new2BC4bass

I'm glad someone took over for me after I got laid off. However, you still need a lot more rods. Add 7' models to those you have in 6'6". Then 7'2", then 7'3", then 7'4", then 7'6". 6'8" and 6'10" are nice to have. Duplicates are a must. You need rods dedicated to swimbaits, jigs, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, worms, Ned Rigs, topwater, hair jigs, Carolina Rigs, etc., etc. In several lengths and brands. You've only just begun. ?

Whenever I visit Florida (fish with a B-I-L there), I use a MHF casting rod, weightless 10" ribbontail worm (Junebug most of the time, black occasionally), 3/0-5/0 EWG hooks, and 40# braid for the vast majority of my fishing. We are casting back into the lily pads most of the time. Last time there I had forgotten to take a baitcast reel with braid except for the reel that went on my dedicated frog rod. As it happened, I had sent an older Fenwick Elite Tech 7' MF Jig & Worm spinning rod down with a couple other baitcast rods. Guess what the spinning reel I took with me was spooled with. Yup, braid (purchased used and that is what came on the reel). Due to my B-I-L's work schedule we only got out 3 times, but every fish I caught was on the spinning combo. I didn't change how I fished. Still cast back into the pads. We do fish from a Gheenoe so we can chase down a snag if necessary. Would I rather have had a baitcast reel? Yes, but that is what I prefer. The spinning rod did fine. Plus I never had one backlash with it! I prefer a 7 or 8 speed reel. I prefer a mono/co-polymer for any fishing not done in heavy cover. I use a lot of AN40, Siege and Big Game...12# on MH rods, 8# on Medium or ML rods. I seldom ever swim the worm except when retrieving for another cast. Occasionally I'll keep the rod tip in the water in an attempt to keep the worm as deep as possible on a retrieve just in case I am lucky enough to have a bass follow it. Otherwise I'm moving the worm with the rod. A speedy reel is for taking up slack and getting the bait back quicker for another cast. I know jigs are very versatile, but I don't seem to have the patience for them. I have caught a few fish on jigs, but it isn't a technique I'm fond of.

From personal experience I can say that if you 'think' you need a new rod, then you 'do' need a new rod. For line I prefer a mono or co-polymer. I use a lot of Siege and AN40. But, as I said earlier, my B-I-L uses only braid. I know there are guys on here that use braid for everything. The only hard and fast rule I am aware of is if you (or other member) and I were out fishing together and only one person was catching fish, it wouldn't be me.

My B-I-L must be doing something wrong. He hardly ever uses more than 2 lures. One is the original F11 Rapala. He only uses 40# braid and only spinning reels. Uses 40# because he doesn't want to lose any lures. Very seldom loses a fish. Uses very cheap gear. Doubt any of his rods have a true fast action. His other lure is a 10" thru 12" unweighted worm. Somehow he manages to set the hook on those whippy rods with 5/0 and 6/0 hooks and yet not lose fish on the Rapala.

Yup. Lot of good people here. More than willing to offer advice. More than willing to spend your money for you, too. ?

I'm thinking this a communication problem on my end. I'm thinking your thinking (confused yet?) I can't put line on my spools. What I meant was I can't cast all the line off my reel's spool like many here can. My Gen1 STXL is listed as having a line capacity of 140 yards of 12 pound (mono) line. I don't know if this takes into account the 1/16-1/8 inch below the bevel that the pamphlet suggests where to fill the spool to. I fill to the bevel. It was spooled with 40# Sufix Performance Braid which measures .013 inch. This is the same size as some 12# mono lines. I was casting a 3/4 oz. spoon on a 7' MHF Daiwa Jupiter (made for Walmart) that I keep in Florida. I was able to cast a little more than half the line off. This would be around 75 yards or so (that pesky thing called math...circumference in this case). Many here can cast all the line off their reel's spool. I can't even come close. Sorry to hear about your tremors. Had a couple health problems of my own lately resulting in poor balance and loss of leg strength. Physical therapy could most likely cure both, but I have a couple legitimate reasons for not taking it. Luckily I can still get line through a lure's eye.

Only have one Megabass...the Orochii XX Diablo Spec R Gen1. It has a 50th Anniversary Zillion on it. Balance point is at the bulge on the cork lock down. I don't find it heavy. My Toadface has a Daiwa SV103 on it and balances about 1/2-5/8 inch behind the hook keeper which puts the balance point around 1-1/4 to 1-3/8 in front of the lock down....which is shorter and smaller than the Orochii. Personally I enjoy fishing both as they are a couple of my nicer rods. Neither have seen a lot of use as 1) I haven't fished much the past 4 years, and 2) I have too many rods/reels and try to rotate them so all eventually get used at least once. Although not in the same year. Wished I fished enough that all got used at least once a year. I suppose at 8.3 oz. the 50th is too heavy for most people to fish all day. Good thing I have decent stamina. EDIT: At 7.8 oz. the SV103 is lighter, but still too heavy by today's standards.

