FishTank

That is an amazing set up......

I have a Stradic FE 2500 with a 6'8" M St. Croix Avid for all of my Finesse stuff.

I tend to hike when I am not fishing and a lot of talk always surrounds footwear, boots and socks. Just like people on this forum, we all have an opinion when it comes to rods, reels and tackle but hikers are worse. They are gear fanatics. One thing for me that crosses over from hiking to fishing for me, is my Asolo Powermatic Boots. I have had these awhile and when I first got them, I thought my feet are going to fry in these things. After using and putting them through hell, rain and snow, my feet never get wet, they never get hot, and my feet never hurt. The reason I bring it up is, I was thinking what was the one thing I can't do without that I always have when I go fishing. I was looking at rods, reels, and other tackle. Then I realized it was my boots. They are always with (on) me when I fish and I can't imagine not having them when I am out. I guess when it comes to fishing it was one of the things I took for granted and did not realize how important they were to me.

5inch Senko 4 foot depth crankbait (LC Flat mini) Some type of topwater

I got one I use to use. It cast great and has tons of memory. >>>>>> Mustad Thor

Ok.. That things kind of sexy. How did it feel?

I had something like this happen on my Daiwa Zillion. Someone advised to loosen the drag all the way and let it sit for a few days. Slowly tighten it down while pulling the line out until you get some feel from the drag. Hopefully if you keep tightening, you will get a solid feel from the drag.

Owner wacky hooks 1/0

A zoom lizard, zoom speed craw, GYCB kreature, GYCB hula grub, GYCB swimming senko, or a ribbon tail monster worm (ragetail anaconda). Trying getting him to slow the boat down. Also you might try to raise and lower rod slowly allowing the bait to nose down and up. You can try different bullet weights to get to different trolling depths.

I would try a Texas rigged zoom lizard. get the bait a close as possible to the fish but keep yourself as far away as possible. Try to land the bait in softly and let it sit for a few minutes. Then just bounce back slowly.

It's pimp my reel (PMR). He's on you tube. When i said travels above...... I meant online. Sorry....

Not a bad idea. Somewhere in my travels, I recall I guy in England that does this with ambassadors. He does custom side plates, spools and handles. If I can find it I'll post a link.

I picked up a shimano Citica at dicks sporting goods for $45. It's similar in design to the curado g,the core, and the chronarch e. There are difference between each reel that make them each unique and special but it is a proven reel design that shows the progression of development and features that can be accomplished in fabrication.

I have a couple of the megabass cranks and several lucky craft. I tend to catch more with the Lucky Craft lures. My favorite is the fat BDS 2. It's not completely square but it's close. I also like Mann's lures.

I tried a Pop R as well but when I put the Mann's on the fish started biting so I stuck with it until the sun came out. Then I went back to soft plastic and caught a couple more. Overall it was a fun day.

T- Rigged for me, weightless.

I tried a buzz bait yesterday and nothing. The conditions seemed right, light rain and cloud cover and the fish were playing at the surface. After an hour I gave up and went with a Mann's -1 Baby Bass and caught 3 nice size ones in about 15 minutes. They hit like they were angry at it..... I will be going back to a buzz bait for sure. It is still, I think, one of the funnest baits to fish.

I can't wait to check one of these out. I love my old Zillion.

5in Senko weightless any dark color but I do like the smoke silver blue laminate as an alternative.

T-Rigged worms would be my choice as well, set up to be weedless. With crankbaits you will catch more weeds than fish. At night, I like to fish by feel and not site so bait choice are set up as such. I too think it is better to fish a few feet away from the bank. I have had good luck with creature baits as well.

I gave my daughter some zoom lizards at that age that were pink with purple flakes. She caught all kinds of fish with them and I didn't think she catch anything. She thought they were pretty though. She also tried some Senkos 4in. She caught fish but got bored quick. I got her a barbie tackle box and let her pick out a few baits later on.

12lb Trilene 100% FC or Seagar Invisix . Invisix has a little more stretch.

I have a 7'3" Fenwick Elite Tech Heavy Fast. This rod had been discontinued. But if the new ones are anything like the old, it would be a great rod even though it is for smallmouth and it is in your budget. These rods are not a super sensitive but they are not bad. The one I have is meant to take a beating. I use it for punching the heavy stuff, frogs and carolina rigs. It has yet to let me down.

5 inch Senko Green Pumpkin with black flake for soft plastic Lucky Craft Flat Mini MR in Chartreuse Chad for a hard bait

I hook it up reversed with either a 4/0 EWG Gami or a Owner 4/0 EWG Plus (this is my favorite). One other hook I have tried is a 5/0 Deep Throat Gami. All three work well. I fish it just like a weightless senko most of the time but sometimes I will fish it like a tube and I have even had success fishing it like a quick retrieve jerk bait. I usually fish it with a Shimano Core, a G. Loomis 803C GLX Jig and Worm rod, and 12lb Trilene 100% FC. I have caught fish in open water and tons close to the bank. This is the Owner EWG Plus Gamakatsu EWG Gamakatsu Deep Throat The bend at the hook point turns down further than the rest on the Deep Throat. The EWG is good but the hook pulls away from the plastic faster than I like. The Owner has a different action when falling and has a wider gap, making hook sets easier.