Reel

In that price range, I like the Shimano Sellus.

In fishing, there is nothing wrong with anything... just personnal preferences.

You need a medium lenght ( 6' 6'' or better 7') medium action spinning rod that will be a general porpose spinning rod for throwing shakey worms, weightless senkos or ned rigs.

One lure that I like a lot in that color is the Yo-Zuri Hardcore Shad 60F.

Most good finesse baits don't sit and hold still. They move even if you don't move them. They oscillate, they wriggle and that's how most live bait moves. A crawfish isn't always on the run. Most times it sits in place and just moves it's legs. A minnow does the same thing moving it's fins. For me finesse isn't even about size... it's about mouvement. You don't get bored if you get bit.

They are probably both good reels. What I can say is that I have a 2500 Nexave that I've been using for the last 2 years and it has given me good service without any problem.

I like Glide baits.

The questions you are asking is what makes fishing so much fun.

To answer your question: Why did Zell Rowland take the regular Pop-R manufactured at that time and sand it, and fiddle with it till he got what he wanted and caught more fish with it. His Pop-R and regular Pop-Rs are are not the same. If there were just a couple of fish around he believed he would catch them with his transformed lure. If there were a lot, he simply would catch more. Now you can make the same choice !

For largemouth only, I prefer a rod with a little more body, something like a G. Loomis GCX 822 DSR.

I've been using senkos since 1999. You were missing out on a lot. You would not believe me if I told you how good they were these first years. What makes them so effective is that they move without you moving them. There is nothing better to imitate a living thing.

We don't know were you are from so it's difficult to suggest the proper rod and reel combo. I fish North and my favorite Pitching Combo is a Shimano Zodias 7 foot 3 rod in HEAVY combined with a Metanium reel and 20 pound fluoro. The combo is what makes for balance.

No, Where I fish, the slop ( grass) is green and yellow, so I don't see a problem and the bass don't seem to see any also.

I also use Power Pro in 50 and 65- I like yellow. It make it easier to locate the frog in slop.

You are exactly where you should be if you are looking for smallmouth. Twenty feet to twenty -five is the magic number at this time. Smallmouth roam a lot so cast far, move a lot. The points of those islands are the gathering points mostly ( secondary points also good). A mix of rock and grass is good.

Also like the Horny Toad or similar bait on a screw hook ( weighted or not) that you bring over the top or let sink into holes.

It might have been one of those yellow fruits, but you would be surprised to see how many reels are dropped on the floor in a tackle shop. Things happen and glad you got it resolved.

The brakes click on and click off. Push them so they do not move. When they don't move they are off and you have free spool.

I only use an 8 speed reel like the Shimano Bantam when the target is far and you have a lot of ''dead water'' between the target zone and the boat. I fish close to where you live and there are lots of holes in the grass, so I prefer to retrieve the frog back a fairly long distance before scooting it in for the next cast.

Most of the time for jigs it is deconstructed: ie... blue + purple + green And like it was said, good in tannic water. Its what the fish see in certain conditions that is important. If it corresponds to colors of things often seen and often eaten.. usually they will go for it. Bains work like that... even for humans.

See Snagless Sally

I'm a middle of the road man, I like the One Knocker.

I have NEVER used any of the lures mentionned here and I catch a lot of fish. Other things work too. I would get bored always using the same lures.

I use Mustad Power Lock with the spring in size 5/0 with a 1/8 oz weight. I use 5 inch baits like flukes and others in the same size. I use spinning tackle because I seem to get more of that planing action with the rod down. I use an MH 6 foot 8 foot rod with a large spinning reel and 20 pound braid with a 10 pound leader.

I use the same technique and it works really well- A soft jerkbait close to grass , that hovers and glides, 10 feet down, not on the bottom, ... delicious ! I use Mustad Power Lock Spring hooks because you can slide the weight and put it where you want to get that sliding action.