MN Fisher

I'm still using my 6'6" M/F Aird-X for shore fishing. The wide range of lure rating means I use it for 3/8 jigs, chatters, spinners as well as the 'normal' Medium rated techniques without issue.

Or chatterbait without the thumper.

Actually, it's 'Booshie' From Urban Dictionary Booshie An effectation of a lifestyle, i.e., limited luxury and limited refinement aka, mannerisms, speech, dress, appearance, spending habits. Presentation as one who is above the general status quo for a particular race or ethnic group. More commonly applied to one who has a ghetto upbringing, but because of further education and/or employment, shows no trace of that upbrining. However, if pressured enough, the individual normally revert back to their ethnic upbringing. As she stepped out of her designer shoes and removed her designer jewlery, she was heard to remark "Don't let this booshie fool you. I'm from the ghetto and will whoop your monkey ass!"

Run it over submerged weed tops, dropping into the weeds occasionally to flush out the bass. I'm still rocking them with the Berkley Pit Boss.

It's brand new this year - Seaguar's move into the 'budget line' area. Still waiting on reports from others - might as well give your opinion.

In my case, my wallet determines what I can spend. I'd love a SV mounted on a Victory...but that would mean 1 rig instead of 2...more rigs, more options.

Slow dragging/bouncing a football jig I consider 'finesse'...it's how you fish it, not what equipment your using that defines finesse to me. Too slow on that chatter and the blade won't 'engage', so might as well slow fish a swim-jig at that point. T-Rigs/C-Rigs slow dragged are also options. DitchPanda lives in NW Iowa, so he's more familiar with what works there this time of year. Here in MN, ice may be gone by early April some years...but legal bass fishing doesn't happen until the middle of May so there's lots of time for the water to warm up a bit.

Nope - I've yet to spend over $100 for any rod or reel. Now saying that, I have 6 Fury rods; 2 Patriarch, 2 Fuego and 2 Supreme for reels...sales, and buying used (the Patriarchs) account for that.

Well, since ice is just out down there and water temps are cooler than when I start...our ice-out usually precedes our season opener by a month or more, so temps are higher when we can finally target bass. Jerkbaits, slow finesse presentations are what I come up with @DitchPanda - you got any more ideas since you're down there too?

What worked in FL should work in IA - bass are bass...it's just the water temps that are different.

Actually - you don't. There's plenty of bass hunters out there who exclusively use spinning gear. It's all dependent on what you're comfortable with. Myself - I use both, but for skipping lures I use spinning gear as I can't skip with casting gear to save my life...while others say that only a BC can skip lures properly. Ignore the 'masses' and get what you want...just make sure the rod/reel are capable of handling the line/lure you want to case.

Crappie are panfish, at least to me - and other rod lines that are good for crappie are the Okuma Celilo and Daiwa Procyon - I have 2 of the former and 1 of the latter dedicated to panfishing. Dobyns has the 705SF in both Sierra and Champion models - the line/lure stats are what I would consider 'heavy'. Also, Okuma Reflections MH/F spinning is near heavy range, so would work also.

Depends on the mono - FC actually has MORE stretch, just that it takes a bit more force to start the stretch. Hybrid lines have - overall - the least stretch. One of the board members did a stretch test on a variety of mono, FC and hybrid lines a few years back. Annual Line Stretch Test (Updated 2016) - Fishing Rods, Reels, Line, and Knots - Bass Fishing Forums Another thing to note - if you haven't totally stretched it out, Mono will rebound...FC won't.

That's one of the reasons the tool kit I'm 'cobbling' together for the F-9 will have metric and SAE sockets and box wrenches.

Mud? I'd say more like 'clear as sludge'. You are right though - most of it has to do with personal preference.

With the hatch cracked and window open, you'll be fine.

Dobyns 705SF Sierra series if you're 'tight' on money. Champion series if you've got a bit more to spend. Okuma Reflexions MH/F - same line/lure stats as the 705 - I have one, and it's a pretty good rod for the money

For spinners/chatters/etc, I would definitely go with the 704. Despite it labeled 'Heavy', it's more a Medium-Heavy rod...more suited for the moving baits. My 703 is for Jerks, wacky, etc. I'm currently running an Aird-X MH/F for moving baits, but once I have the money it'll be replaced with a 704.

Depends on where I'm casting. We got slop up here - not quite what FL has - but enough that braid for frogs, flipping, buzzing over weedbanks or other techniques where you're casting into/over/close to the weeds is still a good idea.

Add $26 and you can find the CA-80 on fleabay...skip the carbon frame, go with aluminum.

I have the Fuego CT (Tatula CT minus the T-Wing) on a 705CB. Great crank rig, but I prefer spinners on a Fast action.

I got a neighbor who I can borrow SCUBA gear from...depth isn't an issue. Mark a waypoint and come back to it ready to dive. <- SCUBA certified since 1977

Heck - on my budget I'd go in after either of my Patriarchs...maybe even one of the Fuegos.

A 7' Aird-X H/F and a Fuego CT-XS (8.1:1) is my current frogging rig A 7' Aird-X MH/F with a Patriarch 7.9:1 is my spinner/chatter/buzzbait rig - a Fuego CT-HS (7.3:1) would be an acceptable replacement for the Patriarch.

Oh I suppose I can list my reels. Bass Casting 1 Daiwa CA-80 2 Daiwa Fuego CT 2 Pflueger Patriarch 1 Pflueger Supreme Spinning 1 Pflueger Supreme 2 Pflueger President XT 1 Mitchell Avocet RZT Panfish Spinning 2 Mitchell Avocet RZT 1 Lews Wally Marshall Signature Shore - bass or panfish Casting 1 Pflueger President XT Spinning 1 Pflueger President 1 Pflueger Trion