Mark888

i second this, i just ordered an autos to replace my old drop shot rod, it will be my second autos in my arsenal. i also have a 7ft medium fast elite tech spinning rod, i would recommend to go with a ml if you want a drop shot rod in that series - although i think a medium would be just fine. Happy hunting!

The Shimano Sahara is an amazing reel for the money! i have two now, they are amazing for the money!

agreed! Elite tech is also a great rod, 150$ i think

Should be fine if your in the weight range for the rod, and not flipping into snot, heavy lilies and thick grass. Only issue i see is not having the leverage to hook the fish and drive the hook in. Tight lines!

love the Elite tech bass rods, I'm actually looking in buying the 7'3 heavy too, for jigs, frogs and texas rigs! I think you will be pleased with it - super sensitive, well balanced and pretty light!

i would say to look for a 7' to 7'3 medium or medium hey moderate or moderate fast action, i would stay away from fast if you are usig it for jerk baits and cranks

I would say to look into a 7ft - 7'3 medium or medium heavy moderate or moderate action rod for crank baits, jerk baits and top water treble hooked baits. A 7ft medium fast action spinning rod will cover about everything from drop shots to shake heads to poppers!

The tatula is the best reel in that price range in my opinion. Go into store and hold the reels and see. I help the casitas and tatula in hand and went with the tatula, its more of a personal preference thing.

Have you looked at Fenwick's line up? They have some decent rods for the price. Im rocking a Fenwick eagle 7ft fast for drop shots - great rod for the price. I would recommend a mod or mod fast action rod for sure, my hook up ratio has improved a lot ever since i started throwing a mod action rod. You would want flouro - its practically invisible and it is super sensitive, it also keeps your cranks down since it sinks, good luck! If you really done want floor or want more stretch, try copolymer. I use Yo zuni hybrid on my spinnerbait/chatterbait rod and i love it!

Depends what cranks you will be throwing - but i recommend going with a moderate or moderate fast action rod. I have a fenwick autos 7ft medium moderate action which i use for all my cranks that run at or less then about 10ft. Anything that runs deeper you want a heavier and longer rod imo. As for a reel, i am using a Daiwa tatula 6.3.1 ratio - i am a huge fan of both the older tatula and the CT. They are great reels for the price. For line i like 12lb invisx for all around. If you want your lures to swim a little deeper, go lighter. if you want them to go higher in the water column, use heavier line of copolymer. Good luck!

Try MLT tackle pro, online store with some lews

Daiwa tatula CT by far! 130$ on tackle warehouse

For cranks look for a 7 ft to 7'3 ft medium to medium heavy power rod, with a moderate to moderate fast action. For example i have a 7 ft medium moderate action Fenwick aetos which can take cranks up to 10ft deep. I would pair that up with a 6;3.1 gear ratio reel with 10 -12 lb fluorocarbon. For jigs i would go 7ft+ and go either mag medium heavy or heavy with a fast or extra fast tip. At the moment I'm using a 7ft medium heavy (more of a heavy) fast action rod, but I'm looking at picking up a 7"3 heavy this winter. Pair this up with a 7;3.1 gear ratio + and some 15+ lb floor or some heavy braid and you are good!

Get the most expensive combo you can afford - as well as do your research. Most of the time you get for what you pay. Look around for a 7ft medium spinning rod and a 2500 to 3000 size spinning reel (Diana revros is fairly cheap and nice). If your looking at a baitcaster look for a 7ft medium heavy fast action rod and pair it up with either a 6:3.1 all the way to a 7:3.1 baitcaster - have fun!

Take a look at the daiwa revros reel! I have one and it matches up with some of my 100$ reels!

I have a couple and i like them, but there are so many other cranks baits in that depth range that also produce. For example the Arishi flat and the berkley digger are also some of my favourites.

Morning bomb(anglers choice kill shot), salt and pepper chart(roboworm) and smoke/blue/silver(anglers choice kill shot)

Main forage is perch, minnows and crawdads

I don't have many fall fishing hours under my belt, but this year I'm really looking to get some bigness, hopefully break my PB smallie. Do you guys have any fall fishing tips for both smallmouth and largemouth? I am up in ontario Canada. Note: my fish finder is having issues - doesn't stay on with a full battery - I'm trying to fix that, but as of right now i do not have any electronics. Water temp on October 1st was about 63 degrees... what are the fishing doing and what will they be doing when the water temp is in the low 60s and high 50s??

Try having a braid backing to an invest leader - should fix the problem and give you some more sensitivity

Line twist is eliminated with VMC spinshot drop shot hooks, i use the size 1 hooks. Anything with a spinshot kind of deal i recommend

I love my aetos, i have a medium moderate, perfect for cranks

A sensitive rod with a fast tip is a must, i use a fenwick elite tech bass rod, medium fast action, i can feel everything...Keep at least one finger on the blank. Another important thing is your line, i recently switched to 20lb braid to a flouro leader, and i can tell the difference from just plain flouro. WATCH YOUR LINE, especially when you are fishing for smallies, they will take it and run when they are active! Don't keep your line slack, if you keep it semi slack, you should be able to feel a bite! A sensitive rod with a fast tip is a must, i use a fenwick elite tech bass rod, medium fast action, i can feel everything...Keep at least one finger on the blank. Another important thing is your line, i recently switched to 20lb braid to a flouro leader, and i can tell the difference from just plain flouro. WATCH YOUR LINE, especially when you are fishing for smallies, they will take it and run when they are active! Don't keep your line slack, if you keep it semi slack, you should be able to feel a bite! A sensitive rod with a fast tip is a must, i use a fenwick elite tech bass rod, medium fast action, i can feel everything...Keep at least one finger on the blank. Another important thing is your line, i recently switched to 20lb braid to a flouro leader, and i can tell the difference from just plain flouro. WATCH YOUR LINE, especially when you are fishing for smallies, they will take it and run when they are active! Don't keep your line slack, if you keep it semi slack, you should be able to feel a bite!

The drop shot bait is killer for me, confidence bait! A shaky head is great on ledges, or if you want to through a little something different then a jig. Ned rig is a quantity bait, i don't throw it much just because i get a lot of rock bass on it (Don't like rock bass). A mojo rig is amazing for fishing grass, just sits ontop of the grass. A wacky rig senko or stick bait always catches fish, i have been leaning away from the senko recently, and using other baits like the havoc money maker or the angler's choice wart hog. I have yet to try the neko rig, but i have a feeling it will be a killer rig.... Tight lines!

The CT is all i need. I had a lews, and sold it immediately after i picked up my first Tatula CT. Feels better in my hand, its all personal preference though, go hold both in store before you buy!