Chris at Tech

Looking forward to it!

How heavy a cover? My first reaction is that you'll want a 4-power rod, 704/734/744. Obviously, feel is important for those techniques, so I'd recommend you at least get the Champion series

I hope you can deal with the pressure of being the "go to guy" to put us all on fish I expect zip-pow like map review sessions on a nightly basis.

Nice! I'm heading to SC this weekend and have a few inshore trips booked. I'd love to come home with some cobia to grill again.

No difference in sensitivity between 20 and 30 lb braid. To me, the 20 handles a little better on a 2500 sized spinning reel. The likely reason that the braid is more effective is the lack of stretch compared to mono. The braid wasn't as sensitive as mono? I've never heard that one before

This is for a spinning reel, right? If so, go with 20lb. It handles great on spinning reels. Yes, I'd say mono is a bit more abrasion resistant than braid.

Though I've never used the stuff, I don't hear much good about Vanish fluoro. If you are going to try fluoro, i'd recommend Berkley 100%, BPS or Seaguar. What's scary to you about braid? I think going from mono to braid would be an easier transition than mono to fluoro due to the handling differences. Fluoro, especially new, has a tendency to jump off your reel. Braid, on the other hand, lays flat and has no memory. If you're concerned about the visibility of braid, learn to add a mono/fluoro leader via a uni-to-uni knot and you're good to go. Regarding a rod choice -- I know you don't seem to care for M-powered spinning rods, but St Croix rods are generally stronger than their ratings shows. For the jig size and cover you mentioned, a M/F or a M/XF St Croix Avid would get the job done nicely.

How big a jig, and in what type of cover?

Don't just look at the trees themselves -- choose the trees that are associated with some structure. Target the areas that have something different. By that, I mean trees that are on a point, near a depth change, near a creek channel, etc

Well, I will say that if you returned the rods to Shimano yourself, you would have been in the communication loop to make sure the replacement rod you were being sent met your needs.

Sure, it's possible. Generally, I fish worms in grass with as light a weight as I can. My "go to" rig is a trick work on a 1/16 oz slider head. Just enough to sink to the top of the grass without getting too deep into the grass.

Because it's generally easier for folks to throw lighter weights on spinning gear. It can be done on baitcasting, but it requires more practice, and in some cases, some higher-end equipment to better deal with such light weights.

Go with a classic look, not trendy. IE stay away from the skinny tie.

I'm no expert, but I'm not aware of any way to pick your placement for the location of the hookset. All you can do is feel the bite, reel in the slack and swing on the fish. Perhaps the hook is not the issue. Are you taking in enough slack? Are you swinging hard enough?

I know the feeling. Had a few Rage Craws lose their appendages on the Road Trip. Left me with a nifty new trailer though, the Rage Turd

Too much Jim Beam during college is bringing back bad memories. These days I'll reach for Knob Creek or Basil Hayden's.

I agree. A little more info on desired price range would help tremendously.

OK, OK -- they're bass. But your 5-drum limit was even bigger than that stringer!

Come to think of it, can anyone else confirm Rhino's story about the 6lb smallie, 5lb spot and 4lb smallie? I'm betting they were actually drum, bowfin or pickeral. That's one heck of an Al Lindner limit!

So does the acronym now become OGHPF?

So after reading some more G-ville fishing reports for the last week, I've decided that next year I'll be coordinating my own roadtrip. I'll be going wherever the official BR road trip takes place, but either a week before or a week after. That seems to be a sure recipe to find a lake that's on fire!

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Don't overthink it. Select the sinker weight by the depth of the water and don't worry so much about sinker shape.

Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets can get along for one day a year!

Several options here... 1) use thicker line. Cranks dive deeper with narrower line, and shallower with thicker line 2) raise/lower your rod tip to help control dive depth. In this case, keep raising your rod tip until you get the desired bottom contact 3) get a shallower running crank