Junger

This thread has got me on a search for a better casting rod to handle 1/4oz poppers, which to me are standard size. I love the tip and bend of the Daiwa Tatula 6'10 ML/R, but the butt to reel is about 12" and I wish it was closer to 10". Since it's a monsoon outside, I've been couped up on my computer doing a lot of looking around and I ordered two rods to compare. The KastKing Speed Demon Bass casting rod, and the Wright & McGill Skeet Reese Tournament casting rod, both are 6'8 medium power, fast action rods rated for 1/8 to 1/2 oz lures. I could not find any info on the length of the handle however. I really love the "regular" flex of the Tatula rod, which is more like a moderate fast flex...but the Eagleclaw website shows the Skeet Reese rod as a medium flex rod, not fast. I'm hopeful the tip is not that fast, and close to the Tatula regular flex. However I'm hesitant on the double trigger grip on the Skeet Reese rods, I do like to work my popper with my wrist and palm the reel so my hand is higher up on the handle, so maybe it'll work out. But that's why I got the KastKing as well, to see if the rod action is similar with a normal trigger grip. If it all works out, one of these will be my popper rod for 1/4-1/2oz lures, otherwise it'll be back to the drawing board, or I'll be in the market for a custom rod.

This lake is pretty shallow around the bank, so I think right now they're willing to actively hit the action under the right top water conditions, more so than the time of day. I think they'll be less wiling when the water temp rises in the heat of summer and then I'll have to wait for dusk and dawn too. Gonna have to check out that BFS set up.

Caught most of my LMB this morning on a 1/4oz Lightning Shad Rico. I threw it on a Daiwa Tatula 6'9 ML/R on 12lb mono. The rod is rated for 1/4oz, but it I'd say it barely managed it. It doesn't load it well, but I got good distance out of it with a Tatula CT-Type R with a very loose tension knob and high brakes and thumbed the spool before hitting the water or it would backlash. I'll probably prefer a 6'6 ML casting rod that can handle 1/4-1/2oz poppers with a shorter butt than the Daiwa. Anything lighter than 1/4oz (I love to throw the Rebel Teeny PopR), I use a spinning rod that can handle 1/16oz lures, which is a Cabela's XML 6' L/F with a Daiwa BG1500 and 8lb braid.

I had about an hour to kill yesterday while my truck was getting an oil change, so I brought a light spinning rod and the tiny Rebel Pop-R and uber'd over to Lake Whetstone to mess around. Low and behold, I caught a decent lb'er right off the bat, then two more dinks farther down the trail right of the boat house. I would have had another decent one, but I had casted near a brush pile, and the bass headed for it and the mini-popper got snagged on some branches. I was using 8lb braid so it snapped off while trying to get it back. Luckily it wasn't far out so I could use wading boots to get it back, but they were at home. So this morning, determined to get my mini popper back and encouraged by the hits on the popper yesterday, I headed out around 7AM back to Whetstone. Last year, I threw poppers about 4 times and got zero hits and gave up topwater at this lake, but it was the middle of summer and probably not under the right conditions when I tried. This morning it was almost zero wind, started cloudy, then became partly sunny behind clouds. I threw on a Lightning Shad Rico, and got a nice 1.5 lb'er on the second cast, followed by 3 more dinks. Then I started back west of the boathouse toward the dam. I've never done well on this stretch, but it has always looked good. Lots of isolated wood with some decent bank drop off to about 4 feet. Worked the Rico methodically near a large fallen branch, and got rewarded with one almost 2LB I'd guess. I feel bad about his bloody tail, he was actually only hooked with one barb on the trailing treble hook, and I hoisted him up the bank and the treble hook snapped, the bass took a spill onto the pavement and split his tail. Hopefully he'll be OK. Got a couple more dinks, barely bigger than the Rico and decided that it was time to upsize the lure. I was competing with a TON of carp splashing all about and making a ruckus all around the banks, so I needed something with more rattle/pops and threw on a Yellow Magic 3.5" Gold Shad popper. That did the trick and I landed a nice one, I'd guess about 2.5lbs, and long. Cast it far out away from the bank, and made very loud pops then about 20 feet from the bank when I got into the strike zone, started to go more subtle and longer pauses. It smacked the YM popper about 6 feet from me and pulled drag. I'm so glad to get on the topwater bite again, it's been almost a year since I had a good day on them.

