lbriggs

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MF/XF spinning low 6' range MF baitcaster 7' MHF baitcaster 7'. I fish everything but deeper cranks on these 3 rods mostly from the bank, sometimes on a boat.

I like 1/10 ounce for ned rigs . 1/8 ballhead jigs for grubs and small swimbaits. 1/4 ounce for finesse jigs and shaky heads.

I wouldn't bother trying to catch a state record spot out of MacBride...fished there for 10+ years bass fishing and the biggest Kentucky spot in there was about 14 inches.

My favorite cheaper alternative for ned jigs are the arkie gopher head. They are half the price and the 1/8 ounce version is great.

Pretty thorough thread but I'd add two things. A top water toad like a Stanley ribbit will cover water faster than a frog and give them a different presentation. You can also kill it and let the toad sink in open holes. Another technique I like as an alternative to a frog is a weightless Texas rigged tube on top of the mat. I never see anyone doing this, but it's caught fish for me when the frog bite is off and they want something even more subtle.

3" gulp minnow in pearl or smelt on a 1/8 drop shot, or a 1/10 ned rig head will catch them anywhere in Iowa for me.

I vastly prefer in line spinners for the fast current I fish in for smallies. Mepps are my favorite. I like the size 3 and 4 sizes, black fury or a silver blade with a squirrel tail dressing. It's also nice as a multi species lure and big crappies, pike, perch, drum, and even rock bass will hit them too. I stay away from traditional arm spinnerbaits because unless they are a heavier willow leaf make they tend to roll in the water. In line spinners remedy this perfectly. Also don't count out a small panther martin as a perfect finesse spinner, which can be the perfect bait for smaller rivers and creeks. Caught quite a few 2 and 3 pound smallies on a size 0 or 1 panther martin for trout.

Been ice fishing as much as I can, but it's hard with spring classes starting back up at college. Picked up a new Fenwick HMX ML ice fishing rod (great spoon stick), paired it up with a 1500 series shimano sienna, and got on a few walleye this past week with my dad. They were hitting pretty good in 30 feet of water on fathead minnows and Swedish pimples tipped with a minnow. No panfish yet but I can't wait to catch my first lmb through the ice!

1.)(4.2) 3/16 oz drop shot with 4" green pumpkin chompers work or 4" bold bluegill roboworm 2.) (6.0)1/10 oz ned rig new money color trd 3.) (4.5) 3/8 oz bitsy flip black jig green pumpkin rage chunk trailer 4.) (4.1) 1.5 Squarebill chartreuse black back 5.) (3.3) Booyah pad crasher bullfrog color

Saylorville, Big Creek, or the Des Moines river

Smallest mini-mite cubby jig. It's a 1/64 jig with a skinny straight body and boot tail, maybe an inch long. They're panfish killers, green sunfish love them. I like the chartreuse head with a white body.

Go to ffotackle, check out their combos. Berkley lightning casting combo, or get a pfluger trion and put it on one of their discount abu Garcia vengeance rods.

Dropshot roboworm in bold bluegill.

Drop shots work year round. The forage is more based on shad or gills and not so much craws in the fall, so try baits to imitate that.

I fish the Cedar consistently year round for smallies. They're shallow right now, and very active. Cedar river smallies are picky, some days the only thing they'll hit is a small bass buster jig, and other days they will crush any bait in front of their face. Here's my tip; find a pattern and follow it religiously. One fish is a fluke, two is a pattern. Fish slack water, rocks, current seams, and even directly in the current with a heavy jig or mepps. Throw everything in your box until you can catch a few on the same bait and in the same general area (i.e. a current seam, rocky point), and slow down and fish methodically. There are big smallies in the cedar, and don't be afraid to downsize or throw a live fathead/shiner on a jig if the bite is tough, the Cedar is often an unforgiving mistress. My PB out of the Cedar is a 19.5 inch 4 pound smallie, message me for tips or more information if you please.

Black finesse jig with a cut down rage craw. KVD 1.5 squarebill in Sexy Shad. 1/4 jighead with a 3" Kalins grub.

I'm in Ames. Been catching a ton on black arkie style jigs, squarebills, BPS, swimbaits, Rapala DT-6, drop shot finesse worms, and a few on a 1/16 weighted Texas rigged senko. It's the time of year to tie on a jig and hunt for a PB.

You shouldn't spool your reel completely with braid anyway, you should fill it up with a fair amount of mono and tie onto your braid. 125 yards will be fine, don't buy 300 yards right off the bat if you haven't tried braid on your spinning reel before. I personally love braid for my drop shots, shakey heads, and other finesse presentations. I think you'll like it a lot on your reel too, 10 lb powerpro will cast a mile and is very sensitive.

Update: Tec Spec rod is good. Decent lipless rod, it's good for 4" grubs, and jerkbaits. Just about a true fast action but still loads good for a cast. KastKing reel is better than the Black Max. Only complaints is a very temperamental drag to set, along with noise when cast really far. Otherwise it's a good reel, no complaints.

I have fished with and know of some great >$100 rods. Like you said the Dobyns Fury and Fenwick HMG are good rods at this price point. So is the Shimano Sellus, Academy Ethos, Abu Vendetta, Duckett Ghost, and plenty other rods. The Veritas remains a strong, light rod that in my experience doesn't break and is decently sensitive in a spinning setup. Just seeing what people thought of a MH Veritas for jigs and t rigs. I think it might be too stout, they run a little heavy. I might just pick up a No8 Blackout.

What other rods are in this price range that blow the Veritas out of the water? I have a Veritas already on my spinning setup, and like it very much. It's quite sensitive and the guides are nice, also very light.

So you think if I want more of a texas rig and 1/4 - 3/8 oz jig rod I should get a medium Veritas? Not the medium heavy?

I need a new MH rod. I will be using 3/8 oz jigs and texas rigs, as well as a frog/buzzbait occasionally. I found a 7'0" Veritas Micro Guide, medium power fast action for $72: I heard to use the medium as these rods run heavy. Lure rating is 1/4 to 3/4 ounce. Can I do better than this, at this price range? P.S.: I have a Veritas spinning rod I love.

Just curious of what y'all think of the Chippewa Flowage. I'm headed up there in early Summer/late Spring this year. Anyone here fished it? What do you guys think of it?