CRANKENSTIEN

Multi purpose. 6:1 with a 7 ft MH rod.

Agree with Choporaz. Go with Trilene XL smooth casting a 12 - 17 lb. I no longer use it because of the stretch. but it cast very well.

I have had the Radula for a year and I just gotten the bb1. Both great reels. My longest cast ever have come on the Tatula not to say the bb1 couldn't I have only been out once with it. I was pitching with the bb1 and I could then make a long cast with it without tightening the tension. Never any kind of backlash. Impressive. Tackle tour does a good review on them both but that is as indecisive as me.

Bass fishing is a science from the handle on your reel to which bait you put where. It is a challenge and rewarding to get it right. What ever your budget can afford and what works best for you... if your equipment fails you can get your feelings hurt.

if you keep pushing it you can learn to cast farther. Line can play a big factor as well. I usually have 2 breaks set and loosen up that tension knob.

Last summer I purchased a $60 pinnacle special addition combo from Wal Mart and put 12 lb grand slam mono on it. It took several cast before I could cast it without backlashes and by then the tension was tight as it would go and my magnetic breaks were on full. I put a drop of oil inside the knob and around the threads, which helped some. It spins like the others on the shelf, it just must be the way it is. This spring I put that line on my pflueger president which always cast well and I had to turn the tension and breaks tighter. I haven't changed the line on the pinnacle yet, but I am confident it will cast better when I do. Give a different line a shot, I am guessing you will still have to turn the tension down, but you may cast farther and with less backlashes. Try trilene XL it cast great if you can stand the stretch.

Lots of good advice. If you aren't hitting something you can jerk your cranks, stutter your retrieve... Watch KVD he does that a lot. I wouldn't spend much on cranks with bank fishing until you learn what is out there and were you can safely retrieve them back. Then go for it.

Lews and tatula both are great but mine are over $100 i have a pflueger frion under $100 which performs well pfluegers are rugged and durable as well

I have had lines that make quality rods and reels perform poorly. They all are important. Equally ??

Gulf captain. X2. I am ok with them. But if you want to use a leader no chance

I forgot to mention that rod is $150. there is a similar Duckett ghost rod spec wise for $100, which I haven't felt, but is probably similiar. I do have a MH Ghost which is a great rod as well.

Duckett 7 ft medium action micro magic pro. Great for light cranks, or light hooks. It is like the fish are fighting a spring when you are bringing them in. Something about this rod, If you catch them at a distance they are wore out when they get in.

$18 spybait on 4 pound line which was hung up on a brush pile.

My mistake. It is just magnet breaks. It has been to long since November. Sorry about that.. Still a great casting and all around reel.

closer to the body will give you a faster deeper dive. Unless your worried about hangups go to a thinner line 10 lb.

the tatulas has both magnet and pin breaks. I like the 7:3 for pitching but lower for other applications. I tend to fish to fast anyway and a lower gear helps me slow down. If you want to deep crank much the lower gear ratios pull it easy. Go for the 6:3 for multi use.

Duckett 7'3 MH ghost $100 unless can find on sale. This rod can be used for most applications. I have it paired with a Lews BB1 and love the combo. I also have a tatula reel. You wont go wrong with either reel.

algae below the surface at ice out isn't usual around here. there can be a slime on the bottom.

Nice job i wouldnt have tried a topwater yet good call . Our ice went off tuesday. Im going saturday

Agree with the leftys i own both i would rather pitch with a left casting with left you can move faster give it a try

All it takes for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing unknown

Cranking usually into the wind or crossing it. I have also had good Luck with a strike king anaconda Texas riged and swimming. It can be deadly. Low side arm cast to keep out of the wind

I just searched this thread under skipping settings. There are some good post in there.

Just started practicing on the cement and lots of birds nest until set 6 breaks and tension tight. I am now happy with the distance. Always loosening with practice. Once this Ice is off I can measure my progress

agree with crestliner. But until your confident in a lines performance test it before you go out. If success breaks your Line you will get your feelings hurt.