helms83

Thanks for all the replies and words of encouragement. I guess I should have explained a little more before I went into my rant. I'm not saying I want to quit, don't have the desire, or anything of the sort. I meant with some of the wierd things that have happened to me (mainly repeated bad luck), it feels like 'someone' is saying, "hey, this isn't for you to enjoy." I know I'm going to lose lures, and I only stick to cheaper $3-5 hard plastics. But if you do the math of roughly $70 dollars worth, that's 15-20 lures I lost; all in the matter of five hours! The manner of which the were lost was the key point; the odd circumstances that keep occuring. I have a pond and two smaller lakes in my area. I have been wondering if maybe the bodies of water I've been fishing aren't the best areas for bass, but I have no one in the area to ask about and they aren't controlled areas. Any tips? There is a private gated community about 30 minutes from here that supposedly has some big bass in it. But I don't know how to find any areas to shore fish from that don't involve huge bodies of water. Any help? I know I have the burning desire as I was out at the lake this morning during my breakfast break from work, but resulted in no action.

I had a couple of spooks that I finally was able to use and I fell in love with the action; first time I ever used the walk-the-dog technique. My question is with all the available options, which work? BPS topwater XPS series (low-end cost) Spooks (mid-range cost) Sammy (high-end cost) Any others that get the nod? I'm sticking to the lower cost items for certain, but just curious on reviews.

I love fishing, and I will not quit. But man, have I had some rough days! I have been skunked so many times this year, can't even begin to count them. The biggest bass I have ever caught is a pound. I'm not wanting an 8+lb fish or even a 4lber. I would be thrilled with a 2-3lb bass! I would flip my lid. I have maybe caught 20 bass in my lifetime; and I'm 27! I can cast into safe areas, and get snagged in the craziest ways! There is a standing dam thing near the shore of my small lake. Well I was attempting to cast parallel to it and somehow I cast my spinnerbait in between a 1" gab on the dam and lose my lure. Not once, but twice! Or I'll cast in a safe location and my line will get snagged on the one little twig that should easily break off, but doesn't, and I lose my lure. A few weeks ago, I had a wet leaf on my hook, pull it off, and my pole snaps in two! My rod was only a few months old and had no prior damage to it, and wasn't weakened due to fish being caught. It just snapped! The other day I lost $70 worth of lures; and maybe 1/4 of the lures lost were my fault. I had a spook get hit in between some spread-out timber, set the hook, the fish jumps straight into the timber, hook gets stuck and fish gets off! Lost my other spook when I cast by one piece of standing timber and a gust of wind swirls the water and somehow, my spook gets wrapped around. Lost several crankbaits, a spinnerbait, hooks and soft plastics, just feet from the shore and all in different areas. The thing that sucked the most is I could still see 2/3 of the lures I lost. It really was simply bad luck! Then last night, I'm casting under a tree on shore, and just as I'm snapping forward, a tree limb falls on my line and I get the backlash from hell! I ended up having to cut the line out, it was terrible. This kind of luck always finds me when I'm fishing, it's nuts! My girlfriend goes fishing with me most of the time and will atest to my luck. she can't believe the things that happen to me when I'm fishing. But I'm not going to quit or give up, and I apologize for the long rant, but I had to get this off my chest and see if anyone else has this kind of luck.

Man, have I had some days like that! Great fish, great story; just goes to show not to give up!

Yes they are, light, sensitive, durable, worth the purchase.

Well, I just purchased the combo, a 6'6MH ex. fast with reel and it's an awesome setup.

Why does BPS do that? They should list everything, then we'd know our options.

Yeah, the avid is great. I see why good rods cost so much, lol. A world of difference between a $50 to a $180 rod. Even the carbonlite, $100, is a great rod. Definently worth the money. Can't wait to try out the avid with the pro qualifier.

Lower Douglas? The one and only. My first time out there. I fished from the shore among the standing timber. Only caught 2 dinks, 1 shook off at shoreline, and missed setting the hook on the other. It was slow, but the topwater bite was the most effective. Any tips for the lake or anything?

The guys at BPS claimed the reel still only comes in 6.4:1. I want the reel in 5.2, it's so light and even 1/8 shakey heads fly! I love the rod as well, very sensitive. But hands down, the avid is AMAZING! Wow! Sensitive, castability, no matter the weight of the lure or type, this rod is great. I'm going to get the Pro qualifier, LH 5.2:1 and throw that bad boy on there and have the prefect crank rod.

Im pretty sure CL's only come in RH. Edit: Basspro.com confirms they only come in RH. No they don't, it's LH. I'm pretty sure by now I know the difference between left/right, lol. The guys at BPS couldn't believe it was a LH model as well, but it is.

Well, after all the help from everyone on this site, I finally purchased my new rods and reel: I got the Carbonlite Combo: 6'6 MH X-fast Rod w/6.4:1 LH Reel Then the big purchase... I went ahead and got the St Croix Avid 7'M Moderate Rod for crankin. The guy at BPS hooked me up, taught me a lot, and explained everything to me; while making sure I wasn't pressured to spend the money. He gave me a HUGE hook up on everything, on top of my military discount. So I was able to get some lures as well. He told me to try 12lb Sunline as well. So I was excited on the way back from BPS and couldn't help myself; I had to stop by my local pond. Now, at this pond this summer, I have caught all of one bass. I grab the carbonlite combo, throw on a shakey head with a zoom trick worm in Pumpkin Green. First cast, slowly shakey and I hook up with a dink. Second cast, another dink, but again it's a bass. Third and Fourth casts, get hits, but unable to land anything. Already more action on my pond than the past 3 months combined! Tomorrow morning I'm going to a lake on post that has some offshore standing timber. I can't wait to try everything out in full force! Thanks for everyones help!!!

