Yudo1

I would grab a Lew's LFS off eBay for $80 like others recommended.

When I hear "beginner bait caster," I think entry level or in other words inexpensive because maybe someone doesn't want spend too much money on something they aren't sure they will enjoy. I agree that something more expensive will usually perform better and give an inexperienced user less headaches. Some expensive reels are meant for more advanced users though like for instance a megabass TD Ito which has super fast r tuned spool which requires a decent thumb.

How can we help you when we don't know your budget or needs? If you're starting from scratch then obviously you need a rod, reel, line, hooks, weights and baits.

I don't think you lose much if any sensitivity with a 2 piece.

My senko rig is the only one I have fluoro on. I use 14 lb sniper that's been conditioned with kvd l&l. Keep contact with the bait with a semi-slack line. Keep your index finger under the line as well as watching your line. I use an nrx 893, which is regarded as one of the most sensitive rods you can buy paired up with a metanium xg. I fish senkos and fat ikas a lot so I spent big bucks on this combo. What does this add up to? When I feel like I have the best possible rig fishing my favorite bait, my attention is at a peak and confidence is high. I haven't gut hooked a fish in years. Do I miss bites? Probably, but I feel pretty good about my odds.

I also like to wacky rig a senko on a flick shake jig head. Just cast upstream and let it bounce along with the current. I feel like the less action I impart the better it is. Let the current work the bait.

I like to wacky rig a 4" senko on flick shake jig head.

I t-rig a senko with a 1/16oz bullet and cast upstream and let it drift while taking up slack.

Use the mh/f for t rigs and the mh/if for reaction baits.

You don't have to have a boat to use bait casters. Buy on eBay and get more value. Bps is overpriced although I do like the pq, but I'd rather get a tatula or Lew's LFS .

That looks sweet. Let us know how you like it. I've read good things about okuma.

I used to have spinning rod with those guides and they grooved badly. I can't believe they put those guides on modern rods with all of the people using braid and fluour nowadays.

I love my alphas sv. For me, it is so user-friendly and bombs a senko. I can throw 1/8 on a ml rod. Why don't you like yours?

Out of those 2 definitely the Abu. I'd rather spend a little more and get an aluminum reel instead of graphite IMO.

Junk

Man, I miss my yak! My pb was in my yak a month ago before my knee surgery. 7 1/2 lb.

Sounds like a great day. I'm recovering from major knee surgery so I won't be yakking for for a long time. Man I miss it.

I use cheap mono I have laying around.

The boomerang is pretty hard to beat.

That is also a good choice. The shimano zodias would be nice too. I use a megabass xx perfect pitch, but it's a $300 rod. I also love my 7'3" heavy klx.

You can get them brand new on eBay. You are pitching which is much more common. I almost exclusively pitch. I use a shorter rod for pitching (7'2") and at 5'10" I feel like I'm more accurate. The curado I would make a great pitching reel. There are so many rods to choose from. Figure out the weight of lures your using and the type of cover. Usually a heavy powered rod is popular. I think you want something 7' or longer. You can get a good deal on curado I's and tatulas leaving you about $200 for the rod. A 7'2" heavy shimano zodias would be sweet with the curado. Memorial day sales are the time to buy.

Are you actually flipping or pitching? The 2 seem to be interchangeable terms nowadays. A lot of guys like to flip with a 7'6" rod. You could pick up a tatula 7'6" heavy on eBay for $120. I'd put a tatula CT on it.

I guess 4lb.

On the river in my yak I take a ml casting, a med casting and a mh casting. I don't use spinning unless I'm drop shotting.

When I was younger I used to do the night crawler and bobber deal and always enjoyed, but it wasn't until I was introduced to bass fishing that I became an obsessed maniac. I used to see different lures and not understand why a fish would be fooled. One day me and my buddy were bank fishing on the river with shiners. We caught a couple smallies but then my buddy pulls out a bag of senkos. He throws it out there and immediately got bit. He and I were in shock when he caught more fish in 15 minutes than we caught all day on shiners. I was hooked. The next day I bought 5 bags of senkos and the rest is history.