IowaHusker28

At least once or twice a day. The amount of time varies a lot but right now there is ice on the water and the only thing I can do is make metal lists on things I want to buy, or get on and try to cure a little cabin fever. I am also guilty as being a reader than a poster but thats changing slowly.

Both of my crankbait rods have a 5:4:1 ratio and I've never had a problem. But that being said I do not like reeling slow, so burning baits is really no issue and I also don't get tired very easily but thats just me. Also I think I can speak for a lot of people here, If I could have a rod and reel for every possible bait, I'd be all over it.

I know its part of the sport having spectators on the water and its really awesome being able to watch your favorite pro fish a 100 feet in front of you but its the classic. I am personally a fan of not allowing people spectate. The negative effects have to out weigh the positives. I mean boat traffic for everyone, distractions, and I personally feel it makes it an un-even playing field and that reason right there is the biggest one. It has to be easier to fish when theres 2 people watching you compared to 50 boats around that you have to deal with. I would like to see strict spectator rules and somehow policing them. I don't know, I'm just spitballing here.

Like many other people here I use multiple rods for this, I have 2 crankbait rods and 1 jerkbait rod. For the medium and deep diving cranks I have 10# fluoro and one for square bills and other shallow running cranks that has either 14# to 17# flouro. My jerk bait rod has 8# flouro on it, I am not saying thats right or wrong I just like the sensitivity of flouro, especially in the early spring when your not jerking the lure constantly and letting it sit there but that may be just me justifying my wrong. But as your question asks, if I had to have one rod to do everything. I would probably be using 10-12 flouro. Its strong enough to rip cranks through different cover and such, its very sensitive, and you don't sacrifice the action of a jerkbait too much, if any, stepping up 2 or 4 pounds in line. (2 to 4 for me)

I am also one that is actually excited. The water is still frozen and spending money on things that I can't use for another month at least is something I always enjoy. I'm also going to snag one or two of those $100 Curados and go to a few seminars.

Add another Power Pro down but I also like the suffix 832. I've tried many others but PP will always be the go to. IMO it has the best all-round qualities such as casting, strength, and I also found it doesn't fray as easy.

I am also on the boat of the composite rods, part glass, part graphite. I am fan of the composites rather than the full glass because the graphite does help with feel a bit more than just straight glass. I use both the 7' and the 7'6" Veritas winch rods, which are composites. The 7' for shallow cranks and square bills and the 7'6" for the deep divers. The parabolic bend really does keep tension on the hooks and helps you land the fish. Not to mention the casting distance is pretty sweet and just an added bonus. I've fully bought into the idea for glass in the cranking world.

Put down another for the top water bite. There's not many things like horsing out a big one from the weeds on a frog or walking the dog lures on schooling fish, catching 6 fish in just as many casts is SWEET!

Megabass Destroyer x7 rod Abu Garcia Revo MGXtreme Reel

I haven't eaten a bass in years and really do nothing but catch and release. I honestly don't really remember the taste but I don't really like any kind of fish for that matter. I prefer my meat red and bloody

Choppy day on the water turned into tearing up a lower unit, prop, ect. I don't like to talk about it. Not one of my finest moments.

On the Website! Go to the "fishing articles" tab and go down to "fish facts". But I love watching seminars on youtube, not only about the fish but seminars that the pros speak. If you ever have the chance to attend one wether it be at BPS or at some event I highly recommend it. Also watching the Pro Patterns vids and just paying more attention to detail when its on tv or other video can make a huge difference on what you can pick up. But the Pro Patterns videos are AWESOME.

I use a the 6'6" St. Croix Mojo Bass jerkbait rod with the fast tip. I freaking love it but its $110, only $10 over but never the less. Its a great rod for the money. I've tried a 7' rod but I just feel you have more control on 6'6" rod. It may be because I'm not the tallest but I do love the 6'6" medium, it also keeps the trebles in really well while using the light line. But like everyone said above its all about personal preference and thats just what works for me!

