Canyon explorer

Very good choice.

4-5 a.m. to 8-9 a.m in brush piles 15-18' deep points.

Big Boats e.g. Cruisers > 30', Scarabs on big lakes at night.

I don't believe in most of that stuff, However if you dip your lures in spunk water ( in the top of an old stump), and do not allow bananas in the boat you will catch more fish.

Roads Ride/WaterRide

I love to fish Senkos, but as the fish move out, scatter and settle into deeper structure I fish them less.

IMO YES I have all IMX except for one 6'6"GLX Med. and one 8' Falcon HVY

I don't think there is a "bad" time to fish a super fluke. Like the rogue, i would slow it way down when the water temp is in the low the 40's.

I like reel ess's C-Rig suggestion. I gives you a good idea of the lake depth and bottom. Quite often contractors left structure in the form of gravel, rocks and broken cinder blocks etc. which could be found and used again by using bearing ranges.

I believe ladies use it when they enter a draw tournament.

My recommendation is not what I did but what I would do now if I were starting and wanted to be as good as I could be; and possible compete with others with the same aspirations. First I would not buy a "Combo" because to keep the price down the rod is often not the same quality level as the reel. I would select a 5 Star reel at the level of Shimano Chronarch SF, Quantum Tour or Smoke,or Diawa Lexa. At about $200 ea. I would then selest a five Star Rod Similar to a G-Loomis MBR 843C or St Croix Legend or Avid. The above are as good as any and have stood the test of time exceptionally well.

My experience is the same as BobP's. The less stretch a line has the more sensitive it is. The difference is even more pronounced with a fly rod.

I use a pool especially in the spring to tune suspending rogues, and to tune wiggle warts to run left and some with a right bias to get under docks and dock corners. It will also help you develop a more subtle presentation for certain lures e.g. gitzets, senkos,jerkbaits.

Gets us all sooner or later. I've had four , but only one I had to cut at the head and push on thru. No ER 's needed if you get a tetanus shot every five years.

IMO; reel ess's post is probably the best advice you are going to get as related to catching more "Top Water" fish in US waters,

10" Berkley Power worms and a #17 (8-9") Tony Accetta spoon while trolling for Striped Bass at Santee Cooper and caught a large Black Bass.

Just got back from the Current River in Southern Missouri yesterday with eight nice rainbow trout. Caught them with Yellow belly Cracklebacks I tied night before. By noon they were smoke cooking in my grill with Hickory chips and a few splashes of Margaritta to keep the fire cool. After a few I decided it doesn't get much better than this and made Isaak Walton and Jimmy Buffet my new mentors.

Most of the major retailers here are gradually raising prices and reducing standard quantities.

Plenty of 22 LR available at Gander and Cabela's.

Downsize to a Shakey Head baby brush hog pitched under the docks.

Denny Brauer

10 pound Danforth anchor and some old line.

Great day both of you will never forget.

Tacklebargins.co.uk still lists a 6' Spidercast.

That was me sixteen years ago.8-). Couple years and I'll retire from retirement.