Boomstick

From the Dobyns website: PRIMARY TECHNIQUES: Crankbaits / Jerkbaits / Spinnerbaits / Topwaters SECONDARY TECHNIQUES: Lipless Cranks / Scrounger Heads / Square Bills I would probably step up to the 735CB glass (the 7'3" version) and I would imagine it should be good rod for all moving baits if you don't mind a stiffer cranking rod (or use mono). If you are looking for simply crankbaits, I think I would go with the 704CB glass instead.

I voted for M/M for open and MH/M for weeds, but you'll be fine with either. If you aren't worried about depth, you can use some heavy mono and then go with MH.

Not at all. I'm convinced if I only had a 6.3:1 or even 5:1 ratio, I would still manage just fine. I will however put a 7.1:1 or a 8.1:1 reel on rods where I know I'll take advantage of the extra speed however.

If bass is your primary target, I would go with a M/F, that's a nice sized spinning rod for bass that's still small enough where you can spool up 8lb line and use it for finesse techniques. For snook and tarpon, I am fairly sure that you will will want MH/F however, which you can still use with bass. So I second M/XF (or a stiffer M/F rod).

I usually use either the palomar or the uni knot, depending on what I feel like. Also I always think if it's windy, a palomar would be much easier to tie, but experience has taught me the opposite is true. Occasionally I will use an improved cinch knot because they are so quick to tie, but they do not hold anywhere near as well as a palomar or uni, which I never have problems with on any line. The knot I struggle with is the FG knot, so I use the double uni knot to join lines. So far I have had no issues there either.

Oh nice. I haven't found too many places out your way but you can definitely checkout the Oxbow in Northampton. There's a few smaller lakes near Becket too, but I've only fished the Otis Reservoir.

I was in there a couple weeks ago as well. The rod selection was picked clean (except for the saltwater rods). Last year in the spring they were stocked full!

Oh we don't have much besides trout in NA either. When I said cats I was referring to the much larger channel cats, a ML is more than sufficient for bullheads. I do say the ML GX2 is light for bass as they tend to be on the slower side though, so I'd likely use a medium rod for bass for moving baits. If it was MLXF with some sensitivity however... For channel cats, I have to go to the Connecticut river (try the Oxbow in Northampton), the Hudson (Spier Falls) or Great Sacandaga Lake, minimum drive of 90 minutes. For bass, I have to go to Pittsfield or south county, Vermont or New York, although if you are willing to travel to Vermont I know some great quiet smaller lakes that might yield a decent smallie or two. I am guessing you are around the Lee area or not too far?

If I get a massive fish I will. If it's just a dink, I'll check the knot and recast. I also check my line much more often when throwing into weeds as opposed to open water.

I would probably get a medium or medium heavy GX2 for bass and catfish and an ultra light rod for trout and panfish personally. A medium light will be too light for bass and catfish, and the medium will be too big for trout. The GX2s are slower in action and not a lot of sensitivity but you can still fish moving baits on them pretty well and they have enough strength to pull out a large catfish as well. Add in the fact they are cheap enough and they're a great rod to leave in the car or truck in case you have time for some unplanned after work fishing or whatnot. My kid has one that I often use in the same purpose.

For reels, I picked up a Daiwa BG 2000 earlier this year for finesse fishing. I haven't really got to use it yet being in the northeast but my initial impression of this reel is extremely high. It feels like I am holding a slightly heavier Shimano Curado Ci4+ where the bail doesn't hit my larger hands. Plus they have a very solid reputation for holding up for virtually forever. I have also had great luck with the Pflueger President and Mitchell 300 pro (which is an extremely smooth operating reel), but my initial impression is that the BG will ultimately be my favorite. This lets me spend more money on the rod, and since I don't really mind the extra weight of the reels personally. I am still unsure what I am going to buy for a rod. I am currently leaning towards either a brand that is blocked on this site or a Dobyns Sierra 702SF. The Bass X or a Mojo bass might be an option as well. Most of my current spinning rods are nothing too great.

