Reel

Just out of curiosity, I'd like to know if a lot of people build or have rods built with recoil guides ???

I've had some bad experience with crankbaits from a particular company. They imploded when left out in the sun in the boat. The sides caved in. Put a towel or something else over bait box when it's hot.

I have built rods myself and yes, there is no greater satisfaction than catching a fish with something that is unique and built to perform to your needs. But, when you build a rod from different components, you never know exactly what you will end up with. You can't take it in your hand to know how it feels. You can do that with a store bought rod ... and if you don't like it you can put it back in the stand. The engineers at the factory have a lot of knowledge of rod building and they might pick different components (not necessarely better) that will give the rod the sensitivity and the feel that you want. I might not be a good rod builder but none of my rods were more sensitive than my NRX's.

Starting out, your biggest problem will be the knot. Practice making a solid knot before going out fishing.

Follow the limbs, don't drag your jigs across them.

I think I love that kind of pain !!! I must be a masochist. I just love finding that little piece of equipment or that special lure hidden among a pile of things that are absolutely not related.

I fish crankbaits for smallmouth with success and most of the time, they never touch bottom.

''As well'' is not clear enough. If you are going to use it for dropshotting more than ned rigging go with the shorter rod which is the one I use for dropshotting. I use the 7' 2'' for small swimbaits on a round head. I use a 7' 6'' Curado rod for Ned rigging.

I have both. If it's mainly for dropshotting, I would go with the 6' 10''.

Just to show that there is more than one way to skin a cat, I caught my personnal best american bass (around 9 pounds) from what I believe is that same everglades canal ( Captain Phil L67 ) I had figured out the pattern and was going from one good spot to another using Sweet Water Chubs, a small plastic lure that looks like a 3 inch Slug-O. I was catching medium size fish ( 3-4 pounders) until I reached one opening where the water from the flat was going back into the canal. Just at the mouth of the opening I could see a couple of bass that were of good size. They were coming to the surface and chasing small minnows that were coming in with the water discharge. One cast with a Pop-R and one of the big fish was in the boat

I'm from the North, but I have fished in Florida, mostly in the Everglades For me, choosing the right time is critical. There is a period of three ou four weeks when your chances of catching a big fish are way higher. For me, in the everglades, it was March. You have to figure out what is the best period where you fish, and take time off during that period.

First off, for most jerkbaits, 10 feet is deep. Also, I (opinion here) don't want the jerkbait to be lower than the fish or even at the same level. I want the fish to come up 3 or 4 feet to get it. To get them as deep as possible. I cast far, crank the bait down without jerking for the first ten, fifteen feet. Then I beging the jerking retreive.

I use braid with a fluoro leader on spinning tackle but I use fluoro on baitcasters for a lot of applications. I use it for pitching, for soft swimbaits, for crankbaits and jerkbaits. I know it's stiffer but that's the advantage. It is more sensitive than mono. I use mono only for topwater hard lures. I also fish clear water and the fact that fluoro is less visible is a plus, but not the main reason.

You seem to be looking for a baitcasting rod. The one that gets me the most distance right now is a Shimano Curado 7'3'' MH + Fast. This is with baits from 1/4 to 3/4 oz. Also important in getting distance is a good baitcasting reel lubed with very light oil and using your two hands to make the cast. For me my left hand on the rod but and that pull at the end of the cast gets me 10 or 12 feet more.

I fish the northern waters and white is an excellent color.

Ways to help the blade spin : Polish the wire where the blade spins - Do not use a bead in front of the clevis so that there is no pressure Use bigger blades Enlarge the holes in the clevis

Can't say it's the best because I haven't used it yet but I just received a 7' 6'' Expride in ML that looks to me to be the perfect candidate.

I use poppers mostly for smallmouth and I walk them pretty fast like a spook, and even faster, because they are short, but with more splash. They never rest.

I own and I've used NRX's for pitching but my favorite and the one I always go back to is the Zodias 7' 2'' in MH or H. It's got that bit of a softer tip that gives so much precision in a cast and that makes it easy to use (fluid I call it).

I know and it's to bad...! Like the previous poster said, a lot of times the bites are not really felt. I would say almost half the time.

All good suggestions but for me, the best way to improve bite detection is to fish really clear water. By that I mean at least 10 foot visibility.

For me, like the song says: ''Nothing compares...'' I've always used Shimano and G Loomis so I'm used to those. And you get use to the product you are using. Other rods always feel strange in your hand. But, the only way to get an honest opinion is to try. It will always be just an opinion.

I remember that one year, I went out with a guide in Sawgrass. He took us out down a dirt road to a boat ramp. Then we travelled a few miles in a canal completely covered with hyacinths where you could not see the water to an opening into a pond with clear water. The fishing was pretty good but small fish.

Brings back nice memories. About 40 years ago I used to go down to Miami for a couple of weeks during Christmas time. I would go down Griffin road and rent a boat with a 9.9 hp motor at Holyday. Fishing was OK in December/January but, with the water higher, not so many large fish. It was always an adventure because this was pre/gps days. I would make a paper map as I would motor along indicating the turns so I would not get lost. One year I went in March a got a 9 pounder. Glad to see that the fishing is still good if not better.

I have been using the old style 6' 10' Expride for quite a while for jerkbaits but last Spring I got a seven foot medium Shimano Sellus rod for my grandson. He had an SLX reel and he liked the color of the rod. For the price ( way below 200$), I was very surprised at the performance of that rod for jerkbaits. He likes it a lot also, so I can't borrow it. It has a nice short handle.