fishballer06

Like others have said, not sure what your budget is, but the Fenwick HMG for $99 and the St. Croix Premier Cranking Rods for $129 aren't bad rods. But again, I don't know how much you're looking to spend.

I'm a braid guy, and I throw around a lot of wood and heavy cover. So I'm going with Suffix 832, 40 or 50 pound.

I don't even want to count... I'm probably at around 10-12 casting rods, 8-10 casting reels. And probably 5-6 spinning rods and reels. Favorite casting - Shimano Chronarch ci4 on a 2014 Shimano Crucial 6'10" MH-F Favorite spinning - Shimano Saros 3000 on a Dobyns 6'9" ML-F

I normally test out all my "new lures" whenever I hit up the local ponds and rivers for bank fishing. Whenever I get out on the boat, that's whenever I use whats tried and true. Sometimes, the new lures make their way into the tried and true boxes.

I love Cavitron buzzbaits (Jimmy Houston on the packaging). I also love Lucky Craft Pointers (Skeet Reese on the packaging). I also use the Spro Little Johns (John Crews on the packaging). I don't use these products because of who endorses them, I use them because they work.

The ci4 will stand head and shoulders over those other two reels. If you can afford it, go for it.

I suppose it's getting bad whenever you have a box for: Squarebills Jerkbaits DT4-6's DT 10-16's Shad Raps and assorted crankbaits 1/4oz lipless cranks 1/2oz lipless cranks Musky/Striper lures Sinkers Hooks 2 Topwater boxes Spinnerbait box Buzzbait box Jig box And then a bag full of about 50 plastics...

Suffix 832 40 pound test for me. Add a fluro leader when needed.

I would just call your hotel (or whoever you're staying with) and ask them if you can ship your equipment there and pick it up once you arrive. It's safer, and less of a headache.

I"ve had luck on jerkbaits in these situations.

Our local sportsmans club has the same issue. It's about a 6 acre pond that is loaded with bass. It's very easy to catch 25+ fish in a few hours. However all the fish are 10-14" and are fairly slim. Need to keep a few so you can get some bigger fish in there and more forage fish.

This.

Love the hat. I'd be frogging if I was fishing that water!

Go with the ci4. Hands down.

Sahara, Symetre, and Saros are all great reels in the $80-140 range.

I've never caught one, but I'll agree that the fish turn off whenever there is one around.

Suffix 832 I've got a spool of Smackdown that I'm waiting to spool onto something. That could become my new favorite from what I've read.

In my opinion, the original has the best action, and the casting distance is unreal.

I've never had problems with the side plate popping off on my Curado I, or on either of my two ci4's.

I thought so too. I used it a little this weekend with my Chronarch E series on it. Makes for a great topwater and jerkbait rod.

Over the weekend I went to the local Field and Stream store (Dick's newest outdoor sporting goods line of stores) to get some line put on 3 of my baitcasting reels since it's easier to have them do it for me, than trying to beg my girlfriend to help me do it at home. The gentlemen who works the fishing section is a local tournament fishermen who is very friendly and I've spoke to on many occasions. Once my reels were done, I was leaving the store whenever I glanced over at a rack of clearance rods. That's when I noticed a few G Loomis rods on the clearance rack. Upon checking them out, I found a TWR 773C for $145. I knew that I had a rewards certificate for $30, and a $10 off a $50+ purchase coupon. So in the end, this brought the total for my new rod down to $105. Overall, it's a very nice rod and I can see why guys are so loyal to G Loomis. I didn't need this rod at all, but for the price, I couldn't turn it down.

I use a 6'10" Crucial MH-F. I don't like a soft tip for topwater baits. I feel like I have to work through the give of the rod in order to get the bait to work properly, whether its a spook, torpedo, or a popper. Get yourself something with a fast action.

Senkos, Havoc Pit Boss, Zoom Trick

Cell mate and chartreuse black are two of my favorites. They've got a few nice looking crawdad colors too that work well for smallies.

I agree with everyone else here. Way too shallow and it probably almost freezes solid in the winter. With pike and musky in there, they're probably eating everything else. I'm surprised you haven't caught any pike or musky. Or at least been cut off by them yet. What exactly are you fishing this pond with? I'd be willing to bet that if you threw a buzzbait or spinnerbait, you'd be able to catch any of the predatory fish that are in that pond (bass, pike & musky).