Mobasser

I've used blue, and blue variations of plastic baits for years. Always had good luck with blue

I woudnt over think it too much. I like a medium for lighter baits because it weighs less, and a little more comfortable to use. If you can cast a 1/4 oz shakey head with your rod, so be it. Finesse bass fishing started with med med/ med/lt rods and 6 to 8lb mono line. Now finesse means a lot of different things to different people.

jj, one thing I love about glass rods is how they cast. It's a slower casting stroke, but you can feel them load up with a smooth even feel. Different than modern graphite for sure. I like em.

Good for you! Once you get into spinnerbaits, they could become your new favourite. One of the all time best bass baits you can throw!

Some guys like a med/light for certain baits with light line. The concept was better casting distance, and the softer tip acted as a cushion for light line. With today's lines and super sharp hooks, that may not be important anymore. Mine are both medium, very fast action, and I use them.for baits up to 1/4 oz with no problems.

I have a couple of med action rods I use for lighter line fishing. I use them for 4" worms, small jigs, Beetle Spins, etc. Both are fast action, very little tip flex. They cast lighter lures well, and work good with 6 or 8lb line.

I use a composite rod for spinnerbaits also. I like one with a little tip flex, med/ivy action. I think a glass rod would work good too

I agree with all said. I think with a longer rod, super light weight is the key. Heavier long rods don't work for me. I have a slower reaction time on hooksets with these rods. Also think shorter rods work best for bank fishing too.

I see a lot of questions and comments on rod length, mostly about rods in the 7 to 7.5 length. If I'm fishing in our boat, and can stand up, or sit in an elevated seat a longer rod is probably better for some applications. The last two seasons we've been fishing from our canoe. It's a stable, square back style, and almost 4ft wide in the center. Fishing from our canoe, a shorter rod is definitely better. I carry 1 6ft spinning rod, and 1 5'6 casting rod. They excell at accurate casting. Some folks would argue that the longer rod takes up slack line on a hookset much faster. This might be true for some, but with the shorter rods, one quick turn of the reel handle will take up slack very well, then your ready to set the hook. The shorter rods seem much faster at hooking fish. With the really long rods, I've seen guys cast much farther than need be. For moving baits this may be good. But, not for everything. Shorter rods have been on the way out now for several years. The trend has been for rods to keep getting longer and longer. With modern materials, guides, and handle styles, they can make some 7ft and longer rods that are very lightweight. But, I still think shorter rods have a place for many anglers. I hope they don't phase them out all together. Any thoughts or opinions on shorter rods? Do you use one? What applications do you use a shorter stick for?

Even though this book is dated now, I would suggest getting a copy of Charlie Brewer Slider Fishing. A great book on light tackle bass fishing

Even though I've mostly used Shimano, I would also look at Okuma, Lews, and Phlueger. They all make some nice reels these days.

Around Christmas time, I bought a 2500 Sahara. It's nice. An older friend that I fish with bought a 1000 size Nasci. He has some trouble with his forearm and is always looking for the lightest rod/ reel setup he can use. That 1000 size Nasci is sweet!

It's true you may get more line twist with the smaller reel, but a 1000 size will.still handle a good fish. I think Shimanos 1000 size is rated for 110yds of 6lb mono. I could still spool it with 8lb line, and have plenty of line capacity for bass. I have a 1000 size Sienna, and it feels like nothing when it's mounted on a med spinnning rod. If you like braid as your main line, that may help with line twist. I still like mono With the way modern spinning reels are made now days, most any size can work. Some guys look.at a 4000 size reel for saltwater fishing. I guess it just depends on what line your using and what baits you like to use with your spinning gear.

I'm thinking next time I need one, I might go with a 1000 size. The 1000 size Shimanos are nice. Light powerful reels that will.land a good size bass too I especially like the idea of less weight, even by 3 oz.

Lots of folks carry both. Over the years there's been some great fisherman who used spinning reels most of the time. Billy Westmoreland, Tom Mann, Charlie Brewer, and Bill Dance. Today's spinning reels are much better than they were years ago. Smoother, better drags etc. A spinning reel in the right hands, can land a good fish. The old argument about which is really better doesn't hold up anymore.

If you have a Wal Mart close by, they sell a kit made by Fuji. Three tips and a small hot melt glue stick. They are good qaulity, and you can easily fix your rod yourself. If the St Croix tips keep failing I wouldn't use them anymore

I'm trying to find out exactly what is Core Protect? My Sahara doesn't have this feature, but the next reel up in Shimanos line, the Nasci does have this feature. What exactly is sealed with this, and is it really that important for freshwater bass fishing?

Mine are 2500 size Shimanos. It seems like the 1000 size reels are getting more popular now. They are lighter by 3oz or so, and should still hold plenty of line for bass fishing.

Tom Mann was a smart guy. Over the years I've used lots of standard # 9255 Zara Spooks. Had good luck on a 3 hook Zell Roland model in baby bass color. Currently, I'm using the 2 hook One Knocker Spook. Most any color with a white or light colored belly. Bone is good

I'm still using up some of my older ones. They still work good. Mann's 6" Jelly Worm, Blk/Blue Culprit ribbontails, and Mr. Twister 6" Phenom. Zoom Critter Craw, and Zoom.U Tail worms. I've always liked grape, purple, and blue shades. The Roboworm color Folkstead Special has been good for a few seasons now. I also like the Rage Menace grub in summer craw color. Usually always with a t rig.

This summer, I'll be using Zoom, Mann's, Culprit, older Mr. Twister, and Roboworms.

Renegade soft plastics, Mann's Stingray Grub, Fliptail plastic worms, and Shimano spinning reels with an anti reverse switch

T rig plastic worm has been my confidence bait for a long time

I would never boil it. I have soaked a spinning reel spool in warm water for a couple of hours to make it relax a little

The Solutions line is the same diameter as XL, but a softer formula for spinning reels.