lmbfisherman

It looks like a New Ugly Stik is on the way at iCast, I've seen it on another site (TT) and they did a quick write up. It looks pretty sharp considering and has been updated to look more "modern". It supposedly is more sensitive than the last version.

Try it out is all I can say. I fish most of my setup with braid and leaders when it is necessary for all those applications you stated.

Can't say anything about the Pinnacle, but this is my 2nd Aetos rod. They both are sensitive and great rods, I have a 7'6" H/F casting rod that I just used to pitch just this last weekend. I have a Curado E7, balances pretty well not perfect, but it wasn't heavy and didn't feel like I was going to lose my arm or anything. I used the spinning rod sunday night for dropshotting and I'll say it's not much more noticeably sensitivite than an Elite Tech Smallmouth. I will have to fish them more side by side however to make a final judgement. Balances very well with my new Stradic 2500 FJ, I think you won't be disappointed. Ever since I bought my first Fenwick rod (Aetos) almost 3 months ago, I added 3 of them. (1 Aetos and 2 Elite Techs)

If it's a very pressured lake, then I say fish slow! No power fishing. Try weightless plastics, match it to the forage you see around the lake. One of the things I'd recommend use to drop shot to cover. Meaning if you see cover, basically pitch your bait using the drop shot method or if you want use a small jig will do. I find myself loving the drop shot after I learned how to fish it effectively the past 2 months. I usually use small soft plastics..4" worms straight or ribbon tail, creature bait or baitfish imitation like a Powerbait Minnow (one of my favorites) or regular fluke. Standard rules apply natural color in clear water. If not clear I'll go darker..this is in general though. Just try and throw things others aren't, for example this local pond I fish, I have never caught anything with a plastic worm (bass or pike). It is very pressured by worm and bobber guys, so when I changed from a worm to baitfish imitations and crayfish, my luck changed big time. Also it sounds like they liked your fluke, maybe you should down size to a super fluke in white pearl which is my favorite color.

He basically has everything I carry when I shore fish.

I usually tie my braid and floro line directly. I use a uni to uni knot. Others use a alberto knot I believe it's called. Either one works well, The drawback for a Uni to Uni is that it isn't very happy with micro guides. I haven't learned how to use the other knot yet, just more confident right now with uni to uni. You can use a swivel if you wish, I do use it when I am fishing a soft plastic jerkbait or Carolina rig..but I usually use mono on a C-Rig. I usually put on around 7-10 ft of leader for reties..etc. Benefits you get is well, you get the best of both worlds like other stated. For example I tie on a 6 or 8 lb floro leader on my 10 lb braid spinning drop shot setup. My line will be more abrasion resistant and my line will be near invisible, while I have the sensitivity of braid.

Yes that is a good deal and I still use one. Good all around reel and built to last.

At that price that is a good deal, hopefully you double checked guides and the build quality. I would've voted for the Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth (like the post above me), it is a very light rod and very sensitive. Just to keep that in mind for future reference. If you want 7', I just bought my first Fenwick Aetos spinning rod last week. I got a M/F rod. So far it is awesome, it is my splitshot rig, moderate cover drop shot rod and weightless worms. They are my fill in the blank rods and fished as much as my GLXs and Cumaras.

Thats great, my daughter has decided she doesn't like fishing anymore. Hopefully yours will continue on! (Even after catching 7 bass the last time on a drop shot rig.) I was sure that was going to spark her enthusiasm!

Yeah no kidding! I was eaten alive last night even during the rain.

Tough luck, I was out in the rain today...used a spinnerbait, crankbait, buzzbait and texas rigged worms. Nothing, I decided to put a drop shot where I know where fish usually are and slam. In a hour caught 6 before I just couldn't take anymore rain. All weren't very big, biggest was 2lbs. Also lost my drop shot rig on a big snapping turtle too. Thought I had a big one, realized it was turtle when I was bringing it in...the line snapped when the turtle notice me.

Man I'm going to have to get one! Smoooooooooooooooooooth! Can't wait! Hopefully I will have the cash to buy 2.

Chronarch is an awesome reel. Great choice!

