CaptPete

I think you misread my post, based on reel weights, I like a reel around 181g on a MH 7'4" H3. Curado 70 is the only reel close to that readily available under your $200 limit. Personally I like a steez sv103 on that rod they balance very nicely together. H3's only come x-fast Curado 70: I don't own one, fished on briefly, it's nice, but I tend to enjoy the SV reels more. Thats just personal preference. It should based on weight balance very well with the H3's you're discussing though

history says a week or two, it's somewhat unpredictable, but their sales like this are frequent. I fish several Helium 3's, and I'll add to the "they like a light reel", I have steez's and metanium mgl's on mine. I picked up a steez sv103 for right around $200 brand new off the auction site recently... Keep your eyes open. Tatula/curado 70 would be my next best option, but I'll say this I've paired a MH 7'4" H3 with both a tatula CT and steez's and the weight difference makes a huge difference in the balance and feel imo. as far as power rating, the replies above were spot on, in fairly heavy cover with a 1/2oz jig, I'd opt for heavy, but in fairly light cover or heavier with a 1/4oz I like the MH. (All my H3's are 7'3"-7'4") Reel weights: this is just a little chart I keep, obviously missing some models, but may help you Steez SV103: 181g SV103: 221g SV105: 175.7g ALPHAS SV 105SHL 175g Aldebaran 136g Met MGL 175g Chonarch MGL: 190g Curado 70: 184g Tatula CT : 209g Tatula SV : 204g Zillion SV TW: 195g Steez A: 190g Steez SVTW: 160g

6.45lb caught on a Gantarel Jr, way upstate NY Largest smallie was around 3.5lbs: caught on a 3" SK coffee tube

I have a Dobyns Dx744 that gets used 90% of the time for texas rigs(1/4-3/8oz mostly), great rod for 3/8oz jigs too. My favorite t-rig rod right now is a Kistler helium 3 7'4" MH though.

Thanks everyone! On my last day fishing this lake today. Was a great trip, lots of quality fish. Largest smallmouth for the week was just a hair over 3lbs(pictured). Rest were in the 2 lb range mostly. Awesome fighters. Dusk and dawn off rock piles in 12-18 FOW were key. Tight lines everyone!

Yeah Man!! never expected it! they told me there was hardly any largies here... this is a spring fed rocky lake, theres next to zero vegetation, just downed trees. I think she's a rare beast.

I'm up in the adirondacks, got here yesterday afternoon. Went out for a few hours last night. Caught all dinks. Few smallies, one largie, and some rock bass. About 10 in all, I was happy for the first time on the lake. I went out again this morning at 5am solo, checked a few promising areas, but didn't see any sign of life. I came back in at 7am to eat with the girlfriend and then we went back out around 8am. Sun was coming out by then, clouds were gone. Water was 76*. We tried shady areas with no luck, then we tried a sun beaten rocky area. Bingo 5 smallies, and a largie, all around a lb, better than the night before. Then we ran out of rocks and started hitting trees... Not a ton of luck, couple smallies. I'm on vacation, and had some tackle with me I normally never take. Namely a large swimbait. I'd never thrown it, had a new rod ready to go for it... so why not. The lure was bigger than any of the fish we had caught previously... but I wanted to play. Second cast to a sun soaked downed tree in about 15 fow.: I saw a big shadow, my lure disappeared...the fight was on. My new personal best! I'm still jittery, decided to head back to camp for a bit and let the jeski's do their thing. Hopefully I have more good news to report later this week.

