craww

I've never heard anyone else do it, but I use them on chatterbaits with good results. Sometimes pinching the "skirt" off and using the twin tails behind a jig style skirt. Killer on the drop and the GYCB hulas are heavy, adding weight and allowing you to absolutely bomb a 3/8 chatterbait.

Tons of light,balanced rods under $100 these days. I have an old 6'6" MH Fenwick HMG that I've used for 6 years or so. The rod just fits me for whatever reason, I can take a 3/8-5/8 bait and cast more accurately than any other rod I own. Just a perfect Sammy rod.

I owe my personal best to it. First day trying out the Alberto knot, Fishingdrew and I found a lay down with every big bass in the lake on it lol. Had a 17 3/4" x 27" fish wrap and seesaw around a log directly under the boat that I didn't know was there. For what seemed like an eternity, you could hear that fish making a sound like the plucking of guitar wires. The yozuri held up like a champ, while I've since moved on to seagar flouro leader Mtl., I have full confidence in the yoZuri.

One other thing Ive noticed on half a dozen occasions in late winter/early spring are Newts/salamanders meandering around in water with temps in the low 40's. I don't know much about the science of how these coldblooded critters are active, but Ive found a Cherry seed worm is a perfect mimic to their crimson color. Ive had some AMAZING days on the Gulp turtleback worm (yes Gulp), and am convinced the early season bass key on them these animals in certain ponds I frequent.

I keep a little spool of tape for when I'm fishing docks. Make a short cast, farther than you expect to skip, and put a short piece of tape on the spool, it doesn't take much. Then retrieve your line over it and go fishing...Keeps the backlashes from going as deep. Nothing worse than ruining $30+ worth of braid/flouro with a Gnarly backlash.

Quality cork is through the roof right now and in short supply. I for one hate the look of an old cork handled rod that's all discolored and missing filling. . Sure you can repair it yourself but I haven't seen too many amateur jobs look the same as new. I much prefer EVA or other synthetic material. I honestly don't know if its noticeable, but cant help but think the extra material on a full grip would have at least some (perhaps miniscule) effect on deadening a rod versus a split grip.

Lipless is a toss up between redeye shad (yo-yoing) and rattlin vibe (horizontal). Squarebill, Lucky craft RC. Bangin rocks in less than 8', Bandit 200. I don't usually fish a crank beyond 8'-10'.

We have plenty of rods in that price range...its the most saturated in the market. I hear where your coming from though, I just bought a $300 fly rod (and $75 worth of line) and had a bit of buyers remorse afterwards. I sold an item given to me that i didn't need specifically to get a fly outfit and even though it didn't hurt my bank account, I still felt it. I'm frugal and appreciate quality lol, two characteristics that dont always go hand in hand. I'm slowly changing to where I feel its better to get higher quality items that you enjoy over a long period of time more than a more diverse cheaper group. Case in point, Ive got a garage full of $50-100 rods I don't use and would gladly trade what I paid for 5-6 of them for one, high end GLX jig rod. If your budgets tight, I suggest saving and being patient. Shop smart and read every review you'll be informed and get EXACTLY what you want.

Ive caught a blue heron once that snagged my Sammy. Foul hooked a Canadian goose throwing X-walk 13's at stripers.

Never had any issues w/15 or 20lb and feel anything beyond that's overkill on a spinning rig. Ive never had much issue with breaking due to lack of stretch as I let the drag do its job and don't get cute with big fish up close. Braid does have poor abrasion Ive found with certain types of cover, but when it comes to the wood, soft vegetation, smooth river rock that I fish... it does great.

His stock was dropping quite a bit before this. Teams have serious reservations about his ability to get off blocks and work through traffic at the pro level. The title game hurt him.

Great jig. I prefer the booyah A-Jig however. Vertical line tie and feel like the head design comes through algae/snot grass better.

Hard to go by review numbers. As mentioned above, there's been a TON of JM reels before the current iteration. I dont think they've changed the PQ model # in the 7 years or so Ive been paying attention (they did make the PQT, which I own and love but the regular PQ never changed). At one point they were changing from the Johnny Morris Signature to the elite to the Gold to the carbon black every year it seemed like.

Just work them back at a fairly quick pace jiggling the rod tip a bit. For working hair jigs and shad dart type baits, I like to tie them with a loop knot for more action. We would occasionally rig a double rig with one ahead of the other. Don't be surprised when you hook into one if a big striper comes up and grabs it!

What gear ratio is it out of curiosity? The Manager told me last year upon initial release the issue was mainly with the 7:1 models. I have a 6:3 and its great. he said he hadn't seen any of the 5:3 models with issues. (which Im sure theyve sold less of total FWIW)

RC 3.5 in any shade of white....Big fish Bait!

Actual Seaguar fluorocarbon leader material. The clarity/abrasion resistance/strength are awesome. Its also pretty cheap. There are tradeoffs to making fluorocarbon behave itself on a reel, the leader material doesn't have to make these concessions. If your looking to throw top waters also, I've used Yozuri Hybrid in 12lb test with good results.

You definitely want to handle it before you buy, I will say the one I ended up with isn't going anywhere. The light weight and ability to cast lighter lures are big pluses. Something also that doesn't get discussed is these reels have great drags, really smooth and strong. As someone who's spent a lot of time throwing walking baits my wrists appreciate the lightweight. It ain't no core, or 50E even but considering if you shop smart it can be had < $100 NIB its a great value.

Ive got a 98 withe same drivetrain with over 220K on it. It sits in the yard now as Ive upgraded, but I cant say enough about its durability. It comes out in the snow or going deep in the woods. Ive put 110K on it and all Ive done is brakes,ball joints, and a battery, thats it. They have their issues. Locks,window regulators, front ends tend to need upper/lower ball joints more often than most. One major plus is they made so many of them for so long all the junk yards are full of them, parts are readily available and cheap. They have a low resale value, so dont overpay. But their DANG good vehicles. Keep the oil changed and all fluids checked. Let it warm up before just jumping in it and driving. Dont dog it. My wife is all brake or gas, no in between. Its hard on a vehicle. Let off the gas when you know your turning. Keep it under 2500RPM's when accelerating (your mpg's will thank you)

Seriously...your not even bashing the right reel. The Gold carbonlites are amazing reels that are holding up very well. Theres a reason they have a cult following....COME ON MAN!!!

Awesome, thanks for the info its greatly appreciated!

Man, a thick 26" Va fish is a borderline DD. I bet that was intense on a flyrod! I have the oppurtunity to fish the private section of the dominion power warm water pool (schoolie size stripers are abundant). May give them a shot with the flyrod. Any suggestions on a line? Want to throw a mix of streamers/dry flies/poppers.

My idea is you holler at your boy and schedule another briery trip!

Thanks for the heads up. Do you have much experience presenting streamer type baits in current? Figure the smallies would like them

Thats great AJ! Never paid much attention to the mayfly hatch... I have a couple other insect scenarios in mind. 1. A lake I fish has one of the sickest dragonfly bites in late summer. Bass jumping out of the water by a foot and sometimes more everywhere, grabbing the things when they drop down to lay eggs. My solution has been slinging a weightless black Yamamoto Nories bug...Figure a dragonfly pattern would be a riot. 2. Late summer grasshopper bite. Alot of the ponds I frequent are killer on crickhoppers late in the year, bass,bluegill everything are eating them.