Over the past couple of weeks I have been trying to get advice for rod setups for an upcoming tournament series I'm doing. The * means it's what I plan to buy, but I think I've finally figured out my setups: -Worm Rod/c-rig/shakey heads/jig *Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier 7'MH fast 3/8 - 1oz Browning Citori: 6.4:1 -Spinnerbait Rod/topwater lures, soft jerkbaits, Spooks, and buzzbaits Shimano Convergence Graphite Rod: 6'6M fast 1/4-5/8oz Shimano Callisto: 6.2:1 -Spinning Rod/weightless, drop-shot rigs, casting grubs, or any skipping situation you run into 6'10 Bass Pro Shops Spinning Rod Combo -Crankbait Rod (shallow-mid-deep runners) *Quantum Energy PT Trigger Rods 7'M mod 1/4 - 1oz *Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier: 5.2:1 Also, what lines should I put on the reels? I was thinking 10-12lb mono for topwater and spinning rod, 14-16lb flouro for worm rod, and 10-12lb flouro for crankbait. Any suggestions?

Not sure, I just moved to the area from TN. Went out early this summer, when the water was still high, and it wasn't too bad. Nothing over 2lbs though.

I have never fished spring time. I've done summer twice now, and this will be my first fall. so not sure what to do or expect.

As you all probably know, I have a few threads going. I decided to get a good reel, the BPS Pro qualifier 5.2:1 $100 and quantum trigger rod 7'M mod $50. This saves me $150 to get a more sensitive rod for jigs/rigs/worms. My buddy told me when the weather cools off more, we'll be fishing shakey heads and worms, jigs, and slower baits. He said to make sure I get something good for worms. I know I should get 6'6 - 7' M or MH f or ex f tip. I was also told sensitivity is a big factor here, so the rod will be more pricey. Where do I go from here?

Thanks everyone. I think I'm going to do what all you suggested and go with the cheaper rod. Another reason for this decision is after Dec, I won't be able to fish again until March 2012, so it's going to collect a lot of dust. I think the Quantum will do just as I hope it does, but I'm still going to go to my local BPS and test it out anyway. I still need to buy a rod, as my last rod broke and I have a reel with no home. I think I should get a good shakey head/jig/worm rod. I was thinking a 6'6 - 7' med. fast with sensitive tip is the way to go, any help here?

Completely understand what you're saying here. I'm lucky enough to be fishing this tournament from a boat. I'm going to get the BPS Pro Qualifier, my question is how important is the rod for this setup. I really like the BPS Carbonlite, but I was thinking of spending less and getting the Quantum® Energy PT Trigger Rods 7' M mod 1/4 - 1 OZ that's on sale throug BPS for $50. Or should I go ahead and invest money into a better rod now?

Man that's a nice 4fish bag! what were the weights?

I think this is what I have it down to for a cranking setup: Reels: Daiwa Exceler Crankbait Casting Reels LH 4.9:1 9.1oz - $79.95 Pflueger Trion Casting Reels RH 5.2:1 8.9oz - $88.88 Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier LH 5.2:1 8.8oz - $99.99 Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier LH 4.7:1 8.8oz - $99.99 Browning Fishing Citori Baitcast Reels LH 5.4:1 8.7oz - $99.99 Rods: Lamiglas Excel Cast Rod 7' Med Lt 3/16-5/8oz $109.99 Okuma Reflexion Cast Rod 7' Medium 1/4-5/8oz $59.99 Quantum Elite Swindle Cast Rod 7' Med Lt 1/4-5/8oz $149.99 Denali Jadewood Series Cast Rod 7' Medium Cranking 1/4-5/8oz $89.99 Pinnacle Perfecta Cast Rod 7' Medium Crankbait 1/4-5/8oz $154.99 Team Diawa L&T Casting Rods 7' Medium Cranking 3/16-1 1/2oz $114.95 (like broad range of lure weight) Team Diawa L&T Casting Rods 7' Medium 1/8-1oz $137.95 (like broad range of lure weight) Team Daiwa -S Rod 7' Medium Cranking 1/4-3/4oz $114.95 (can double as spinnerbait rod) Bass Pro Shops CarbonLite Trigger Rods 1/4 - 5/8 OZ $99.99 Powell Glass Crank Rod 7' Med Hvy 703 1/4-1oz $139.99 Powell Crank Cast Rod 7' Med 704CB 1/4-3/4oz $139.99 St. Croix Mojo Cast Rod 7' MH Cranking 3/8-1oz $100.00

If the BPS reel as them at both ends of the cast, will that limit the distance any? And if I do backlash, its at the beginning or (middle of the cast: doesn't get out far and will blacklash). So do I need it at the beginning of my cast?

I don't know the difference...?

Ok, I know I've said it before, but with the suggestions from others I decided to invest more into the rod. So I'm limiting my reel to $80-100. I'm in between these reels: Daiwa Exceler Crankbait Casting Reels LH 4.9:1 9.1oz - $79.95 Pflueger Trion Casting Reels RH 5.2:1 8.9oz - $88.88 Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier LH 5.2:1 8.8oz - $99.99 Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier LH 4.7:1 8.8oz - $99.99 Browning Fishing Citori Baitcast Reels LH 5.4:1 8.7oz - $99.99

Ok, here are some other options... *** has some good deals. I found this reel: Pflueger Trion Casting Reels - 5.2:1 (but right handed, which I can use, just perfer lefty for better rod control) http://www.***.com/Pflueger_Trion_Casting_Reels/descpage-PTCR.html No rods left for sale for cranking, but would consider purchasing a rod with this reel, unless pro qualifier is better quality.

should i just go ahead and get the BPS reel 5.2:1 as well? I was really leaning towards the carbonlite rod, i feel its something i could use for years to come and be satisfied with the quality.