Ozark_Basser

GYB hula grub or Don Iovino reapers

You'll like it. I've owned the E series and the Bantum series. This one launches baits compared to the other two.

I was one ounce short!!! Whyyyyy?!?!?!?!

Poppers are better at night than spooks.

Drool.

Interesting profile picture. What's your budget?

Just find one with a flat surface in the front of the head. Could be a football style head or any other head. Just make sure it has a flat surface.

Okay. So I'm bout to do a build a 7MH. I originally ordered nine guides plus the tip top. Sizes from the tip down are tip top, 5,5,5,5,5,5,5,6,7. How should I go about changing this if I do a spiral wrap? I plan on going with a 0,45,90,135,180...... configuration. I'll do some static testing to see if I need to move any guides around, but thats the initial plan.

Its just used to fish soft plastics. Some have a screw lock to hold the bait and the hooks hidden, making them weedless. Some are rigged like a regular jighead.

Football jigs are best around rocks. Arkeys are good around everything. You can be completely covered if you have arky, football, and swimming heads.

Bottom contact baits: braid/fluoro leader. Added sensitivity with the braided mainline. Less visibility/more abrasion resistance with the leader. Flipping/Pitching: Braid/Heavy fluoro leader. Same as above. Less visibility. Excellent abrasion resistance around wood with fluoro. Punching: Braid. Better knot strength, sensitivity, and raw power to pull fish out from mats. Cranking: Fluoro. Has plenty of stretch and gets your cranks a little deeper due to fluoros density and the fact it has a smaller diameter compared to mono in similar # tests. Top water (not frogs): Mono. Allows your bait to stay on top of the water when you're working the bait because it floats. Has more stretch than braid for treble hooks. Frogs: Braid. Allows you to walk the frog and gives more power on hooksets. Also allows you to pull fish out of some nasty stuff without worrying about break offs. Just my opinion. Some people, of course, will have different opinions on which line is best for whatever technique.

PUMPED!

I understand the lack of rod torque advantage, but what are some others? Casting distance? I'll be using micro guides on my build, so will the spiral wrap effect how well a leader knot passes through the guides?

Start in areas where they could spawn and work your way out from there.

I wasn't aware they legalized marijuana in Indiana.

Everything you mentioned except for the DT 10 would be right in the wheelhouse for a medium powered rod. You could still get away with using a medium powered rod, but it might feel a little overpowered for casting DT 10s. I personally rarely fish crankbaits that weigh less than 3/8 oz, and I fish a lot of cranks that weigh 1/2-5/8 oz, so I stick with a MH. If you are going to be fishing with cranks 3/8 oz, I'd stick with a medium. If you are going to be fishing cranks within the 3/8 -5/8 oz range, I'd get a MH or a rod rated 3/8-1 oz.

What kind of knot do you tie? Sounds like knot or line failure. Fifty pound braid shouldn't break at the knot that easy. Either way, if it was me I would feel more comfortable with 65 lb+.

The DT 10 and other ~10 ft diving cranks is a bout the cut off where you need to step up the rod to MH and lower the gear ratio down. Smaller, shallower divers can be fished on the M with any gear ratio.

I'd go with a 7'MH Moderate or Mod fast. You could probably find a pretty good one cheap on eBay for 50-60. Pair it up with a Curado I for 140 on ebay in 5.5:1 if you plan on throwing those dt10's a lot.

I have this one, and it works great.http://www.mudhole.com/Rod-Building/Dryers/RDS-Rod-Drying-System-9RPM-110V

Find some deep pools with no current. If they have boulders or any wood cover, you should find some fish. I've been doing all right on jigs fished SLOW.

Just get a drying motor and a stand from http://www.mudhole.com/

Haha I'm guessing you meant lure weight rating. My mistake. I was looking at blank weights right before I saw your post.

^^^^^ Agreed.

Find whatever cover you can and fish as tight as possible to it. When its cold, bass will hug up to those trees and boathouses because they hold warmth.