Boomstick

My youngest kid has them both. The 7'3" MH/F is pretty stout and would do quite well but the H/XF is a really fantastic all-around jig rod. I personally prefer shorter rods for skipping, but it's not a requirement. The 7'1" is closer to a medium by St Croix standards. The M-MH Ehrler finesse rod is generally designed to favor lighter wire hooks. It's a great rod to throw just about any finesse jig on and T-Rigs from weightless to 3/8oz, but unless you primarily skip finesse jigs it's not what you're looking for. For a specialty rod for skipping jigs, I would favor the 6'9" Tatula Elite skipping rod or the 6'9" Zolo Dock Skipper as I prefer a rod around 6'9" or 6'10" for skipping. If you want to go with St Croix, I would look at the 7'3" H/XF Victory models mentioned above - the dock sniper would also work, but it is a bit of a broomstick in comparison and the Victory rods are really light and sensitive so they're worth the upgrade.

That was a really nice move of you.

I like where I live when the lakes are not frozen over. We don't get the largest bass, but heck it is certainly beautiful. If I could position myself about a hour north, it would put me closer to three of my favorite lakes to fish.

If you make it out there real early, often larger lures can still be effective as there are plenty of large baitfish from the prior season. In the northeast, the water is often still half frozen at this time. Generally, my cold water lures are generally lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits, colorado bladed spinnerbaits, and tubes and ned rigs. Slow rolled spinnerbaits, jigs, buzzbaits and poppers can also be effective, but I generally prefer them in the fall.

The 734C is a little more mod fast than fast and is perfect for moving baits. You could consider the Sierra line as well if you don't want to pony up for the Champ, it's not too big of a difference.

My 5 rod setup changes a little bit lake to lake. The most all-purpose version would be something like this: 7 - 7'3" H/F baitcaster with 50#+ braid for frogs and flipping heavy cover. 7 - 7'3" MH/F baitcaster with 15-17# fluorocarbon for jigs, trigs, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, swim jigs 6'8" - 7' M/F with 10# mono (12# if you find a mono that doesn't run thick) for square bills, jerkbaits, weightless soft plastics, treble hooked topwaters 7 - 7'6" MH/F with 12# fluorocarbon for crankbaits, lipless crankbaits and deep divers (also works for jerkbaits and poppers with mono or put on heavier line for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits in a pinch) 6'7" - 7' ML/XF or M/F spinning rod with 10-15# braid and a 6-8# fluorocarbon leader for finesse techniques. A common 5 rod setup for me would be for a lake without a lot of weeds but a lot of laydowns: 7'5" MH-H/F baitcaster with 16# fluorocarbon for jigs 7'1' M-MH/XF baitcaster with 12# fluorocarbon for T-rigs OR 6'10" MH/F for spinnerbait, swim jig, chatterbait or paddletail swimbait 7'2" MH/F baitcaster with 12# fluorocarbon for crankbaits 7' M/F spinning with 12# braid and a 8# fluoro leader for a drop shot or shaky head 6'9" ML/XF spinning rod with a 6# fluoro leader for a smaller drop shot or ned rig If there is real heavy cover and it's hot out, I might go down to two or three rods and focus on the cover and surrounding areas: 7'6" H/F with 65# braid for flipping jigs or punching 7'4" H/F with 65# braid for frogs 7'1" MH/XF for chatterbaits

Oh nevermind you are right. It feels like it's a 3/4oz. I've used it for 3/4, but I'd be hesitant with 1oz, it loads up quick with 3/4oz.

Well seeing as the Fury 705CB is designed for lighter crankbaits (up to 3/4oz although 5/8oz is much more ideal imo) and the Sierra doesn't have any dedicated cranking rods (although the 703C or 733C make fantastic square bill rods, especially in grass), you will have to move up to the Kaden or Champion XP. The KD 735CB should make a pretty good all-purpose cranking rod as would the DC 735CB glass. If you prefer a longer rod you could go with the DC 765CB or the DC 804CB if you like them real long, but to me the 8 foot rods are more specialty deep diver rods and I would be more inclined to go with the DC 805CB. Models with glass options are acceptable if you like fiberglass rods. EDIT: So @MN Fisher pointed out the 705CB is actually rated to 1oz, although it kind of feels like 3/4oz would be the max. So the DC 765CB (glass or not) would probably be the way to go for an all purpose rod.

I use two rods that are pretty much dedicated for throwing crankbaits, and another I'll use for small crankbaits. I will likely add a crankbait rod designed for 8xds at some point as well. My Tatula MH/R glass does take heavier weights well but a rod that's really designed for those heavy lures would still do better.

...and somehow I missed out on this year's fishmas! I thought I sent the message with my info way back, swear I even double checked but apparently I forgot. Merry fishmas everyone

This is pretty much spot on. There are a handful of reliable vendors that I've used who sell on on ebay (and sometimes other platforms), but I don't think any of them would ever put up something for auction either.

I finally figured out how to do this after some of us rejoined.

That area isisn't too far from me but I haven't actually fished any of them yet. My usual favorite spots are all about a hour away. Emerald Lake (small lake, difficult but often rewarding fishing), Lake St Catherine and Lake Dunmore. I've been to Ricker Pond which is about a hour east of Waitsfield. Caught a large number of small bass when I was there nothing big although my kid lost a very good one - and the water was 83-84 degrees too so that's not too bad but it's definitely a beautiful location.

If anyone's on, you should be able to come back?

I'll sign in early myself once I'm done eating

For anyone not on the invite list, here is the info for tonight's call. 7:30 EST (starts in under 40 minutes) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88241123846?pwd=Q040QUoxVkVuQm5ZeWFXck5GNjBmdz09 Meeting ID: 882 4112 3846 Passcode: 028428

Where'd you go in Vermont? I fish much of the southern half of the state fairly regularly.

I can't give you too much input here other than you don't want a 893C for 1/2oz jigs at all let alone around laydowns. Beyond that, the differences in length are primarily your personal preference, however 7'5" is a pretty good length for pitching and flipping generally (I use the 7'5" Daiwa Steez AGS Bottom Contact rod myself).

This is true. I run straight braid for flipping and frogging on mine with no issues.

I just send the email invite!

Is getting skunked a viable topic? I mean I can teach beginners how to get started all day...

Nice! It reminds me when I had a guitar lesson when I was a teenager. Bruce Cockburn walks in to the store to buy strings and was playing a gig in town and my dad was there waiting and recognized him and they were talking and when I came out of my lesson I got to meet him and he gave us both tickets.

I don't know the specific area of the river you're fishing so this may or may not apply, but generally rivers often have a lot of low hanging trees and points and if you are in a kayak, sometimes you have to get out and drag it past certain sections when the water is low etc. So what I'm getting at, a shorter rod is usually much easier to manage in these situations. Basically rods between 5'6" and 6'6" (where I normally use rods between 6'8" and 7'6" on lakes), so the 6' rod is the new 7' so to speak. If your spots aren't obstructed by anything, since you said you rarely fish out of a boat then I think you could get the same rod you would use in a lake.

I have never had a reel with a flipping switch, but I've talked to people who have and they all said they never even use it anyway. Some people may prefer it, but it seems like reel manufacturers tried to reinvent flipping but it didn't work out quite as well as they hoped.

Some people go with moderate fast because it helps offset user error that we all make when we get a hit time to time (setting the hook too early) but it does you no favor on hooksets. Fast is the happy medium between hooksets and compensating user error, but extra fast should still work.