Ersteman

Thanks guys, seems like a good plan.

Appreciate the info. Crazy shark story, wow. I think a lot of people and manufacturers err on the side of overbuilt or tougher than they need, plus the manufacturers can sell that concept and make money off it. Love to hear that the RX8 rods are exceptional products. I look forward to building them. Do you have a guide brand you use more than others? In intrigued in your idea of using the smallest guides you can get away with. Let's say on a 6'10" M spin rod, what would your guide sizes be? or are you talking smallest as in minimal material guides? thanks.

Great to hear. Thanks for the suggestion! I've built cheaper blanks both with kits and piecing together guides. Kits make it so much easier and take out the guesswork. I agree. I have not tried Alconite yet, so maybe I'll try the Fuji Alconite. thanks

Happy Thanksgiving week guys! I got a great deal on Immortal Rod blanks. This is the highest quality rod blanks I have used up to this point. I bought a 7'2" and a 6'10 Immortal Medium blanks and I will build spinning rods. I'm asking what would be a set of spinning guides that would compliment the blanks? I've used LAZR guides before and like them, but wondering if there is a step up in guides or perhaps a lighter set of spinning guides? For these rods, I'm looking to throw neds, small swimbaits, and small tubes, so I don't need a super heavy sturdy guide. Looking for more of a lighter guide that will hold up to the applications mentioned. Appreciate your thoughts and insights on my question. -Mike

Thank you both.

Good questions. I'm usually using 2500, 3000 spinning reels. Line is usually 10lb braid to 8lb fluoro, or straight 8-10lb fluoro.

Hi Guys, This year I started custom making rods because it was hard to find a budget priced jerkbait spinning rod with the action I wanted and I'm very particular about my smallmouth jerkbait rod actions. To make my spinning jerkbait rod, I bought a 7'6" MH crankbait rod and cut some off the top and bottom to make a 7' stronger medium/MH, mod-fast rod ideal for my preferred action for jerkbait fishing. I ended up making 3 of these rods and I was wondering what other applications could I use them for? small/medium Swimbaits? Tubes? Senkos? I know crankbaits are an option too, but I prefer keeping the crankbait rods at their full length and full actions. Thanks, Mike K.

Hi Guys, I'm planning a trip to Michigan (not particular on the area), but I'd like to fish for smallmouth from a kayak. I'm not asking for anyone's best spots, I just want to get out on a kayak friendly (wind friendly) lake to fish for smallmouth bass. Ideally somewhere the launch ramp is relatively close to decent fishing because I'll be paddling. I don't have a trolling motor attached to my kayak. I'm from Pittsbugh PA, but have been to Michigan all the way up to Traverse City, so I'm a little familiar with the layout of the state. Thanks, Mike K.

Hi Guys, I'm strictly a catch and release fisherman looking for some advice in timing the prespawn smallmouth fishing on Presque Isle Bay. I know I have to get a separate Lake Erie license to fish the bay and I will be checking the winds beforehand. Ideally, I want to hit the bay for prespawn for smallies. What time of year and other indications do you guys use to plan your trips there? I seem to have missed prespawn smallie fishing this year. I went out early June and the smallies were very hard to find and the boats were in Thompson bay bed fishing for largemouths. I'm fishing out of a kayak so I'll hit the lagoons if the winds are too big on the bay. I also want to plan to fish a weekday, b/c I'm not interested in playing bumper boats with the other fisherman. Thanks, Mike K.

Hi Guys, I couldn't find much on the subject, so maybe it's not a thing, but I'm looking for a few spinning reel suggestions under $150 that are proven to be used in the rain. I usually don't fish in the rain, but might have to make an exception here b/c I'm getting antsy and the weather forecast in my area has a lot of rain predicted, lol. If you've used a particular make/model and it's worked just as good after fishing in the rain with it, please give me a few suggestions. Also, if it's not a thing, please explain why, as I would be curious to learn. I'm not sure if this is a sealed drag/bearings thing or what. It's not always easy to find out if a make/model of a reel has sealed drag/bearing. Appreciate the responses. Also, I currently have some Pflueger Supremes (2-4 years old), Some Daiwa Fuegos (2-3 years old) and an Abu Garcia Revo X(2 yr old), so I'm not sure if those will be fine or not. Would rather get your opinions than find out the hard way and ruin a good reel. Thanks! Mike

Thanks. Sounds like Daiwa problem. Good to know it's happening to someone else and not just me. Wish I didn't get 4 of them. lol. guess I'll have to make due and maybe come up with a creative solution or just not cast too hard.

Yeah, it's always done it. If I cast at like 80% power it doesn't do it. It's only when I want to bomb a cast where it happens. ticked me off b/c I snapped off 2 jerkbaits, so I might ditch the reel if I can't figure out a solution. Not worth it losing baits.

