Alpha Male

Your budget will determine the quality and quantity of your gear. I personally have about 20 setups. learn to use what you have first before you get into worrying about getting more. what you have will do just about everything a bass fisherman needs. I have multiple setups ready to go so that I can change baits in 2 seconds. as you are starting out you will need to cut the line and re-tie if you want to change baits.

I have been using sufix elite with impressive results.

I rig most of my fluke style baits this way with a 3/32nd oz vmc hook. The action of the tail is amazing to watch.

Yes it will hold a bass. The gx2 rods are supposed to be alot better than the orginals. And and rod and reel that gets you fishing is good enough. Tight lines.

Get the lews. I have a bb1 and a tournament pro and they are great reels. I didnt care for the tatula i owned. Every other reel i have has 3 bearing on the spool shaft but the tatula only has 2. there wasnt one between the pinion and the spool. Does that mean its trash? No, just seems less refined to me for the price of it.

You guys all say to have nothing on your line... I always use a snap swivel with a weight.

Yep. You can also use that medium for jerkbaits and that med-heavy for spinnerbaits/chatterbaits. These 2 rods mentioned are my goto rods.

I was at gander mountain and randomly found a gander mountain guide series 4' ML casting rod. It was 50$ that fits your criteria.

If its happening on the cast it seems like the AR bearing wouldnt cause that. Is it happening during free spool? If so is the clutch bar reengaging? My father has an older abu garcia that does that once and a while.

I hope it works out for you. I looked at it briefly but it seemed that the negatives were too many for me. Its thicker than braid per rated strength, its not clear like mono or fluoro, and its meant for spinning gear. I feel there are better options.

It probably got spooled with twist. the best think you can do now is to put a swivel on with a weight and let out 90% of your spool and re-spool it that way.

I have the rapale one as well and its a good scale for cheap. and its accurate, I tested it at work with a postage scale and also the scale we use for putting freon into AC units. the weight matched exactly on all 3!

currently the lightest is 8# Fluoro and I dont plan on going any lighter.

It sounds like youre asking us to be your baitmonkey!

Really...Really I have to be the one to say it? All those other replies and I have to say it? Fine.... FISHING Congrats!

get the E-clip situated and use a small flathead screwdriver. DO NOT use the flathead as a straight down like you would for a screw, instead use the flat SIDE of the blade so that the handle is pointing away from the reel. using gentle force to hold the clip in place with the hand holding the screwdriver now use your other thumb as a fulcrum and exert the force with the hand holding the screwdriver handle. This works with ease. If you dont know exactly what I mean let me know.

I had a smoke and it was a good reel but i think the tournament pro is the better reel.

Cabelas ad that i got in the mail today says "select" lc lures up to 55% off. Not sure about pointers though.

I decided to go with the hedgehog tool and its not all that sturdy but I was not impressed by the pliers either.

I cant say that my backhand is pretty either but I have gotten better. I fish from the front of the boat because my father-in-law doesnt want to deal with operating the trolling motor, suits me fine since I get the motor and the bigger lowrance unit, but because I use a 7' pole most of the time its too close to him to cast on the right side of the boat so I have had to practice the backhand. like geog said you have to practice and do not force it. and the most important tip i can give you it to never pass up a spot that you think holds a bass!

HA! Last weekend here in MN it was 70...then at 6pm last night it started snowing and 4 hours later we had 10"

It must depend in the bass because I regularly eat bass that i catch here on central MN. I do release bass over 3ish pounds, those are the ones that tend to taste worse anyways. I do the same with all species here in MN, walleye over 3-4lbs, I keep northerns between 4-10lbs, and any panfish with the effort of filetting gets eaten. If any fish are injured while catching them they go into the livewell and if theyre still alive when Im done then they go back. In the fall i teld to stock up in the fall a bit and between all species I have 10 meal size bags of fish for my wife and I. they are gone now so now that the ice is going out its time to get some panfish. And thats why in MN bass season doesnt open until may 9th, and thats only a Catch and release season, you cant keep a bass until 2 weeks later and thats early. usually its memorial weekend.

oh man... those things are awesome.... how much?

well...****...that was easy...

I look at it this way...If i can cast 30ish yards then I want about 60-75 yards of mainline. that allows for the cast, any medium runs from fish and a few yards of extra for cutting and re-tieing. I say medium runs because "most" fish, are not strictly looking to get away rather they are looking to get to cover or find some way to get the hook out. EDIT: It also really depends on the spool of line. 300yards of braid for me is going to do 3 reels. 200yards of fluoro also 3 reels. to me anything under 50 yards of mainline is too little and I worry about running into the backing and that is one thing i dont want. if I can spend 200$+ on a reel and the same on a rod im not going to worry about shorting myself on good line.