NJSalt

Got a good one yesterday on the 6" Magdraft. Love the feeling of a big angry fish knocking a foot or two of slack in the line.

I bet you'd get more out of the $39 model

GREAT rod, I picked up the same rod back in June and love it. You'll have fun with those Erie smallies with that stick! Took mine up there for 4 days and I think I lost a single fish after hooking it with over 75 fish on the rod... It has enough power for those bigger fish but is "soft enough" to keep even the skin hooked fish from popping off.

Dropshot hooks, weights, 4.5in roboworms Shaky heads to be used with the above roboworms Chatterbait Ikes Mini Flip Jigs 3/8oz compact spinner bait like a War Eagle. Strike King 1.5 Squarebills Senkos and Wacky Hooks That would be where i would start if I was putting together one tray PERSONALLY. I think that the kids should have a starting point, but obviously should tinker with it based on their own personal confidence baits. One example for me would be a Chatterbait, not everyone fishes them but to others it's a huge confidence bait (me included)

Are we talking rods released in the last year? If so, Shimano Zodias. Beautiful rods. I have a 672MH and a 1610M and those sticks do a lot of things well....

Pick up a Jig more.

When fishing season is over, for some people buying season begins. The decreased cost of fishing just increases the "buy stuff for fishing" pool. Boats are a different story....

I agree that I think the Zodias is more rod for the money, but you are limited to Fast and X-Fast with that line.... Love my Zodias Rods though

I have the ML E6X Dropshot rod and like it alot. Great bite detection and sensitivity, plenty of control over bigger fish, and light.

Fine. Banjo Minnow.

be careful with how you "flex the tip with the line" on any fishing rod. Basically, you high sticked the rod by pulling the line back and putting all the stress on the first foot of the rod. I did the same thing not paying attention a few years ago. Not saying there may not have been an issue with the blank, but anytime a rod breaks there and it wasn't slammed in something, it's normally because of high-sticking. That said, the shop owner could have taken care of you instead of pulling the "all sales are final" card which loosely translates to "Thanks for your money, Bye!"

on bassresource, when a jig question pops up you can expect one answer and for good reason.... Siebert Outdoors Jigs. Some of the best available at a price that beats about everyone.

To some people, the only thing more important than what they preach is themselves.

I'm so glad he joined to share with us these little tidbits of information slathered in narcissism.

Wiggle Warts, more Missile jigs, a bunch of RI Pocket Rockets, More War Eagles, Damiki DC 200, 300, and 400s, Megabass Magdrafts... the list goes on. On the edge of the cliff with a Aldebaran BFS XG Limited right now. What to do?

Welcome to BR. Good thing there's no door here to fit through....

a grub.

Elite series as it is right now runs 70-80k a year for entry fees and expenses. That number can vary depending on how you travel, eat, and sleep. Ever wonder why you see some guys sleeping in their trucks towards the end of a season where things haven't gone too well? It's not all glitz and glam like some think.

Looks like a smallie to me? am I missing something?

Scale it all down and slow it down is what I would do. I'd head out with a Shakey head, a dropshot, and a senko if you are just looking to catch fish. IMO, if you can't catch them on those baits, something else is wrong

Stealth Wagasaki for me.

Hooks were from 2 different packages in two different sizes. I agree it's unusual

Wish I had that kind of luck... I rolled the point on 5 dropshot hooks in 4 days on Erie.

I use a high speed spinning reel and reel/lift.

How about contacting Minnkota?