Manly Studson

Do you own or have you ever fished a Lews TP1 Black spinning rod? I have a casting rod in this series, and it is great. I’m not sure about the first microwave guide on spinning rods—how it affects the cast. There is a 6’6” ML/F at my local bait shop.

The reel is a Stradic FL 1000 with 6 lb mono.

Which St. Croix is it? Thanks.

At that cost, what do I have to lose? Might as well try it. Thank you.

I’m looking for a spinning rod that is short and has good casting distance. I fish creeks in tight areas (overhanging trees and steep banks). I throw lures in the 1/8 to 1/4 ounce range. I use a 6’ Fenwick HMG medium light/fast rod and would like a little more distance. I tried the 6’9” version of the same rod and the casting distance wasn’t much further. Any suggestions you have are appreciated. Thank you.

I’d have to fish from a bass boat, in a kiddie pool, using a fish finder, and throwing a 100-hooked Alabama rig to catch that many bass in a season.

Here’s to next season. Good to know you’ll be healthy and ready for it.

Strange things sometimes happen on the water. I once posted that I caught a black frog with a black hollow body frog. The next week my son caught a green frog with a green frog. Yesterday my son caught a SMB that spit up a 4 inch green candy Senko with a black o-ring around it—the same lure I lost to a SMB a week prior. In fact, my son caught the bass with that same size and color, making the comparison easy. Pretty neat.

The DNR’s website may be a good place to start. As far as viewing creeks goes, I look on Google maps or onX Hunt to see what creeks look like in my area. OnX Hunt will tell me what is private or public. I then look for rocky, sandy stretches to fish. If you search the web long enough, you may be able to find forums or online publications that discuss your area.

I like the Rebel Crickhopper and Bumblebug, but the hooks do seem really small and weak. Do you put larger treble hooks on Rebel lures? If so, what size?

Poppers, wacky rigged Senkos, jigs, and insect lures have worked for me in early fall. Grasshoppers abound until November. SMB will eat them.

I caught a black frog with a black frog.

I have this kayak. I prefer short rods. You can set the hook hard without tipping over. An anchor or at least a tether will help you relax from time to time.

I haven’t fished with that length and power. Since Lews power and action ratings are different from what I am used to, I like to purchase them in person instead of online.

I have the white TP1 7’ M/F. It’s a good rod. I’ll probably pick up the 6’8” black one tomorrow. It’ll be a fun Labor Day weekend!

I saw this exact rod at a local tackle shop. It read “Topwater/Jerkbait” on it. It is rated moderate fast, thought it seemed fast to me. Would it be good for small jigs and weightless worms?

This is true. Lews is known for casting reels and (unfortunately) gimmicky color schemes. But they have affordable, sensitive rods. Their assessment of a rod’s power and action doesn’t make sense to me, but they do make good ones for a lot less than $300. The TP1 Black series of rods are great.

I’d take a lipless spinnersenkopopperfrogjigcrawploppercrank bait.

Yes, I got my money back. I was shocked at how difficult it was to remove that hook. I remember thinking that I wished I had barbless hooks. I haven’t unhooked treble-hooked fish without forceps since then. Thankfully, my thumb healed nicely. I still use hooks with barbs, but man those poor fish. The smallmouth was the largest I’d ever caught.

Kayak fishing... windy day... 100 yards from shore. Caught a drum. Trying to unhook fish... hook myself. VMC treble hook buried barb deep in my thumb. Bloody hand. Wind blows me into a thick wall of overhanging brush. Rented kayak has a hole... taking on water. Use pliers to remove treble hook. Paddle away from brush. Return kayak immediately. Walk to dam. Catch a 19 inch smallmouth from the bank. Forgot about sore thumb.

Vader used a spinning rod. The dark side is the only place where you can hear the satisfying sound of a fish pulling drag. When you hear it, you know the dark side is your destiny.

I carry a medium/light spinning rod and a sling pack. I’ll leave a casting rod in the car just in case. But only one rod makes it to the stream.

I don’t know if it would win, but the Curado 70 can get bass lures out there.

You’re right on the money! I use poppers all afternoon.

During the summer heat, right in the middle of the day I fish for shallow creek/river smallmouth. I sometimes fish for largies in mornings and evenings. But I fish for smallies in the interim. I have had enough success to not try for smallies in deep lakes or reservoirs. But deeper holes in creeks/rivers will hold them. Last weekend I noticed that the largemouth were in deep holes or in shaded areas, and smallmouth were in the shallows in direct sunlight.