LunkerFisher

I have a shimano crucial spinnerbait rod (6'10", mhf) that I use for everything except spinnerbaits. I mainly use it as a spook and popper rod, and sometimes for light jigs and t rigs. Just because a manufacturer says a rod is for one technique doesn't necessarily mean it will work for that technique for you. Personal preference wins out.

Changed the title. Thanks for proofreading! I am a paddler, so while I can move decently without a trolling motor, covering water isn't the easiest thing. So far this is some great advice. I was able to manage a couple bites later in the day on senkos, but I should have probably tried a chrome/blue rat l trap before abandoning the lipless crank completely.

Yesterday's action was great, and the lipless crankbait bite was on. 3 casts into the morning, and a small northern pike hammered my chartreuse perch lipless crank. On the next cast, I landed a 17" largemouth. 2 casts later, another small northern. I figured that this bait was hot this morning, and kept throwing it, but while the bite lasted, it was just these tiny sub 20" pike hitting it all morning. I wanted to bring this to the board here, and see if any of you had some advice for me, as more of them bass is what I'm really after. I ended up throwing some different baits after getting tired of pulling treble hooks out of tiny pike mouths all morning. Should I, in order to catch more bass when the pike bite is on, simply be working harder at just finding the bass with the bait that I know is working, try switching colors/sizes, or something else? I did manage to find a few smaller bass with wacky worms up shallow, but nothing else like that first largemouth. What would you do in this situation? Thanks!

Zara spook and the Yamamoto Tate pencil

I am a righty, and I use RH baitcast reels, and I also reel with my left hand on spinning reels. I have recently tried switching the handle on my spinning reels for right handed retrieve, but have since switched back, since I am not a fan of switching hands and then also having to close the bail afterwards. Since baitcast reels engage the spool with a turn of the handle, I often find myself switching hands around the same time the bait is hitting the water. It is definitely nice on the wrists (when fishing topwater especially) to divvy up the workload of casting and working the rod. Since my casting gear is usually in charge of the heavier baits, this comes in handy. I would see a big benefit for using a left handed reel for pitching, or at least learning to pitch with my left hand. I would definitely recommend that no matter which side you decide to crank that handle with, that you still practice casting with both right and left hands. Ambidextrous casting will help you reach those tight spots if need be. One added benefit too is that not all reel variations are also offered in left handed retrieve, so learning righty will also allow you more options in finding the perfect reel.

Winn grips are great. I have the mh crankshaft and it's great for 3/4-1oz cranks.

I have a tourney trail spinning (6ft medium) which was my first rod, and it's caught me a lot of fish. For $30-$35 you can't go wrong.

I'd bargain hunt if I were you, my favorite combo that's I've spend less than $200 on is my shimano crucial ($70) and my lews tourney speed spool ($100). Happy hunting!

Lew's speed spool tournament is on sale at cabelas for $99. You won't be able to get a better reel for the same price

Ok I'll play: Spinning-6'6" ml st croix premier Casting-6'10" mh shimano crucial Those 2 rods can handle about everything except big jigs, hollow frogs, and deep cranks.

Took a little trip up to gander mountain and scored 8 crankbaits for $32 2x rapala DT-20 4x strike King 6XD 2x spro fat papa dd70 Time to get a crankin!

I've been wondering if we'll see a chronarch i following the curado and citica. I just picked up a chronarch 200 last week, so there's some definitely still to be had.

I just scored a deep cranking setup for a little over $250. Rod: cabelas tournament zx crankshaft 7'5" mh (3/8-1 1/2 oz lure rating) Reel: shimano chronarch 200e5 (on sale for $150) Line: trilene xt 10lb Haven't tried a 10xd, which is slightly above the rod's weight rating, but there's a 7'10" (rated for 5/8-2 1/4 oz) which I imagine would be better suited for the 10xd and even the 8xd. This Rod does handle the dt 14 well, and seems to be a great rod for those 3/4 and 1 oz cranks. This setup casts a country mile! I'd buy this setup again in a heartbeat if it were lost or stolen.

Chart and orange craw red eye shads, fire tiger or chart rippin raps, and the good ol reliable chrome blueback rat l traps. I have some red ones in there too for spring and fall

I've been using trilene big game and xt for my mono lately and don't have a complaint yet

These are always $20 FYI I picked one up (casting) last year for $15 and it just gathers dust

My current one is a cabelas prodigy 6'2" medium, I like the control and light weight short rods offer

Spinnerbaits are working for me, catching nice bass and nice pike, I'll take em both!

I have one of these, and it works fine or light (1/4 oz) spinnerbaits, but I have been using it more for lipless cranks. I've been using a 6'6" mhf st croix premier for 3/8-3/4oz spinnerbaits and I like it a lot!

I love my sea eagle 385ftg inflatable yak. Fits in the trunk or closet and I'm getting faster setting up and tearing down. Right now I can have it set up in 15 minutes (inflated and set up seats paddles rod holders, storage, etc.) and torn down in about 30 minutes. If storage and transportation is an issue for you like it was for me, go for it!

St croix premier 6'6" mhf here. I tried the 6'10" mhf crucial and I didn't like how much a 3/8 Colorado blade was trying to pull the rod from my hands. The crucial seems to work fine for chatterbaits for me. I've been experimenting with 20# fluoroclear, 15# big game, and 12# cx, and so far the big game gets the nod for line choice.

Redeye shad 1/2 oz chartreuse perch. 17" largemouth

Thinner diameter line may help combat some of the lift when reeling, as it is displacing less water. In practice, I'm not exactly sure if it works, but on paper it does.

I'm still experimenting with line for topwater, P line cxx didn't do it for me so I'm trying 15lb big game next

I'll be a piece Can we get this thread closed?