Smokinal

Thank you everyone. I sure does feel like home. This place has a good vibe about it. I think I'll take my coat off and stay a while.

Boy, it depends on a few things. If it's tourney day, and I'm confident on a point, ledge, ridge etc...then I may stay hours soaking a jig waiting for them to turn on. Usually, though, I'm a run-n-gun. Usually I have many spots on a given body of water so if I don't get bit in 10, I'm out. And that doesn't mean I won't come back to that same spot in 2 hrs and check it again. I guess I believe that if they're there and willing to bite, they will bite right off the bat.

I absolutely can't stand memory so I use braid on every rig I own. Fluoro leaders when fishing around rock or clear water. The other reason is, I don't have a hookset like David Ortiz so the no stretch helps my hookup ratio.

That's hard core WNY! And MaineBass, what time are we meeting at Kezar this Sunday?

I have a Pro Qualifier as well...love it. As far as the rod goes, I'll tell ya, for the $, I feel the Skeet Reese 7'2" Jig/Big Worm rod is the best bang for the buck. I'll be honest with you and say that I have owned mostly cheap rods ($30-$60) so this was the first rod of any quality I have owned. I own a Skeet S-Glass cranking rod and love that rod too. I'd be interested in hearing some other member's feedback too. edit: whatever you do, don't get an AllStar. I've had 3 break on me...

X2 on the feeling the fluff. It takes practice and a light touch but you will feel it. Def start out with an easy casting, heavier bait like a trap. I bucked baitcasters for 25 yrs and finally wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Now, I only throw a spinning rod about 3% of the time. If I could add a tip, that would be to not get a cheap rig and try to learn with it. A cheap reel will not cast well and will leave you more frustrated with the whole procedure. Be confident that you will learn it and get a quality setup. It will actually make the learning easier.

Are you kiddin! I, too, fish until the water gets too hard to launch the boat. Actually, we have had to break through ice around the edges to get out before. Last Sunday, water was 58-59, next time I can get out is Nov 3rd and I expect water to be 54-55. This will be prime red craw trap water and jerkbait water. In the 5-6 hrs I'll fish both mornings I should boat between 15-25. I may throw a Rage Space Monkey on a football head and that will get me a few as well. From there, as water temps fall, the monkey, jig and jerk will be the baits until ice in...and fish will still be caught up until then! Get out there! You just gotta fish slow and try a lot of different presentations until you find what works. And a jerkbait is quite possibly the best cold water bait you could throw.

So I recently got a 7'-2" Skeet Reese jig/worm rod with micro guides. I throw jigs year round as my confidence bait and like Super Slick with a fluoro leader. Well my knot used to go through my larger eyes much easier than they go through these mico guides. I have tried straight fluoro and can't handle the memory/birdsnests compared to the braid (which gives me none). So, does anyone use a leader with micro guides and what knot are you using to connect?

While I do agree that certain presentations may work better with a specific type and weight line, I have gone to all braid with a fluoro leader and catch the bejeesus out of em. I use 20lb Power Pro Super Slick on all baitcasters and 10lb Super Slick on my spinning setups. I vary my fluoro leader depending on bait. On my jig/worm rod I use 17lb, topwater I don't use a leader, or with a spinnerbait. On my spinning rods I use 10lb fluoro leaders. most others O use 12lb leader. And I typically use a blood knot to connect.

Hi Folks, new to the site. 44, been fishing since I was 10. Looking forward to giving and receiving tips and info with you.