Boomstick

I got my kid a Supreme XT for Christmas, but we haven't got to use it yet. I'm kind of excited to try it out though, as I've heard exceptionally good things from people who would know. From my experience with their spinning reels, I had no problem taking my chance on it plus I got it at a great price.

I usually drop shot on spinning rod because I typically fish the drop shot as a finesse tactic with light line and light weights on warm sunny days when they aren't going for moving baits. It's also easier to drop the line straight down, and you don't need big line to set the hook with, making it perfect for spinning gear. However, this is not the only way to fish a drops hot. You can take your medium or medium heavy casting rod and tie up a drop shot and a 3/8 or 1/2oz weight, 30 or 40lb braid tie to a 10 or 12lb leader, tie on a texas rigged senko and throw it around heavy cover. I haven't tried this yet but I have seen it be used as a very effective way to fish the edge of grass lines and weed beds when people were fed up with getting stuck in the grass.

It's also a great combo if you ever fish for channel catfish and small blues, although the medium heavy is usually preferred, but the medium works. I got one for my son with the intent to target channel cats and bass and learn on. He will get something better for bass this year but can use that for cats and cranks.

You want to use a ML/XF rod for a finesse drop shot which is usually using a weight as light as possible, like 1/16 or 1/8oz. If you are fishing larger weights like 1/2oz or 5/8oz, then you are not fishing a finesse drop shot rig per say. Do you have a MH/F or M/F baitcaster? You should be able to throw those weights fine on either although based on the technique, medium is slightly more ideal.

The power rating of that rod is simply medium, but they do not give the action ratings although I would say it's moderate action. The GX2s seem to be a bit on the heavier side however, so the medium is closer to medium heavy where the medium heavy is closer to heavy. They're not the worst cranking sticks due to their slower action. I have caught a couple of smaller fish on a small swimbait on them before as well, although they're much more suitable for treble hooks. They're not a bad rod to keep in your trunk if you're out of town and happen to find a lake as they're cheap and you won't break it.

I usually stick to chrome and white, white and chartreuse or mixed color spinnerbait during the day in most waters with a gold and nickel blade. If the water is really clear, I will usually gravitate towards other baits first but I would use a white one with nickel blades if I have one on me. At night time, I will use a black spinnerbait. Spinnerbaits I will use regularly include the War Eagle Extreme Trokar in Sexy Shad and Blue Herring or the Strike King KVD Finesse Spinnerbaits in Chartreuse Sexy Shad, Chrome Sexy Shad or Sexy Shad.

Yeah, if you want to play it safe I would make a box special for each trip with anything you plan on using and backups should you lose or wreck one.

I use the 3650 style boxes where I can keep them in the original bag inside the box myself, but you should be fine especially if you go through them fast enough.

I haven't felt the need to use Excel to track my reels or tackle, but I do use Excel to add items I know I will be needing to purchase soon, like a replacement lure or new line or whatever. I have a spreadsheet dedicated to fishing and camping gear, with tabs for camping, bass, catfish and trout gear and can access it from my phone as well so if I'm fishing and lose a lure, it goes right on there.

Congratulations! I speak from experience -- kids are like fishing buddies when they get older

Late last year, I threw 17lb Suffix Siege mono on my reel I use for moving baits since most of my fishing is done in shallow water so depth is not an issue but pulling through weeds is. I liked the Siege line because it had less memory than Big Game and casts much smoother and the 17lb diameter line was almost impossible to bird's nest. When I switched to my other rod with 40lb braid, I'd almost be guaranteed to bird's nest that the first few casts until I adjusted. I would recommend trying larger line than you need. Since you are looking at finesse lures, start with 14lb line and work your way down to 10lb or 40lb braid. I don't recommend starting with braid as it's the least fun to pull backlashes out of. You'll thank me later Also with 10lb mono or equivalent, I still find sidearm cast is often easiest.

Right now it's $108 at Sears for the 7'1" Tatula but $102 for the 6'10" MH/F -- still really good prices and everything on Jet is quite a bit more at the moment, but I have honestly never thought to check either site before. What I did notice when I bought my 7'2" Tatula glass cranking rod, the price did change several times a day, even sometimes every hour or less ranging between $110 and $150. I think I ended up getting it for $115 or $120 and for that price, I'm still not complaining. I have seen some Tatula SV's as low as $125 on ebay as well, but I think I paid $135 for my last one because I used the seller before with a good experience (tricetackle2016) and they consistently list them around that price point.

