A-Rob

I agree. The other thing I'd like to add is I used to try to throw cranks on a cheaper baitcast reel and had a lot of trouble with backlashes. I stepped up the quality and no longer had the problem. So it may be worth saving a bit longer and getting something that'll work nicely and not be frustrating for you.

...ok bud

I fish mainly grass on my lakes. I feel pretty strong that if you are in thick grass green braid goes virtually undetected. If I'm swimming something over top of the grass I go Flouro. If I'm pitching to isolated pads in a whole in the weeds, the jig coming thru the pads tends to get a reaction bite and I have no problem with braid still. Anyways, I just use green. Similar to camo I break it up with a black magic marker. I don't cover the last 3 feet, I dash it maybe 6" long every 8" of line (so it goes green/black/green). I like how it breaks it up as if there are shadows. Just like camo.

Jigs in a Plano Box Trailers in bags, and all those bags in a big ziplock bag

These are my go-to for pitching/flipping. I rig em on a straight shank hook with a tungsten bullet sinker and 65# braid on my heavy stick great action when dropping from the mat to the bottom. Usually fairly durable. Some great colors.

65# Power Pro/Tuff-Line for Flipping/Pitching & Frog 20# Vicious Elite Flouro for jig/worm 12-17# Berkley 100% Flouro for crankbaits 15# Maxima Mono for spinnerbaits 15# Spiderwire Camo Braid for spinning gear (+/- 10# P-line copoly leader) That's my roster!

I'm not offended by that idea. Sounds like Powell is giving you the option on one of their "cheaper" rods. I would be annoyed if my $70 rod cost me $80 to replace under warranty haha. If the rod is the same quality of a $100 rod and they are offering it for $70 b/c they took the warranty off (which would cost you $80) then I'm not too picky. But of course a $100 rod for $70 with a lifetime warranty and free shipping would be even better!

The new shimano's are looking pretty sharp. The Clarus is in your price range. They added some nice features to their lower model rods. I picked up a 7'7" Clarus flipping stick and have been really happy with it. I was going to get another daiwa but without looking back at my shimano tags, I think they give a limited lifetime warranty on the clarus (don't shoot me if I'm wrong but it was a better warranty than daiwa) Good luck dude!

I just fill'er up and eyeball it on the generous side...easier to cut off 10 yards than strip it all b/c you didn't like how thin you filled it haha.

Nice set-up! I was going to get the Daiwa T as a 2nd flipping/pitching stick. I thought the feel of it was great and I fished some procyons before and was happy with their performance. And for how it feels at its price point is pretty awesome. (I ended up getting a shimano tho only b/c of some extra christmas cash) Just need some bass slime on that new reel and you're all set!

I back my reel with cheap mono up until about 1.5 to 2 cast lengths. Then I fill the rest with flouro until the reel is filled (about a 1/4 to 1/8" shy of the edge of the spool)

How's the stretch factor on the line?

I throw those on mono, aound 15#. I throw my frogs on 50 to 65# braid. I don't think its a visual issue, I just like the extra stretch and floating line for trebled top waters. Braid on the frog for cutting thru the pads and weed Anyways that's just how I do it, definitely doesn't mean it is the right way or only way. Good luck dude!

thin and stretchy. I agree I think it is just flouro covered, not true flouro. I've used stren flourocast, I had a couple breakages with a heavy stick on the hook set. I have had no problem with it on my glass cranking stick. If you tie a palomar it will break easy. I tied a san diego jam and not too many wraps, it tends to burn easy, but it does well with the san diego jam. Just a heads up so you don't lose a fish on first bite!

Hmmm I'm sure they may just do a quick repair regardless of the model. Great reel for the price otherwise. I have a tackle shop near me that does shimano work under warranty, perhaps you have one as well?

x2 Sounds similar to the Shimano system

I fished mainly EWG before I got into a straight shank hook for rigging my craws/creatures when pitching/flipping. I'm very please with the hook up ratio of the straight shank hook. I will use a 4/0 or 5/0 just depending on the size of the plastic, I got as big as possible without overpowering the bait. I still use the EWG for most other purposes (senko, ribbon tail worm, tubes big lizards). Again I go as big as possible without overpowering the bait...often 3/0 or 4/0 for senkos, tubes, 5/0 for worms etc. Keep hookin em!

Here is a bit of a difference answer.... I thought if it was me, and note bass season starts end of june for me, I would snorkel the pond and check out the structure and look for fish. That's the first thing I thought of. I've done this at my cottage. I'd be out with the family and we'd be snorkling, i'd find some structure covered with fish....next time I would come back with the fishing rod and have a new honey-whole But I understand if you are trying to fish it in the spring, the water might be too cold for a dip!

Sounds like we have figured out what a "point" is....let us move onto "pockets"....and then to the difference between a "trench" and a "ditch"...and then to whatever the heck this sentence means "got a tick and laid the steel into 'em and lipped that chunk" haha I love fishing

I'd go around 6 if you have a knob out of 10 (ie medium high). 1/4 inch is pretty good for oil in my opinion. If I go more than that then I just basically deep fry em haha. Also, I batter the fillets a bit, you may be interested in that? I just do a flour and milk mix but do whatever you want. When in doubt, smoke it on the bbq (my fav)!

Looks like canadian water to me!

That is an awesome offer! Good luck getting Bass Pro to offer you that!

zoom chunk in cold water for me I'm not too picky on the brand as long as it is a less aggressive trailer such as the zoom chunk. I think KVD has a nice trailer with that slower action as well, but its more $$ than zoom.

I pitch Zoom Ultravibe speed craws, the big one and small one. The big one around more sparse cover ie pads in summer The smaller one is nice for pitching to slop ie mats in summer Whenever I can get a jig bite going without getting it all gunked up in the slop I'll fish the jig b/c it is just an awesome bait!

I like throwing a jig...my favorite being a locally hand made jig with a zoom super chunk or chunk jr or a zoom fat albert double tail, or a netbait paca craw. I would also throw a worm like a zoom mag II. If the fish are suspeded a bit and don't want to eat a worm/jig off the bottom it is hard to beat a weightless senko