Hi Guys, My bail closes when casting on my Daiwa Fuego LT Spinning reel at times. I'm casting hard, but this should not happen. I know how to cast and I open and close the bail arm manually with my hand. I also make sure the bail arm is close to the rod, so it's not a user error (for once). This is the only spinning reel that I have that this happens to. When I manually close the bail arm, it seems to close too easily and doesn't feel like it's snaps into position like my other spinning reels. It does open fully, it just doesn't feel snug in the open position and it takes little effort to close the bail arm. I have also checked the screws around the bail arm assembly and the screws are all snug tight. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Any suggestions on how to fix it or help this issue? Thanks, Mike

You're going to hear many things from different people. Use what you are most comfortable using. The smaller line and longer the spinning rod, the further your cast will go. If you're in clear water, you'll want to cast it far. I use 8lb braid to a 6lb or 8lb fluoro leader. My bro uses 6lb straight mono and he usually outfishes me on the ned. If you're fishing near a bunch of rocks, I like the football Ned jigheads with a metal weedguard. Good luck on your trip! Let us know how you do.

I actually have that Sellus rod and use it for jerkbaits. It works for sure. I wanted to upgrade and treat myself a bit to a lighter rod and one that was more comfortable in the handling.

Go with the 705cb if you want something longer. Buy on sale close to $200. I have a Fury 705CB. seems a bit too whippy. Does the Champion have similar action to the Fury?

Interesting. I'll check it out. Do the stock hooks on those stunnas hold up for smallies or do you change them out?

Thanks A-jay. I'll look around for when I can get one on sale. I saw American Legacy had 25% off all St. Croix rods, but they were out of stock of that particular model. Do you have a second best option just in case? Have a good one. Thanks for the options. I'll look into it. I had a feeling someone was going to mention the Expride. From Tactical Bassin's videon on jerkbaits recommending them to Omnia claiming it's their best selling jerkbait rod. I might have to bite the bullet.

Hey guys, I'm hoping someone can help me find a very particular style jerkbait rod to fit my needs under $200. I'm throwing 1/2 oz jerkbaits such as vision 110s, jackall reranges, stunnas, and xrap10s. It has to be a slower loading jerkbait rod to pin big smallmouth, but still has a decent tip to snap jerkbaits. Not slow like crankbait rods; a little faster than a crankbait rod, and like I said with more of a tip. I need a shorter rod handle to work the jerkbaits. I also don't want a light, wimpy rod. I'm not looking for a ned rig powered rod. The Veritas 7' Medium comes very close to what I need, but I wish it loaded a little slower and or had a little more give. I strongly dislike XF actions, such as the lews kvd jerkbait rod, so all quick loading rods are out. I'm most comfortable throwing rods with a length of 6'10 to 7'. I cannot do a 6'6" or a 6'8" rod. I don't want to venture over $200, so please keep it under $200. I would also prefer recommendations from people who have used the rod to throw jerkbaits. I've found certain rods labelled "jerkbait rod" to come up short for one reason or another. I realize I'm very particular here, but hoping someone can relate to what I'm talking about. Thanks! -Mike

Thanks for the reply. I have a 16' Lund Fury, so it's a mod V style (not a flat bottom). Yes, I would say I'm a beginner when it comes to launching a boat. I've watched videos and know how it's supposed to go, but I just need to practice more. When it comes to St. Clair, I just want to error on the side of caution and be safe. I will be able to pick the day/conditions when I go, so that helps. Also, is there an inland lake by St. Clair that has decent smallmouth in case I need to hit a smaller inland lake? Thanks!

New boat owner here so I'm not great at launching the boat yet. I have never been to Lake St Clair before. I could use some help from you seasoned veterans out there. Where is a good place to launch the boat on St Clair? and does it make sense to launch and fish Anchor bay for it to be protected more by the wind? Ultimately looking for a good place to launch a boat and fish where the ramp has adequate space and it's not jammed with people watching me launch the boat. The kicker would be to also find a place that is less affected by the wind since it's my first time on the lake. I don't plan on fishing too far from the shore. If you could also give me a good cutoff for the wind, such as "don't fish any wind greater than 15mph" or something like that so I can plan my trip accordingly. Thanks for the help guys! -Mike

Pull start.

Hey Guys, I recently bought a used boat. I have a tiller style boat and my boat motor does not have any electronics. Am I okay hooking up the boat electronics (bilge, lights) and a rear trolling motor to the same battery? Anything I need to be concerned about with how I hook it up? I'm very new to this. Thanks, Mike

Walmart in Western Pa is dog feces. Never has anything in fishing on sale. :spits:

Amazon has the 200IPG as RH. I'm beginning to think there is a typo in the Amazon listing and that the CU201 PG is the Lefty one.