lmbfisherman

My advice, save 20-30 bucks more and buy a BPS brand reel. - BPS Pro Qualifier when it is on sale for 79.99 or BPS Bionic Reel..save the headache. I only heard of the Aird and I wouldn't recommend it..as for Quantum I would never recommend anything below a Quantum Energy PT.

Loomis GLX Rep Sample - Google it, get the 894C or 895C or 854C if you like to stay below 7'5. I own the 894C and 854C hands down awesome 1/2 oz and up is the sweet spot. Love it, light and has the backbone to get that fish in the boat. I always hear the sweet spot from Loomis is the GLX and NRX, everything below is meh. I do own a GL2 I got for a real good deal (893C), definitely not GLX sensitive for sure, I'd say just average but the biggest plus was how comfortable it was to fish with (handle). You can get the GLX around that budget of you have. I don't tend to buy all high end rods, but when it comes to bottom contact, I will put the money there. I didn't go with the NRX because it was not on sale, plus I found I liked the feel and looks of the GLX slightly more. Still I might pull the trigger before the end of the year on a 893C NRX or 895 NRX.

I'd go with a Cumara 1st Generation if you don't like the newer ones. The difficult part would be if you could find one. I guess I never noticed an issue with my M/F 6'10" BC, it has a Citica G7 on it and had no issues with the reel wiggling or not fitting snug. I also would second the Aetos, I like this line of rods over my Avids. I have Curado 200E7 on a 7'6" H/F rod, very good sensitivity. Maybe take your reel and mount it before you purchase. I can get them for 139-149 around where I am and I'll say this with confidence. I think they fish just as well as my Cumara 1st gen. (I own 2 Cumaras) I love both lines equally. So either one would be good for what you are looking for.

I understand, no harm or no offense was just clarifying out he was asking in general about Fenwick rods. I just think the Aetos rod is a sleeper and I like them a lot as well as my Smallmouth Elite Techs. I own BC of each line and Spinning of each line. I do like the Aetos BC rods better though than the ETs, the handle seems more comfortable to use and fish with. Still not a knock on the ETs. Anyway, to the OP you won't be disappointed, but be sure to check'em out ultimately as they maybe great for me..for you, you may have a different preference. They are sensitive, strong and light.

kickerfish1 beg to differ, the Fenwick Aetos line has what he's looking for. I have a H/F I use for heavy jigs, I will probably be getting a MH in a couple more months. Very good rods and perform just as well and slightly better sensitivity than the Elite Techs. They have the same blanks as the Elite Techs, but different resin.

The 893 is said to be the best rod for all of what you are looking for. I tend to agree with you though if I'm fishing from the shore I like a shorter rod. I own the GLX 853C the newest version, it can do what you are asking above too. It is a tough choice though. If I am only fishing from the bank, I'd probably get the 853 as it's better suited since it is shorter.

Yeah I hear that, not sure I'd eat anything out of the pond though. Even though they came from the river nearby, just a lot of geese and the water looks nice and gross.

They are Northern Pike, no pickerel in the waters here. They do have big ones in the pond lurking, I lost one about 10' from shore...I would've been in the 36"-40", it would've been a PB. That was for sure a fight.

Another vote for PQ.

I hate geese, the local pond I fish frequently has the ground covered. No way to avoid really, so I wear crappy shoes or boots. Not to mention they like to come close to you as you fish because people freaking feed'em thinking I'm trying too! Nasty buggers.

Around cover like that, I would go texas rigged (dropshot) on a baitcaster. Use a 1/0 light wire or 2/0 and texas rig, voila weedless. Pitching a dropshot around trees work very good. I do it all the time (Especially if I didn't bring my flipping/pitching rod). I also will use 1/8 or 1/4 oz drop shot weight, but they are the clip on kinds, so if the weight gets hung up I lose the weight only and put another on.

Then don't use them in that situation...sounds like frog time or weightless flukes/plastics and definitely punching. I'd agree with everyone else, pinch the barb! and if they choked it, cut off the hook.

6'8" Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth M/XF - Spinning GLX 853 - BC (7'1 - MH/XF) 7'6" Fenwick Aetos H/F BC

Now that sounds interesting. I never tried it, but the shakey head idea sounds like a better idea since it is similar in technique (setting the hook). Well closer than a jig, but I guess you could use a finesse jig. Like another person stated, you wouldn't know which presentation they went for. The wacky rigged and DS sounds interesting too, but wonder how that would effect the lures on the fall. There are a number of times my DS never gets to the bottom and I would have a fish on. I guess only way to know how effective it would be is to try it out.

haha, yeah that is the boring part of fishing senkos. But only wave to the jet skier? I mean most of them are so curious and friendly they come right next to you and cause the biggest wake at you, just to smile and say hi to you. You are a nice guy, cause usually I give them the bird.

x2, you can use it anywhere really. Heavy cover, deep open water, shallow...no limits! I've caught many bass albeit no big ones yet (over 3lbs) using a DS along the shoreline from a boat or on shore.

Yeah definitely will try it, Super Fluke is my favorite! So I'm sure this has to work!

