jimf

To be fair my Speed Spool has much more wear and tear than the BPQ, so maybe I'm comparing an aged reel vs a relatively new reel too. I love Lew's, I'm definitely not going to talk someone out of their reels.

Thanks to all for the feedback, I think I'll make an investment in the 9 volume set. The specifics are fuzzy, but I remember reading him way back when and thinking "Makes alot of sense".

I would say a plastic worm as well.

To compare apples to apples money-wise - I think the BPQ ($99 list) is a better reel than the Lew's Speed Spool($99 list). I own both, they are both good reels for the money, but I like the BPQ a little better. Now above the Speed Spool of course, I'll take anything from Lew's. I thought the $50 BPQ and the 5/$10 Cordell Super Spots were the best values at their sale.

Cordell Super Spot just became my favorite this past weekend when Bass Pro put them on sale 5 for $10. I picked up $20 worth. Before that ... I like anything Rapala and of the course the original Rat-l-trap.

Buck Perry is thought of as the father of structure fishing. I happened to read his book Spoonplugging 30 some years ago, it was just when I was coming of age as a fisherman and switching from night crawlers and bobbers for bluegill to artificial baits for bass. Buck was a smart guy, math/physics background, and he approached fishing with an analytical eye which I appreciated. I'm trying to remember ... how much of that book was dedicated to actually fishing his own brand of lure, and how much was general bass fishing knowledge that is still valid today? I'm thinking about picking the book up on Amazon, I'm wondering if it's worth a re-read at this stage of my fishing life? There is a website that sales a set of manuals - buckperry.com. Anyone read those - the Buck Perry's Guideline for Fishing Success. Looks like about $70 for the 9 volumes. Worth it? Too out of date?

I think for now I probably will multi-task with the Avid - spinnerbaits and as mentioned above a backup plastic rod. I was out again yesterday playing around and it's growing on me, even sniper style. But I love the idea of a dedicated sniper rod as mentioned above. But then again I love any half way legitimate reason to buy a new rod. Next year. I am going to look closely at the Legend 6'8" MH/F. They actually call that a worm/jig rod, and label the 7'1" M/F a plastic rod. I don't make long casts with my plastic worms, so I'm thinking maybe the shorter rod would be comfortable.

If I'm being honest my gut feeling is correct more often when I have a gut feeling it's going to be a slow day of fishing rather than the other way around.

Mojo Bass + $49 BPQ that is on sale now. As mentioned above.

I like the advice fishnkamp gave - don't go cheap. Cry once. You are better off buying one solid combo and then building form that than go for 2-4 cheapos right now. I also second the recommendation of the Pflueger President spinning reel for a "cheapo" that isn't cheap. Fly fishing ... you have to make an investment in the rod, go cheap on the reel. St. Croix Imperial will run you about $250, that is a very serviceable rod. and that's really at the point where I think fly rods become serviceable. The reel holds line, if you need to save money go cheap there. You don't need a drag even. I have a couple of very high end fly rods (RL Winston) that I pair with a relatively cheap reel with no drag. With fly fishing, spend on the rod, and remember that all the reel really needs to do is hold the line. For a general purpose rod I would recommend a 5 weight which is kind of in the middle - a little too much for panfish but serviceable, a little too light for bass but serviceable, and maybe perfect for trout.

I had the 7' MH/F Avid out on the pond out back with a spinnerbait and that's going to work just fine. A little getting used to, a little more rod, a little more butt etc... but I was able to present the bait more or less how I wanted to at sniper range, and there was the advantage that I could just rare back and let it fly a little better than I could with the other rod.

I don't think they were, but I couldn't swear to it. I will be back in the store Thursday and will give you a definite answer if you can wait until then.

I went poking around at BP today to look at some rods (as well as picking up a $49 PQ), the idea is that I'm probably going to take advantage of the trade-in offers. I went in looking for a spinnerbait rod - thinking 6'6" MH/F .. something like that. I kind of was figuring the St. Croix Avid-X, or maybe a Loomis E6X in those specs. Long story short I think I've talked myself into a 7'1" M/F Legend Tournament, which will be my worm rod, and then make my worm rod (7' MH/F Avid) the spinner bait rod. Here are the reasons and concerns I have with this shuffle, and I would appreciate comments/opinions on whether or not they are valid. I am making a focus of improving my soft plastic game this season, and I believe the LT would be a better rod for two reasons. One, it's theoretically a more sensitive rod and two, it is a split grip vs full which again, theoretically, should improve sensitivity. Is the Legend Tournament more sensitive? Will it make any difference at all over my current setup? My main concern is on the spinnerbait side - I'm kind of a sniper with a spinnerbait, going from my current el cheapo 6'6" Daiwa Lexa M/XF to a longer and stiffer rod - am I going to be able to adjust. The answer to that last question is going to be answered probably this weekend, I'm sitting typing this outside in 60+ degree weather in my backyard with a pond without ice about 150 feet from me. I'm going to get throwing a spinnerbait this weekend to get a feel for that. Part of this decision is being influenced by the BP tradein deal - it turns out that while the sticker price is $60 between the Avid and Legend Tourney, it's only $40 after the trade (199 - 30 = 169 vs 259 - 50 = 209). That, and I wasn't sure if I would like the micro guides on the Avid X. edit ... and I now realize I made a newbie mistake and put this in the wrong subforum. Tackle = Terminal Tackle. Got it.

