LunkerFisher

Just upgraded my kayak paddle from the aluminum shaft/nylon blade paddle I used last year to the carbon shaft/Fiberglass blade Werner Shuna hooked (250cm). This thing is light and I love the ferrule! The blade shape is very similar to what I have been using, so I shouldn't have to adjust my technique from what I'm used to. Just waiting for the ice to melt to take it out. What paddles are y'all using? Any more Shuna users out there?

Wacky!

i have a few suggestions for you to try: Mono: 15lb big game Fluoro: Sniper or 40lb power pro and use leaders as needed.

^ this. Tie on a 3/4oz weight, and go out in the yard and practice. Within an hour you should be starting to get the hang of it. Also keep in mind that backlashes are inevitable. Even pros backlash. The important thing is just to develop the muscle memory in your thumb so you don't worry about backlashing on every cast.

I like my slow chronarch for those big deep-divers. I haven't had a problem keeping up with a fish during a fight either, even with big northerns that are notorious for hitting a bait from behind, forcing you to pick up slack quickly.

Don't forget the 4" senko!

Once the rules are firmly established, count me in!

You need a friend like I have. He waits each season to buy my used gear for a song before buying anything new. Works for both of us.

I like to start with around one arms-length of leader and I'll replace it when it looks too small. I do not like the leader knot to be on my spool.

I don't have the magnesium, but I did just pick up a team Lew's lite. 5.7 oz reel with an aluminum frame, don't count that one out.

I have the mh crankshaft and I really like it for the 5 and 6 XDs, DT16s, and Spro Fat Papas. I use a chronarch 200E5 and it's a great setup for those 3/4-1oz cranks. Not quite parabolic action but waaaay more limber than an all-graphite fast action.

You just have to transfer the line from one spool to another an odd number of times. If you have a spare spool for your reel, pop off the full spool, and spool up the spare after putting it on your reel. If you don't have a spare, don't just strip off the line and switch ends, you'll end up with a big knot. Take an empty line spool, attach a hand drill, strip off the line. You'll then have to transfer the line once more before attaching it back to your reel. You can even use 2 empty reels instead of an empty spool that used to have new line on it if you have it.

I always put backing on before fluoro because of how expensive it is. if you're comfortable with 65 yards on a reel instead of 100, you can get 3 out of a spool instead of 2.

Ann Arbor area here. I fish Kent Lake a lot, as well as scope out stretches of the Huron River around Barton Dam. FYI I've had more success below the dam than above it.

The tournament pro g looks real nice and is right at your price point. I use a 6.8:1 tournament speed spool (28IPT) for my jerkbaits and it hasn't failed me yet. Happy hunting!

Due to fluctuating temperatures freezing and melting my waters, cabin fever has finally started to kick in. I decided it was time to take a stab at re-matching my casting rods and reels. I started by laying everything out and took stock. Reels: shimano chronarch 200e5 (5.5:1) Abu revo sxhs (7.1:1) Lew's superduty (8.0:1) 2x Lew's Tournament Speed Spool (6.8:1) Lew's Tournament MG (6.8:1) Lew's LFS Speed Spool (6.8:1) Skeet Reese Victory (7.1:1) Rods: St. Croix premier 7' MHF Razr Rods 7' HF Cabelas Tournament ZX Crankshaft 7'5" MH Shimano Crucial (2nd gen) spinnerbait 6'10" MHF 3x Abu Veritas (1st gen): 7' mmf; 7'3" mhf; 7'6" mhf Cabelas prodigy 6'2" mf I thought about my favorite techniques while staring at all my stuff, and planned my re-pairing strategy based on a few factors: versatility, balance, and frequency of use. I wanted to make sure I would set myself up to utilize my more prized and preferred gear more for my favorite and most successful presentations. Here's what I came up with: Razr and Superduty for the heavy pitching croix and revo for lighter cover and casting jigs/t rigs chronarch and crankshaft for my medium-deep cranks shimano and tournament speed spool for jerkbaits and small jigs/plastics 7'6" Veritas and the skeet for frogs and flipping thick weeds 7'3" Veritas and tournament mg for spinnerbaits 7' Veritas and tournament speed spool for lipless/shallow cranks prodigy and speed spool for my topwaters and throwing smaller baits in tight spots I think I have all my bases covered here. And I'm now just waiting for the ice to melt permanently so I can take these bad boys out on the water.

My 2 favorite rods I own are a shimano and a croix

I like fat mono for big spinnerbaits, especially with the toothy critters around

My little sticks usually have 6# fireline or 4# fluoro. Hasn't failed me yet.

i would up the line size myself. I generally don't go below 40#pp on casting gear. Other than that, one of the best casting lures I have used is the good ol' Rat L Trap. Tie one on and cast away!

7' gen 1 Veritas mmf gets the nod from me for squares, shallows (dt6, etc) and lipless. Plenty of backbone and I just keep the braid off to maintain enough give for the treble hooks.

I like fluoro because of the slack line sensitivity. 10# sniper gets the nod. I've landed numerous northerns with this line while jerkbait fishing too.

I picked up a superduty for my slop fishing this year. On dry land I'm liking the handle and balance on my razr 7' heavy rod.

10#pp with a 6 or 8lb trilene 100% fluoro leader.

I use 17lb trilene xt for my spinnerbaits. There's always a possibility of hooking a northern where I fish, so the big line really helps when that happens. I also use $5 booyah spinnerbaits so I don't get too upset if a big toothy critter takes one.