FishTank

Since I am doing my taxes this weekend.

Texas Rigged soft plastic.

I tried it a few years ago and did not care for it. I thought it was not bad for the price but it did not last long (maybe 3 trips out before I noticed it changing) or perform as well as many others out there. It did have a ton of memory and the 12lb I used got kinked easily. I think it would be impossible to use on spinning gear. I like their regular Hybrid line better. The closest thing I could compare it to would be Seaguar Red Label. It would be just a step below that in quality though. Also, welcome to the forum.....

My experience with rods as this price point has not good but there is one that sticks out.... Fenwicks Eagle or if you can find it on sale... the HMX is great. Both rods are a no frills, get the job done type rod.

Zoom Chunk

For me they are different tools for different things (techniques). I prefer baitcasters for certain things and spinning reels for others. It's not a iPhone versus Android type thing for me. It's more like Mac versus PC> each one excels at different things and I have to use both to be good at my job.

I have seen this sort of thing recently at a liquidation auction. The seller claimed he bought a bunch of Amazon returns and was reselling them as new. In reality, he had stolen his items from parked delivery trucks and couriers. Porch Pirates are real.

Sure, bigger sinker, bigger bait. But I like to think of this as a finesse technique, which for me means, spinning gear, ML longer rod, and 6lb test.

I am partial GYCB but I probably have a dozen baits buy a dozen manufactures that get fished just as much. It seems each manufacture has at least one signature bait that keeps them going. This is the basics for me.... Stick bait> GYCB 5in Senko and maybe the General from Berkley Ribbon Tail Worm> Rage Tail, Anaconda, Zoom Ole Monster, and Berkley PowerBait Power Worm 7in Creature Bait> There just too many but GYCB Kreature, GYCB Fat Ika are my favorites Trailer> Zoom Chunk and BioSpawn Vile Craw/Rage Baby Craw Lizard> Zoom Finesse Worms> BioSpawn 6.5in Plasma Tail/Roboworm Padle Tail/Swimbait>Zoom Fluke and Keitech

They generally come with a size 6 VMC. I have only replaced a few over the years and I like Owners Stinger Treble hook just a little bit better, same size. They are just a bit thicker and more durable but they don't seem heavier. They are definitely sharper (like bone crushing sharp).

Reel is solid... Rod is just ok..... https://www.amazon.com/Abu-Garcia-Black-Spinning-Fishing/dp/B01IDEMPPM/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2DJLN2T331ZHE&keywords=abu%2Bgarcia%2Bspinning%2Breel%2Bcombo&qid=1547773447&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011%2Cp_89%3AAbu%2BGarcia&rnid=2528832011&rps=1&sprefix=abu%2Bgarcia%2Bspinner%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-3&th=1

I have tried several and Power Pro has always been the best.

That's great deal on the Chronarch. I wish we had an Academy here in Indy. All we have is a couple of Dicks Sporting Goods and they carry very little. All of the local tackle shops are gone except a fly shop and the Gander Outdoors by me closed on December 30th.

Awesome set up. If I were you, I would have cabin fever. I couldn't wait to get that out on the water.

I use 5 setups on the boat, each a little different. I have duplicates of two of what I call my general purpose setups. If something goes south the duplicate set ups are a good fit for just about any type of bass fishing. That way I don't feel like I have to rush to get something fixed or replaced. I use 2 jig and worm rods (one for light baits and one for heavier baits), 1 crank bait rod, 1 top water (or jerk bait depending not the time of the year), and 1 general purpose.

I have a floating wood handle Frabill trout net. I fish from a float boat sometimes and this thing is great for tight spaces.

Gambler baits. I got tired of the garlic and salt all over everything but these baits did catch fish.

I have not seen one of those in a long time. I knew a fly fisherman that would use them to make his own custom flies. He thought the eyelet would scare the fish. It looked something like this.

The best way I have seen (and I wish I had a picture) is a guy who drilled a couple of holes on the underside of his rod box and placed/tied a piece of heavy gauge wire from one end to the other then he would hang each bag with a pocket name tag clip (see pic). He must have had about 200 bags sorted by color and style.

If I had to pick one..... The Johnny Morris line but...... As a general rule of thumb I shy away from rods that have a store or a persons name on it. Doesn't mean they can't be a good rod, especially since most places have way improved the level of quality with these offerings. It just hasn't been my thing.

6in zoom lizard in black with blue flakes is my favorite. I have caught a ton fish with this bait.

I have tried the Exoswim and no luck so far. I like the Keitechs but I have had better luck with the Heart Tail Shad from GYCB (they're not worth the regular price though).

Unsinkables are not too bad and they will tell you on their website what size head they will fit. The only downside is that are not the best quality when it comes to the frames and the lenses in base pairs but on the up side they have a great warranty. You loose them, they send you a new pair. You do have to register them on their website though. I bought these recently from Under Armour as well and they seem better than the delicate Serengeti Sunglasses I have been using. We will see which is best in a few months.

I like to use bright (shinny) baits and lures. Crankbaits like the LC American Shad, T-rigged stick baits (senkos) black with yellow or blue tails, ribbon tail worms same color, and if it's a clay/mud bottom> drop shot. This is my favorite though, rigged with a 4/0 EWG, weightless. I think the key for me is to not to fish to fast as to disturb the bottom a lot but fast enough as to not to drag the bottom. Bouncing a bait slowly also has worked for me.