DubyaDee

I'm looking for the 6'10 M casting rod for jerkbaits. Tackle warehouse doesn't have that model in stock unfortunately. I've heard the 6'10 Medium has a fast tip initially then gets pretty moderate once you hook up. How would you describe it?

I can't stand fishing slow so I power fish pretty much all day. In Michigan with smallies I use a jerkbait, spinnerbait, walking bait, or a keitech depending on conditions. Once I find the fish I'll slow down a little and move down the water column with a spybait and then a tube. Once that area dries up its back to covering water with the fast stuff. I think I like fishing fast because I'm too anxious to slow down and I've got 10 spots to hit in 7 hours. Smallmouth roam too, they aren't nearly as predictable as largemouth are. A lot of the big smallmouth guys will have the trolling motor on high all day.

I use the 7'6 ML XFast for tubes/shaky heads/grubs. It's perfect for tubes and grubs. You'll be able to cover plenty of water. The ML is appropriate and really keeps the fish pinned well. When my rod arrived a few years ago I remember them labeling the rod 'drop shot' on the packaging. I don't use it for drop shot at all though.

I got my prescription costas and love them. I think insurance reimbursed us about 300 of the 550. I wouldn't fish without them.

Between my family and work, I get to fish twice a month. Rarely will weather keep me off the water. Fishing in the wind is usually more productive anyway. I don't get how the guys on Erie can drop shot in 20 mph winds and 3 foot waves though.

I use a Dobyns champion 734c for small swim baits. It's a little soft for what I like. I wish I'd have gotten the 735c. You can throw them far on a 3/8 head.

If you want a goby swim bait go with Joe Balogs goby replica. They get to the bottom quick and seem to find the big girls. I haven't had any luck with the live target gobys.

I use this in 3/8 all the time. Everything about this jig is perfect for tubes. Cracking or dragging, these work.

Cosmetically, I'd rather scratch a rod than a reel. I see my rods as disposable but my reels are investments. I don't want to create any weak spots on the rod though. Set the hook on a fish of a lifetime and the rod snaps because you've worn a scratch deep on the backbone of the rod.

The Aetos is great. I use a 7'6 ML XF for tubes. I'd grab an Aetos and a Pro Qualifier. Every now and then you can get a Pro Qualifier for $60. In the spring Bass Pro had a Carbonlite/Pro Qualifier combo for $100.

Do you keep your lure on the hook keeper or on the reel? I think there are pro's and con's of each. I've also seen some pro's reel a lure right up to the tip and throw it back on the deck. Obviously saving time is important and they don't care about messing up a rod or two. What do you do and why?

I've never fished with them, but I've seen videos of people popping them off the bottom. Basically throw it out, let it fall on a slack line. If the line stops you're either on the bottom or you've got a fish. Pop the rod hard from 9 o clock to 11. Let it fall and pop it again. Give it some time and you'll get better advice than I can offer.

Make sure that you re tighten the wheels after the first small trip. I guess new tires will work the nuts loose after the first 30 minute ride.

I've got the Bucoo Trapcaster like a number of folks here. I can't stop using it. It fits the bill for a number of different techniques. Right now it's my designated topwater rod. It's been a jerkbait rod, spinnerbait rod, lipless crankbait rod...

Grab an evergreen sb 120 to your cart while you're at it. I just got a few recently and am in awe every time I throw it. It'll spit and walk easier and better than anything I've seen.

The blade on the walking lure changes the action a little, but not enough to deter the fish. It's not as smooth of a glide, but its not suppose to be a smooth glide. I only put a blade on when the water is stained or we have a lot of wind. On a calm day I'll use a top water with out rattles, like an original spook.

Just like everyone else here, I have learned a ton form this forum. Sunday I was out on Lake St Clair and tore up the smallies thanks to a number of you! First off I picked up a G Loomis IMX drop shot rod from Field and Stream, I saw that they were having a sale on a thread here from Cgrinder. Once I got the rod I watched every video possible and read every article I could on the drop shot. Usually I'm fishing fast with a jerkbait/topwater/spinnerbait, so this was a big change for me. After a lot of reading I saw A Jay posted a few times about his success with a Berkley 4 inch watermelon power worm with a chartreuse dipped tail, so I decided to throw it exclusively on the drop shop. Thanks A Jay, I owe you a beer if we ever run into each other. So here's my contribution... I've had a lot of success replacing the middle treble with a colorado blade on my spooks/topwaters when the water is dirty or you need to stand out. This hasn't affected my hook up ratio at all like I thought it would. This seems to really tick them off and they hit it violently. Up here in Michigan the goby is a forage species that I can best emulate with a Biffle hardhead jig and a tube. I haven't seen anyone else use this yet. I like to drag it or use it like a slow crankbait. Thanks again y'all!

I've got both sizes and prefer the larger. These have the best action of any top water I've seen. It'll spit and walk incredibly well. The SB doesn't take much work to walk in place.

Are you sure they were smallmouth? This weekend I had a pike jumping my over my arashi top walker 3 times. Smallies are eating machines, I don't think they'd miss an easy meal like that.

I was on lake st Clair last year on a foggy morning during a kayak fishing tournament when I hooked into a 40 inch musky. I was throwing a smoke/red flake grub on 6 pound flouro. That musky made 5 runs and towed me around in circles for a few minutes. The fight was exhilarating but it also took me out of my comfort zone. I lost track of the shore line and didn't know which was was east. Luckily I had my compass and paddled east and found the shore. While paddling in some yahoo was in an aluminum boat on the tiller motor and couldn't see over his bow. I was swinging my orange paddle like crazy over my head and yelling. Luckily he heard/saw me and pulled away with about 10 yards to spare. Thats the last time I was kayak fishing on LSC, and the main reason why I got a bass boat.

Wear and tear will not be covered. The rule of thumb for coverage is typically, 'sudden and accidental'. Don't skimp on bodily injury liability. There is no reason to have less than $500,000. That covers pain and suffering for the other party. You don't want your current and future assets to be at risk and in the hands of the legal system.

Thanks. I picked up a G Loomis IMX drop shot rod for $195 OTD. I was between this and the St Croix LTB, which would have been around $160. Some rods at the Detroit store are in their own section, not just the clearance. They had a few blue NRX's for $409+25% off!

I've been using Izorline XXX recently, and love it. It's kinda got the best of all worlds. The only complaint that I've heard is that it breaks above it's rating.

I throw spinnerbaits on a Dobyns Champion 734C. Spinnerbaits, jigs, spooks, chaterbaits, small swimbaits...this rod is very versatile. It is a little softer than it's specs say. You can find it on sale for $200 frequently.

There is some great advice on this thread already. I'll add my 2 cents. Throw topwater exclusively for a few trips. You may go a few hours without a bite but when you do get bit they are usually the biggest fish of the pack.