Crestliner2008

Hard to say without knowing how long you are going to keep them that way. Like any other plastic, if you store them with a kink or bend, eventually they will accept that re-shaping. Best to keep them in their own bags in my opinion. And I do LOVE Roboworms!

Smallest size KastMaster spoons. Cast it out and let it sink. Watch the line and count it down. When you see the tick, that's the depth they are at. From then on it's just, count down.....lift.....count down, etc.. You'll get some of the biggest gills that way.

It'll be hard to beat a Pflueger President.

I've been wearing GGs for the last 4 seasons and I like them alot. They do wear out fast though, so if you go this route, buy a couple of pair. And, do NOT get the ones with leather/sythetic palms! They are impossible to clean.....and you will need to clean them.

I still wish we had Herter's Inc.!

I have most of my tackle pre-rigged and ready to go - without the plastics on the hooks. That goes for my drop shot, jig rod, float rod, etc.. The morning I'm leaving for fishing is when I put the plastics on, along with any scent. Seems to be working well for me.

I currently have 4 Ambassadeurs (one of which is a 5000C) from the '70's to the '90's. I've taken them apart many times for cleaning. One of the simpler reels to work on actually. What is the problem you are experiencing? The biggest deal with these fine baitcasters is to segment them into 3 sections, which you work on, one at a time; Frame, Left side, Right side. Remember, if you send it to an outlet for repair, it's gonna cost you! Quite a bit too, if you factor in shipping charges.

I will not comment on brand to buy; you can find a plethora of opinions there. But you need a 6 1/2' - 7' rod with a medium light power rating, in my opinion. Also, I would never think about unrigging my ds rod to switch it to another technique. My ds rod is in the boat for that purpose and that purpose only. JMO!

They are good rods. I have one. Have used it for many years, but that was back a decade or so ago. Since I discovered the B n' M Sam Heaton's Super Sensitive (SHSS) rods, I'd be reluctant to use anything else. In the 7' length, this fine rod can handle just about anything that comes your way. It's durable, extremely sensitive, and casts light jigs as well as any rod on the market can. Going for about $50.00 these days from the Grizzly Jig Company.

For what you want to do, you are probably as well equipped as you can be. I'm in the same boat. However, if I were fishing for largemouth in heavy cover, I would not hesitate to pull out my baitcaster. Just as in automotive repair, there is a tool for each job. Some can overlap, but some are just darn better for the task.

I'm a smallmouth bass nut, so my choice can be no other than the X-Rap in Hot Head color. This audacious lure has accounted for more big early season smallies than I can count.

Hard jerkbaits and anything on the drop shot.

That Savage Gear Mayfly is one bad looking dude! Can't wait to give it a try. I've had a great deal of success with the Mister Twister Helgy. Especially on the drop shot and on a jig head.

Every lure in my box has the barb crushed down. I don't specifically look for barbless lures, I make them.

I've tried live crawfish occasionally. The kind you get in bait shops. I have just as much luck on artificial presentations, which is what I use exclusively these days.

Take a look at the Ithaca SKB O/U 12 ga.. A truly fine weapon. The SKB box lock action is one of the strongest in the world. I bought mine in Japan, circa 1968, before Ithaca bought out the brand. She's dropped a lot of game birds in those earlier days.

Try Cadman's Jigs: Cadman's Fishing Tackle They offer a lead alternative for us Baystaters. A bismuth/tin construction which is much less expensive than tungsten. Not sure of the styles you need, but check with them.

Most folks don't have the patience to fish slow enough under these conditions. With the drop shot, you can lift up the Senko and drop it right back down on the same spot as previously. Doing that a time or two will incite a bass to suck it in. Plus, the weight restricts you from removing it from it's original position....unless you forcibly make that move. I use several presentations during the pre-spawn, depending on conditions. Ice out the DS is pretty reliable. As the temps warm, I'll start using hard jerkbaits more & more, along with slow rolling a Swing Fat Impact on a belly hook. I switch presentations fairly often during this early period. Sometimes the ole' reliable blade bait works best. Give 'em what they want, not what you want them to have. Be flexible and fish with patience.

Drop shot.

With such a limited capacity, I'd recommend that you focus on two things; depth & speed control. Look at covering the water column adequately, top to bottom. And from slow to fast. That will increase your odds of finding a successful combination for the particular situations you are faced with, day by day. Bring along some top waters, a few hard & soft jerkbaits, jigs and cranks. Don't get too crazy on color. Keep focused on depth & speed control and you'll do just fine.

The drop shot, during the prespawn, can be deadly. I've never considered it to be a small fish presentation. It can and will catch you some giants. Try wacky rigging a 3" Senko on your drop shot. Cast it out. Let the entire rig hit the bottom. Raise the bait up until you feel the weight and then kill it. Try that a couple of times, then slide your rig a bit further along. Somewhere along the line you will get bit. This works for me consistently from ice out until the spawn. It does take patience however!

Sounds like everyone is for the Cardiff. I've never used one, but have tossed a lot of musky baits with an Ambassadeur 6500C for a lot of years. Very dependable and tough.

Fishing from shore over laydowns you might try wacky rigging a 4" Senko under a slip float. Start out with the bait only about 2' below the bobber.....then increase that distance, if you don't get bit, until you are just above the laydowns. That'll work. Another option is slow rolling a horsehead spinner with a Swing Fat Impact dressed on it. A lot depends on the water you are fishing and bottom content. These plastics can be rigged pretty weedless as well, if the situation demands it.

I never leave home without my SP-101 on my hip CC. Boat, shore, grocery store, church.

Very nice indeed! Try the same tactic with a 1/16 oz. Roadrunner. And fish deeper than normal.