I can second the Mojo Bass Spinnerbait rod. I got one for my son for Christmas and he likes moving baits, pretty much crankbaits and spinnerbaits and the tip on the spinnerbait rod is on the slower side of moderate fast so it should work with crankbaits. Alternatively, I use a Daiwa Tatula MH/R glass cranking rod for most of my moving baits -- it is a glass cranking rod that is ideal for deep diving crankbaits with fluorocarbon, but since I usually fish shallower areas from shore, I run 14-17lb mono and it still has enough backbone to use a spinnerbait. The flex isn't too dissimilar from the Mojo Bass spinnerbait rod, and the price generally fluctuates between $110 and $150 on Amazon. For soft plastics, you would want something with a faster tip ideally. Because you use mostly shallow crankbaits and topwater, I would probably go with a slower tip for cranks. For a reel, you can't go wrong with the Tatula SV for its improved braking system. You can get a new one for $135-155 on ebay. I have as well, and would again.

I can recommend the Daiwa Tatula SV from experience, it's definitely a great braking system. I bought a Pflueger Supreme XT for my son for Christmas too, I got it for under $100 on ebay with a 20% off code. Haven't got to use it yet but I've heard only good things and my experience with Pflueger is their reels generally last a lifetime.

I haven't seen these prices on a Tatula rods or reels, but even for prices like what I paid they're worth it (around $110 for a Tatula rod and $135-155 for a Tatula SV reel -- I also see the Tatula CTs for under $100 on ebay). If that's too much, try getting a Tatula CT or similar quality reel and a Berkley Lightning Shock or an Abu Garcia Vengeance rod. The Shocks aren't as stiff, but I like them better for moving baits. I got a Pflueger Supreme XT rather cheaply on ebay, but haven't got to try it out yet.

I too am looking at picking up a decent medium light rod for drop shotting this year (I have some M/F rods currently, but looking at going lighter). I was thinking about the 6'11" Tatula Finesse Rod, or the 7'1" that is also ML/XF but not listed as a finesse rod and listed for heavier lures as well, simply because my two casting rods are Tatulas. Does anyone know the difference in these rods besides 2"? Since the matching Tatula LT reel is so expensive, I was debating trying a Daiwa BG, 2000 or 2500 sized. They're often used in larger sizes for saltwater, catfish and muskies but I gather they're a fairly solid reel and I'd imagine the smaller sizes are just as good. Cheaper spinning reel options that I could also recommend are the Pflueger President and the Mitchell 308 Pro. I have a Mitchell 300 Pro and a smaller sized Pflueger President, the President seems better built but I like the Mitchell better because it is smoother and lighter and so far it's held up well.

You guys all have a ton of worthy goals for this year. I wish you all the best of luck acheiving them.

I can think of a few different scenarios. #1) First, the spoiled rich person with too much money where the extra $300 is like the average person buying a 25 cent pack of bubble gum. They can afford it, so why not? #2) A diehard bass fisherman just wanted to see if it's truly worth it. #3) A diehard bass fisherman wanted a rod with a specific grip and decided to get a custom rod built. Myself, I try to aim around $100 for a rod and a reel, although might be willing to spend more on a reel because that's less likely to break from abuse. Past that, it seems like you get less for your money. Say some company found a way to make a rod that has the same bend and weight as other rods made out of something new that was really expensive, but it could easily lift 100lbs before breaking, that would be worth $400 if you really loved the rod, right?

You just put a smile on a kid's face.

This is a vow I wish I could keep. Good luck with the wife

You have good taste! You should check out Preston Reed if you are not familiar with him. He's sort of like Leo Kottke meets Michael Hedges (who I would assume/hope you're familiar with). I recommend the Instrument Landing, Blue Vertigo and Handwritten Notes albums if you need a starting point -- all a bit different from each other. I play guitar myself, lot of progressive rock, and fusion. Musician wise, Frank Zappa has been my biggest influence but you may catch me playing Pink Floyd, King Crimson, John McLaughlin, and Jimmy Herring to name a few. I used to be pretty serious.

Since 2017 is over, does anyone here have any resolutions for 2018 related to bass fishing? I guess I will start as I have a couple. My first one will certainly happen which is to improve my finesse fishing, focusing largely on the drop shot. The second one is to get a canoe, but seeing as I can't seem to get a trailer hitch on my car I might have to buy a truck. EDIT: I thought of a couple more. Take my 3 year old nice fishing, that should be fun. And fish a jerkbait more.

I don't think I have any really funny fishing stories really, but my oldest son told me how his grandfather took him and his brother fishing once and he hooked his underwear. I wish I was around to see that one.

I'll give it a 5. Not the worst thing ever but could be much better too.