r83srock

I'm in northern Wisconsin and I've normally done the best on river smallies around 50 degrees or so and largemouth around 60. Fished a small flowage/river the other day, and of course the surface temp is warmer than normal right now, about 68 surface temp, and the smallies bite was on like donkey kong with a rattle trap.

I have the Mojo you have, and the gen 3 Vendetta mentioned below. I have a hard time choosing between both, the Mojo has a softer tip, mayyybe a touch more sensitive in my hands. Both are plenty sensitive. I think I like my Mojo more for finesse jigs and swim jigs. I've casted a senko plenty with it too and it's nice. The Vendetta I had a Texas rigged pit boss, 3/8oz buzzbait, and a 1/2oz rattle trap on in the same day and it felt perfect for all of them. It's a bit parabolic once it loads up a lot. The Mojo has a fast tip and is far from the stiff st. Croixs of the past. Close to an Avid in stiffness, way softer than a comparable premier or legend tournament. Hope that helps.

Knowing this, I would pick up a St. Croix Mojo 7'1"mhf, it's way softer in the tip than the lengend tournament equivalent. Similar to the swim jig finesse from the legend tournament line.

7' is where it stops for me. I have a 6 footer I use for topwater, square bills, jerkbaits. I use 6'6" for most things.

I get your way of thinking. First and foremost, gear ratio is mostly personal preference. 2nd, it's about efficiency. With bass, I don't believe power is going to be much of an issue with the modern day high speed reel, considering modern gear designs. That said, I think there is a point of diminished return on a super high or super slow reel, unless of course you dedicate that item to something super specific. I don't own a reel over 6.5:1, about 28 in/crank. I just haven't found a benefit, for me. I have a Curado 200b 3.8:1, it was my first Curado and is a tank, big spool, can cast a mile. I use that reel on a rod that can pick up a lot of slack, fishing jigs extremely slow. There is nothing wrong with a slow reel, they caught fish for years. That Calcutta is a tank btw!

Cast right, reel right, spinning and casting

They are great units and are more than enough for me, and fall within my budget with room to spare. I've done pretty well in some tournaments because of them. I have used newer, bigger, more expensive units and I do feel I'm missing much for the way I fish.

I'm not sure, but I have 10lb on a spinning reel and it's been doing well. I think they changed the formula from the old stuff, for the better.

On a spinning reel I like 10lb power pro original. I know enough guys who like 10lb fire line fused though.

St. Croix bass x 6'8" medium xf.

Do you have a dedicated jig rod yet. Do you fish Carolina rigs? I would pick the MH, I just like versatility.

That's awesome! It's how good things can start, with the exception of the future bait monkey. It's better if someone can use it instead of it sitting around. I like the less is more approach.

Haha I like your plan, best of luck! I take a trip to park falls every year as well, dad and I just like to go. It's tough not getting something there. As far as tackle goes, I've got a bigger stash than I care to admit, some pretty cool stuff too, like original power worms in the package, thousands of senkos, it's pretty bad. It's about 3 Rubbermaid tubs worth. I'm actually thinking about taking quite a few soft baits and recycling them to a bait mold I more often use. I pretty much have a plastic worm, pitboss/craw, senko, and a jig tied on year round. I try to buy only things I absolutely need, but it's hard. Thought about putting some tackle together to give to some young angler wanting to get into the sport.

I use 30lb braid often.

That reel will sail a 1/4-1 oz bait on the proper rod. A 7' medium power moderate to moderate fast action will work, such as the Berkley Shock mentioned above. Be sure that the cast control is set correctly (round knob next to star drag). So tie your complete 3/8 oz weight bait on, and free spool the lure till it hits the ground. The line on the spool should nor over run but maybe the slightest bit. Now adjust your brakes to the conditions and rod type being used. 20lb braid will work fine, just be sure its spooled tightly.

Lol, I thought I was the only one fish cranks on braid. Guess not!

I have a St. Croix Mojo Bass 7'1" medium heavy fast I picked up last year and a Abu Garcia Vendetta 7' Medium heavy fast I picked up a couple months ago. One is a touch north of your price point and one is less. They both balance well, the St. Croix is a bit better built I think, but the sensitivity is the same to me with 30lb power pro. I prefer the open hook keeper on the Vendetta, the old mojo had a similar one and I wish they had kept it, it's very handy for Texas rigs. The tip is softer on the mojo, which is nice for swim jigs and finesse casting jigs, but I think the Vendetta makes a better all around jig stick.

This. Use what is comfortable. For me, usually it's between 6.5 and 7'. I just can't get as comfortable with rods much over 7'. I roll cast and pitch shallow cover a lot, shortish is just what I like. A long rod gives more speed on the hook set, but a short rod gives more power. Nothing is perfect, what you want will be a result of a trade off.

I believe Edge rods use a copy of the old wiebe style seat G. Loomis used to use. I would check those out.

That's really a great way to do it. So you have to retie more often? Big deal, your knot is always fresh. Very efficient!

12lb big game

Like most everyone else.. my first bottom contact rod and my second bottom contact rod. Jigs and worms.

I've bent the super line EWG gamakatsu. The heavy wire owners are the best. The super line ewg Berkley fusions are the next best.

I'm pretty happy with a largemouth or smallmouth between 3-4lbs. My personal best smallie is just under 5lbs and biggest largemouth is around 6. It can take 15 years for a bass to his 5 lbs here. I've seen largemouth weighed in as big as 7 lbs.

Totally agree! I've used others, but I always gravitate back to power pro. 10lb on a spinning reel and 30lb on a Bait casting reel. I feel that innovative textiles with the support of Shimano, with the low cost and availability of Walmart is a winner for me.