Functional

T-Billy might be able to comment more but if you throw a lot of cranks the Money Maker might be better...little slower tip than Hammer and in my opinion the hammer could do squarebills pretty well. Although... at about $93 a piece for Black Friday you could probably get the Hammer and Bhitty and cover everything you'd want to throw up to one ounce in 2 rods. One way or another you will have to compromise something to get an all in one rod. If it has to be one rod pick one that fits the majority of what you fish most of the time. I'm sure you know that but it's worth mentioning again.

Honestly the ARK Tharp Hammer seems to fit most of that. It's a "fast" tip but not nearly as fast as a St croix and the more I fish it its a bit faster than my dobyns sierra. Sensitivity for me I'd put close to my St. Croix Victory, the victory has a bit more of a pronounced tic when you get a strike but you the Tharp gives you the same feedback just a a thud rather than a tic. It's got a good backbone and with the right reel I've had no complaints with distance. I've run 5/8 Oz jigs with a beefy trailer and while I'd say that's probably the upper limit or close to it I think you'd be fine tossing a 1oz spoon occasionally. I've fished a shaky head just fine but primarily it's seen use as a 5/16 jig, 3/8 jig and 1/4oz spinners and it's one of my favorite rods. If you grab it black Friday from TW you'll have it for sub $100 which is a steal.

I can confirm they also take 20% off Shimano after you have checked out and get the invoice. If you go to pay via paypal it shows up on the confirmation amount before you confirm to pay if you wanted to see your total before checkout.

Welp, thought my 3lber I posed from last weekend was a great catch for my particular lake. I have no idea what to expect from this lake now and I'm throwing all advice I've been given about the lake and expected size out the window. So far its all been dead wrong. New PB at 5lbs 1oz. She's looking a bit skinny too.

Picked up a pack of rattling Ned's to try since regular doesn't work great in my muddy home lake. Rage tail cut-r and just about a box worth of Seibert jigs. Also got a second SLX mgl... absolutely love this reel. Also..my zoom winnings showed up and I have no idea how the hell I'm going to store and organize this.

Back when I lived in NY before moving south I would do RC car racing in the winter. The 1/10th scale is "cheaper" than the summer time 1/8th nirto and electric classes and can keep you quite busy with tuning, testing and racing. Once spring rolled around winter league stopped and fishing kicked in. I also really enjoyed chopping fire wood.

Definitely a surprise. I've had them hit my spinners before but never thought they would hit a crank that big. My home lake is known for crappies though... maybe they are more competitive since their population is so strong? Who knows, Definitely one technique I want to get better at along with Ned rigs.

I've thrown everything from off brand 1" squarebills all the way up to 10xds. I've even gone as far as throwing the 10xd in 4-10ft water to make as much commotion as I could. Thrown it in rocky points, laydowns and ledges from shallow to deep, deep to shallow and sideways. Tried changing retrieve techniques and nothing. I know there are fish there because I'll throw a spinner after exhausting myself and slow roll it through the same cover and bottom as the cranks and get bit. ?‍♂️. Going to keep at it but it's definitely not my strong suit. Believe it or not the perch and crappie came on the 10xd in 8ft water at a submerged log lol.

i can do an occasional 3 people fishing on my 17.5', 2 on either side of the bow and 1 on the back (as long as they are aware of their casting). If I was to have more than 2 people fishing often it would get old real quick. 4 people for a boat ride isnt a problem as long as they arent hefty people. I'm in agreement with 19' or more if you plan on having more than 2 people fishing regularly. Compartments youll have to determine whats best for your use. If you have no use for a livewell but it has everthing else you want they do serve as nice drainable coolers. Hull design i wont comment on, I've only ever been in my tracker's mod-v hull and feel it handles well. I will say some of the fiberglass boats passing me seem like they are handling the heavier chop much better though.

chatterbaits (0) ned rig (2) crankbait/squarebill (5 crappie believe it or not) dropshot (0) Aside from the crankbait/squarebill my list just needs me to dedicate more time to them. Spinnerbaits, jigs and shakyheads have always out produced the others above so I've been less tempted to switch to something new. Crankbait/squarebill I just dont know. I've put a lot of time and money into testing different types and conditions and they just dont produce for me. The only times they have has been off species like perch and crappie. Only times I had success was fishing a big floating double jointed rapala really slow just under the surface.

