offsidewing

it was a lazy afternoon on the lake so I asked my bored teenaged son if he wanted to go kill an hour fishing a rock line off a nearby island. He got a couple 1 lb smallmouth off senkos and I decided to try out the drop shot rig. Haven't had any success with it all summer, but I decided to try and get the hang of it today. Well, on the famous "last cast, then will go in" line, I hooked this old girl. Didn't have a scale in the boat but she was a TANK. And yes, this was my first fish on a drop shot. Was using a 6'8" MXF St Croix LTB, Plueger Supreme XT spinning reel, 6# Yo-Zuri Hybrid, a 1/0 Octupus hook, 3/16 oz pencil weight, and a Yamamoto 4" Shad worm in Green Pumpkin w/ Black Flake.

Spinning - 6'8" MXF St Croix LTB w/ Plunger Supreme XT 30 size Casting - 7' MF St Croix Avid X with Shimano Metanium XG

I fish 5" senkos, Fat Ika, and 3/8 oz jigs with Shimano Metanium reel and Avid X 7' MF Rod. If I had to do it on a budget, cabelas tournament ZX worm rod and Lews Speed Spool Tournament or Shimano Curado I 200HG at half the price.

I live with the daily guilt of losing my 13 year old son's (at least) 5 lb smallie at the boat last year because I tied a bad knot. It was the biggest smallmouth I've seen in person. It rolled and took off under the boat as I was reaching down to get it. We watched as the bent rod slowly straightened as the knot untied. All that was left when he reeled in the line was a gnarled pigtail. I watched a million youtube videos that night on how to tie knots. I feel better in my knot tying skill now, but if a device like that works, it would be a nice compliment to a tackle box.

If $500 for an NRX is a bit much, the St Croix Legend Extreme can be had for about $400. Been fishing a St Croix Avid X MH Fast this spring and I'm impressed with the sensitivity for $200. Also tried a G Loomis E6x 853c and it was great too - but personally preferred the Avid X at those price points.

I Watched two bass resource videos, bought a Lew's Speed Spool Tournament Reel, a Cabela's tournament ZX cranking stick, and cheap 12lb mono. Tied on a 3/8 oz weight and in one hour, BAM, had it down pat. Now I have 3 BC set ups and only backlash when I'm not paying attention to the wind. There are two schools of thought: One is a monk-istic discipline of your thumb, the other is loading up the rod correctly. For me, once I learned to load up the road correctly (different that spinning reel) the backlashes went away with a trained thumb. Also my advice on gear - Buy cheap, buy twice.

A 100 or 50 sized Curado I? *INSERTS "Shut up and take my money .gif"*

My faves are determined by the body of water I'm fishing, but Senkos seem to catch fish in every lake or pond I've thrown them in. So I bring a couple packs with me every trip.

While not the brand recognition some may seek, the Lew's Speed Spool Tournament is a pretty decent value. You can catch them on sale for under $120. I have one on a Cabelas Tourny ZX for Crankbaits. My other baitcasters are various Metaniums on various St Croix's and I still enjoy cranking with that Lew's. However, the Curado I is a good value as well and sometimes goes on sale for around $140. I've never tried a Daiwa, but lots of people recommend them.

I have both the Metanium DC and Aldebaran HG. Both are awesome, but if I were going to pick one for versatility, it would be the Metanium DC. I can throw 4" Senkos to 3/4oz Jigs with a trailer on the Metanium DC no problem when paired with a suitable rod. I do a lot of open fresh water fishing in the Midwest and North east - I don't do any punching. And if you do some flipping/pitching with the Metanium DC you still need a trained thumb. However, The DC makes casting into the wind less worrisome which, to me, is worth the premium. The Aldebaran will find itself on flipping/pitching duty. For all other casting applications for me, it's the Metanium DC.

I've used Fluroclear for the past couple of seasons on spinning equipment and was pleased with it. I've tried it along side of Invisix and the two performed the same for me. No line management issues with either provided I spool the reel correctly. Because so many people have suggested it, I'm giving Yo-Zuri hybrid a try this spring and like it so far.

