padon

im not an expert but i find that most people who dont have success on them over work them. just lift until you feel them thump a couple times then drop it.

i had several of the 1300 and 1600 in the 90s. they were great reels back then. i mean they still are rock solid. i wouldnt buy a new one because technology has advanced and their are options i like better, but theres no reason not to use one if you still have it and like it. they do have an excellent drag.

general texas rigged worms etc. shimano expride 72 medium heavy.shimano curado 150mgl.

war eagle screaming eagle is good so is the finesse spinnerbait. ive been using the bassman spinnerbaits lately too, they are expensive but work well. im gonna have to look into the siebert.

look most of us dont want to admit it but when it sucks and we need some bites we put on a wacky rig senko and throw it around some of the best cover. it just pain gets bit.

wood in spring . grass after that. we have rock piles, brush piles old foundations etc in our lakes. i fish them all but when things are tough in the summer and i need a couple bites i head for the milfoil beds.

as soon as it does ill let you know. i mean i catch some fish almost every time i go but ill have days where i catch 3 then there will be a tournament 3 days later and it takes 18 pounds to win. then i have days where i catch a bunch but the next week i cant find a fish to save my life. august and september are the worst.

i own all shimanos. not because i think they are better than anything else but just because i know what im getting. if i need a spinning reel i buy a stradic if i want a casting reel i buy a curado. ive never had any issues with them so thats just what i buy.

theyre always biting. its up to us to figure out how to catch them. whenever we are struggling my buddy always says somewhere on this body of water somebody is having the greatest fishing day of his life. we gotta figure out what theyre doing. and to me putting the puzzle together is really the fun in it.

i have the 72 medium light in the expride b and im really impressed with it. it has a nice soft tip but when you get back to about the 4th guide it stiffens up nice. ive had no problem keeping 4 pound smallies away from snags with 15 pound braid and 8 pound leader. very good sensitivity also.

i just have stradics on mine because ive used them for 20 years and never felt like i needed anything more.

i have the stcroix and the megabass. both are solid but the whipsnake is a little more limited. i drop shot around grass some and texas rig when i do. the legend has the guts to do that but i dont think the whip snake does. if your strictly open hook either will do fine.

any spinning rod around 7ft medium action should be fine . your budget dictatates what you buy. i dont like the gcx. i feel there are better rods around that price point. st,croix legend tournament shimano expride, but thats up to you and what you like.

hammer to drive nails, screwdriver to install screws. i just use the best tool for the job, but hey its all about what you like.

my feeling exactly. you can fish the best bait in the world even live bait, if your not fishing it where the fish are your wasting your time. its like guys who use deer lure where theres not a deer within a half mile. if they dont kill a deer the scent doesnt work. location trumps all.

i would try a lighter head and a more swimming retrieve. the swim glide shake catches a lot of fish for me. as far as fishing in weeds i catch a ton of fish in weeds on neds. i dont know why guys struggle so much. i guess it depends on the grass.mifoil, hydrilla , and coontail are easy to fish. use a light head jiggle it through the grass. when it gets hung pop it off and swim glide it down...bass eats it, repeat. my go to technique when it tough.

shimano has a new one released at icast. cant remember the name but i think it sells for 129. ive heard several rave reviews but thats all i know.

for a 110 i would go with the medium. the tip may be a little too soft to really get the good cuts you want with a jerkbait.

72 medium heavy zodias.

agree 10 pound is the max i feel is managable.

whats worked best for me is to keep just enough pressure on to keep the fish hooked but not try to wrench them out. the fish will swim out . still once they get wrapped up in hard cover like that they usually break off.

sounds like your just stressed out and tired. hopefully things settle down and you get some rest. when the fall bit starts youll be like a caged animal trying to get out there.

new model. i also had an old one. actions are fairly similar but the new one is lighter and not tip heavy.

i read those also . to me and everyone is different , i dont agree. it does have a stout backbone but the tip is pretty light. mine is used almost exclusively as a drop shot and ned rod. although i have done some neko rigging with it.

cant help you with the alx but i have a legend tournament 7 ft medium. nice rod. good sensitivity, good feel. to me it has a versitile action. fairly light tip that will cast lighter baits but gets into a stout back bone. i really like mine for flukes senkos neko rig.