roadwarrior

Well now, that's a horse of a different color. For an "all around" spinning rod, I recommend the G. Loomis IMX SJR783S ($235) or the 843S ($245). I have done business with www.reedsports.com No sales tax and free shipping is hard to beat. Another alternative, which I fish, is a 2004 Legend Elite ES70MF. MSRP of $330, on sale at Reed's for $248. Plus, you get a free St. Croix hat!

Thanks George! Clear and straight forward. The question seems complicated , but the answer is quite simple.

Although my Broncos lost to the Colts, it was one heck of a game. Payton was impressive, but without a running game and a very suspect defense, I don't think they can go all the way. That said, the Colts are 7-0 and I guess that speaks volumes. I'm going to stay on the band wagon. Denver has an outstanding defense and a potential Elway waiting in the wings. As it stands, there are several better teams out there, but the "best team" doesn't always win.

I fish the Sammy in two sizes. I consider this the #1 topwater bait. I fish the Pointer in three sizes. I consider this the #1 jerkbait. I fish the Staysee when bass suspend in deeper water. I fish the LVR-Max-500 and the LVR-300. I consider these the best lipless crankbaits, but I also like the Yo-Zuri Ratl'N Vibe and Drum which are comparably priced. I fish the Lucky Craft Rick Clunn series 2.5 & 3.5. The only Lucky Craft product I have used and don't like is the Live Pointer. It's too light for long casts and I haven't caught any big bass. But, I bought a few more anyhow, just in case I'm wrong! So, you might say I'm a big fan. These are high quality lures than are made with the finest components, run true right out of the box and produce more and better fish. If you are patient and shop at BPS often, some Lucky Craft are always on sale. These are not usually advertised or available online, but are "in store" specials. Although I have paid full bore retail for many of the lures, my average cost is around $10.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard! You are going to get plenty of advice on this topic, but your pricing point is important when actually buying one of these rods. We can't offer practical advice without knowing what you want to spend. So, without being specific, here are some general recommendations: I would suggest a 6 1/2' or 7' Medium Power/ Fast Action rod. Rather than buying a couple of cheap rods, I would buy just one to start with. Whatever your price range is, be patient and pick up better equipment on sale.

Great fish, good pic!! Congratulations!

Welcome aboard! I second Deuceu72, get away from the bank and fish deeper structure. You might have to fish slower, too. Soft plastics and jigs are my suggestions for the lures to be used.

[moved] [link=http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1162235364/0]Central Bass Fishing[/link] [move by] roadwarrior.

To clarify my statement (only): I think the the St. Croix "package" that is described as a Medium Power/ Fast Action rod is comparable to a Medium Heavy Power/ Fast Action rod produced by other manufactures, especially when compared to the G.Loomis rods that I have used. Slightly off topic: When you are examining a rod, pay particular attention to the tip. A rod's "action" that may be described as "fast" can still have a soft or firm tip which is not generally a part of the description. Specifically, in the St. Croix lineup I have a Legend Elite (ES70MF) which has a firm tip and an Avid (AC66MF) with a soft tip. In the G.Loomis brand a MBR 844C (HF) with a very stiff tip and a PR844C (MF) with a very soft tip. Also note that the numbering system of the blank (844) might imply that they were the same or at least very similar....They are NOT! One is Heavy Power the other is Medium Power...go figure.

You send it to ReelMech! He does a great job at a fair price and you get a 15% discount!

I suspect that was in a section relating to saltwater applications. We'll see what ReelMech has to say, but I have never heard of that advice for any reel used in freshwater. Wiping a reel down, cleaning and lubricating exterior points is all I do in terms of maintance on a day to day basis.

That's a beauty!

Everything I know is from Fish Chris www.trophybassonly.com. I was thinking about fishing them freestyle around any rocky structure we migh run across or target. They cannot be fished this way around wood (immediate hang-up).

Excellent! Good luck, I know you will give it your best.

Actually, I only heard about them last spring. Mike Whitten (GYCB Inside Line) put on an exhibition at BPS during their Spring Fling. He had his biggest day EVER fishing a single willow blade Ledgebuster on the Tennessee River. I have only fished this lure once and although I didn't actually catch a bass, I did catch a monster drum! That's no big deal, but it convinced me that this is something I need to use a little more often. I plan to fish it extensively over the next several months.

[Open water fishing, lighter lines, longer casts, resulted in bigger, better bass.] I find that to be the case for bass fishing in general, but I can't emphasize that statement enough as it pertains to smallmouth bass. Get off the bank! Focus on structure in deeper water and current. Buy the biggest baits you can find, big bass like it "super sized".

Lane, I for one want a couple of dozen BIG crawdads and BIG shiners. I plan to fish both artificials and live bait. If I can buy them through you, that would be great.

I cast spinning and baitcasting equipment with both hands. With spinning tackle I manually close the bail with my left hand and never lose contact with the rod held in my right. Retrieve is left handed. With baitcasting gear I use my right thumb for spool pressure and click over with my right hand. When casting my baitcasters, my left hand never loses contact with the rod. Although I make adjustments with hand placement, I don't actually "switch hands". I think a two handed cast is more accurate and less fatigueing than single handed casting. I don't notice any difference in fish control or reeling with either hand.

Yes, it works well for me, but as I mentioned, everyone has their favorite line.

You will be very happy with your new equipment, not just now, but ten years from now. I'm sure you will add other gear to your treasure trove over the years, but you will always fish this rig. Congratulations!

You might want to try a Ledgebuster, single willow blade.

I fish the Tennessee River, the White River and the Mississippi River. Although I target different species in all of these rivers, the techniques are very much the same. So, if you are fishing big water, from a boat, here are a few suggestions that will help you catch more and bigger fish. I will focus on smallmouth fishing on the Tennessee River in this post. Equipment I fish spinning tackle, 7' medium power/ fast action rods, 2500 series Shimano reels and #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft. For the most part I fish live shiners, but artificials would include Fat Ika, Hula Grubs, grubs and Gitzits. Occasionally I fish hard lures: Spook, Sammy, Pointer, X-Rap, Rogues and jigs. Structure Smallmouth relate to structure, not cover. Anything that creates a current break is a potential candidate. I prefer rocks, rock piles, ledges, ridges, humps and pools away fronm the bank. Small fish (bank runners) stay close to shore, bigger bass are usually in deeper water or very near deep water. Smallmouth will always be in current, never in slack water. Fish in front and to the side of eddies, not behind them. Cast perpendicular towards the bank or uptsream so that your bait/ lure is always worked downstream. All predator fish face into the current. When drifting, position your boat facing upstream and twenty-five to thirty yards off the bank or where you can cast to within five feet or so from the shore or your target. To save battery usage, anchor near stragic targets and fish them thoroughly. Technique Regardless of the bait/ lure you are using, it should NEVER be fished down stream. Always cast so the lure is moving with the current. This is how bass expect bait to appear and it will help you keep from getting hung-up most of the time. Good luck!

The ideal power of the rod is more a function of the lure weight and/or cover you are fishing. I think you will find that a "Medium Power" rod meets the majority of your fishing needs. Medium power makes catching fish under five pounds much more enjoyable. That is what I would recommend.

If you have been using all of those lines, why haven't you tried the Yo-Zuro Hybrid Ultra Soft? There isn't much of a financial commitment in testing one pool. I can understand guys fishing other line, we all have our favorite, but since you haven't found yours yet, give mine a try. Spinning tackle: #6 (11.9 lb test) Baitcasting: #12 (19.5 lb test)