Fun fishing is just about anytime I'm out on the water, wether it be myself or with my buddies or my dad. I love it all, and I love the competitiveness of a tournament or some kind of competition. Catching that big bass/big bag in a tournament or in a friendly wager that is what really gets my heart going. About 95% of the time I am all about catching bass and going out there to catch the biggest and most but, I'll fish the crappie spawn or maybe some junk pond fishing. But If your catching fish with your friends and family theres never a bad time on the water!

Thanks guys! This trip is looking more and more promising every minute. Just a quick question what are the water temps like down there during the end of March? You guys spawn? or just before or after? Although I was born in Omaha and am a die hard Husker fan, I go to Iowa State. Grew up in Iowa....but as for the tourney thats news to me. Ill look into it thanks!

I was just letting you guys know that have a Scheels around them that they are having a few leftover and pre season sales! I picked up a Quantum PT30 for 70 bucks! originally $170... might even go back today and snag a new rod. I love saving money and finding quality deals I just felt like thats mutual for a lot of people.

The purposes for line, ratio, length of rod, and power. It was a combo deal and knowing what I know now I have no clue why I was doing what I was doing. If one thing makes up for it, learning from trial and error is not always a bad way to learn! Also though have a purpose for buying it, when I bought my first it was complete spur of the moment buy and yet I still blame my first baitcaster for my addiction to this thing they call bass fishing. That part I wouldn't do different!

Haha! well the "previous plan" that fell through was Panama City, and I was looking forward to that, Cancun was also in discussion but I mean a break from school and fishing is never a bad thing. Like I said before this all on the table Its nice to have multiple ideas to choose from. As for drinking and chasing tail who says you have to be on a beach?

Heck yea Texas, Alabama, and Georgia are all open to consideration at this point! This is just an idea up in the air right now that I just started throwing around to a few people, my other spring break plans fell through. So my thought process is why not get a good week of fishing in and go somewhere that is worth the trip. I've actually never fished for bass anywhere below the Tablerock line and I've been dying to these last few years. I'm trying to hit 3 birds with one stone here; fish somewhere I've never been, hold off the cabin fever until our thaw, and have a great week of fishing! Also getting out of below freezing temps would be nice.

So being from Iowa I hate the winter (Other than the Hunting) and my fishing cabin fever is hitting pretty hard right now to say the least. I've watched old FLW's and old Elite episodes and I'm a little upset that I watched all the old MLF's last year. Anyway getting to the point, I have spring break from March 15th-23rd and I am thinking about heading south to get some fishing in, and even if its slow its better than nothing. The only thing is, I have no clue what the fishing is like during this time period down yonder. My question is leaving out Cali and Florida lakes, if you had to pick 2 or 3 lakes to go to in this time period where would you go and why? Thanks in advance!

I also hate the taste of fish. From the flakyness to the smell and taste, other than the catching part I do and could go without fish year round!

Actually happened 2 weeks ago. Grabbed my spinning rod and without noticing it wasn't all the way out of the rod locker, I closed it and snaped about 6 inches but that isn't the worst part. ticked off already I grabbed by almost brand new Veritas and did the same thing breaking it from a 7'3 to a 6'6. In other words my ticked off stupid mistakes cost me 170 bucks in 2 minutes.

I was a Sprint customer and have now switched to Verizon. After switching I now know what I was missing and am asking myself why we didn't switch years ago. The customer service is 10x better than that of sprint and the coverage is better also. I honestly have no complaints with Verizon while I could write a small book about sprint.

Shaw at Okeechobee and Todd Faircloth and KVD any where they want to go.

Martens fishes the Elites, but no doubt Ehrler is one heck of a fisherman and winning the first MLF says something. Imo I would think that the overall competition in BASS is better than FLW but that is just my thoughts, not taking anything away from FLW because anyone of them could out fish me anyday. Also in the thought of fishing both I was thinking more choose one or the other and then fish MLF.