Shockwave

This!!! As far as soft plastics go, keep something in green pumpkin nearby at all times. Good all around color.

What is it about the rods in this price range that make them preferred over the $100-199 rods?

I've always had good luck with a minnow on a jig head. I've heard good things about leeches on jig heads as well.

I've been eyeing up the Tatula Type R and the Shimano Chronarch. I think I'll have to try them both.

I just bought these off of Amazon.com myself for both northern and southern Wi. Great books.

Agreed. There should just be a midwest section that includes Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan and Indiana.

I need to pick up a couple new casting rods and am wondering what direction to go in. I need both a jig and jerkbait stick. I was leaning towards Duckett Micro Magics. I'd like to stay in the Micro Magic price range. Your thoughts?

I'm also kinda surprised at the opinions of the Micro Magics here. Until this thread, I had heard nothing but decent reviews on them. I just picked up a White Ice at a great price in the flea market and was planning on picking up a couple Micro Magics to round out my arsenal. I'll admit that the comments here have me second guessing the Micro Magics that I wanted to get.

You can actually get a Duckett Ghost, Macro Magic, and Micro Magic all for $100 at Shelton's Clothing & Outdoors. They have several Powell Infernos going for $130. I'm not too familiar with the Inferno though. Thoughts on that rod?

Here's another vote for the Exceler. I have one on my crankbait rod and it tackles the job just fine. Casts a mile and is super smooth. Dialing it in is childs play.

I also use the Plano 3700 and am pretty happy with it. I have about 25 or so spinnerbaits in it and the only complaint I have is that the skirts can sometimes get pinched in the holders but that's just me being nitpicky.

I think it depends on the situation. My boat is currently down right now so when a buddy and I go out, we're in his boat. We commonly burn banks and he swears by a spinnerbait so thats what he's using. I'll use a t-rigged rage craw and cast to structures and slay em while he may get one or two on his spinner. I think while it is manners somewhat, you also have to be able to adapt to the situation.

I'm another one that doesn't really use Senkos as much as I probably should. I keep a Rage tail tied on at all times but hardly use a Senko. Maybe I'll make it a point to up my Senko use this fall.

I also use a dremel. Makes quick work of a plastic divider while still allowing for precision.

With that heavier rig, I usually make overhead casts. You definitely want to try to avoid whipping it way out there. Try a smoother sweeping cast and you'll find that once you get it down, you dont even lose much, if any distance.

I'm also a wakebait on braid guy. I use 50# braid without any problems. I just make sure that when I'm casting, I don't try to whip it way out there. Just make sure to use a smooth cast and let the weight of the bait take it out there and even if you do get a backlash, you won't snap the line.

No love for the Banjo Minnow?

I will also go with a rage craw. It truly is so versatile! I think I'd pick a Spro Bronzeye frog for my second choice since many of the lake around here are so overrun with weeds now.

Complete brain fart. my mistake. Salt sinks anyway so who knows what the hell I was thinkin about. This is what happens when I try to mutitask at work!

This would be good for a suspended/shallow water presentation. If you're fishing deep and wanna keep the fluke near the bottom, I wouldn't go with the salty ones. C-rig it with a cylindrical weight for deeper applications.

You might be able to find one on ebay.

T-rigs and C-rigs are working for me right now. Topwater in the early morning and late evening also do well.

I have a buddy that I fish with weekly that swears by them. I'll usually end up trying them for a while and if they dont produce after 10 or so casts, i'll move on to something else. If one spinner doesn't work for my buddy, he'll take it off and tie on a different color one. He pretty much uses em all day and will switch to a crankbait if a spinner doesn't work after an hour or so. Needless to say, he loves em!!

Are you guys successful using Rattle Traps during the summer? I'm finding that lately the bass are pretty much staying deep and are pretty lethargic. A buddy of mine says he's still getting action on them. I'm almost to the point where I dont even bring them out during the summer. They slay bass for me during the spring and fall but its like they repel bass during the summer months for me!!

I use them for all treble baits as well but t-rigs and c-rigs and such get directly tied.