wapiti

Thanks so much for the help Paul, I've been fishing a a lake/pond, thats quite full of weeds. Depth is anywhere from 1-7 feet, but the weeds complicate things. I have always used 6 pound test for bass, throwing spinnerbaits and t-rigging worms. For jigging this weedy lake, I'd like to have my lure right above the weeds, but that can't happen without snags and lots of hang ups. What pound test (mono) would you guys recommend for jigging through weeds in 1-7 feet of water? I'm thinking my 6 pound test is going to be too small? Thanks for the help

Excuse my ignorance Baron, but I'm new to jig fishing. . . Earlier you recommended using a pointed head jig like a 1/2 oz Booyah for weedy areas. Exactly what kind of Booyah do you prefer? I googled 1/2 oz Booyah and got a billion results: Flair Hair, Pig Skin, Swim'n, A, and Boo jigs. The only jig fishing I've ever done was for walleye, and thats as simple as hooking a leech to a plain jig, and letting it drop straight down. Just to make sure I understand this right. . . Jigging for bass is as simple as adding a skirt and trailer, casting, letting it sink, and reel in slowly throwing in some twitches etc? I feel stupid asking these questions, but I want to make sure I understand this. Thanks

I just ordered a Shimano Compre, and am hoping it gets here before I leave Saturday for vacation. 8-)

Thanks for all the input

I guess I am off to go buy some trailer hooks. . . however, I've read several posts on this forum about people who do not find trailer hooks necessary for spinnerbaits, what are disadvantages to using trailer hooks? Yes my rod is really limber, but I'm looking to buy a new rod soon. I've narrowed my search down to a Fenwick HMG or Shimano Compre spinning. . . any advice on which rod to purchase?

I've been shown a great deal, on a Medium heavy rod, however the recommended lure weight for this rod is 3/8-1 1/4 oz. Often I am casting 1/4 oz spinnerbaits which is under the recommendation on the Medium Heavy rod. Is it a big deal to be under the recommended weight capacity? Thanks, Nate

I'm new to fishing spinnerbaits, as they've always seemed intimidating, with all those blade and skirt selections. I've been fishing a weedy pond/lake with excellent water clarity and have been casting a 1/4 ounce white/blood stained spinnerbait with willow leaf blades, and have lost two fish that I felt had pretty solid strikes. I've been casting as close to shore as possible, and lifting up on the rod, to keep the spinnerbait just under the water's surface. Often I have been getting hits as soon as I begin to reel. Since the water is so clear I can usually see the bass take the lure, or at the very least I see movement in the water, and I've trained myself to wait until I actually feel the fish before setting the hook. Everything has been going fine, until Saturday night, I began reeling with a steady retrieve, and felt a small tap. I continued to reel in and felt no pressure on the line, but not two seconds later I got another tap and saw a monster of a pike attack my spinnerbait maybe four feet under the water. I jerked instinctively when I saw the pike and took the lure right out of its mouth. --> This experience put me under the impression that perhaps setting the hook on spinnerbaits wasn't such a good idea/important. (landed the pike maybe four casts later) 8-) Well that same night, I was casting close to shore, with a steady retrieve. I didn't get a strike right off shore, so I continued to reel in, all the while plotting where my next cast would be, when I felt a solid tap tap tap. I was taken by suprise. . . that coupled with my previous encounter with the pike meant I never set the hook on the fish. I got him close to the boat, but to my dismay the bass jumped out of the water and simply spat out my lure. --> This puts me under the impression that I need to set the hook, but only after I feel the fish hit with that tap tap tap? What are your thoughts/techniques for getting solid hook sets with spinnerbaits? Thanks Nate

I'm debating as to whether or not I should purchase a "better quality" spinning rod. I'm 17 and have been using a Kodiak Challenger KGG01SM (one piece graphite) 6'0" medium (1/4-5/8 oz) rod which was given to me as a gift a few years ago. Google hasn't yielded any results, so I have absolutely no idea what this rod is worth, or if it is considered chinsy to most members here. If anyone has any idea what these rods go for I would appreciate any info. The rod has served me well, my only complaints are my light spinnerbaits (1/4 and 3/8) seem a bit heavy when casting and my buzzbaits more or less feel like I'm lifting rocks and make the rod tip bend. I am unsure how heavy my booyah buzzbaits are, I purchased them a year ago, and was too stupid to do any research, or much less view the weight on my product. I usually twitch rapala x-raps, or fish light (1/4-3/8 oz) spinnerbaits. Lately, I've been experimenting with topwater/buzzbaits which are a little bit heavier and very occasionally I jig for walleye. I'm in the market for a rod under $100, would a Shimano Compre 6'6" (3/16-5/8) Medium serve my needs? What action do most bass fishermen prefer. . . if the rod does not specify is it assumed that it has fast action? Thanks for any advice, and what are the advantages in paying that kind of money (probably doesn't seem like a lot to you) for a rod? Thanks again, Nate

I've read great things about Sufix . . . is there a big difference between siege and elite? What type of sufix do you guys prefer?

I purchased some cheap triline about a month or two ago. I've been fishing roughly once a week, since then and I've been dissapointed in how much the line has been fraying. Today, I finally got sick of it, threw the line in the trash and headed to Gander Mountain. I wasn't planning on getting anything chinsy this time, so I spent fifteen bucks on some Berkley Vanish Transition, eight pound test. Then and only then did I take the time to actually read some reviews on BVT, and from what I've read this stuff has extreme problems with breaking --> and not just at the knot. Gander Mountain put the line on my reel for me, so I can't exactly take this stuff back and exchange it for fireline or anything. Is this BVT as bad as people say it is and if it is do you have any idea in how I can make the best out of a bad situation? Any recommendations on what brand of fishing line I ought to purchase? Primarily, I am bass fishing and slashing x-raps or spinnerbaits, every now and then I tear into some huge pike or catfish. In a few weeks though, we're going up north on vacation and I'll be doing some jigging for walleye.