roadwarrior

Lake Erie, Champlain or St. Clair for smallmouth. Falcon or Stick Marsh/ Farm 13 for green fish.

If it is still under warranty, send it back for exchange. The Symetre is a great reel, but even Shimano builds a lemon now and then. Otherwise, send it to Mike at DVT. He can tell you what needs to be done and probably fix it for you.

X2

MegaStrike for me. Effective in holding bass a little longer, great lubricant and VERY user friendly!

You will end up rigging at last one baitcaster with Tatsu, too!

Geez...Pick something else to same money on. The cost of "expensive" hooks is chump-change. NOTHING is more important than a quality hook, although your line is a close 2nd!

Too cool!

Spring River and tributaries. Noted mostly for trout, but a good population of smallmouth and once in awhile a surprise Muskie. AR state record is from this river.

In the Mid South The Rig doesn't seem to be very productive during the summer months, but come fall, NOTHING else even comes close!

Just pick YOUR favorite color! Two of my favorites are Aurora Black and Table Rock.

Rage Structure Bug, MegaStrike MegaBug and Siebert Outdoors Big O/ Rage Craw.

SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, guys come and go. For whatever reason there are those that give the top circuits a try and it doesn't work for them, much like any other sport. However, for the guys at the top, and especially those that are in the hunt every year, it's a different story. "Marketing" is important and that's where the money is really made, but it doesn't put fish in the boat.

I use the Buckeye Light Wire J-Will Swimbait Heads http://www.buckeyelures.com/jwill_swimbait_head.shtml

If you are looking for value, these rods are a "Best Buy". http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/tournament-rod-reel-okuma.html

Soft plastics: MegaStrike Tube Craw and MegaBug Rage Tail Menace, Toad, Structure Bug and Cut-R I am fishing the Tube Craw on the Evolution ShakE2 Professional. The Bugs using a Jika rig.

Rage Toad and Cavitron. Retrieve both fast enough to keep them on top.

Lumaflex http://store.jobabylures.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=J&Category_Code=SKL

Give the Rage Tail Toad a try, it might be the best bait Rage Tail makes!

Fishing the Tennessee River is very similar. I have had better luck with lighter jigs, specifically Siebert outdoors 3/8 oz Big O/ Rage Tail Craw. Another suggestion that has been working lately is the 3" BPS (skinny) tube, #71. I rig the tube with an internal weight, weedless. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/141661-pickwick-719-720/

McCoy McStopper https://www.google.com/search?q=McCoy+Mcstopper&tbm=isch&imgil=7dbRT0GzuzbHHM%253A%253BWt5F9qNjTXLwOM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.***.com%25252FMcCoy_McStopper_8pk%25252Fdescpage-MCS.html&source=iu&fir=7dbRT0GzuzbHHM%253A%252CWt5F9qNjTXLwOM%252C_&usg=__ZzswTSrUEOhVOzH50Qh82v0adv0%3D&sa=X&ei=AT7-U6-7EMGnyAT37IDYCQ&ved=0CF0Q9QEwCQ&biw=1536&bih=884#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=7dbRT0GzuzbHHM%253A%3BWt5F9qNjTXLwOM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fimg.***.com%252Fnew_product%252FMCS-1.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.***.com%252FMcCoy_McStopper_8pk%252Fdescpage-MCS.html%3B400%3B300 100% effective!

Sounds to me like the fish you are missing might just be bream. I'm not sure you can set a hook too quickly fishing soft plastics and jigs.

X2

Red Eye Shad Fat Free Shad DD22