ChiCityBasser

Nice catches and yeah I don't blame you guys for not lipping them over the side of the boat

It's a nice looking rod and thanks for the mini review and hoping to get win one in the next go round as well but if not might have to add it to the arsenal as well.

I've had some custom painted baits that have worked very well for me. I've had both factory lures custom painted and builders lures in colors not available from the factories and good results on both. Other factors play in as well but they work well for me at any given time. I don't purchase as many now cause my spare box is so full but when I do loose a couple I grab a couple of the customs and hit the water.

So far the Spro frogs have work great giving my first frog fish and PB til that point.

Nice Fish and fish calculater on here says for a 20" Bass it should be 4lbs or so

My favorite combo Spinning is my: Quantum Catalyst PTI-B20 on a old Daiwa D-Force Fiberglass rod with 6# Vicious Flouro. The rod matches the reel perfectly for aesthetics and it's my setup for shallow to medium diving cranks and has really produced for me this year. Baitcasting: Quantum Energy PT/Cabelas XMLTi/14# Mono

I would recommend the Cabelas Prodigy PRC201 which is made by Daiwa for Cabelas. I have a model from a couple years ago and it's very smooth and you can't beat the Cabelas warranty. It is 6.3:1 has 6+1 bearings and weighs in at 8.6 oz. and right now is on sale for $79.99 which will leave you money left over for some good quality braid.

Great fish and love seeing the smallie since I rarely get a chance to fish for them in my area.

Nice fish

Thanks for all the congrats guys and shortly after catching the fish I lost the Spro frog to a tree hanging out of the water. Luckily Cabelas isn't too far from my house and I replaced it along with having 30# Test 10# Power Pro Braid added to the setup just in case I want to try the frog again.

Nice Fish and Great story and guess you will be wearing that shirt quite often on your outings with continued success.

For me it's been a case of using what works and so far its been Quantums reels in both spinning and baitcasting models. I have a Daiwa/Cabelas Prodigy and just recently purchased a Daiwa Exceler to try since the Prodigy worked so well. My other baitcasting models are the Energy PT and the Accurist PT which both work well. On the spinning side I have a Shimano that works pretty good and a assortment of Quantum reels. The rods have all been Cabelas and I have no complaints at all about the products or the warranty policy. I've thought about changing but they are still catching fish and at this point I'm happy with the performance.

Great Story and nice fish

I've used straight braid with no leader before on my spinning setups. Since most of the waters I fish are Murky to Stained I don't think it really was a factor as far as the fish seeing the braid. I've only had one experience where the fish could see the braid and it was when I was using Fireline Crystal in a Gin Clear lake and I could see fish trailing the line. As far as # test I would go with 20# test 8 and or something just a bit heavier on the spinning gear.

Thanks and I hope to continue with the string of success also

I think it's a good choice in line and the flouro does take some getting used to after using braid but I've had alot of success with the flouro this year. Let us know how the braid works for you.

Congrats on the New PB

Thanks and Congrats on your catches as well. Yeah the grass is thick in NWI this time of year and just decided to try the frog even though it was on light line and took a minute to land her. Congrats again and I plan on fishing the area more often now.

Fishing calculator for a 20" bass puts her at 4.5lbs which would be my New PB..... :D

Thanks and yes she did put up a good fight on the light line. I'm fishing from the shore and most of the lakes I'm fishing up my way don't have many pigs in them but it was still a fun fight and landing.

That first catch of the year is always great. Good luck and much success

This year has been great so far for me as I have been catching most of my fish on the Strike King 1xs in a number of colors. The Gizzard Shad has been the most consistent for me so far this year. I was fishing a new lake and trying the Gizzard Shad color lure on the shallow end of the small lake I was fishing after seeing several carp cruising and one or two smaller bass as well. I made the cast into shallow water between two underwater weed beds with an opening between them which I thought was the perfect ambush point. On the fourth cast after getting weeds on the previous cast she hit. I set the hook hard and kept the pressure on cause I didn't want her to throw the crankbait. I had changed the hooks on the lure to #6 Mustad Triple Grip hooks as she fought pretty good. She jumped once but I keep the pressure on as she pulled a little drag before I finally got her in to lip her. Caught her on spinning gear with Vicious 6# Test fluorocarbon, an old 6'6" daiwa fiberglass rod and Quantum Catalyst reel. No measurements or anything but I'm guessing 5-5.5lbs.....

Nice fish and yes froggin is fun

Nice Bass and Congrats

Very true the 8# test was a big risk so next time it will be a baitcaster and 30# test braid or higher