Dan N

I’m not really sure how to take that. so do you really mean why buy any brand other than Diawa or Shimano? I guess I have many different brands of reels. I like trying different equipment. I have not personally been so impressed by my Diawa and Shimano reels that I think everything else is inferior. Then again , I don’t buy the high end stuff. To each their own, it doesn’t really matter to me what other people prefer.

I’ll never get a chance at a DD here in Wisconsin, losing a nice fish hurts a bit, but I don’t let it bother me too long. I was gonna release it anyway.

Sorry, don’t have a great answer for you, but have seen several that look good, on videos and such, don’t know the “name” of the knot. I’m very interested to see results from those that know.

I have a boat, but still fish from the bank a lot. Fortunately for me I have some excellent access in a local public park, with channels off of Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. It can be absolutely great during spring and fall. Easy to do after work, and it’s 5 minutes from my house. I do a lot of short 1-3 hour trips. can get 10-15 or more in short trips at times.

I own 8 various BPS reels, including a couple of the Carbonlite baitcasters, and like them a lot, I have owned others as well and have had no problems with any of them. I like the price point of the carbonlite line , both spinning and casting.Got some good deals on sales too.

I do best cold water fishing with silent, flat sided crank baits , that don’t actually hit the weeds, or when they do can be snapped out with a hard jerk. or a Ned type bait on a drop shot rig, so the bait itself is not in the weeds. a slim type wieght.

All around 7’ casting: 1 MH fast 1 heavy fast 1 medium, moderate spinning: 1 medium fast 1 medium light fast between 6’9” and 7’3” I would think you could do just about anything with 5 rods. I believe every rod I own is between 6’6” and 7’6” . I honestly fail to see a difference in an inch or 2. Yes, go ahead and add the jokes🤣

I’m not doubting that, I just never tried it. Wish you the best👍🏻

I only wish I had open water to fish! But I guess , at least in Wisconsin, we have year round open season bass fishing (catch and release) so I can handle a few months off. I can start fishing as soon as get a bit of open water.

Tokyo rig with bandito bug, or rage bug. Strike king KVD swim jigs, and Bitsy Flip jigs with various trailers. and by far my best 2 cranks were Rapala OG slim 6 , and Tiny.

I’ve tried several BPS lures, was not impressed with the jerkbaits, but the square bills are good. The hooks seem fine to me. I use in situations to feel out if lots of snags, or lots of pike around. Most the plastics also good. Still feel more confident with brand name lures. Could be just in my head🤣

Missing the last 3” would really change the action of the rod. The few rods I’ve broke tip off, I replace tip eye and donate to one of the kids in the family. they just are never the same.

In these parts, it’s ice. we get regular villages of shanties and trucks on the lakes here in Wisconsin.

I’ve never had an issue losing fish with it.

Beyond a couple drops of oil, no. I don’t buy expensive reels. If there is an issue, I just buy a new one.

No spots around here, but just curious why they are considered so good eating, yet many people would never eat a large mouth? Ive eaten some small largemouth, or a few that were hooked bad and never had an issue. Anyway around my parts , it’s all about walleye for eating, and many consider LMB trash fish and kill them .

They must of gave several guys exemption that I thought did not qualify? Gerald Swindle? He’s never won an elite event.

Official List is out today

I use 15 lb braid on most my spinning outfits, it’s so thin, I don’t feel a need to go lighter. I have 10lb braid on 1 rod, wow, it’s like thread. Lightest I would go myself. I use mostly 8 lb mono for leader.

Flat sided crankbait like Rapala OG slim 6 , or OG tiny. Or a lipless crankbaits are my go to. Or a ned rig

I agree with others, that if I’m going MH, I’m going to casting gear, but if you prefer spinning, go for it. Also , as others have said,rod actions can greatly differ by company. If it’s a great deal, I would buy, I’m sure you can find a use for them.

I use a lot of BPS rods and reels, (same as cabelas) I have zero issues with them and think they are at a great price point. I have a Cabelas about 30 minutes away, but find they don’t have nearly everything available as on-line, so I usually just order. Good customer service, in my opinion.

Big fan of the Tokyo rig , used it a lot this spring, pretty much replaced the Texas rig for me. I used rage bug or bandito bug pretty much all the time. A lot of areas I fish are a mud bottom, so I feel it helps keep bait up out of it a little. Also where we have rocks in Lake Winnebago, they are covered with zebra muscles, that wreck line in a hurry, I feel it helps with that.

Interesting read, I believe I caught 5 with marks this year. None were big, all came from Lake Winnebago, in Wisconsin, which is a huge natural lake.