CroakHunter

I have a couple each of sv's, ct's, and fuego ct's in my lineup. I'll look to see what my mag brakes are set at when I get home and post em up. But as far as spool tension goes I tighten it down until I get just a bit of play and then just barely tighten in the slightest. I know for pitching a 3/8 ounce weight plus flipping hook and magnum structure bug my brakes are around 6, and usually I'll take them to 4 or 5 once I get warmed up and in the groove. Casting a 1/2 ounce jig I would say they are around 10 maybe. But I'll let you know what they are set on and what bait is tied on

Been raining for a month it seems like here. Every place is blown out bad, once the levels and clarity settle it'll be a mad dash for the banks and the spawn will be on!

^^^what he said. If I'm flipping grass or super super thick wood, where I need to set the hook hard and winch then in quick, I'll go 50-65 Gray colored braid. Moderate-semi heavy wood I use 12-17lb fluoro or copolymer, not so much for the invisibility but for the abrasion resistance. Moving baits/topwater I use a quality mono like seaguar senshi.

I have been so pleased with my daiwa fuegos, tatulas, and tatula sv's that it is hard for me to recommend anything but them. Although I do have some lews reels, I much prefer the daiwa with mag brakes. Respectively $65, $100, and around $140 for the reels I listed, on eBay.

If you like the price of the tcs, but would like dobyns great customer service and great quality maybe look into a 765 flip in the fury lineup. Although I haven't fished this rod, it is one I've did a lot of reading on and plan to add it to my arsenal when my wife isn't looking.

What types of techniques have you tried?

Blade bait

2 inches, yes that is absurd, but 2 feet is reasonable.

So you think catching an 8lb northern strain is easier to do than catch an 8lb Florida strain?

South of the snow and north Of evansville lol

Couple pics I got sent from my cousin and his boy that live somewhere north of me in Indiana. Both are over 26" long. I'm thinking 9-10lbs each. Both were released immediately after pics. For size comparison the man in the picture is roughly 6'4 or 6'5

My farthest cast I've measure has been 82 yards. 7'11 heavy cranking rod, Abu Garcia winch, 30lb braid and a 10xd. But realistically with a set up like yours I could cast 40-45 yards with no backlash and decently accurate. Although I prefer the less than 15 yard pitches for hand to hand combat with little green fish

Everything except lightweight and treble hook lures. Very versatile length, power, and action

I handled the spinnerbait model, it was awesome feeling in hand. Super light and they had the right action in the rod for a spinnerbait. Seemed like a solid buy to me.

I broke the tip on a 7'mh cut it off at the next guide and turned it into a 6'9 heavy. Made an amazing frog rod.

I throw 2 colors. Solid white with a silver blade and solid black with a silver blade. I change color of my trailers to accent my bait a certain way. But if you could only have 1, green pumpkin would be my choice

Daiwa fuego ct. Save some $

About a month until spawn though!

We tack a large piece of posterboard up and from left to right the columns read Name,who bought that team in our auction and for how much, # of fish, weight, penalties, big bass, and place. The husband weighs fish and the wife writes it down.

48 degree water temp here on one of our small lakes. Friend caught them on a squarebill, keitech, and scrounger.

#1. For me it would make it harder. I pitch with anywhere from a 7ft to and 8ft. And it took me a little while to get the feel of the 8ft rod after I had already known how to pitch well. #2. I don't change my setting on my reel when pitching. Never know when you might need to make a fast cast.

I have no desire to own a 2 piece rod. Regardless of how easy it is to transport

I'm most effective pitching under 60 feet. I practice a lot though. One side of my deck in the back yard is raised about 2 feet off the ground so it's perfect to simulate the deck of a boat. I practice my 20'-40' pitches the most. I try to be able to place whatever bait I'm using inside of a small coffee can every pitch. I also practice with different weights. Anything from a 1/4 ounce finesse jig up to a 1 ounce punch rig. My sweet spot is a 3/8 Texas rig. Enough weight to get the distance, but not too much weight where my mechanics get lazy.

Whatever I think they are biting on lol. If they aren't gourging on shad I'll start out flipping and pitching a jig or soft plastic and continue to do so until I think they aren't biting it. But if it's a lake with shad, and they are eating the heck out of them, I'll start with a swim jig, chatterbait, or spinnerbait depending on what cover or lack there of is around.

I use a 7'3 lews tp-1 speed stick for frogging and pitching Texas rigs up to 3/4 ounce. It's a really nice rod for $99. Super strong backbone with just a little too to be able to cast frogs