No matter what, I have never caught a bass or any fish with a senko from 4" to 6" at this pond I fish. In fact any worm plastics I have never caught a fish there. Now if you put on any other creature or fish imitation looking bait (fluke, craws..etc) you can always catch'em. I tried again using a trick worm wacky style and nothing, not even a sunfish nibble. This pond is pressured big time by worm and bobber fisherman, so that maybe the reason. So yeah there is those exceptions!

Never had a fish break a reel like that to me, but in June my Abu Garcia 302i spinning reel (cheapo) drag was broken by my PB largemouth (5lber). Ever since that fight the drag doesn't tighten well at all. Replaced it with a Stradic 2500 FJ instead of fixing it.

I agree with the bigger ones 30" or higher, but the dinks are like pulling weeds in...no fight. Not as fun as bass!

It isn't something I like to do, I usually catch and release everything I catch. (Well that are native) If I caught a carp, which I haven't done yet..would instantly be fertilizer. (It's encouraged obviously) In some waters here it is "encouraged" by the local Ministry of Natural Resources to keep "pike". I'm just worried that the pike population has gone too high. The walk to the river is a good distance, so it would be a hassle to do what is suggested. I'll probably just let it go and see what happens. I guess whatever happens, happens. Real shame if the pike has taken over.

So, as of late when I haven't had a good block of time to go out in my canoe or inflatable..I would hit this local pond. Last year at this time I was catching more bass than pike (0). However, this year my pike catch rate went up 3200% (32 this year, none last year) and I've been skunked a few times with no bass at all. So I'm beginning to ponder, has the pike taken over? I'm not exactly sure how big the ponds are but my guess is about 4-5 acres. There is a smaller pond next to it that is 2-3 acres, they are both connected to the main river system and share a causeway all between each other (Big to Small to River) Also the smaller pond is connected to a creek that eventually empties into the river. There is also smaller pond above the biggest pond that feeds the bigger one with another causeway. Anyway, both ponds have largemouth/smallmouth, pike, crappies, sunfish, perch, catfish, grass carp and lots of crawfish. Basically whatever the river has, so does pond. The ponds are man made, you can only shore fish because for some reason you aren't allowed to boat at all (canoe or otherwise). Last year I was catching fish around the 1-3 lb mark (mostly largemouth) and didn't catch one pike last year. This year, I've been catching left and right pike in the range of 12"-20". From catching 0 all last season to catching 32 the last 3 weeks seems a little odd. All of them in that range, I know they have big ones lurking in there (lost one while using a spinnerbait about 10ft of shore, would've been my biggest ever). Also I haven't caught any 1-2 lbers at all this year from this pond. All of the bass have been (10) 3-4 lbs, when it was tougher last year to catch a 3lbr. Not that I'm complaining that I'm catching bigger bass, but what happened to the smaller bass? I was chatting with a few of the other regulars and they've been saying the same thing. They are catching lots of small pike, hardly any bass at all. Now I have been fishing this pond for 5 years, but majority of that was worm and bobber (before I learned last season to all the wonderful bass techniques). So I don't have a big history of catching a lot of bass there. Still, I am wondering why such a big difference in my pike catch rate. If I'm to guess I'm sure the upped pike population has the dinks shy away and why only the bigger bass only have been caught. (Maybe my skills have improved so much, I can get the bigger ones now.) I've been using a Super Fluke, Spinnerbaits (white/cht), jigs with craw trailers, and dropshot with power minnows. Once the ponds get matted I'll use a frog and start flippining/pitching into pockets. For your reference on what I'm doing. So is this a sign that the pike have dominated the water and chasing the bass away? I've been fishing my normal spots that usually produce..weed lines, points, tree cover, quick drop offs (3ft to 6ft) and coves. Should I be worried about the future of this pond and the bass? (Place isn't managed by anyone right now, it's in limbo). I was contemplating instead of releasing the small pike in "good condition", instead I was thinking of mortally wounding them, then release. Would that be wrong? (Sunday morning 6 pike no bass in less than 2 hours) All on a super fluke.

I can only give you experience on my Veritas, it was one of my favorite rods last season. I own the 7'3" MH/F it now serves as my backup all around rod, it is a great multi-purpose rod that can handle anything I ask it too. From frogging/flipping and pitching and was sensitive enough for jigs/worms.

Fenwick is pretty quick to respond to queries too. I've sent queries to Shimano and St Croix before. It always took a day or two to get an answer, Fenwick/Pure Fishing literally answered my emails within a hour. I'd like to know how you broke the tip too? I guess it's possible during shipment your rod may have gotten damaged.

I have an old Mitchell Outback spinning reel. It is my bobber/worm fishing setup or when I bring a friend along with me setup. Nothing wrong with it, but since I own higher quality reels (Shimano Stradic FJ (2) and Symetre) it isn't the same. I use to own a Mitchell Spidercast round reel, which was a very solid reel..no complaints just didn't compare to my Calcutta when I had one. Even if I decided to buy a low end cheapy for my daughter it would probably not be a Mitchell. I'd pick a Pfleuger or Shimano in the low end category.