Spoons

I would go with Penn. Built very tough and great drag systems. Penn Spinfisher would be a great reel, especially since your location suggests big cats. Also, a great spinning reel for cheap are the Bass pro Catmaxx spinning reels. I use them for sturgeon fishing all the time and they hold up very well. Otherwise like other people have said, the daiwa BGs are very nice too.

I love my Daiwa tatula ct and i just saw that it was on sale

Setting up a finesse rig and I can't for the life of me tie a reliable alberto knot for connecting a FC leader. My only other options seem to be to use just straight FC or use a barrel swivel. On the rare days these illinois rivers aren't stained or cloudy, do you think something as small as a barrel swivel will scare fish away when I want to use a FC leader with my braid?

Don't have one complaint with mine honestly. Been using it for a long time without any issue on daily use. Impressed me so much that I am considering buying the Tatula LT spinning reel if anyone has any feedback on those.

Its my favorite color lol. I believe so too, its very comfortable and feels sensitive enough. Gonna start looking for the perfect reel size for it.

I ended up going with a 6'10 mojo bass guys. I appreciate the advice, this rod feels great honestly.

I own the medium and love it but I do feel it runs a little heavy for a medium. Haven't used the medium light version tho.

Sorry I edited the post, the gift cards I have are for bass pro so I would like to try to stick there if i can.

Hey guys got 100$ in bass pro gift cards gonna head tonight and get a medium light rod for float fishing/soft plastics. What do you guys think, St Croix Triumph or Fenwick HMG? Or is it worth bumping up a little and adding cash for the St Croix Premier or Fenwick walleye series?

My tatula ct handles lighter line very well too. Don't think its enough for me to want to make the change to a baitcaster for finesse fishing but that's just me.

Has anyone used the Penn Squall and Fathom low profile reels yet? The round versions are my favorite sturgeon reels but haven't tried these out yet.

Go with the Tatula ct. You won't be disappointed. I'm not able to compare it to any low profile shimanos since I don't have any, but it was much better than my abu garcia revo x. I think it handles light baits well for a baitcaster too. I've had mine through the mud and everything else from every day fishing and it hasn't failed me yet. I've only held the slx before which felt great but I believe it has a smaller spool than the tatula.

Looks like the ponds near plainfield are starting to freeze

I bought my tatula ct brand new for $130 about a year and a half ago and couldn't be happier. The only other reel in the price range that I have had for low profiles is an abu garcia revox, and honestly the tatula is much better especially with lighter baits. I do hear that the fuego is pretty much this without the twing. I like to stick with what works so I will be purchasing another Daiwa in the future.

Curious, have you guys ever used 40 or 50 lb mono for a leader?

I haven't tried flouro leader yet, but i will give it a shot. if a steel leader doesn't throw pike off I am sure a swivel won't lol. At least until i can perfect alberto knot.

Daiwa Tactical backpack

Nice, I will have to work on my alberto knot skills but will use a swivel in the meantime. Thanks for the tip!

What's everyone's preference on steel leaders for pike fishing? I usually just go with the eagle claws but after noticing how many I have with kinks I was wondering if there are better ones out there I can spend more money on.

Forsure I have just heard about more and more guys using med lights for all their finesse stuff and was wondering what the buzz was about. I don't have the knowledge yet to find them on lake michigan so I usually stick to the Dupage river for smallmouth.

Fenwick makes great rods. Bought an HMG to pair with my daiwa tatula and I absolutely love it.

I hit up Independence Grove, Grayslake as well as the Des Plaines river near Lemont this weekend. Nothing at Independence Grove, think I found 1 baitfish. Nothing at Grayslake but at least bait was easy to find. Caught one 22'' pike on the Desplaines near Lemont. Water is still real shallow on the river.

Mepps #5, chatterbaits with a paddletail trailer, whopper ploppers, spoons(if you want to go cheap blue fox has a spoon kit that are 3/8, 9 bucks for like 6 of them at walmart. Ive caught plenty of pike on them. They aren't too picky, just make sure you do use a steel leader because they will eat through braid and everything else with ease.

Love my Daiwa tatula ct. It has been through the worst conditions and i dont really do much to maintain it. I did hear that T wing system costs $50 to replace to or something. It really turned me onto Daiwa though.

Sorry forgot to post the link. https://www.tackledirect.com/daiwa-dtbp-1-tackle-back-pack.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAzNj9BRBDEiwAPsL0d5pVw36oE3OrN0l_zklf5GZAziqntF8C22jtrnXuVzZdtQagwUxgLhoCPs0QAvD_BwE