michael68w

Yeah I guess some people think there's better things to do (absolutely crazy I know) that's part of the reason why I got on here. The learning is a big plus but so is getting new fishing buddies!

This has happened to me on a few occasions. I've even offered to pay for a fishing permit! There's been several times I've just went by myself it's still a good time but I like to have people around to talk to and share the experience with. If you were closer I'd take ya up on the offer lol

This guy! Diawa tatula type R and matched it with a Falcon Cara Amistad.

Day in and day out it would have to be a jig. Green pumpkin blue or black. I can use those two in any water clarity and at any time of the year and catch fish.

The gitzit is my go to tube bait! I have to order them from canyon plastics online. Still an awesome tube bait.

I feel it's all the marketing hype. It's about catching the fisherman now if it catches fish then it's a bonus. I know the slug go was huge at one point and died off only to be brought back around the time senko style bait got big.

A local fisherman caught a 10lb largemouth out of a lake i frequently fish that had a baby duck hanging out of its crushers. Def. one of the coolest things that i have heard of. I've heard a lot of stories of bass eating small birds, snakes, rats,mice, even baby alligator down in the everglades(not sure on that)

1. Slow down! 2. when you find cover don't look at it as one piece. Break it up into angles (like slicing a pie) and hit it from every point you can. 3. It does help to fish an area where big ones are known but certainly is not a requirement.You may be surprised at what lurks in smaller rivers, streams, ponds etc.

You have tons of good choices around 100-150.00. I havent used a BPS extreme but i have used a carbon lite that i got on sale for 79.99 and that's a great rod for the price. I feel there are better rods in the price range though. Take a look at the st.croix premier, falcon bucco, castaway skeleton. Thats a few great American made rods all within your price range. If you don't mind where its made then shimano crucials, powell endurance, dobyns savvy, are all great. I'm sure i missed several other good choices since there are so many in that price range. Best bet is go check em all out! Get a good feel for all of them and compare fit and finish as well as warranty. That being said i don't think you could go wrong with a single rod i mentioned.

I prefer aluminum frames so that's why i picked the tatula over the ballistic. The .4 oz difference in weight isnt so dramatic. The ballistic easier to palm but just isnt built as sturdy. Also as stated above Diawa has re worked the T wing system on the tatula and in my mind it just plain works better then those found on the ballistic. Both are awesome and both can be had at a reasonable price since the ballistics are still on sale but i will say that you can find the tatula new on Ebay for around 119.00 not sure how the prices are for the ballistics when it comes to ebay.

You could always try Missouri lol. Table rock really comes to mind but you wouldnt be far from bullshoals lake. We do have every kind of season though. Summers can get blistering hot and winters equally cold. But fishing can still bet done fairly comfortably up into mid November. Like a lot of lakes around the midwest area the best bass fishing is usually February to May but you can really have good fishing anytime of the year on the rock.

I agree! this is a beast of a rod. Its also what i learned to pitch and flip on so maybe i'm biased but the performance per dollar on top the fact that its a American made rod won me over. Its a true heavy rod but it def. isnt something that's uncomfortable to fish with and by no means is what they like to say " a broomstick"

I've had some great luck with them on 1/2oz football heads just dragging and hoping them around on the bottom. I've also had luck stroking them on ledges. 9 times out of 10 im fishing them in some sort of rock whether its chunk rock, bluff walls or rock ledges, pea gravel, boulders, etc. Then can also be really awesome to fish on deep water humps!

lots decent rods around that range but two that stand out the most to me would be the powell endurance or the crucial.

I'm still new to the jig scene and I usually fish footballs jigs (1/2-1oz) i jewel bait co. California reservoir jigs, and elk river.

Rage craw for sure then the paca chunk

I like the diawa tatula. I know it's MSRP is 149.99 but you can get them off eBay new for around 119 and that's a lot of reel for the cash.

Anytime man! I'm by no means an expert on anything but I always try and help. Good luck to ya!

by the name I take it you're big into smallies( me too it's an addiction like no other) add any quality 3-5in grub ( kalins is a heavy favorite but there's plenty of other good ones) and the 3-4inch tube bait. I fish both of those in mostly clear water and I stick to a few basic colors variations of green pumpkin, pumpkin pepper, melon seed etc. I usually buy tubes from canyon plastics or the BPS tender tube. Grubs I get from kalins but I have had good luck with Yamamoto, big bite, BPS. Jigs I like Jewel bait co, but I really like California reservoir jigs or elk river. I don't have a lot of time with spinnerbait or buzz baits so I can't help much in that department. Shallow cranks I like the KVD 1.5 I also like Norman fat boys for the money. Live target is my favorite overall for hard baits.

IMO the best rods in that price range are the st.croix premier and the falcon bucco. Both are American made and both by very reputable manufacturers. I'm not a big fan of the veritas but the carbonlite rods are pretty good for the money and can be found on sale for 79.99 when they go on sale. The st.croix mojo is nice if you don't mind the dark cherry or whatever they call the color. It's essentially the same blank as the premier just with a split grip and a tech. Specific line up. I can't comment on *** or Denali but I hear great things about both of those. Basically you have a ton of options available try and go out and get your hands on them all get the feel of them!

If budget is a concern INVISX is great for the money and so is the Berkley 100%. The only sunline i've used is the super natural mono so i cant say for their fluoro. IMO the best deal on the market right now as far as performance per dollar is INViSX or Berkley 100%. For a worm and jig set up id say #15-20 should do well.

Im kinda new to the jig fishing scene but the colors schemes that seem to work for me are the pretty standard colors:Browns and purples (pb&J and brown/purple flash) ANY variation of green pumpkin with my favorite being with blue flake. Then just plain old black with some purple, blue , or red flake. Im not real sure how important color is but i have seen some really wild custom jig colors especially some of elk rivers color patterns. I just pick the colors i have confidence in and 9.9 times out of 10 it winds up being some variation of what i posted i guess but hey more power to the guy who can go slam them on a bubblegum colored jig lol

I've used my fair share and my favorite by far is the original Gitzit tube(3.75in) by Canyon plastics in any variation of the brown melon color scheme(personal favorite is the brown melon with purple and copper glitter) Runner up would have to be the BPS tender tube in Green Pumpkin blue flake or the melon seed w/ green and purple flake.(3.5in) I normally use a 3/16oz Mark Zona tube jig and and just drag and hop em around on the bottom for smallies.

I have LIMITED exp. with the rc jerk and i like it. Great color selection and had no issues with them not running true or not suspending. Id change out the hooks and split rings but other then that i think its a great choice especially for the price.

I normally use spot remover but the are a little pricey i think. Ive had some good luck war eagle shakey head as well and its usually found at a better price, I picked up a package of strikeking shakey heads and really like them to. I dont think you can go wrong with anyones shakey head i guess its more of a personal pref but any of those three should work well for ya.