MasonV

Sounds like you just need to get a new rod.

I've always liked the BPS XPS fluoro.

7' MH/F 6.3:1 15lb mono

On lakes I prefer alone but I'll take a friend every now and then. Ponds I like to go with a friend.

Like BB86 said, you can find a boat just 3-4 years old that has been taken care of in the 18-19' range with a 150 HP for under $20k.

Yes, buzzbaits are great and one of the most exciting ways to catch fish. I always use a trailer hook and usually just use a single blade. The single blade standard size is 3/8 oz so you'd be fine there. Some double blades can be 1/2 oz... As far as color I generally throw a natural or shad color, white or chartreuse/white in clear water. Stained I'll start using a chartreuse and muddy or low light conditions I'll consider black.

I haven't ridden in a Skeeter but they're shallow boats and gardnerjigman isn't the first person I've heard say they're like a skipping stone. I have a 2011 Z7 and am VERY happy with the boat. Sturdy good sized front deck that's easy to fish from, pretty smooth ride, when you're by yourself it's very quick out of the hole, and IMO you can't beat a Mercury Optimax.

I don't know that I can add a whole lot to that. BB86 pretty much covered your question, but I will say it sounds like I have more confidence in a c-rig than he does lol if that makes you feel better about trying it out some. I usually don't go smaller than a 3/4 oz weight. I love having that bottom contact and feeling everything down there. It can be a good search bait for finding little sweet spots down there. You can throw pretty much anything on it. I usually throw some kind of creature bait but I also throw bigger ribbontail worms, lizards, french fries or a speed craw type bait like a rage tail or Yum Christie craw.

BPS will do a Pro Qualifier on a Johnny Morris CarbonLite for $160. That's a good deal.

I haven't personally used any of those but from hear say with friends, if you're willing to spend the money, it doesn't get any better than G. Loomis.

I don't have a routine I always go through, I just always try to fish the given conditions.

I use a 20lb fluoro main line with a 14lb fluoro leader. Braid wouldn't be a bad idea for the main line either if you like it, and you could use mono on the leader and it wouldn't be a big deal. I just prefer fluoro for more sensitivity and abrasion resistance. You definitely don't want mono for the main line though. You're already making a long hookset most of the time so you don't want something stretching like mono. I also want the extra sensitivity and abrasion resistance of a fluoro or braid when I'm dragging bottom.

I'm still relatively new to the H2O baits but have thrown quite a few of their different crankbaits and every one has ran true out of the box, good colors, and catch fish. I JUST bought one of their TWS models (Spook style bait) and one of the hard bodied jointed shad swimbaits. Haven't thrown them much at all but they do both have good action and the swimbait runs true. Actually did catch a little one on the swimbait, nothing on the TWS but it's been brutal here with triple digit air temps and the water being 85-90.

I haven't used the Lunker Frog but I don't like the look of it. I like the Strike King KVD frog and I'm about to try the H2O frog. Looks great, cheap and I love their crankbaits so I'm hoping for the same from the frog.

I 2nd this. Very good crankbaits and cheap. I'm getting to where they're about all I use.

I fish it on a 6'6" or 7' MH fast action rod, 6.3:1 reel with 14lb fluorocarbon. I almost always use a split tail trailer. To me, the chatterbait displaces enough water on its own so you don't need a trailer that does as well. The trailer is mainly visual IMO. The only time I might use some type of craw trailer is if I was yo yoing it off the bottom. I don't use a trailer hook and fish it much like a spinnerbait or crankbait. Variations of speed, stop n go, rod twitches, yo yoing in the water column or off the bottom...