WhiteRockFisherman

My current spinnerbait rod is a 6'6" All Star Classic Graphite Series spinnerbait-specific rod, rated as H but is really MH. I love this rod for throwing 1/2 oz. spinnerbaits, but it's hard to get much distance when trying to throw a 1/4 oz. spinnerbait. It seems like most of the lower-end rod manufacturers (including All Star) are now making their new spinnerbait-specific rods M rather than MH, and I think a 7' M is probably better for throwing 1/4 oz. and 3/8 oz. spinnerbaits. I have been eyeing that All Star Micro spinnerbait rod for some time now. I have purchased their "Big Crankin' Stick" and their "Flippin'" rods and they are both excellent rods.

I've noticed that the vast majority of soft plastic craw imitators sink rather quickly. The YUM F2 Craw Papi (my fav), however, floats, which slows down the fall. Just another factor to consider when choosing a craw/creature.

I should have clarified on my previous post, "Search the INTERNET for 'bass fishin line guide'", not the forums.

Search for "bass fishin line guide" and you'll find a good, comprehensive and easy-to-understand resource that will help get you started. As always, though, that guide is only one fisherman's opinion, not a the end-all, be-all to fishing lines. Personally, I liked using braids when I first started bass fishing about two years ago because the increased sensitivity made it easier for me to detect strikes. Now that I have caught lots of fish on braid, I prefer to use fluorocarbon because I think that the increased invisibility makes bites more likely, and my eyes, hands and brain have now learned what different bites feel like, so I feel confident ditching the braid on several techniques. Still, I often like using braid main line with a fluoro or mono leader when I really want that increased sensitivity.

7' MHF BPS Graphite Series rod with an Abu Garcia Silver Max reel (6.4:1) and 30# SpiderWire Stealth Braid (although I'm thinking about respooling with 17# BPS Flourocarbon).

I have two inshore rods (both 6'6" MH) that I use for freshwater bass fishing. They seem to be generally less expensive than freshwater rods with similar power and lure ratings. Also, I like the stainless steel line guides because they won't crack like the aluminum oxide guides that come on most freshwater rods, although the stainless steel is likely more prone to getting scratched/scraped and causing line abrasion.

Well, I went out to my spot yesterday afternoon and again this morning to try the same test on 17# BPS fluorocarbon, but the wind has been consistently blowing at 13+ mph, so I'll have to wait for another time. Unless something really magical happens, this will be my one and only purchase of Real Magic. I may give KVD L&L conditioner a try on a future setup.....maybe.

I used braid for the first time, and although I absolutely love it, I noticed a considerable reduction in my casting distance, which appears to be happending because the line digs into itself on the reel (like velcro lightly sticking to the line still on the reel). I had read lots of testimonials about line conditioner, but I was very skeptical. I figured if I was going to spend $8, I should make sure it works before making the same mistake twice. So I took my reel, braid, and a 1/2 ounce spinnerbait out at a bank on a lake where I regularly fish, and tried to hit my target. I gave it every ounce of stregnth I could, but each time I fell about two feet short of my target on the other side of the cove. I tried this again with the same reel, line and lure on three different rods of varying sizes and stiffness. I tried casting high, low, and every angle in betwee, and each time with the same result: I always hit about 2 feet short of my target. Then I sprayed about 3 to 4 pumps on Real Magic on the braid and let it sit for 12 hours as I had read online. I went back to the same spot the next morning, and the exact same this happened; fell about 2 feet short of my target. So I went back home, tied the line to a post, pulled all of the line out, and sprayed about 15 pumps on the spool as I reeled the line back in. I went back to the same spot, and same result. This stuff may work well for mono, and possibly flouro, but it does absolutely nothing for braid in terms of improved casting distance. I'm going to try the same thing with some 17# flouro I just put on a line and see if there is any difference. I'll post on update with the results.