motodmast

I'd start the day with a reaction bait like a white spinnerbaits or a rattle trap if you get there early, try a top water! if the fish are active, they should be hitting those baits. If nothing, switch over to a jig and a Senko. Those should get bit. Good luck!

spend more on the rod than the reel, get a 20 size Pfleuger President (59.99) and then look for a rod. any rod thats ML with a F tip will work great. i like a 7' ML rod. but its up to you. just play around with the rods, make sure they balance good, are light and comfortable for you to use! also, if you run braid with a fluoro leader on your DropShot Setup, you will feel a LOT more. its makes those ML rods ultra sensitive.

remeber smallmouth basically live around rocks, whats around rocks? crawfish. there basically a no.1 food source for SMB, so look for hula grubs, or a drop shot with a 4" roboworm. how are you gonna be fishing for them? off shore? pitching to docks? a lot of that has a huge factor into what i will be throwing

i would fish small single tail grubs on a 1/4 or 3/16 jig head. maybe a casting dropshot setup. flukes, senkos, wacky rig

hummm sounds interesting

you mean carbon fiber? and was it the whole reel or just the handle?

There great rods for the money but a little to stiff for a top water rod for me. Great for plastics, spinnerbaits, jigs though.

hi, i was wondering if anyone has gotten to use these rods yet? i know there fairly new but figured someone on here has to have one... I haven't been able to find a review on them anywhere! they look like a great series of rods and I'm real interested in trying one. any reviews?

I have a *** that's just like that. Used it all season with no problems. Usually what that is, is the guide gets bent a little and where it flexes, it cracks the clear coat of paint they put on the rods around the guides. I think you'll be fine, but it's your rod.

Powell diesel Cranking rod. An excellent top water stick. On sale too.

I think you can combine the Phoenix and Powell 714 into the same rod. Pick one as they are basically the same.

Yeah *** are some good rods. And I believe the *** Green rods are there inshore series.

I use a ML for DropShot, and a M for a Shakeyhead. But what is the specs on your rod?

are you talking about the rods or reels? i love the rods. the reels look awesome as well, and i want to get my hands on one once they come out

post a pic, i would love to see them

Pm sent.

Does it help me catch more fish, probably not, but do I like it? Yes!!!

Braid is the best line for spinning reels IMHO. Doesn't twist, unravel itself, super easy to manage. And small diameter with high strength. I love it for a drop shot, super sensitive

I'm also very interested in it. Sounds like an excellent braid for both spinning and casting. I want some 20lb on my spinning rod, same as 6lb mono

Ok awesome, thanks for the info man

Anyone think I can toss a hudd 68 on my DX745? I know it's over the rods limit, but I'm fishing in open water and really don't feel like having to buy a new rod.. I'll only be throwing the hudd for a month or so during the pre spawn

Cool bigbill

I use my 745, which is basically the same rod and it works great

Powell Endurance 7'2 MHM, yes its a MH but Powell rods are lighter than listed, its graphite, is $199 retail but you can easily find them for $130-140 your not gonna find a better cranking rod for that price. and YES the handle is 13-3/4 now go buy it

maybe the mike long jig rod? its the DX784, its long and a good punching rod, but i do believe it has a soft tip? someome correct me if im wrong but it might have enought tip to make good casts with ligher flukes/senkos. also, like GAtorB said, what do you consider Punching?