MidwestF1sh

That does sound strange but like he said jigging spoon or a really heavy football jig if they're on the bottom. Side note: from NC but your favorite lake is the Chippewa flowage? I have a cabin on the minong flowage just south of there.

I would use the mono just cause it floats. It does stretch a ton but I don't see that being a problem. Are you leaving the hook point exposed or buried in the plastic?

I only have experience with pike but I hear pickerel are very similar. Don't worry about missing those just because there isn't too much you can do to hook them with there mouth the way it is and how they seem to slash at the lure. I would keep trying to wait to set the hook. Try to keep an eye on the line and see if it starts swimming to the side, then you know the fish has it or if you can feel the fish set the hook. That hook size seems easily big enough for a 5" bait. You could try sent but I don't think it would do much. What kind of line are you using?

First of welcome to the board! Check out the introduction section and make a post in there. On to the problem, are you sure they are not all pike? Those can be very hard to hook on a top water. Are you giving them time after the strike or setting the hook as fast as you can?

I really like my tournament pro. Haven't tried any of the other two but have held both. I liked the feel of the shimano compared to the daiwa but still think the Lew's is the most comfortable in my hands.

I have two LFS and 4 MBs. I'd say it is. The overall feel of quality is noticeable. The extra drag is nice. It is a bit smoother but if you only want to spend $100 you'd still be getting a heck of a reel. The improvements from last years speed spool to this years (LFS) is awesome.

"Flinch" = scream and jump like a little girl! Its happened to me a few times. They're hard to hold but just get them by the gill plate and hold on tight!

On a swing style football jig or a rugby jig head for smallies. It flat out kills em no matter what the conditions are.

Sunday the boat is going in storage... I might cry a little but nothing a huge order of tackle and rods can't fix!

My guess is its going to be a "do everything" rod and reel for the OP. I'd say decent rod and $80 reel. For 80 bucks you can get a decent reel.especially if you went used.

Rage tail and zoom for the most part. I'm not too stuck up on brands, if I see something I like I get it. I do like the gambler soft plastics just for how durable and the garlic sent.

Rodgers doesn't cheat

That's what I thought... Then I tried one and now I can't even fish with my old rods. They're relatively cheap for the quality but still 160 bucks per rod adds up!

Did you fish any of the Frankie's tournaments?

Denver's d looked great but their offense not so much. Two int?? That doesn't sound like the manning we're used to. BTW Aaron Rodgers still no ints for the whole season, just sayin...

Last year I was fishing right before thanksgiving... Ice fishing....

Go pack! My guess is pats vs pack in the Superbowl. Unless the packers manage to blow another championship game

Like others said. Smallmouth...

I only have the casting versions of the 3d max but have fished with a couple old insurances from Powell in spinning rods and like them. Sensitive and light rods. With the new lowered prices I was thinking of getting that exact rod. If you end up getting it let us know how you like it! It sounds like a good all around rod.

If you get her a frog rod for her first rod make sure it has a very forgiving tip. A lot of frog rods are "broomsticks" and make it difficult to cast if you don't have the hang of it down.

I just switch from the Palomar to the uni and I like it a lot. Both knots are good for braid. Everybody using the improved clinch, isn't the standard stronger? I've seen so many tests where the "improved" doesn't even come close to the standard version.

7.1:1. I have a few in 6.4:1 and 5s but I prefer the high speed to pick up slack. I can always slow my reeling down but if a fish smacks a bait at the end of a long cast it seems you can never reel fast enough.

Its an omc thing. When I bought my boat I did a ton of research and its just a common "issue" with omc outboards. It does get annoying but I learned to live with it.

I kinda gave up on largemouth for the year after tournaments were done. Just curious what did it take to win that two day Frankie's tourney? Heck of a payday for the guys who won.

Got out at sunrise on mille lacs and it was cold and windy! Couldn't get to my first spot but I hit three other areas and two produced good fish. Endend up with 4 5lbers but 1 got off right by the boat so only landed three. Had my trolling motor on 100 and still couldn't even hold in the waves so I burnt through the battery's in a hurry. Wave after wave rolling though the boat. It was rough but well worth it!