J.Vincent

Ive owned a Mojo 7ft Medium Fast Spinning and a Premier 6'6 Medium Fast Spinning....never tried the Bass X line...but of the two I mentioned, I actually preferred the St Croix Premier. But you cant go wrong with the premier, bass x or the Mojo series. They are all quality

Free your mind, and the fish will follow, be color blind and don't fish so shallow.

Very nice work...what is this blank you used and were they pre rigged with the lip already in place ?

Yes, it looks like a Largemouth with unusual markings....almost appears hybrid with the mottled looking lateral line. But it's definitely not a spotted bass, a smallmouth or a shoal.

Thank you for that info!

For a long time I avoided Walmart but now I purchase all my Plano 3700 and 3600 tackle trays from them; I also pick up fishing line in a pinch and clearance plastics from Wallys World. For everything else including planned purchases; I shop ebay, Dicks Sports, Meijers, Cabelas, BPS and Academy for the best price.

Does this mean, an angler can fish the Detroit River or St. Clair River without using a 3" leader on their drop shots? Are those rivers considered part of the Great Lakes since they connect Erie and Huron ?

In Michigan we can catch Topwater Bass in the Fall down to 50-55 degrees....and usually it's river Smallmouth which remain on this cold Topwater bite.....not sure if it's the same situation in cooler springtime situations. But I've also heard of KVD catching Bass on BuzzBaits in 40 degree water, so I suppose anything can be worth a try.

proper education and respect for the earth and our natural resources....is paramount

Rod bags are inexpensive and effective for transporting combos; I think I've had the same Red BPS Extreme Rod bag since 2001. They zip up nicely and hold about 8 to 10 Pre-Rigged Combos (7ft Max Length) for an easy solution. If you are worried about the graphite rods making impact with the aluminum floor, an $8 dollar Blue Foam sleeping Mat at Walmart will work great , just cut it to fit inside the bag or cut it down to fit the area over the boat floor.

Tubes, Spinnerbaits and Prop Baits are a simple foundation....and will catch Bass in the Grand River, Saginaw River, Huron River, Raisin River, Detroit River and St Clair River.

The Zoom Trick worm is mighty versatile....I have fished these Weightless, on Shaky Heads , Carolina Rigs and Wacky Rigged with Nail Weights in Deep water. However for some of these bottom applications, I like the Zoom Swamp Crawler or Centipede better. Those are designed with a tail end that floats and works exceptionally well behind Carolina Rigs.

For open water situations, I use Sammy Style Topwaters, made by Best Tackle out of Hastings Michigan; in Chrome, Bronze, White or Chartruese. If the bass want something different I throw 3 1/2 inch poppers in the same colors as mentioned above. I actually prefer the Sammy Topwaters though, because they allow me to cover water efficiently and eliminate unproductive areas.

Thank You !

12 pound

The Casitas was built on a graphite frame and the Revo X on an Aluminum frame. Also the Revo X on paper and in person, is far more refined then the Casitas. The Revo X has a Wider handle, 18 lb Multi Carbon Drag System, Click Star Drag, Click Spool Thumb Dial, External Lube Port and its available in 5.4 , 6.6 and 7.3 gear ratios. Also, I love Shimano and Abu products , and own both; but in this reel comparison, its night and day

Georgia this time of the year, Im guessing those bass are transitioning to the shallows and probably looking for the warmest water they can find. I would start with Shallow Squarebill Crankbaits in 3-5 feet and as the weather warms, i would look for Bass sunning around wood cover with 1/4oz jigs, Trick Worms or Senkos. However, having never been on the lake i cant say for sure what phase these fish will be in. But give it a try and good luck !

Bass cannot see braided line in heavy cover situations, unless the water is absolutely gin clear and many times they might actually see monofilament or fluorocarbon first because of light reflections. So, ultimately I would consider a leader only for shock absorption or for abrasion resistance. As for moving baits, a copolymer, monofilament or fluorocarbon is the ticket.

Ive never fished the Shimano Curado Crankbait Rod, it's fairly new to the market; but if their Medium Moderate is anything like a Veritas Medium Moderate, then it might be to whippy of a Rod for anything above 3/8oz. So if you plan on cranking 1-5 foot SquareBills , in and around shoreline cover and shallow structure, you may want a MH Moderate. The MH will give you more steering power in the shallows and greater versatility if you plan on cranking down to 12-14ft.

Do you see any surface activity or bluegill warming in the shallows ? If not, I would definitely comb over the deepest water with a 3 or 4 inch Suspending JerkBait. If no success , then slowly crawl a 1/4oz Bitsy Bug or Baby Boo jig with a Jr sized claw trailer, until you find bottom irregularities or drop offs. These two lures should clue you in to something.

You don't need to cast very far, the fish don't live on the moon

This industry is in constant cyclical motion....and every year there are hundreds of new designs and re-designs of tried and trues, which are worth owning. But, on the other hand , I'm a firm believer in getting back to the basics and reaching for the lures you know and love. So I agree, understanding the bass is paramount to being successful, and most times it's the proven staple techniques which catch the majority of fish for any angler , no matter their skill level.

Great question and I think there will be a lot of good but different answers.....I personally would want a 6'6 Medium Heavy Moderate Fast 1/4-1oz rated Graphite BaitCasting Rod paired with a 6.6 to 1 Gear Ratio Reel, spooled with 14lb monofilament or 17lb. This is not going to be the popular choice in Minnesota,(probably you would want medium fast spinning tackle) but for me and my preferred fishing style, this 6 1/2 Rod with a medium speed reel allows me to fish in close quarters and cover higher percentage targets more efficiently.

With advancements in modern rod technology; there is not much of any difference in sensitivity between 1 and 2 piece Rods . I personally choose 1 Piece and own more than I need : ) but last year before purchasing a dedicated Veritas drop shot rod; I was actually having a blast Drop shotting with my 2 Piece 5'6' Light Power Spinning Rod and Reel (generally used for panfish) and the sensitivity was excellent and no different than when I use my 1 Piece. Still I find myself buying 1 Piece rods instead of 2...

Something made from plastic