ChiCityBasser

MH F is a great for bottom contact applications. That rod length is also good for jerkbaits, topwater and traps. Like Skunked said, very versatile. As for reels, just pick your favorite in your price range. Read a ton of reviews, research what other people are using & why and just make your own decision. I have (2) Curados which I love but also have a Revo Winch and just ordered a Quantum Smoke. Zillion is a really nice reel. For me it wasn't $100 nicer that a Curado; same with the Revo Premier. I agree with the suggested techniques also. I'm a Quantum guy as well but I have a couple of Daiwa Excelers(6.3 and 7.x) and I also have a Cabelas Prodigy which is made by Daiwa. Read the reviews and get your hands on some of the suggested reels and go with what feels good to you.

I've made over 300 purchases on ebay and most have been fishing gear. There are some great deals to be had on both new and used gear and never had a problem with any seller. As others have said check the feedback on the seller as they want to keep selling and keep there feedback high and ask questions if you aren't sure of something. I got my Kistler 7' Mag TS off ebay for $75 including shipping. It was used but in mint condition. There are some deals to be had and most are worth checking out.

Bass Pro has a couple of combos in this weeks sale paper that are within your price range.

Nice fish and happy belated birthday as well.

I got out today to a little pond and tried a shallow running crank but no luck for me either. Which forest preserve lakes?

I agree with you trying one of the above stores for a deal. Cabelas has the prodigy rods on sale for $59.99 and sure there is a combo that is very close to your budget with that rod. I have 3 of them now and they are great rods with the Micro rod also being on sale for $80.00. Check each one of there sites and you should be able to find a deal.

The Hammond store is out of both the XML and XMLTi models but has the Prodigy and Prodigy Micro rods for $60 and $80. Picked up one of both for myself.

Nice catches guys and I'm in Calumet City and will get out this evening to one of the local ponds. I have a shallow running crankbait on one rod to initially try and a black and blue jig/pig on another rod to give it a try.

I like the Egg as well as the Strike King 1XS shallow diving cranks. These were my most productive cranks fished over the tops of weedbeds.

I just purchased a couple of these off ebay and loading them into my tackle boxes and wondered about the front hook. I know the baits are a smaller size but the hook looked extremely small. I swapped the front hooks out for a #6 mustad triple grip hook. I'll try it with that hook size to see how it performs but wondered if anyone else thought the hook was undersized?

This is the tackle tour review of the reel. http://www.tackletour.com/reviewskeetvictorypg4.html

I'm in the Chicago area in the southern suburbs and the small residential and reservoir lakes are either thawed completely or partially thawed. I drive past three small area lakes on my way into work and will get out this weekend to try some new rods and reels. Got a Prodigy Micro guide rod and wanting to see how it feels, so it will be the first setup out this weekend.

Had my reels cleaned and serviced back in december and have them back on the rods now and waiting on the warmer weather here this weekend to get out for at least an hour or so.... Gonna feel good

Great pics and Shaw is one of the guys I really like as well.

Yes I have a couple of spinning and casting XML's and I would have to say they are more sensitve but my XML's are for different techniques. My previous Prodigy was for crankbaits and felt pretty good. My XML rods are rig and jig rods and really shined in those aspects. The Prodigy micro guide rod will be my first prodigy for jigs and t rigs and can't wait til I can get out to test it.

Seems the 150 size come with ACS3 and the 100 series get the ACS braking system. Tackle tour did a preview of the new 150 size baitcast reels awhile back. The smoke is not listed but does have a 150 size reel and seems the ACS3 system is the braking system for this size of reels. http://www.tackletour.com/reviewquantumpre2010.html

The Hammond, IN. store got the micro guide rods in and my wife convinced me to go ahead and put the PDMC705-1 7' MH/F 1/4-1 oz rod on layaway as a early spring fishing present. She talked with one of the salesman about the number of fishing setups he had and when he said 40, she smiled and said go ahead and get it. It will be out just in time for that first outing and they are on sale for $79.99. I now have 3 of the Prodigy rods with me just picking up the above mentioned micro guide rod and matched it with a Daiwa Exceler 7.1 100SHL. The PDS704-2 will be paired with a Quantum Catalyst PTi-B20 and can't wait til spring or at least some warmer weather here to get on the water with the new setups.

Just spooled up with SpiderWire Ultracast Fluoro braid on one setup in 30# and Power Pro 30# on another.

You might also want to try the Cabelas Prodigy Micro Rods which are on sale now for $79. I'll be picking one up this evening after taking a look at them last week. I went with the PDMC705-1 which is the 7' MH/F, 1/4-1oz. rated for 10-17 lbs line. I figured it would be very versatile and can't be it for the price. On the site it says its on backorder but they had plenty in store when I got a look at them. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Fishing-Rods/Casting-Rods%7C/pc/104793480/c/104764680/sc/104823180/Cabelas-Prodigy174-Micro-Casting-Rods/1173648.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ffishing-fishing-rods-casting-rods%2F_%2FN-1102351%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104823180%3FWTz_l%3DPPC%253Bcat104793480%253Bcat104764680&WTz_l=PPC%3Bcat104793480%3Bcat104764680%3Bcat104823180

Just going to post that and got my Daiwa Exceler from them and best price on the net.

I have a Sahara but I would have to go with the Exceler as well.

I was just looking into these reels and thought I would check to see if TT had done a reviewand see that they had a recent review of the reel. I was thinking of getting either a Smoke, Energy PT or Daiwa Advantage HSTA but after reading the review I'll be checking more into the Smoke. http://www.tackletour.com/reviewquantumsmoke.html

You can also find the Daiwa Exceler which comes in 3 speeds online at PoorFish.com for under or right around $60 with shipping included.

I got an accurist 501pt for use on a pitching rig on ebay for $50 new in box. So far it has been great. It is smooth and has a good drag. I got a similar deal on ebay on the 501pt as well and my reel is just over 2 years old and not a problem at all. I'm using my reel as my pitching rig as well.

Nice catches and I'm near chicago and waiting to get out again myself.