GORDO

Its all personal preference when it comes to rod length. I used to use a Mojo 7' MH/F. I had absolutely no problems with that rod. I started getting into heavier rigs so i felt an upgrade was necessary. Not necessarily in quality but I grabbed a 7'4" Dobyns Fury H/F and I definitively prefer the longer rod for the jigs. I feel more accurate with my flipping and pitching game now than I ever did but it took a while to get used to skipping them again. If you have never used a rod longer than 7' I would say stay with that and you will be 100% okay. From what I hear the Avid X is a glorious rod and would definitely be an excellent choice. As for reel, I have a Lews MB in 7.6:1 and I absolutely love it. Super simple, great breaking, even better price. Do not go any lighter than 40lb braid or 20lb flouro ever if youre planning on being in any sort of cover. If the lake is extremely clear you can go braid to a flouro leader as well. Then entire set up I have been using you can get for about $250.

Maybe someone with a little more knowledge could chyme in but from personal experience i have caught fish in green and dead bushes. Im not sure about the "deadness" of trees/brush really affecting anything, Im sure someone has some science to back which one is better. Green grass definitely hold more bass than brown or dead grass and that is a fact. As for bait, I like the swim jig decision. Try different retrieves and try to actually hit the branches and pop it over then kill it. I get a lot of strikes from doing that. Same technique with spinners. I literally always have a jig and t-rigged creature bait tied on. In the high sun, pitch those into the shaded parts of the bushes/trees. If you're not getting into fish there, try a little deeper around the creek channel.

Ill never forget the time I was flipping docks with a 1/2oz jig. Perfect flip under the dock at the middle pillar. Jig hit bottom, hopped it and felt weight. Set hook as hard as I could and line just goes screaming from right to left! Felt like a really big northern honestly until the dreaded jump. I buried my rod tip into the water in a hope to stop the jig being thrown and it was at the moment, time stopped. The fish breached and it was indeed a largie. Thicker than my leg and at least 25", I watched as what must have been a DD bass thrash its head with beautiful red gills showing and my poor little jig holding on for deal life! In the blink of an eye, my jig went sailing 30 feet to the right and with the splash quality of an Olympic diver, the fish was gone. Me and my buddy stood silently because we both knew, that was a fish of a lifetime. To many states a DD bass isnt that big of a deal, but in Washington state its a unicorn.

I wish i could say I havent seen the same thing! I will probably be throwing straight braid/floro but if the eyes are that small im not foolin with it. thanks for the heads up!

Its all personal preference I would say. I agree 100% with Jar but i often throw weightless in relatively heavy weeds just to keep the bait on top. Senko for instance, I prefer them weightless and T- Rigged in or around heavy weeds. If im fishing wood, rocks, or docks ill use a weight. The deeper the water, the heavier ill go. Let the fall rate be a determining factor as well. Ive had a hot bite with a 1/4oz bullet weight and creature bait just shut off. Switched to a weightless senko and started catching fish again.

HAHA how do you know this? well my transmission went out in my truck yesterday so i wont be purchasing anything for a while dont buy a nissan xterra 05'-08'

Let me tell you, Chinook salmon are definitely the hardest fighting fish pound for pound I have ever caught. I was afraid for my rod when I hooked into my first one and it was only 7 pounds lol. They are incredible! Im not sure what your water temp is for the pike but here in Eastern Washington, if you hook one in the late spring or fall, hold on! If you get one in the winter they are lazy but still better than LMB for cold water. LAZIEST FISH AWARD GOES TO..... walleye. you feel like you have a small stick on your line just coming straight to the boat.

I have 2 of the MBs and 2 of the speed spools. DEFINITELY GET THE MB OVER THE SPEED SPOOL.

I got mine in the middle of 2015, from what I understand last year was when they upgraded the blank from the 2014 model?

Have you tried the Duckett Micro Magic Pro?

Those are way cheaper than everywhere i found them! Just the size and action are off for what i need it for, I need it to be a dedicated worm and jig rod. I want it 7' MH/F

I like the Fury but the guides on the rod aren't anything to write home about. I have the 7'4" HF, been using it for my jig rod. My buddy has a Fenwick, great rod. He loves those like I love the Mojo Bass lol I think Im going to give the Diawa a chance. Im gonna try a Diawa tatula reel as well. Ive been bass fishing for the past year and a half and have been stuck on St. Croix and Lews. Just time to branch out and try other companies, just to say I have you know what I mean? The aspect of the Fury I do love is the tip on the rod. Its stiff but you can still feel the weight of the jig. I have absolutely no problem detecting bites in rocks of the extra weight in grass. If youre looking for a cheap and nice rod for kicks and giggles the fury isnt a bad option honestly. But, i would take the mojo bass over the fury everytime IMO or the extra weight in grass* I will definitely be doing this soon as well!

Just fill the thing up to where you feel is enough line, I usually fill to 1/8 of an inch from the lip of the spool I would say. As long as your reel holds that thick of line you will be fine!

I mean I love St. Croix, no doubt about that. absolutely nothing bad to say about them at all. I was just thinking about trying new companies just for kicks and giggles. Although, i have been debating on the Avid, just more than what I was aiming for. Im gonna grab a new reel as well thats why i was wanting to be under $150 for the rod and $150 for the reel, Literally every baitcasting reel i own is Lews. Im looking into reels that can compete with the MB for that price as well.

are you talking about the XT or the reg Tatula?

That is one sexy rod with good reviews, i might just have to pick that one up!

aim for the holes in the pads/weeds, cast over them, work the frog slow to the holes, then pause ones it gets into the holes. Wait several seconds, give it a little twitch, work it to the edge of the hole and pause again for several seconds. Another tip, cast the frog to the bank and work it off the bank into the water. You will be surprised how many bass will destroy it right off the bank.

I have been a huge fan of the Mojo Bass from St. Croix, I have 4 of them, and I have a Dobyns Fury as well. I wanted to branch out and try something new. I dont want to spend over $150 for the rod. I was thinking a MH for jigs 1/2 and under, t-riggs, spinners, lipless cranks, maybe frogs. I know certain rods of same power and action still feel different. Just seeing if anyone had any suggestions before I order something.

LOL I have a very funny mental image of this.

Scott Martin has a good channel, *, Xtreme Angler, Bass Resouces channel is good.

http://www.realdealtungsten.com/product/jackhammer-jigs/ Just an example, you can do basically the same thing with a stop, weight, (bead is optional), skirt, and hook.

GOOD LORD

These are the baits i have tied on the deck of my boat right now: 2.5 KVD square bill in sexy shad color. 3XD same color Weightless T-Rigged Senko, black and blue/green and red flake. I will switch to a 1/4oz bullet weight with a Zoom Brush Hog/ Lizard. I do like the structure bugs and space monkeys for this rod as well. Dirty Jigs 1/2oz Football head, dirty 420 color with rage tail structure bug, cali craw color trailer. Drop shot 4" Robo worm, not sure the color, on 3/8oz drop shot weight. These are hands down my favorites for the lakes and rivers i fish around here.

I always have a plastics rod and a jig rod on my boat. I personally use 4/0 EWG by gamagatsu, I like my senkos weightless and t-rigged. Catt posted a great set up for grass as well!

When my bite gets really tough in the heat of the day I like to throw a weightless t-rigged senko into the gaps of the weeds and let it flutter down to the bottom. Give it a twitch like a jerkbait when its on bottom and that drive the bass nuts. If nothing hits it, reel up and flip it again. Caught many bass in 90 degree weather at 2 in the afternoon doing this. Also, jigs work really well but i get tired of pulling weeds off the bait lol