David P

"Frog Rods" are for the most part, flipping sticks. I like flipping and pitching jigs and beavers, and throwing frogs a lot. Right now, it's the ONLY two baits I throw, and probably will be ALL Summer. Why have just 1 flipping stick and have to retie constantly? That's where the frog rod comes in. I also flip and pitch with 20lb Pline CXX, and frog with Braid, so two setups is a must. 7'3 - 7'6 and even some 8fters. Beefy rods for pulling big fish out of heavy slop. I use my frog rod in heavy slop, and in open water. I've been using a 765 ( 7ft 6in 5power, but am upgrading to a 7ft6inch 6 power). I only fish hollow body frogs, and have no experience with the full on plastic frogs like Horny Toads. You don't NEED a frog rod, but like any technique in bass fishing, the type of rod does help your hook up ratio, and can help you land fish.

Man, those fish don't count! Private ponds are off limits Nice fish bud, that 9lber is a chunker!

Look at the end of the line, if you see a little knot, that could mean that it slipped out of the eye of the hook. It's happened a few times to me. Use heavier braid, get hooks without a little gap in the eyelet, or weld the gap closed. There's quite a few hooks that sell them where they're completely closed. The lead weight could also do it I would think. Get some tungsten weights, and if it still happens, that's not the problem ;D You could have also just gotten a bad batch of braid. It does happen. Might want to buy a new spool of braid, and re spool your rods that have the old braid on it.

12lb 6oz - Afternoon at about 2ish.

None .

1. 765 - jigs / beavers 2. 766 - Frogs and other top water 3. 806 - Big swimbaits 4. 734 - Senkos and other T-Rig plastics 5. 702 - Drop shot / Shaky head Most days I only throw 1-2 rods for the most part, but occasional pick up one of the other rods for a few casts.

Dang, I keep forgetting to order some of these to try!

Revo STX HS or Daiwa Zillion The STX HS new can be had for $170 shipped to your door from PoorFish on ebay.

There are a lot of good fish caught out here by drop shotting brush hogs, baby brush hogs, beavers, and other craw baits. Couldn't see why a jig wouldn't work.

Revo STX

Why not just pull the skirt off a buzzbait?

The Banjo Minnow works. Flukes work the same. Flukes are cheaper / easier to get. Hook ups are a little better with Banjo Minnows, although both are pretty good. That just about sums it up.

Very skinny fish. 4 1/2lb range. If she was fat, I'd say 6ish.

I pitch all day every day, with the occasional flipping. The only time I ever make a real over hand type cast, is with a swimbait. Dobyns 734 - Pitching senkos / jigs / other plastics on the outside edges of cover. Dobyns 765 - Pitching and flipping moderate cover and soon to be a 766 for pitching and flipping the very heavy stuff. Pitching and flipping I cannot imagine doing with anything less then a 7'3, and really prefer a 7'6. I've flipped and pitching with a 7fter, and the world changes when you get that 7'6 in your hands

3lb Crappie is something to brag about IMO. There's been bigger caught here, but a 3lb Crappie is a very solid nice fish.

Great fish Matt, what'd they weigh?

The banjo minnow DOES catch fish. Super flukes, and other soft jerkbaits have very similar actions, are easier to get, and probably a bit cheaper.

Pline fluoro and 100% are both great fluorocarbons. I've used 6 and 8lb pline fluoro on spinning, and 15lb on baitcasters. I have had 1 break off with pline fluoro, and that was do to me never re-tying when I should have. The stuff is great.

Spinning - I use my left hand to reel. Baitcasting - I use my right hand to reel. I've tried a Left Hand baitcaster, and it just feels too weird. I've tried a Right hand spinning, and it's way too weird. Whatever floats your boat!

Doesn't the inshore hold even less line then a Curado 300?

Nice going man! What'd she weigh?

Not sure where you live, or the water temperatures, but if the fish were on beds, they can often be much tougher to catch. Patience and persistence is the way to get these fish. They're not looking to eat, but if you tick them off enough, they will pick up the bait to move it. Like I said, I'm not sure if the fish are on beds yet, or if they're already off beds, but sounds like maybe you're just dealing with some grumpy bed fish.

Okuma swimbait rods are a great swimbait rod for the price. If you're throwing 8" swimbaits, I'd definitely go with a 300 or 400. I use 25lb+ CXX , not sure how much a cardiff 200 would hold of 20-25lb line. Cardiff 400 / Okuma rods are a pretty common starter rod out here in california. Tons of guys have them.

If you're not going to throw anything heavier then a mattlures bluegill, just get a telescopic flipping stick. I'd get a 7'6 flipping stick, it breaks down to 6ft which would fit in your car perfect. 6'6 rod for swimbaits wouldn't be the best anyway.

Best warranty for a sub $150 rod yes. Lightest, I don't think so. My 6'10 MH Gblanks weighed in at 3.1oz also felt more sensitive, and looked better ;D : Off the rack...custom :-X I know, I know! Just thought I'd put some options out there, that guys don't always think about. I just know that when I first started asking questions about rods, I ended up 2 weeks later finding something else I wish I had gotten instead ;D