.50 off eBay so I'm excited to try it out. Currently I have a sebile 125 in natural shad coming and a giron in ghost bluegill. Plan on picking up a bbz-1 in killer gill and perch,S wave 120s in bone and perch and a mattlures U2 gill. That should be a good start I hope.

Is that the soft version or hard?

Yeah the price is good it's just 1 5/8oz. Currently too heavy. The 120 size would be ok. I'll give one a shot.

All of those aren't really in my price range. Except the spro 4/6" models and mattlures v2 gill. The other one that is like the hudd 6" is too heavy for my current rod. I was looking at videos of the savage gear baits earlier. They look nice.

Yes I've noticed already. I've been eying up the live target for a few weeks. I really like there stuff. The sebile I mentioned is a hard body "I think" They have soft ones too though. Anyone have good/bad thoughts on the reaction strike 4" baits? Right now I'm limited to 1oz until I get a designated swimbait rod which I see is probably going to happen. My 7'3 is rated to 1.5oz. The mattlures v2 bluegill is on my list for sure also.