Bream Master

Since summer, I've been dedicating myself to learning cranks. I've been throwing CB on spinning gear with fast tips and have decided to get a rod dedicated just for CB as the next step up.....towards pro ;D. Yeah, right. The CB rods I'm looking at are: Shimano Compre and St. Croix Premier. Those who have used either or both, please post. Did I overlook anything else in this price range? Also, should I get it in M, MH or H? I mainly fish Bomber FF Guppy and FF Shad. Also, LC Pointer jerkbaits and a few lipless cranks. Nothing deeper than the DD22. I'm just looking for the best balance to get the best casting distance I can. Don't mean to beat a dead horse so hold your stones. Cheers!

They are my most productive swimbait. The hooks suck though on the ones you get from wal-mart. You couldn't ***** yourself if you tried. I change out the hook but yeah, I do fish them on the jig head.

Do you guys like this reel? I know, it's their bottom end stuff and a lot of Shimano's lower end stuff sucks but I was just looking for something within my budget to pair on a crankbait rod. Does it cast far? Is it built sturdy? Good drag? Is it pretty much like a Citica? I was thinking it might be like a Daiwa Procaster 100 but not sure. You won't hurt my feelings if you think this reel is garbage. Cheers!

RW, $300.00!! What in the world! Does it turn into a pretty mermaid at night and cook me dinner? Cheers!

Get Sufix braid and be done with your problems and worries. 50# test for BC and 20-30# test for spinning gear. It is very smooth, silky and quite compared to the other braided lines. I always use a leader (5-7 feet) with a close diameter as the braid, except when fishing a Spro frog and jigs. I connect with a blood knot. Also, I wouldn't use straight braid for CB, unless you've got an extremely soft tip rod. You will lose a few fish from time to time if you go this route. I use a leader because that way you don't keep cutting into your expensive braid everytime you need to change out lures. Also, if you C-rig with 50# test, the heavier braid paired with a lighter (say 12-14 test) leader will help save your swivel, beads, weights and some time too when you get snagged. I wouldn't worry about line visibility too much. I don't think LM bass are that line shy. Maybe in gin clear water you might use a flouro. leader. I use leaders, but not for visibility issues. Cheers!

When do you guys choose a gold colored blade over a silver/chrome colored blade and vice-versa? Also, does tandem mean two blades? Thanks.

The man has seen the light! ;D

I've got a relative in WI and he said to me this summer, while I was up there visiting, that the crappie in WI are huge. He goes on to tell me that a crappie broke his line once. I told him he was full of it because I ain't never heard of a crappie breaking line, unless you have some really, really crappy line. And even then.... He said he once caught a crappie and it had 5 hooks stuck in it's mouth with the tag ends of the line still attache. ;D Cheers.

What color pattern spook do you guys use most often?

Well, how about sharing some of that art of tuning a CB with me, Garnet or any of you guys. I have the Rapala split ring pliers and there is a section of the plier to help tune CB. I tried using that after I tried tuning it by hand and it didn't work. Thanks.

Hey Avid, This crankbait is really productive for me. I use it in white most often. I have fished it in running water and calm water. I have fished it in stained water to clearer water. I have fished it fast and slow. I've used pauses during cranking. I've had a few fish hit it as soon as it touched the water. I can't think of a wrong way to fish this guy. I'm catching fish on it and believe me, I'm no great fisherman. I think it works well because it runs true. I think color has less to do with it. Cheers.

Thanks guys. Hookers, that looks great. Down here in NC, guys that don't have boats (YET) ;D, fish for stripers at dams. It's a hit and miss kindda deal. You have to be willing to fish for hours and pass up on the bass to get a striper. Usually, the ones we get are BIG though. Cheers.

I typically fish LC and Bomber CBs but I decided to explore a bit yesterday with other CB. So, I went and purchased a Norman, deep baby N in a crawdad color. That thing was a horror of a crankbait. There was some water current and for a bit, I thought it was the water current that was making it run crooked. I threw in my bombers and LC and they were running fine and true. I went back to the Norman and if crankbaits can get the mad cow disease, this little guy had it. So, I tuned it, like how you guys are always discussing on here. I tell you guys what, I tuned that thing left and right and back in the middle again. It was swimming like it had a mind of it's own. Left and right and sideways and splashing the surface. I went back to the local wal-mart and exchanged him out. Same thing. No kidding. I'm sticking with my LC and bombers, even if that means having less CBs in my tackle box. The ones I have run true. How about your experiences with Norman or other of the less expensive CB, such as bandits, strike king, etc.? Cheers.

I was just wondering what top-waters are producing/produced for you? The local dam got a little more shallow because of the drought and I thought I might try something new. Thanks.

My most productive bait: Magic Shad (it is also my least favorite to fish because it tears apart so easily but I fish it because it produces). Favorite bait to fish: Crankbaits Cheers!

Do any of you guys have this problem too? I've got a pack of Strom curly tail minnows and a pack of shad and both have this problem where the lure runs almost on it's side. I know about tuning cranks but is there anything to do about this? What reliable swimbaits are you guys using, besides the Magic Shad and expensive special-ordered swimbaits? Cheers!

Seinfeld and The Wonder Years. If they made more shows like these nowadays, maybe I might watch more TV.

I throw all weightless plastics on spinning gear. I don't see how some of you guys are able to throw weigtless plastics on BC gear. It's just too light for BC in my opinion. I'll use BC for a heavy C-rig but apart from that, I fish weightless plastics on spinning gear. Cheers.

This might sound sick to some of you guys but I fry my trout fillets in bacon grease. The way of the South. Everything taste better in bacon grease. Cheers.

Now, if you wear glasses, do they make them so you can wear the polarized glasses over your eye glasses? Polarized glasses wouldn't do me any good cause I won't be able to see if I have to take my eye glasses off first.

"I'm not drinking Merlot!" ;D Gotta watch the movie Sideways, guys.

For about 110 you can get the shimano cardiff 300. It does fine. As stated in the other posts, the Garcia reels are popular too among pike/musky fisherman. For line, I use 80 lb. sufix braid with wire leader. Oh, all this musky talk makes me want to visit Wisconsin again. You guys with musky availabe in your lakes are blessed.

I guess I'll just stick to the old super glue trick until it can't be glued no more.

Fellas, This is my most productive swimbait but it just tears apart so easily. After maybe two-three bites it just isn't any good. I really like this bait but I'm getting tired of picking up new ones at Wal-Mart all the time. What other swimbaits have this same type of action but are more durable?

I would get a St. Croix Premier. The 9' 8wt. sounds fine to me. I have one that was suggested to me for smaller striper fishing so it should suite you fine, in my opinion. If you're interested in line, I would suggest the Orvis Wonderline. It is awsome and silky smooth. Stay away from the Cortland 555 lines. Hope this helps.