Luke Barnes

That's why I went with the XT. Its my froggin reel and I throw everything from a 3/8 frog to big jigs in it. I can make the small adjustments without having to open it and mess with the pins.

That would be a very versatile setup. I would love to have that combo myself!!

Got the XT reel, RH 8.2-1 and a 7'2 H/F rod. Slapped 60lb braid on it.

SLX XT all the way!! No doubt about it. Aluminum frame as mentioned, awesome rod, and smooth as can be. I have one in 7'2 H/F and and 8.2-1 reel for frogging amd jigging. I love it beyond measure and want to replace my Lews and Abu setups with SLX ones.

Its new and i bought one and love it! Came in the factory plastic for the rod and the reel came in a bag in a box.

Ive bought the slx xt combo from them at fathers day. I'm so glad I went with the XT. I cam easily change braking without popping the side cover off. Plus it comes with one more bearing which is always a plus. I dont know if they run the special price year round though. Might call them.

We get to pick out our dream combo courtesy of sponsors of Bass Resource?!?!?! Thanks!!

Ok I'm busting them out again. I have a finesse c-rig with a #2 EWG i bet would do good. I'm going to pick up some 1" minnows too. Oh i just had an idea. 3" minnow on a ned head. Look like a minnow feeding on the bottom.

Ive been thinking about the 1" minnow for my Panfish Magnet jig heads. The Panfish magnet bodies do good but I bet the small gulp minnows would slay!

How does everybody utilize their Gulp lures? I either drop shot the 3.5" minnows or simple bobber, split ****, hook and reeled back slow.

In a pressured public pond by my house I know its got big bass and cats, because ive caught them, but anymore it's really hard to get them to bite. I used to pull four to five fish days but now I'm happy with one. Have to finesse the crap out of it too. So I thought an actual bluegill chucked deep and shallow maybe would get a bite.

Ive thought about catching dinky bluegill and putting them on a circle hook under a bobber. I bank fish ponds alot and for the bass that suspend in the middle deeper parts ive thought this might entice them.

That's awesome! All ive ever used is gulp minnows and when targeting bass with them, on a drop shot.

I'm more interested in using live bait for bass, let alone keeping them alive. I always thought it was a catfish thing.

Live shad for bass???

I recently picked up some SK belly weighted EWG underspin hooks with the spring keeper. 1/8 & 1/4. Ive been reading this thread on retrieves but....... What do you all think the ideal rod power would be for these? I want to use a baitcaster but if I have to use one of my spinning so be it. I have everything from UL to H haha. Casting in M, MH and I know better than to think i would ever need to use my H unless it was an insane big heavy plastic swimbait.

Ive heard of them used for crappie but never bass.

I wondered about this, then thought white imitates shad. Shad don't feed on the bottom as far as i know. From what i know they roam in schools looking for various plankton.

Never recharged Gulps but put various soft plastics in an empty bag of Gulp Minnows to see how well they would absorb the Gulp Juice. Most didn't and just washed off.

Yeah I dont know what a slider rig is either. Is it using Charlie Brewer Sliders?

Float n Fly. More of a fly fishing technique but basically a small jig head and aoft plastic under a bobber. Usually catch dinks but also caught some good solid fish on it.

Ive got it and am trying it today for the first time. I have it set up and played with demo mode and i like it alot. Alot of the others had pretty basic, almost kiddy graphs, and this one looks like a true fish finder. I got it more for structure, cover, depth, and temperature. I'll be using it mainly in ponds so i know the fish are in there and able to be casted to. But whats below the water has always fascinated me. Plus seeing what kind of cover they are holding on or what was around when I caught one.

Ned Rig. I have a combo specifically for it and never tie anything else on it. Ill switch up the plastics but they are always a ned style and size. Other than that, the majority of the time I have a chatterbait tied on one setup. The rest i switch around.

So I tied my first c rig last night but haven't fished it yet. Did about a 2' leader. I have a #2 EWG and plan to use Zman Elaztech plastics and see if they will float. Either way, do you drag it or pop and bounce one? Never fished one before.

Yup. I just got lucky. I cant wait to try this out with the TRD C-rig.