Haven't been able to get out on the water for almost 3 weeks but finally got 5 hours in today. Managed 5 with the biggest breaking just over 3lbs. Not a monster by any means but for this lake it is. Hooked into a 6th fish that fought like hell, was stripping drag hard and as I worked him in he surged and snapped 12lb floro. Keeps me hooked! Also found a squarebill after getting tangled in the previous owners snapped line! No hooks on it though?

Seibert Outdoors just happens to have 10% off your order right now. What part of NC you coming to? Most my luck lately has been 5/16 finess jigs and smaller spinner baits.

Well see how this goes. I know there is more to a rod than the ton graphite but 30ton is pretty poor in my opinion for the price point. Id expect at least mid 30s if not 40 for a $200 team6. Going to wait for black Friday and see if I can snag a Expride for similar cost first. Or maybe I'll really say screw it and dip my feet into building my own.

Just ordered way more than I should have... thank you?! Going to need a bigger jig box

Looks like I might have to! Crazy how a brand that makes such good lures hasn't attracted enough people to try their rods.

Was pretty set on getting a Tatula rod but started looking around and 6th sense rods have been looking pretty snazzy and have rods with specs I'd like. Cant hardly find any feedback on their ESP line and started eyeing their new Team6 rods. With 10% off even the Sensory is something I'd be willing to put some money into and try out. Any users here with some experience and comparisons? Rod will be used for finesse jigs, 3/8oz jigs, shaky head and lighter T-rigs so sensitivity and tip behavior are what I'm particularly interested in.

my home lake is part of a river and when it rains it gets even muddier than usual (typical best clarity is about 2') and has 1' or less visibility. Anywhere clear water runs into the muddy water and good hard structure thats recently been submerged. I'll typically throw spinners or chatterbaits with a wild trailer, the more water displacement the better, along the mud lines and points/structure just outside and inside of the line. I'll also resort to throwing jigs with a rattle at the newly submerged structure if I'm not getting bit on the mud lines.

I'll start my cut behind the side fin, cut at the tail, score down the spine and then gut. I'll get a corner of skin with pliers and rip it off. I'll then pull the meet taught from the spine ad I work my way down raking over the ribs. Quick, easy and never had bone issues. Of course I'll cut the stomachs open after I'm done to inspect what they have been eating. Lately I only keep the ones I don't think will make it after a nasty hook.

Ended up getting a SLX mgl 71 in 8.2 I found new on ebay for $128. Figured I'd see how I liked Shimano before I dive in the deep end. I'll update this with a feel comparison for anyone who might be wondering the same I was. Appreciate all the responses I've gotten.

My father and I used to take a trip every may with my sisters husband and his father to a cabin on Black lake for northerns and bass. We ended up ordering 2 trophies, 1 for the most fish and 1 for the biggest bass. Was a good time talking crap the weeks leading up to it, during and then the bragging rights all year. Was always the worst when one "house" won both trophies ?. We've all since moved to NC and looking to find a lake to do the same.

It's letting you spend your money because it knows the next purchase will require a loan. You have the new boat bug yet? Because it's coming.

There was one every now and then there but there was always 2 boats working each side of that big flat arrow head just above your circles. There were i think 2-3 buoys on that and they were fishing the ledge from tip all the way in. Different boats too each trip to that region of the lake. Edit: it happens... those heart breaks are the lessons I don't repeat lol.

Thank you for this info. How does the shimano feel size and shape wise compared to a lews lfs frame? For instance the Abu is smaller than the lfs but very oblong compared to the lews. Not a shape I care for but a little smaller than the lfs I wouldn't mind. As for quality and durability I'm pretty confident any of the reels I'm looking at will serve me well. That's not really my question is just the feel/shape/size comparison. I'm not a brand loyalist, I'll get whatever checks the most boxes I need and palmability is high up there.

Thanks I'll be sure to check those spots out. A few boats were always on that area when I came out of the arm just to the upper right of your map. Might have been a clue haha. My home lake is tar river reservoir so I'm used to pressured water but I'm still usually able to pull 3-5 a trip. Not discouraged at all, just definitely was a much tougher trip than expected! Will make pulling in a decent one more rewarding.

Definitely, still plan to go back. I really enjoyed having bank line to work without the clutter of houses and docks. I'm sure the fish are there, just a tough day.