I own two Tatula SVs. They are really great for throwing lures around 3/8oz and lighter as the SV spool really helps with the breaking although at a sacrifice to casting distance although it is well worth it -- at the end of the day, you will cast more yards from avoiding that one birds nest. If you are looking for a reel and you know right away you will only be throwing lures 1/2oz and up on it (frogging or punching rod for example) then I would suggest saving some money and going with a Tatula CT, or perhaps a Curado or Pflueger Supreme XT for the extra casting distance.

I have always thought that detecting bites is probably 85% in your hands and brain, and 15% in the gear you use. Sure some gear may send feedback on bites in more obvious or noticeable ways than others, but from my experience if you are used to how to read your less sensitive rod, you're probably going to retrain yourself moving to a more sensitive rod, and the benefit may or may not actually be worth it at the end of the day.

I love the idea of the environmentally friendly spool. It shouldn't really sacrifice anything and all manufacturers should take note. I may have to check this out.

Yes they are glass rods and they have a bit more backbone than many glass rods with a bit of give still so they should be great for a spinnerbait. I usually use my Tatula 7'2" glass rod which I gather is very similar in action for spinnerbaits, no issues so far.

I buy mostly Daiwa Tatula rods, it's just hard to beat them for the price point. I do like St. Croix, and G Loomis rods as well.

I am absolutely positive I can't fit much longer. The 7'4" is even going to be pushing it but maybe if I angle it I can get it in. I was considering maybe another Tatula to be consistent with my others. That rod is rated up to 2oz as well where some are only up to 1.5oz, although honestly it was just a thought at this point to add a heavy rod. Like I said once I end up getting a truck (and a a boat), I will look at adding a proper rod for larger swimbaits. At the current time I would have no way to transport it. At this time, it's an improvement for my frog setup and a way to throw smaller Huddlestons.

Some heavy frog rods are rated up to 1.5oz and others are rated to throw up to 2oz, which is the weight of the 6" and 68 special, so I would imagine that should be good. Am I missing something? Also do you need a round reel for Huddlestons? A lot of people use low profiles too. I am aware of the reel speed however and was really wondering if it's easier to slow down or speed up in my scenario.

So I will probably add a 7'4" (most I could possibly fit in my car) heavy rod this year to use for frogs, huddlestons and jigs in heavy applications. I was thinking of going with a 8.1:1 for frogs, but a slower reel would be better for larger swimbaits. If I hit my goal of getting a boat next year, I'll add a proper longer swimbait rod, and either buy a slower reel with it, or buy a faster reel for the frog rod. What do you guys think, is it easier to crank faster than slow it down?

I have the 6'10" MH/F Daiwa. It's a good all around rod for spinnerbaits from 3/8oz up tp to 1oz. I usually use my other Tatula, the 7'2" MH/R glass cranking rod for spinnerbaits up to 1/2oz and that works well as well. I would imagine the graphite 7'2" MH/R rod is similar in action as well. The Dobyns 734C or 704C should work well, although I'd probably go for the 733C or 703C if you are looking for a dedicated spinnerbait rod.

The biggest thing you will notice is Tatula LT is super light, on paper it's in the ballpark with reels like the Shimano Stradic CI4+ or the Pflueger Patriarch in weight. In the store, I thought it felt heavier than either of those reels however. I had to go out of town to get my hands on all of these nice reels too.

Nice! The Gloomis E6X ML rods is one of the rods I am considering for drop shotting myself (My dream rod is the GLX series, but that'll put a huge dent into the boat fund).

I fish1/2oz in deeper water or in the fall, 3/8oz the rest of the time. That said, I don't have a great track record with chatterbaits either (although it seems I got the sizes right)

Sounds like we had similar thoughts

^ What he said. You could also put fluorocarbon on the dobyns and then braid on the kistler and throw soft plastics and frogs, and then use either rod for jigs depending on what you're throwing them into and what the water looks like. If it's not in heavy cover, the slower gear ratio won't be an issue...