the reel ess

1/32 to 1/4 http://www.uglystik.com/uglystik-rods-spinning-rods/ugly-stik-elite-spinning-rod/1363862.html?_ga=1.187457064.14367642.1464558074#specifications I think Lite has been replaced with Elite. But it doesn't matter. This will be the general rating of all UL rods.

For me it's the soft plastic craw in any color as long as it's black/blue flake. If I couldn't find black, which is the case lately, I'd dye brown ones or go to a black/blue jig & chunk. Lately I won't go fishing without a T-rigged Chigger Craw and a Hula Grub tied on.

When I first started bass fishing I only had two rods and two baits: A 6" plastic worm and a Rebel Deep Wee R. If they weren't doing that, I was fishing for catfish or swimming. But they usually were biting one of these two if I could fish the fish. I picked up on the spinnerbait later and had the middle layer of water covered. I had switched from worm to T-rigged craw the last couple years and caught some better quality fish on it. But yesterday I ran out of Chigger Craws and put a ribbon tail worm on and caught 2 with it. Me too. So good I stopped wasting money on other colors. But the place I fish most now they seem to prefer black/blue. I guess that's due to water stain. I have tried to lighten up but never get bites.

It would have been good to see this thread with a poll.

Black/blue Chigger Craw! Lately I've discovered that the Hula Grub is a good substitute because I ran out of Chigger Craws and there aren't any closer than 40 miles away. Chug Bug Chug'n Spook, Jr Frog Rat L Trap-gold/black back. There are shiners where I usually fish.

I document the place there were and the bait I missed them on. You can bet I hit that spot every time out, no matter the season or conditions. I got a 5.4 yesterday (not a monster), but it was on a point where I've caught at least one bass 4 of the last 5 times out. I put the kayak in and made a beeline for that spot. All my 6+ fish as of the past 2-3 years have been on soft plastics- T-rigged craws. I got a few over 5 on topwater hardbaits. I don't try to sharpen offset or EWG hooks because they come sharper than I can do it with a file.It is amazing to me how you can set the hook on a fish that big using quality hook and braid and not sink the barb. But the 5 lb'er yesterday was hooked very loosely. The hook had dug a small hole in the soft tissue. Any slack and it would have been gone. I lost my certain PB on the same body of water. I don't know the size. My buddy was at the edge of the boat waiting to grab it. I only got it close enough for him to see the shadow in the water. He tells me over 8 lbs, minimum. Probably bigger. And he has caught several over 8 from there. Later I looked at the 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook and it was bent out maybe 30 degrees. I learned a lesson about braid and drag. Unless you're using a superline hook (frogs have superline hooks) or flipping hook, you need a little drag. I ripped it out.

Welcome! I'm about an hour north of you, but still in SC.

This little rascal bit my Spook today. I broke off one prong of the treble trying to take it out with pliers.

Me either. But it isn't all salad here. It's more tannin stained.

Inline spinner, Beetle Spin, plain ol grub, small tube jig (crappie size), live minnow. I've caught some crappie at the local reservoir on the Rat L Trap. I've caught bluegill, redbreast, stripers and bass on the Rebel Wee Craw. Agree on all counts.

Anywhere there are very large bluegills, I'll tie on a tandem Crappie jig and Beetle Spin and have a field day catching both species.

I went out and fish till almost dark last night at my local reservoir. The water is getting that bath water feel, which to me signifies I need to end the day with topwaters. So confident was I that I had three tied on. A 3.57 lb, a 2.5 and a dink just crushed the Chug Bug. I missed another fish twice. I got a good look at it. It was in excess of 5 lbs. I also caught 3 on the Chigger Craw. Check out the gut on the bigger gal. Unfortunately, she caught a treble in the left eye. So I sort of have her "tagged". I made note of that in the journal. Maybe we'll meet again and I'll weigh her again. Sorry for the haziness. I have a waterproof cover for the phone and sometimes it gets a bit cruddy.

LOL

Check this out: http://www.another site/blog/fishing-line-guide/ It ain't the Gospel, but it's a good guide. I really don't foloow it though because I don't want to carry 20 rods on my kayak (I carry 6 as it is ).

Wow! When I was "college poor" I was a $20 rod guy. I worked at WalMart and my buddy was in the outdoors/automotive dept. He would tell me what was going on clearance and I'd hide them until payday, at which time I'd also use my employee discount. But there are so many good rods in your range you should have no problem getting a good one. My BEST rod only retails for $129. It's an older Falcon LowRider that I bought used from a guy for $50. I also have a Cabela's Tourney ZX that retails for $100. You won't go wrong with the Cabela's or BPS rods in the $100 range.

I can't seem to get my Lew's to backlash either. Even when I set it too loose. Next time I need to replace a BC reel, it will be a Lew's.

If you go online and sign up for an account, they'll send you emails about what's on sale. I get several a week.

I'm with you. I like them on a 6'6" MH BC combo. I usually use them weightless and that's not a problem to cast on a good reel.

Do you have the same line on both? This happens a lot to me too. You have to see your line twitch or move off to know a fish has it. An octopus hook would cut down on it some because it's almost a circle hook.

It will slow down quickly when hooked and thrown into water.

It's all I used until I was 13. Well, that and an ultralight Daiwa spinning combo.Now I'm too old for such a slow retrieve. Life is short. I do have an Academy UL spinning reel and an old el cheapo $8 Eagle Claw rod that i use when I feel like putting myself at a disadvantage. Like when I know they're all small or the bluegill are as big as the bass. I've caught a striper and some chunk bass on it before. Good times. But if you like them, more power to you.

Use an ultralight spinning combo. They'll be more enjoyable. Or you can just try another place. But stunted bass ponds have their advantages. Lots of stupid fish. You can gain confidence with a new technique.I caught a bass on a gummy worm at a place like that just to show I could. Start eating them or giving them away. There are too many there for the average size to increase. Try some larger craw imitator. Bigger bass eat more craws. T-rigged Chigger Craw is my fav. Use bigger lures. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, Rat L Traps and frogs tend to be bigger bass baits. My PB came on a frog. And, of course, swimbaits, but I haven't had much success with those. I caught a 6.5 lb out of my buddy's pond the very first time I fished it 13 years ago. I haven't caught one over 3 in there since. Hey, if nothing else, after you strike out with the larger baits, it'll make the little ones more fun.

I just use a bare hook. I tried making them more weedless and was disappointed. Most places I fish, I can just go get the worm if the hook gets hung up. Or you can buy this and use offset worm hooks, rigged weedless. https://kickerfishbait.com/shop/the-original-texas-weedless-wacky-worm%C2%AE-6-14-copy/

I got all my frogs out and weighed them on a small food scale. The Pocket L unker Frog was 1/8 oz. I haven't used it, but when I do it'll be on a spinning combo. The Pad Crasher junior was 3/16 oz. I would have guessed more. I haven't cast it yet. The Snag Proof Original and the Scum Frog were 1/4 oz. I would have guessed less. 1/4 oz., while not ideal, is heavy enough to cast on BC equipment. I use 3/16 oz bullet weights on the same rod with no problem. But for some reason, these are almost impossible to cast. Probably due to the size and wind resistance (drag) vs weight. The Pad Crashers and SPRO were 1/2 oz. The L unker Frog standard size was 5/8 oz.

My first big ol bass was missing an eye and most of its fins and had bleeding sores on it. It was a major disappointment. But somehow still feeding. This looks like nature taking care of the problem.