Luke Barnes

That's another reason I went with copoly. I'm not the smoothest caster and have flung off lures on casts before. I'm very new to baitcasters so I still get the occasional backlash. Always when I'm casting it seems.

Decided no FC. Bought some copoly. Figure it's best of both worlds and was cheap. We will see how it works.

True. Story. Haha. I have 6 combos so it was hard to convince the wife to get a 7th so I'm not pressing my luck!! Someone above said a Black Max. I already have one. I like it. But I dont want 2. Promax I am considering though. But I'm really eyeing those Lews Xfinity combos hard. My American Hero combo has hauled in many many fish and not showing any signs of wear. I oil it and clean it every now and then and it's like new after a year. I'm not serious enough of a fisherman to actually need or notice the difference in a Xfinity or a Tourament Pro Ti combo. I know the higher end ones will be smoother but so far my cheaper lews has held up well.

I've never researched copoly so I read a bunch about it. Pros and cons and what not. I found it to be more what I was looking for than straight fluoro. Besides my fly rod I've never done mainline with leader. I know some swear by it. That's why I'm buying another rod, so I have another line option to run straight. So I'm going to try some copoly with a fluoro coating.

I did some more reading and decided copolymer was the way to go for me. After reading you're replies it sounded like FC wasnt needed for what I want to do. Thanks for the input everyone

If I can get the reel for $50 then its definitely an option because I have $100 to spend on the whole combo. That's why I was thinking like a Lews Xfinity.

I run straight braid on one combo, never thought about the braid to FC leader option. Going to be using the combo for mainly chatterbait, larger spinnerbait, and swim baits, so I figured the lower visibility would be good. But then again maybe I should make my Texas rig combo have FC since fish have more time to look at it.

I'm looking for a combo. I'm sorry I didnt mention that before. I know for $150 I can get a Lews Mach II or an Abu Revo X combo and would love those. The budget though..... was given to me by my wife!!! So saving isnt the issue. I dont want to push my luck when I got the ok to get another one for one $50 more.

Isnt Pline fluoroclear a coplymer? I know its fluoro coated. But experience with it. I know the Berkley trilene fluoro runs about $20 and that may be manageable. I've heard good stuff about it. But I was hoping some in the teens would be equally as good. Live and learn!

The only fluoro I've ever used is 4lb on my crappie rod. Never used it for bass. I cant afford $20-$30 Sunline or anything. Thinking $15 max because I'm getting a new baitcaster and need line for it but have an overall budget I'm trying to stay with. I've looked at Vicious, Seaguar Red Lable and Berkley Vanish in the 15lb test and read reviews but would like first hand experience.

I know I should spend atleast $150 but my budget is $100 max. Like super maximum. I've looked at the Lews Xfinity, Abu Garcia Promax, and a few others as possible choices but have no experience with them. I do own a Lews American Hero 7' MH and love it and an Abu Black Max 6'6 M and like it as well. I'm looking for a 6'10 to 7'3 MH that I'm going to put fluorocarbon on. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

That makes so much sense!!!! That's why you're a pro and I'm not Haha. It's been a few days and I dont remember if you talked about it or not, but what line do you use when throwing a chatterbait?

I'm guessing this is for decently heavy cover. Open water they could see it coming from a ways off. But cover or heavy stained water I'm definitely going to try it. I bet the same principle applies to swimbaits too.

Haha. Circle fish!! Yeah I've got 2 super spots now and caught a good bass on the chrome blue back one so far. I was given a red craw one ive yet to try.

That sounds like a blast! Also sounds like crappie fishing!

I bought a cotton cordell and an OT lipless and fished with the cordell once so far and caught a good fish. It is the chrome and blue and I wanted flash. I got the OT trail lipless and square-ish bill in their "perch" color which to me imitates a bluegill decently. Will try those out this next weekend.

So what you're saying is rocks! Ok that helps!

Yeah the whole from the bank is kind of limiting. I dont know anything about small mouth either. What they like, where they hang out, what kind of structure they like etc.....

I usually slow roll a spinnerbait when uts tough. But it gives them to see it's fake. The more you know!!

I'm right there with you on horse poop! My mom tried to have Yankee Candle make her a custom scent called Horse Dung. They said no.

I've heard of a few lakes and rivers with smallies in them. Only one I know for sure is Tenkiller because they just held an Elite tourney there. Other than that has anybody had success catching smallmouth in Oklahoma from the bank? From the bank with no electronics I should say.

Yeah I learned my lesson real fast. Now I use my pocket knife handle. Haha

Sounds like my mom! She has horses and I'm like man it smells terrible here!! Oh no it's just horse poop its great!! But yeah.... I totally smell my hands after a bass..... and I like it! Also to me, puppy breath is one step above dead skunk. Yuck!

Tried that once, using braid. Heavy braid. About cut my hand in half!! Since then I just point the rod at the snag and let it pull from the reel and not the rod at all. Sometimes it breaks, sometimes I get the lure free.

That was a really great video. I learned for sure I always thought slowing down and downsizing was key but what you said and showed makes sense!!! Make them decide and not have a chance to really look at that lure before committing. Awesome!