Reel

In that line of thought, they could also make braided fluorocarbon.

I use it to tie knots, instead of saliva.

One that is not often mentionnend but that I also like is the Jackall Rhythm Wag.

I use a bladed jig mostly for smallmouth and I want something that's slim and lets the blade do it's job. I like the small Zako and similar trailers.

I think the trailer you choose is the most important thing for success with a bladed jig. Use one that gives you the right action and one that the fish like more than one that lasts.

Wouldn't something heavier cast further ????

Try a spybait

Not Pat Brown but to make it easier get a white walking frog and heavy yellow braid ( 65lb) so that you can keep track of the lure. With a dark frog and dark line it's easy to loose track of the lure. When you get a blowup and don't see the lure, strike. Heavy line is also easier to use in pads. It floats higher.

Shimano Sellus

None of the two. I just charge them up and leave them for 6 months. I have AGM's.

You guys are not poets... !!!

Yes, I've done that. For milfoil, you don't need that heavy a weight. If it's not too dense you can manage with 1/2 oz. You can fish faster if you use heavier. You are talking about vertical fishing and looking for sandy or rocky areas, clear of weeds, under the deep mats. These areas are usually not very big and the fish are concentrated there. This is a technique that is mostly used in the northern states. It's fairly reliable but these spots are hard to find. When you have a milk run, you go from one to the other until you find a bunch of fish.

I've been using regular worm hooks for flukes ( not EWG) for a while (25 years) with a lot of success. The regular hooks give more of a rolling action to the bait and the smallmouth seem to really like that. No problems with the hookups. I usually put a piece of a nail weight across the front of the fluke to keep it down when I bring it back pretty fast. The swivel might do that to. Something to try.

I don't want to discourage you, but it's something I would not want to do. How will you feel when the guy you guided on a monday is (in is own boat) in that first spot you wanted to fish with your client on tuesday ? How many spots have you got... 100, 200 ... . How about that guy that stands up to cast when you are paddling. I'm sure you can do it, but it's not for me.

I like Humminbird. Their units are easy to use.

The coverscat is ideal for beginners.

Drop shot

Some people stop the lure in mid air by turning the handle and engaging the gears just before the lure reaches the target. This wasn't to bad when everybody was using springy mono, but change that to braid and you get a shock when the gears are meshing. This can be good !

If you want something DIFFERENT for scoping try a tube. A straight dark gray tube ( thin wall, single dip like the originals) on a light jig head ( 1/8oz ) works well. You don't even have to shake it. The legs move at it sinks.

No, where I live, bass season is closed during pre-spawn

Some are supposed to float, others to sink when stopped. Use a weigthless screw lock with the floating ones. Also some frogs are better than others at landing right side up. Use heavy braid ( 65 lb). It helps to float the frog.

These questions could be answered by using a very simple unit and going over there and scanning the bottom. Next time you try the same spot, it would be easier for you to choose the type of lure and the time necessary to get to the bottom (or not) and even the type of action to give to your lure.

Very conventionnal - Spinning/ 10lb Power pro V2 /yellow or white, with an 8 pound fluoro leader/7 foot or a bit less. Casting - 30 pound Power Pro with 17 pound leader or straight fluoro.

In that price range, I would go with one of the rods from the Curado series. For 4 inch weightless stick worms, I use the 7 foot 6 light action Curado spinning rod that is extremely sensitive. I'm comparing it to a Zodias rod and an Expride rod that I have in the same lenght and similar action. I fish for smallmouth in extremely clear water and I get the distance and power I need from that rod. If you want even more power, you can also look at other rods in that lineup.

I have an older generation Poison Adrena in 7'' 2 in H . I don't have a newer Gen. one but I have held one in my hands. The older generation PA feels more like a MH. I can compare it to a Zodias 7'' 2 in H. To me they are very similar in action with the first gen. Adrena a little bit stiffer. The newer gen. Poison Adrena felt faster than the older PA, with an action more toward H.