When I was in the market for a fishing kayak, I was settled on the OTP too, and ultimately wanted to get the PDL over the MK. Advantage of the MK is that you'll get to your fishing spots faster probably, but the downside is...you're limited to the amount of battery then you're paddling if you run out. I wish the console for the PDL and MK were interchangeable, but they're not so once you choose, you're stuck. Ultimately, I ended up buying a 14' used bass boat and trailer (garage kept 1986 Bomber Scout 50hp) with a new Garmin Echomap 7cv for the same price as the PDL. But I will still get a kayak at some point.

When you're bank fishing, is there a lot of trees/bushes or are they open areas? That will kind of help determine what length rod. Lots of great rods in that price range, don't think you can go wrong with the big box brand name rods. MH/F 6'6 to 7' is probably your best all around rod for those techniques.

Is that a screw together 2 piece, or button locking?

Try: http://e.dickssportinggoods.com/T/v400000163b5dd140cb8f710f4bbe5cfc0/f1eef8053432472e0000021ef3a0bcd2/f1eef805-3432-472e-9779-c83737a697ae That was the embedded link in the email, but I'm not sure if it's tied to my email or not. Then try adding an item (non-excluded like Garmin, Callaway, etc) and see if it comes up at 20% off in the total in your cart.

Yeah $15 a jig...crazy, but that bruised green pumpkin chatterbait is the best jig in my bag and it's backordered at TW until like August. They do have some good F&S long-sleeve SPF50 T-shirts for $15 before the 20% discount too.

I love my Pop-R mini in silver/black...actually thinking about buying a BFS set up just for that lure.

20% off purchases at Dicks through 6/4 (emailed offer only). They also have Z-Man and Keitechs for buy one, get another for 50% off. Great deal if you're looking to stock up Fat Impacts or Jackhammers. So check your spam mail.

In the same boat, looking for a new frog rod, my Powell Max3D 7'3 MagH is a pool cue...way overkill for the stuff I'm frogging in. It never ends.

Thanks, the DotLine from TW looks pretty reasonable. Are you pushing the glass boat in your profile picture? Any issues with the DotLine?

I tried 10# PowerPro braid for a couple finesse spinning set ups and it didn't work out. Casting it was fine, but when retrieving the line wouldn't lay on the spool correctly and would be loose. I moved to 15# PowerPro and it still happens, but not as frequently.

I use a Penn Battle II 3000 on my MH/XF 7'3 jig rod with 40lb J-Braid X4, caught a lot of LMB on it in the pads/weeds, it'll work fine.

I got the Cabela's XML spinning rod 6' L/F a couple weeks ago and can't stop putting it down. $99 (on sale now) with a lifetime warranty.

Anyone have frugal options to a decent push pole? I'm going to use it with a 14' Bomber Scout in the back of the pads. I was thinking of using this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Wooster-6-ft-12-ft-Sherlock-Extension-Pole-00R0560000/100132422 But I'm not sure if it can support the weight of the 14' boat, passengers (2) and gear. It has a screw tip, and wonder what options there are that I can buy to put on similar to a duck foot. Othewise, I may just shell out $200 for the SuperStick on Amazon.

Same, they don't get sweltering hot either. I wear them year round when pond fishing.

Amazon has the KastKing aluminum 24 rod rack for $48.99 (after in-cart coupon).

I just got the Echomap CHIRP 73cv and had no problems with it on default settings in sunny conditions. Maybe you have a defective backlight. I would call Garmin support to get help with the unit.

Yeah even doing it that way, over a day of casting braid my finger will hurt.

Call TW, their customer service is top notch.

Only from reputable vendors, like Tackle Warehouse and Cabela's.

I did it...I fought off the tackle monkey. Had a Daiwa Zillion TWS 1516 in my cart, $155 after the coupon and was able to close the window instead of hit pay now.

The Real Preakness Race: