PaulVE64

My favorite right now is a 7' mf st. croix Avid. I throw it with a Daiwa BG 2500.

I dont use poison head but I beleive they have a short stout hook. Guessing they have an excellent hookup ratio and could handle a big fish. I'd try them with flukes, bucktail, maribou.

I stooped using paddletails on my buzzbaits, chatterbaits and spinners because the disruption from the blade seems to throw off the tail action. Ive switch over to flukes and rabbit zonkers as trailers on those presentations.

I've been making articating Pke jigs from rabbit zonkers, marabou, deer and caribou with big nasty hooks. It's fun to catch one on something outlandish. (EDIT - I apologize for the lack of sample photos but I'm old and new here. I have to edit the size b4 I can post them.) What we things do u make?

I would recommend a 6.5' st croix med lite fast tip (triumph or premier) spinning 2 pc rod. For packs i use an Umpqua 650

Sounds like a baitcaster mechanics problem that gets exposed on an underwieghted lure.

For spinning I would go to a 7' medium power fast tip Fenwick hmg ($$) Shimano SLX ($$) St Croix Mojo Bass ($$$) Daiwa Aird X ($) For reels Pflueger President XT ($$) Daiwa BG ($$$) Revros LT ($) Shimano Nasci ($$$) I prefer a larger (3500) reel on a medium and if you primarily crank more than jig spend more on the reel. For jigs you need a more sensitive rod.

5" jerkbait was on fire yesterday in river current from 2' to 7' of8 water. Underweighted carolina rig.

Let me say first that i want to pair up a 2500 Nasci with a fenwick techna but there are so many good rods to put a Nasci on. Looking at $140 tops for the rod and I need opinions. THANKS Ps- also love the Pfluger President but the Nasci is tougher and i predominatly fish fom the bank.

Tackle Advisor has a youtube channel and he does indepth reviews of reels. I think he did a review of $100 reels not long ago.

Too much finesse and crankbaits will ruin my creature/worm hooksets. I can be accused of fishing on autopilot at times but if I'm having fun its all good.

My wife and 3 daughters came out fishing. One daughter learned how to sling a topwater frog on spinning gear, one whined for 2 hrs and the other was throwing a plum trickworm. My wife enjoyed a book. It was a rare moment for a father with teenagers.

I chuckled

Fishing the Bow River out in Calgary Alberta you can run into a brown bear. Just the thought of such a encounter can cause paralysis in newbies.

Honestly i never thought I'd hold one that big.

My 110 whopper plopper ws getting slapped around early but two +20" smallies finished the day. I was pumped. I think you need to be patient with a lighter hookset for topwater treble hooks Edit - throwing 20 lb braid + 10# fluro leader on a 7' med power fast action

+22" smallie today on the whopper plopper

Caught my first topwater bass of the year just today. Im in London Ontario

I have been creek fishing alot this year. If I know the water I'm throwing at I can take one rod and 3 lures of 2 different colours each. If I'm not familiar with the water I will bring a 2nd rod and few more lures to suit that rod. I strip it down because if I don't I'll be switching bait every 3rd cast.

For crystal clear water Watermelon red Swamp Crawler on a 3/32 oz jig and a Carolina rigged 3/16 oz Blue Glimmer Rage Bug For stained or dirty I go black maribou jig with a twin tail grub

St Croix TRS66LF2 with a 1000 size Revros LT and hi vis braid will throw a 1/8 jig an aweful long way