I have an older 7' MF Omen Black. Think it's a first gen. End cap fell off after a few trips (2-3?). Like it well enough otherwise. Have a gen 1 Concept A. I rarely notice little things. First time I put it on a rod I immediately noticed how great it felt. It did take some time to dial in. Used as it came out of the box. I was told cleaning it first would have made it easier to dial in. Get good distance with it. Good for me, but I can't spool any of my reels.

Can't edit my post for some reason. I bought some 10# Big Game in Solar Collector. It is a very bright green on the spool, but haven't put any on a reel yet. Am hoping it is highly visible as a single stand on the water.

I never watched any casting videos until after I was already comfortable with all my reels. Wish I had. Should have shortened my learning curve considerably.

Better late than never to the party. I'm not 100% mono/co-polymer, but close. I've got braid on two frog rods. I've got braid on two reels that I use for casting into lily pads and other crap. A used reel I bought came with braid. Still on the reel as I'm not going to throw away perfectly good line. All casting reels I decided to try braid on some spinning reels (3) since everyone seems to love it on theirs. I still prefer nylons....8# or less for my fishing.

Finally. Someone else that calls it 'fluff'. One of the first reels I sent out for cleaning was the TD Fuego. I didn't know about running the spool loose. He told me my spool tension was too tight and being too tight could damage the plastic part under it. True? I don't know. Don't like to tinker and always send my reels out for cleaning, repair or upgrades (other than changing spools). My tension was so tight he couldn't cast a 1/4 oz. lure with it.

Man. I've got to start taking pictures and downloading them to my laptop so I can post a few! I really like the looks of my Limited Edition Tatula.

Kind of surprised as a lot of people swear by the benefits of braid on spinning reels. I do have braid on 3 spinning reels, but have to admit I prefer mono or co-polymers since that is what I used growing up. T-Billy: Those are some very nice fish, but I can guarantee they all would have weighed several ounces more If you'd been using a co-polymer instead of braid.

Can't offer any advice, but I sure like the start you've made on your arsenal.

roadwarrior has recommended them several times. I bet he'd be willing to give his opinions on the rod. EDIT: I'm awful tempted to buy one. I feel I've always gotten good value for my money from Okuma products. Thankfully the Bait Monkey has been staying away since the beating I gave him.

The outfit that I still have that has caught the most fish for me is a 40 plus year old 6' ML Berkley Lightning with a Penn 430SS. I haven't posted a picture in many, many years. Don't think I remember how anymore. If I should ever post pictures again, one would be my Aetos 6'6" MLM/PXL Type R. An absolute pleasure to fish with. Prized possessions: I have several rods and reels from a Limited Edition Tatula Type R, 50th Anniversary Zillion to a Rainshadow RX7, custom rod by Vinnie B. After the past two years I can verify that Darth-Baiter is mostly right. Your health is the most important, but I wouldn't call my toys junk.

Yeah. He was an adult when he got stung. Lived almost two miles from my parents home. By the time he got there he could barely see. My Mom had to run him to the hospital.

I think you will find the OP may be a Northerner, but not a boy! OP, I'll take that kind of fishing any day. Heck of a lot better than around my area. Sounds like a good time to me.

I could make you feel real good by telling you the length of time I've gone without catching a bass. But then I might feel so bad that I'd quit fishing for another 23 years. Grab a 3wt or 4wt fly rod, and get after those panfish!

One of my cousins is very allergic to bee stings. If it had been him, I doubt he would have made it back to the car after being stung that many times. Glad you didn't suffer any more than you did.

No idea if it is the 'All round' rod. CC-4-17M. Received it years ago as a replacement for an OG Expert of the same length and power that I fell and broke 2 pieces off the tip. Don't have an SX, but have a Gen1 STXL with 40# braid on it. Have a few unused reels laying around with no line on them yet. The STX has been to Florida with me several times for using back in the lily pads. It has also made some very long casts (long for me) while fishing there.

I wish I'd picked up more Smallmouth rods. Great rods for the money. I have the 6'9" M-EF in both spinning and baitcast, but my favorite that I've actually spent time fishing with is the 6'10" MF casting rod. I picked up some spinning rods after I got back into fishing, but that was when I tried my first low profile baitcast reel and I like them so well that the spinning rods don't get used. Something I'd like to change once I get to fish a bit more. If I'm just going out for a short time, I want a baitcaster or two.

Couldn't say. Although I've been fishing less and less over the past 4 years, I didn't stop buying until sometime last year. I've got rods/reels that I've never used yet. Some that have only been out once or twice. Can't determine a favorite with such little use. I really like my OG Tatulas and Fenwick Smallmouths, but a rod I have spent some time with (and would hate to lose) is a 7' MHF Rainshadow RX7. I'd replace it in a heartbeat if I could. I'd feel bad if I broke any of my rods with the exception of 2 or 3.

I used my 7' MF Cara for a crankbait rod before buying a dedicated crankbait rod. Would have no problem throwing cranks on it today. I've cast a 1/2 oz. spinnerbait on a MF Falcon while on the river. Pulling it upstream put a nice bend in the rod. Definitely would have preferred more power, but wasn't worried the rod would break. Did feel like it was a bit much for the rod, tho. I recently picked up the Expert Amistad, but haven't had it out. Any reel/line suggestions for it?