Master Bait'r

I'll tell you what, for a really cheap rod those Berkley Amps have always impressed me. Find yourself a one piece in the length and action you want and you've found a winner in my book. No better absolute entry level priced rods out there imo.

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone in this thread who has made me feel like I don't have a problem hahaha My philosophy is thus: if I only keep a half dozen combos or so, it doesn't look that bad- she has no idea how expensive they are so she doesn't know I could have a dozen combos for the price of 3, she just knows I'm "trying to keep it under control"

I use 10lb SX1 with a Curado 51e & abec7's with literally no issues. When I first started out it took a little getting used to but I would not go back or change anything now. It casts a mile, is plenty strong and is wonderful for weightless plastics- stuff I could never throw on my 30lb braid setup. So yeah, not sure I'd go any lower than 10# just because it's plenty fine in diameter for my tiny/light stuff, but 10 is fine if you've got a 50 spool.

Anything 5+ is totally validating of all our ridiculous obsession... Once you've pulled one in, it all makes sense

Ugh... Awesome fish but skinny most often means a belly full of plastics. She probably won't live too much longer unfortunately.

I actually go to their factory store as it's in the same city as my favorite steamed cheddar burgers and who doesn't like to double dip!? Awesome people who are super nice over at LC for sure and if you just order direct from them, they usually give you something free too. Their plastics are tough, and the actions are second to none

Bettencourt makes a jointed rat that is actually covered by rabbit fur. It looks amazing and is much cheaper than most comparable baits.

I dare you to make a video of yourself using said $300 purse to hold tackle trays. "HEY BABE YOU'RE RIGHT!! I DO FEEL TOTALLY FABULOUS OUT HERE! THAT $60 TACKLE BACKPACK HAS GOT NOTHIN' ON THIS!!" There will probably be a fresh tackle box waiting for you haha

Well in your defense, you're a bird of prey and if you don't get the fish, well... You just die. Totally understandable.

Yup! Sick of not having any bacon sandwiches. *hint hint*

Well that's threefold for me 10lb SX1 for light topwater weightless finesse stuff 30lb SX1 for smaller frogs/wakebaits 50lb FX2 for big frogs and chunky walking baits etc.

I think it's more of an ebb and flow for me. I get into something, I stock up on the baits of that flavor that intrigue me, I use it all and get rid of everything but my favorites and reinvest that cash into stocking up on variants of said favorites. Then I pick up another niche bait, fall in love with making it work and getting good at it and the cycle repeats itself. It's a vicious cycle but I love it.

Is that where you send the fish a provocative picture in the hopes they'll just jump right in the boat to party?

OP it sounds like you should get some ozmos. They're creature baits and I swear the bass help me invent new variations by lopping stuff off haha... If it comes back missing something, you just cut off a few other things and make it something new- which actually can help draw another strike IME.

I fish so I don't go on killing sprees. Seriously, I get so sick of people in general I need time by myself to hit the reset button and if I go too long without getting out there I go nuts- I get irritable, ornery and stay in a pretty pisspoor mood n general. The same goes for skiing, but in that respect it's tenfold- if there's a storm hitting and I'm not on a chairlift, I am one bitter, despondent person haha it's pretty much to the point where work doesn't want me there if it's snowing. I need my pursuits to feel like a balanced individual. I can't just work and work and work without getting away and doing my thing at least semi-regularly. Even my gf is like "d**n, you sound like you could use a few hours on the water" at times, bless her soul.

Probably because you go through them so fast, they know you won't be resealing the bag haha

Jeremy Wade is that you?!

See I found 832 to be extremely unstable and I didn't like it. The coating and color wear off almost instantly and then it's completely different. PP feels softer, more limp and more sort of silky & cloth-like, but it's abrasion resistance was poor IME. Also it was almost white after one day. I don't like that. I've moved away from coated braids to non coated- namely SX1 & FX2- they're more stable, more color fast and don't seem to be any different a month into usage than it is right out of the package. 832 a week on the spool is nothing like 832 when it's new and I don't like degradation I can see over the course of a day. It freaks me out. Next braid I'm buying though will be the Toray/Bawo in 55#. Simply because it is reportedly much quieter, which I would like to have on my froggin' rod as it has recoils and can be a bit noisy. Otherwise I absolutely LOVE SX1 & FX2. Outstanding lines!!

I don't even... How the?!! Are you some kind of wizard??

I absolutely love that! How old is he? I've been bringing my gf's 8yo son out fishing for bass and he has become obsessed after he landed a big pickerel on his first ever cast from a boat and I showed him how to hold a bass by the lip. It's awesome to see them anxious for the next tip or trick in hopes that he can have a "bass thumb" day haha. For a young boy's attention span to be riveted for that long, you know they're into it! But the endless stream of infinitely more complex questions... That takes a little bit of getting used to!

Agreed! Not to mention no bugs, cool temps and big fat fish gorging for the long winter. I love fishing in the fall, but hate it when the pads all die off. Fishing just isn't the same without heavy cover to play with.

CL8 mouse I hate to say it but the wiggle wog has produced a ton for me as well. It's very fun to work through weeds, it makes a huge racket and big fish go nuts. Really REALLY want a Bettencourt jointed squarebill rodent too- the action on those is crazy.

I don't understand how people seem unable to simply turn the handle slower.

KILL IT WITH FIRE BEFORE IT SPREADS!!!

Or a Pickerel for that matter! Goodbye fingers!!