Hook the Fat Ika backwards and weightless. Maybe switch over to a tube like others have suggested.

Rebel Jointed Minnow

I own a couple, casting and spinning, and really like them. They receive positive reviews and they aren't typical store brand cap. Dunno how they'll hold up as they've only been out a couple seasons, but Cabela's warranty is great.

There's a like new St Croix Premier 6'6" MH Fast posted in the flea market. Rated for 3/8 to 1 once. *wink wink* http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/156548-fs-e6x-rod-st-croix-premier-rod-quantum-smoke-reel/

Team 9 hit all the strategy tips that have worked on Retention/golf course ponds for me the past 20 years. I grab my rod/reel, a bag of ribbon tail worms and a pack of senkos ( conditions dictating color). Fat Ika and tubes work too, but no better than worms/senkos.

After finally fishing the LTB spinning rod, I'm sold on the reel seat. It feels great while fishing. I actually felt more in control of the rod/bait while casting. I was able to sneak out after dinner for 45 minutes and hit the neighborhood retention pond. Whacked this fella with a 4 inch Junebug senko. Rod felt great while fishing - glad I didn't swap it for an Avid X.

I bought a high end Shimano spinning reel when I was 15 in the early 90s and it lasted twenty years with zero maintenance. It was my only combo until I got into my late 20's. Go ahead and get the Stradic if that's what you saved up to buy. Get the 2000 sized reel though. Grab the 6'6" MF St Croix premier and enjoy the combo. However, as some others have mentioned, I did just buy my 13 year old son a Pflueger President and Cabela's Tournament ZX rod. They may not have the brand appeal of the Stradic/St Croix combo, but this combo will fish just as good.

Which size?

Lew's Speed Spool Tournament was the reel where it all came together for me. Once I stopped trying to cast it like a spinning combo the backlashes became almost non-existant. Once I figured that out, the bait monkey moved into my house.

Green Pumpkin w/ Black flake at dawn and during daylight. Black with Blue flake in the evening until dark.

My dad loves his Daiwa Goldcasts. He hauls in bass when he ties on a crankbait. He had an Abu Garcia bait caster give him fits 20 years ago and won't use anything but spincasters. I might trick him on our next trip out and have him try my new Metanium DC.

The reason it was marked down so low is because it had a badly damaged guide, the guide next to the tip. It needed a professional repair so I passed.

So my local tackle shop has 7'0" M/F Legend Extreme casting rod on sale for a very attractive price. The St Croix 7' M/F seems to be on everyone's list as a versitile length/action for plastics and jigs. Since thia action is not super technique specific, is it worth spending the extra $$$ to get a high end rod like the Legend Extreme?

I taught myself how to use a bait caster in about an hour in the back yard. If I can do it, you can do it. Now, I was able to purposely choose my first gear, so I had that advantage. It was a Lews Speed Spool Tourney which has a true dual braking system and a Cabelas Tourney ZX rod (M, Mod Fast). I got some cheap 12lb mono (Trilene XL incidentally) and a 4-pack of 3/8 oz sinkers. All I watched was the two "how to" baitcaster videos here on Bass Resource and started slinging a 3/8 weight around the backyard. The biggest piece of advice I can give is to make sure you load up the rod. Whatever bait you are using, let it hang 24-30 inches from the rod tip. This will help build flex in the rod and science take over from there. Make sure half of your centrifugal brakes are on and any external settings are set to halfway for starters. Spool tension knob is important too. The brakes control the spool the first half of the cast, the spool tension know the last half. But the important part for me was is loading up the rod and using two hands for a consistent sweeping cast. The next part is training your thumb. When in doubt, thumb it out. Thumb down on the spool if you feel uneasy about a cast. I'm a hockey guy, so the best analogy I can come up with is a spinning rod and reel is like a wrist shot where you want to use strength and leverage to flex the heck out of the rod to 'shoot' the lure. The casting rod is like a snapshot or backhander where you have to bring the rod back to load it up some with the weight of the lure/bait. Also, heed these words. Once you master the bait casting rod and reel - your wallet will empty. And it will stay empty. I have never witnessed anything like it in all my years on earth. #BaitMonkey