Mine comes fishing from time to time. She used to stick to a couple small cranks and a spinnerbait... but she sees when the jig bite or <insert other method here> is on... She's seen my jig boxes before and always gives me: "How many do you need??"... Well tides turned last Sunday. I wasn't catching much of anything, she was getting grouchy and started digging. She found something she thought was pretty: PBJ arkie jig with a junebug rage craw on it... Well... that was the ticket that day. She caught 3 nice largies in 3 casts, and kept it going most of that afternoon... until she lost the jig... Well... she goes digging... next thing I know "Why don't you have <insert color and size jig here>.. I explained you can't buy them all. She was flabbergasted... "You don't have them all??".... Not sure wether to be nervous or excited... but I tied her three new PBJ jigs yesterday, she's happy for now.. lol

You are probably over thinking this. I have a fully decked 14' jon with a 20hp Merc on the back, I drop it into several lakes that don't have ramps at all. The biggest issue I have is when the drop is so deep the trailer digs into the bank coming out. The boat floats... so once the trailer drops, the work is done. pull the trailer back out. I do this solo regularly, and I'm probably a bit crazier with how deep I'll put my rear tires, but just be aware, don't back in too far, and no shame in pushing the boat off the trailer if the situation calls for it. I use old 6x6 planks to get under the trailer tires and create a ramp when the bank is undercut (Or I hop in the water and just lift the rear of the trailer while someone else drives... I only do this if necessary pulling out, never had an issue dumping a boat in, even on a 90* bank, just go slow, wait till she floats, and pull the trailer back out this is the reason I love my jon boat, and can't justify anything much bigger. I launch without ramps 90% of the time. I tow with a 4x4 F150, but I don't think your dakota will be at all stressed(assuming it's 4x4).

if it were me, I'd be hopping farm ponds, specially if I didn't have a boat. Theres pretty much a pond every half mile or so. Or; Erie isn't far, some of the rivers are pretty good fishing too. (some of the reservoirs up there might be fantastic too, but my time spent there was on farm ponds, some pretty productive ones too). IIRC theres another site/forum thats 100% about fishing in ohio... bet they might have some advice

BIG differences!! totally different platform basically. Most consider the SS models heavily over-braked.

Surprised the 744 is being suggested for 3/4oz footballs. I have a extreme 744, not 100% sure if the champion series has more power or not... but I would not throw 3/4oz footballs with my 744 extreme... I don't even throw 1/2oz jigs on it often. It's great Trig, 3/8oz jig rod imo... 745, 784 would make way more sense to me. to each his own though

Big-Bass's eyes are good. Those reels top to bottom: SV103, Tatula CT, SV103, Tatula CT type r, and another tatula.

Just to toss one of my favorites into the ring: V&M J-bug. Between that, the rage bug, sweet beavers, and brush hogs rounds out my usual creatures.

love my SV103's... good choice

I use standard 5/0 screw lock style hooks(single hook), both weightless and 1/8oz belly weight. I never thought of them as "floating"... weightless, rod tip up, moderate retrieve will keep it on top though. This time of year, I have best luck with 1/8th oz weight and running them just below the surface.

My opinion, specially if used in an electric only lake: 70lb is awesome, 55lb is minimum I'd bother going. You'll be more efficient with the 24v system (and smaller gauge wire runs, which is nice).

given the distance you are talking, you'll be fine. But technically you should use the proper drop to level the trailer and get proper tongue weight. The amount of drop shouldn't be dictated by ground clearance...

Thanks A-Jay! Have you carried on line as well? or best to pack that?

What do you do for baits/hooks/etc? Check that in? but atleast you have rod and reel if things do "go missing"?? Curious what has worked best for you.

funny you mention that rod, I tried a 40 sized rat on it. and landed a few fish on it, but I lost about as many. Needs a softer/longer tip imo... worked pretty good for jigs and worms

Check out Suncloud, not too pricey, but not cheap either. I have a large head and they have options for that(bonus to me). The lenses seem pretty nice, and they seem likely to hold up for a while, I'm happy with them.

If you want Dobyns, I'd suggest a 5 power.... I have a 734 and a 744, neither would be happy at all throwing 1oz+ I have thrown the 40 size on a Dobyns 735(fury in this case), it did fairly well. kistler 7'10 MOD might be real nice for those Rats....

She has tiny hands... when she grabs the line to make a cast the line snags on the hook keeper maybe 80% of the time. She tried to adjust technique, but in the end that just wore her hand out... way easier to remove the hook keeper. and with aftermarket options, it's not a huge deal, just a "want".

I looked into them, and nearly every review I've read involved a broken rod... doesn't seem like a good *** to me ... pun intended