So today I woke up at 5:45 am (45 minutes late), I had packed the vehicle up the night before thank goodness or I would've been later than I wanted to start on the water. I headed out the door at 6am and reached the local lake 15 minutes later. It took me another 30 minutes to set up my inflatable with a trolling motor. Of course should've known the day was going to be bad because I forgot to load up my fish finder. So I said heck with it doesn't matter, I know this lake fish it all the time. Go to my first spot on the lake, started off throwing a swimjig. I had one swipe at it near the boat. Looked to be about a 2lber, kept trying for another 20 casts or so..nothing. So I decided to try a buzzbait since all around I have been seeing activity (fish jumping, baitfish boiling). On my 2nd cast the buzzbait snapped off on the cast as I accidentally engaged my baitcaster. I was like what the, never have done that accidentally. Then I noticed the spooled mono line on it that I had put on it a few weeks ago looked brittle. Ah oh well it happens I shrug it off. So I grabbed my rod with a super fluke on it. About 40 casts and nothing hitting. Getting a little frustrated, I decided to troll down the shore line slowly as I casted toward the shore with a KVD 1.5 about my 3rd cast. SLAMMMM! I mean it was hit and the fish was on, as I was trying to keep the pressure on, noticed I was starting to be pulled around. VERY Excited at this point, as I kept trying to reel in slack as my boat kept getting pulled by this fish. Then I noticed up ahead..he was heading for cover (lots of trees and stump field. I was like OH NO gotta get him in, stop him. I just couldn't put enough pressure to keep it out of there and then snag...the fish wrapped me around a downed tree. I reeled and pulled myself close, trying to see if I could see where the line was, but couldn't as it was about 10ft of water down. Waited for 1 minute to see if it would come around, but nothing so I had to take the loss and snap it. (BTW Yo Zuri 12lb is pretty hefty took a lot of oomph for me to break it.) Very disappointed, I didn't get to see it so wasn't even sure it was a bass, all I know was..whatever it was big...I then noticed I didn't bring a back up crankbait! So I tied on a white and cht spinnerbait, 3rd cast just as it splashed down I caught a 2lber...which turned out to be my only fish. A few short strikes later on my spinnerbaits I noticed my trolling motor was starting to slow down. I'm like weird, I charged my battery 2 nights ago. So I had to call it quits and chug back in. It was just one of those "days" today, where everything went wrong. Just wasn't my day. However, what I learned today is...I need to be more prepared and not be lazy as I should've just brought my shorefishing boxes so I had backup. Oh I forgot to add, I was wacky rigging a BPS Stik-O and got 3 bites and each time my stik-o was gone. On the 2nd one I figured it was the O ring that it's too loose and the fish are just sucking in the baits off my O Ring (even though I also go through the top of the stik-o too), put on a new one..few minutes later bite number 3...same thing? Has that happen to you guys before? The 1st literally I saw the fish's head come out and took my bait, just about to set the hook....line went limp and my stik-o was gone.

Let me just add though, although I voted braid...in some I will put on a floro leader.

1. Learned to use the dropshot effectively. 2. Break my PB - 5 lb LMB New PB set Jun 21st, 2013, 4.4 lb Smallmouth Set Jun 23rd, 2013. Still outstanding is to learn to use a crankbait effectively.

Uni to Uni for line to line/leaders Standard knot - Trilene Knot for everything Palomar knot occassionally For line I use PP, but I'm starting to like Spider Thread, mostly use braid on all my lines. Use Red Label for leaders and some reels have P Line or Yo Zuri. I don't have any favorites yet, but in my experience so far both P Line and Yozuri seem to be on par.

No matter situation I always put on 8-10 feet. That way it gives me some extra line to retie. I will always put a new leader on when the line has knicks or my leader is getting to short.

I've caught bass using BPS brand stick-o, straight tail worms, trick worm imitations, soft plastic frogs, and jerk shads. They work, just like any other bait.

x2...also my biggest hit to date was on a spinnerbait..it was a pike at least 36" until my Trilene "Vanish" leader did it's professional act and lost this fish about 10ft out.

Yeah that is what I was afraid of, I just don't like the stiffness of the ratings by St. Croix. Not saying they are horrible, just stating not my preference. Some people like that and I don't have an issue with that. Went with the Cumara anyway. Thanks for the feedback though!

Hey Jezihogg they are on clearance in a local tackle shop up here in Ontario, Canada. Only 1 left...I decided to pass as the lure ratings was not in the range I was looking for, instead got the Cumara. Should've looked at that before posting.

So I was perusing and was about to pull a trigger on a Cumara M/F rod, but noticed a previous gen Legend Extreme on clearance (189.99) M/XF 6'10. I was wondering is it true like other St Croix rods, does it fish above it's rated power? It didn't seem that bad compared to the Avid M/F I saw there too...So I was curious if this would be worth nabbing? I was a little disappointed in my Avids about how the power was stiffer than I liked. Sold off my MH/F ones and kept my M/F for jerkbait and topwater, don't get me wrong they were sensitive and well built, but my preference is like a Fenwick/Shimano/Loomis rod and think their power ratings to be more true. Anyway, if someone could give me feedback it would be appreciated.

As soon as I read that part, I knew already. It isn't floro that is the problem, Vanish is HORRIBLE. Don't buy Stren either, get one of the lines the guys have suggested above.

To be honest, in that price range for flipping/pitching I'd stay with the Veritas. My Compre 7'6" H/F is heavy and would wear you down if you spent hours flipping and pitching. It's a fine frogging rod though. If I were you, I'd save up for a previous Gen Cumara 7'4" or 7'7" if you want to go Shimano. You can buy one for around 160, of course that is if you can find one! I passed on one though and went with a Fenwick Aetos 7'6" H/XF which was 139.99 and was light (comparable to Cumara, sensitivity it's good not "Cumara" sensitive, but very close )...balanced well with my reel. I was sold, not to mention I liked the looks of them. PS - Or maybe look at a Crucial..I haven't tested one, but my Crucial MH/XF 7'2" Jig and Worm series is lighter, but the issue is it would cost around 160 range too, hence why I said Previous Gen Cumara. Same price range.