I think that would work, but I'm a dinosaur and still use mono for everything. I've tried the other stuff and I just don't like it, or trust it, or I'm too stubborn to change, or something. Personally I use XT more than XL.

New version coming out? I didn't realize that. I actually am going in today to see if they have a $49 PQ, I just can't pass that up. I have two reels in that $100 range - a Lews Speed Spool and the PQ, I like both but if I had to pick one over the other it would be the PQ. Regardless of whether or not a new model is coming out, that is a really nice reel for that price. I had the same question about the trade-in dates.

I'm going to take advantage of BPS trade-in next week and get a new spinnerbait rod. I fish spinnerbaits in a variety of ways, but my #1 technique is kind of sniper mode where I make relatively short to shallow water structure. I put more premium on accuracy with spinnerbaits, and generally fish 3/8 oz. I'll go down to 1/4 more often than I'll go up to 1/2. Considering either the St. Croix Avid X or the Loomis E6X. Specifically: 1A. St. Croix Avid X. 6'6" M/F. 1B. St. Croix Avid X. 6'6" MH/F. 1C. St. Croix Avid X. 6'8" M/XF. 1D. St. Croix Avid X. 7' M/F. 2A. Loomix E6X. 6'6" M/F 2B. Loomis E6X. 7' MH/F. I own a couple of Avid's, no Avid X's and I have never owned a Loomis. The line rating and lure weight are listed quite a bit differently between Loomis and St. Croix, I guess I can assume that a St. Croix M is going to have a little more in the butt than a Loomis? I don't see the Avid line on the BPS website, but I'm almost sure my store has some. I'm going to go in and do some shopping today, if they have an Avid in a 6'6" M/F I'll probably go that route.

I have never even seen one, let alone fish it, but the St. Croix Bass X line just came out and that fits within your budget (barely). Just knowing the rep of the company I would be surprised if it's not a solid rod. I think the blanks they are using are what they used in the Mojo's up until last year on the Mojo's, and I own one of those. For $100, that would work just fine. http://stcroixrods.com/products/freshwater/bass-x

I have the Frog/Swim Bait St. Croix MOJO that I'm very happy with (7'4" H/Fast). I think it's more around $140 - if there is any wiggle worm in that $110 limit you have take a look. I think you would be really happy with that rod for what you are looking for.

At one power plant cooling lake I fish if bass fishing is slow and the carp are in the shallows I'll change the itenerary of the day to fly fishing for carp. There is also a fair chance that you will find a dozen or so nightcrawlers in the cooler in case I get bored bass fishing and decide to pop some panfish. And, occasionally, I will fly fish for carp with a nightcrawler on a bass fishing trip.

I often think back to a childhood event that happened to me when thinking about this topic. I once ate a toilet bowl deodorizer apparently because it was blue and smelled nice. I maintain despite objections from my friends, that even at that age my brain was much more sophisticated than that of a bass. I'm sure often it puts the odds in your favor if something looks and acts like something the fish are eating, but maybe not as much as we think. If it looks alive, more often than not they are going to try to eat it if they are hungry.

Rapala Rattlin' Rap.

Spinnerbait rod. The one I use is fine for most occasions, but it's a little wimpy in the butt for cover. Which is what I tell myself to justify buying a new rod that I really don't need. Probably a St. Croix Avid, maybe a 7' MH/F. Or maybe I should treat myself to a Legend because I think I deserve it, they have a 6'8" MH/F and I like shorter rods. So, there is my reason for the Legend.

In-Fisherman TV. I do more bass fishing than anything, but I also chase Walleye, Trout, and panfish. I like multi-species focus, and it's more tutorial based rather than watching a contest. Bill Dance was the best though.

When you think back 30 years or so it's amazing what has happened to plastics in terms of variations, companies etc.. Mann's and Culprit were about all I remember. Now I go into BPS and it's aisle after aisle after aisle.

They weren't cheap by any means and they didn't have near the selection of a BPS, but boy I miss the small shops where when you went in you would say to the owner/only employee "Hey Bob, how ya' been?".