Reel

Something around 7.

Shimano SLX 7 foot XF - 2 piece

The lakes and the rivers in that region ( mine also) have a lot of chubs (fallfish, dace) that hang out in shallow water. Not a lot of peole know how abondant they are because you don't see them. Most have a black/brown-olive back, silvery sides and white belly. Just what you imitate with a white spinnerbait. I do a lot of my OWN research. I catch the chubs on a ned rig or a spy bait. They get big... up to a pound.

If it was glued on, I don't think it was meant to be removed. I would just glue it back on. I use gel super glue.

I bet you slept well that night.

I've got two of those, the Curado DC and the Antares (in fact a Calais DC) and the main difference is in the adjustability. The higher price reel has eight settings and you can get a more precise adjustment. I use the Curado for jerkbaits and the Calais for buzzbaits. The Calais is a high price reel with 11 bearings. I've had it for more than 15 years. It works like the day I got it. The Curado is a couple of years old. It works well in the wind for jerkbaits but it's not on the same level as the Calais that was almost three times the price. If your having trouble with spool runs in windy weather, a DC reel will help.

There is a new Shimano Tranx coming out that would be worth a look.

Water Gremlin round split shots. I use those to make my own ''strolling'' jig heads.

I often can see fish strike in clear water. A good percentage of these strikes are never felt. A bright braid helps a lot, like a strike indicator when fly fishing. You look at the knot.

The red head is the original color for Ned Rigs. That's what the inventor caught the most fish on.

I use cycling gloves because the palm is padded and gives more protection... so why not ?

I have some old Humminbirds from 30 years back, that I took off the boat to put newer ones on. When I use the old ones for the occasionnal ice fishing trip, they still work flawlessly.

It's funny how somebody elses gimmicks are another person's staples. Besides the Ardent reel, the SV spool, the Dancing eel and the Sound Bite, all the other stuff are thing I use every time I go fishing.

Old rods are the best for chatterbaits.

I have the same reel and you have me worried. It's an old reel that I like a lot. It dates back almost 20 years. It's been flawless and I use it a lot. Looked on line and could not find problems with the handles.

If you want to go real economical..., you can use 90 degree jig hooks that you use to pour jig heads and 1/8 or 3/16 oz split shots and just squeeze the split shot on the vertical shank. Choose 2/0 hooks with a long vertical shank and it works fine. You have to get the large split shot as high as possible.

Steps and a two speed winch are your friends !!!

Use a snap, a Owner Roller head or a Bay Ruf head.

Use a weedless Ned Head ( EWG)

I don't flip for smallmouth so this will be about largemouth. What I want from a jig rod is enough flex so I can get the distance and precision I want. I want to hit a inch from target. I want enough flex for the jig to fall vertically, not make an ark. I want a rod soft enough to get a delicate jig action. I want enough rigidity to feel the fish take and also for the strike. I want enough flex not to loose the fish but enough power to get it out of the grass. Right now I'm using a Zodias 7' 2'' Heavy, fast, but it's not real heavy, more MH. Complicated isn't it ? I'm using 20 lb fluoro and a 1/2 oz jig.

Very, very, very specific ! Along the years, I have found rods that are PERFECT for what I do. I would not be without them. When I break one. it's very difficult to replace.

You want that rubbing on the wire that makes a special noise that seems to draw fish like a buzzbait. I even make some spinnerbaits without a ball bearing swivel ( regular wire swivel). Some days they work like nothing else..

For me, a lot of times, it's the other way around. I have spots and situations where I'm still looking for the perfect bait.

There is no wrong way when you are catching fish but heavy mono was the advice given to me by Zell himself 20 years ago. He said, because it's a little stiff, it floats the front of the lure higher.

I go in the opposite direction. I use 17 lb mono because it floats better and gives a different action.