CroakHunter

I fish about 10 times a year (maybe). I own 14 combos and have 9 3600 tackle boxes crammed to their limits. Do I need all of this? Nope. But I sure wouldn't enjoy my time out if I could only fish a few techniques and had to use just a few rods. I like stuff. Not necessarily high end stuff. But I like having my options. It's what makes fishing so fun. People can have their own views and preferences on how they want to fish but it doesn't make any of them a better angler.

People have been using lead weights for a long time. People are still alive and still eat fish. I'd say you'll be alright.

That is definitely a weird slot limit. So you had to have 3 dinks and then 2 as big as possible?

Jigs, Texas rigs, weedless swimbaits.

Knock-off Senko Rage craw Berkley grass pig and grass pig jr. Rage magnum bug Yum f2 craw chunk Pit boss Don't fish flukes.

Dobyns fury or colt 705 cb are good rods for a budget. The tp-1 speed sticks are good but I'd still rank them lower than the fury. Never handled an exage. then pick up a daiwa fuego on eBay for about $65. Then you have an awesome set up for under budget

Giant thread pinned to the top of the rods and reels forum.

Magnum ole monster Xcite baits maximum worm-straight tail Yum mighty worm-straight tail Culprit ribbon tail

The tatula sv is a great reel. I have 2. Both are for pitching and skipping. I plan to pick up 1 or 2 more for senko and finesse jig work soon. No need for me to spend anymore on a reel than what a sv will run you on ebay.

I like pitching Texas rigged craws and creatures. Fast paced, in your face, hand to hand combat. Heavy rods, line, and big hook sets. I used to love to throw wacky rigs and still do at times. But give me a 3/8 to 3/4 ounce weight, some 20Lb fluoro or 65Lb braid, and a 4x strong hook and I'll go to town on some green fish!

Line capacity would be my only concern. But if using braid with just a little backing you should be fine.

Fish any visible cover. Fish shade lines or shaded banks. Also try at night if possible. Throw something different than the other people fishing there since you say it is pressured. When all else fails try fishing a senko super slow.

I have no input on either reel, but I'm sure either will be great. Just wanted to say welcome from another hoosier.

I've been bass fishing for around 15 years (since I was 12). And in my first 8-10 years I caught some nice fish and figured some stuff out. Landed multiple bass over 5lbs (on purpose) and Went out on the water with an idea on what the bass should be doing. But this last 5-7 years I really feel like I have stepped up my game and can hang with some of the best "regular Joe's" in my area. Realizing that decent or good equipment helps, technique specific rods help, and using my head and past experience has put me over the edge from average to a pretty alright angler.

I use mono or old fluoro that I'm taking off for backing. I use the old spool one backwards to fill the next correctly trick a lot.

Put some backing on and you'll have plenty

You would be better off just stripping 75 yards off and reeling it back in while using line conditioner and holding the line between your finger below the first guide and above the reel to remove twist. May take a few time to get them all out. What size line? Fluoro and spinning reels usually don't play nice together.

1. 12" ribbon tail 2. Hollow body frog 3. Pitching jig 4. Pitching creature bait 5. Carolina rig

My fishing partner is the same way. 10Lb mono for Crankbaits and spinner baits. 12Lb for Everything else. He also has his baitcaster tightened so tight that you literally have to cast them to get line to come off the spool. Almost if you loosened the drag all the way and tried to cast that way without pressing your button. He has caught more fish over 7lbs than me, and his pb is nearly 2lbs bigger than mine. It's a fun sight to watch him swarp in a big fish with his 6' rods and 10-12Lb mono whistling in the wind. Here's a good pic of how his "wrong equipment" saved our butts. He landed his bass (far left) with 10 minutes before we had to head to weigh in. It was a 2Lb cull and we won by around 2lbs.

My only advice would be to slow down. It sounds silly and simple, but If you want to catch fish from shore in the summer (in the "Midwest" region) and they aren't eating the frog, you've just got to down size and slow down to get a few bites and to get your confidence up.

Lews tp-1 mh Is my idea of one. A little stouter than some but yet very versatile. Topwater, spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, pitching jigs with trailers, senkos. A rod that can handle superline hooks but also medium wire work hooks when using copoly or fluoro

Depends on the weight and cover I'm fishing. Anywhere from a 6'8 m to a 7'5 mh. 12-17Lb fluorocarbon

Braid with a long leader of trilene big game or p-line cxx. No need for fluorocarbon.

Exactly. That 200I does exactly what I need it to. Big football jigs and magnum worms on heavy fluoro

Never, ever use the black/blue flake rage craw.