roadwarrior

Yo-Zuri Hybrid or P-Line can be used for EVERY application. They are both inexpensive, so give them a try and throw them away if you don't like them. My first copolymer was P-Line, but I find Yo-Zuri more manageable.

Pick colors that YOU like, the bass don't care.

The Rig, nothin' to talk about. I still have not fully recovered from a trip on the Tennessee River back in August! Too many fish and they were way too big!

The reel is being replaced, so you can give it a go in a couple of weeks.

X2 Why waste good line that you will never use? Backing is just that...backing.

I wasn't thinking about Johnson Silver Spoons, my question is about traditional spoons or more specifically, LFT spoons. I also have some customs that were killer for the pros on Kentucky Lake a few years ago. I have tried these in a variety of situations, but when fishing them deep, they're gonners!

Sounds good to me!

http://bassanglermag.com/ Man, I just flipped through the latest addition. Triton Mike wrote a great article on Float 'n Fly. A couple of interesting pieces on jerkbaits and tying jigs. The most interesting piece for me was about blades, or more specifically, the Silver Buddy. What are your thoughts on the winter articles?

Tell me how you fish a spoon. I can't seem to get more than a few casts before that sucker is gone. Maybe Tennessee rocks are just hungrier than others!

When you are shopping for gear, give the sponsors a shot at your business. Valley Sports is a great addition to the BR family.

Good choice!

Great review!

That's pretty cool!

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 smaller (8) to bigger (1) 1/0 2/0 3/0 4/0 5/0 6/0 7/0 8/0 smaller (1/0) to bigger (8/0)

You can overfill a baitcaster to the point it gets sticky (line rubs against the frame). If you do that with spinning tackle the line jumps off the spool.

Generally listed in "Specfications" http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/index/products/reels/low_profile_baitcasting/Curado_E0.html

It seems to me that the OP is asking for guidance from guys that have fished a lot of alternatives through the years. For those of us that have, we have reached some conclusions that might save a newbie a lot of time, money and trouble.

Symetre

The 2500 is a great all-around size. If you are looking for "technique specific" you will find the 1000 size is MUCH more suitable. Unless you use spinning gear for everything, the 3500 has too much line capacity for the vast majority of freshwater fishing.

I don't know that this actually qualifies as "teaching" because all my "students" are great sticks, but two years ago I put twelve guys (mostly BR members) onto their Personal Best.

Well, there is one MAJOR issue with shakey heads which came in to play BIGTIME for me on last year's BR Roadtrip at Pickwick. The bite was on with 8 or 9 bass in the first hour! The issue was, two of my smaller brown fish ate the whole enchilada which led to death. I had to stop fishing them. The problem is (sometimes) you just cannot feel the bass picking the bait up off the bottom. So, when you do, it's too late.

I like it up a little more so I never feel the knot.

Well, are all beers the same? Some differences are subtle, other are significant. I like Sunline Super Natural.

Just make sure the rod is adequately secured, strikes are sometimes vicious! Although some will argue that the Alabama Rig is just another version of the umbrella rig, Andy Poss is credited with introducing it to freshwater fishing. He subsequently sold his company to Mann's. Since then the market has been flooded with the rig under different names an in a variety of sizes. For those who have a nack for building things, "homemade" versions will work just fine. http://www.tournamentfishingradio.com/2011/11/hear-alabama-rig-inventor-andy-poss-now.html

My best friends are fishing buddies...imagine that!