lmbfisherman

Vinny Chase, American Fishing Legacy has the Symetre FJ on sale for 59.99, that help your decision?

This is what I do too, I own that BPS Extreme Qualifier tackle bag too...I found that too big to carry around for shore fishing. I usually only take that when I go in my canoe or boat. To expand on that, I have 4 lanyards that I use. Each lanyard has my hook remover, clipper, scissors and knife so I don't "lose them". They get held in place in the netting pocket in the very front, the lanyard ensures during my walk on the shoreline that I don't lose them. Two of those lanyards has a clip that I can remove from the main lanyard (Scissors and hook remover) when I need to remove it from the bag. The only drawback using a standard backpack is that I don't have much room for a lot of my tackle, but it forces me to pick and choose what I carry.

Since I already own a FJ, maybe I'll just grab a CI4 to see how it feels. Question, have you used the ci4 on your Fenwick ET? How did it balance if you did?

I haven't seen a big bass do it either, of course here in Ontario 3lb bass is considered pretty big. So I don't get to see monsters jump too much, the biggest jump I've seen was a bass that was probably around 2lbs try to take my frog. Instead he totally "missed" and cleared right over it, had to be about 2 feet max, of course he had shoot out from heavy cover too, so it did have obstacles to get through. So I'm sure they all can jump high when they want to, when they aren't lazy. lol

Thanks for all the input guys, still a tough decision though.

I guess the best way to get choose is how well they will balance on my Fenwick ET Smallmouth. It will be a 2500 reel size I know that.

Problem is I live in Canada, so I don't get free shipping. lol This is the best we get up here.

x2 this is the rod I use for jerkbaits (hardbaits)

So it begins, it looks like the Ci4 are starting to make the rounds of selling off. My birthday is coming up and one of the local big box chains is having a sale. I can get a Ci4 for 169.99, however they are also having a 15% off sale and I can get a FJ for 158. I was leaning towards the FJ, but I always wanted to buy one...at this price is the CI4 a better buy vs the FJ? Edit: I was wrong it is 164.99 for the CI4.

I was in the same boat as you for a whole season in 2012, ok maybe not a whole season. I tried senko and other knock offs and I never caught a thing. So, this year I was determined to catch fish with it. It is the only thing I brought with me and forced myself to fish it, finally broke my streak. I caught a ton of bass, of course they were all 1-2 lbs. Still, nothing beats gaining confidence in a technique by catching and not "fishing". Maybe do the same and don't give up?

x2 agree with this.

I would also add - Bass Pro Shops Carbonlite and Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth. All great rods for the money.

The other thing I would recommend though, especially in a boat is to get a 7'+ rod. That extra length will give you a better hook setting power, especially if you are regularly fishing deep water 15+ on a boat. That is the only optimal issue I see. It's preference and optimal, it isn't "required" if you don't want to go any longer.

Buzzbaits man, I use a black one and a white/chart one...I am fishing this in a same type of lake as you are (Near Parry Sound Ontario). They are usually in the 10-20 feet, lots of rock, boulders, shoals and humps. There are sandflats man made for the cottage owners. If they are short striking my buzzbait, I place a trailer hook on it.

They could be fishing the hot spots where the fish are and you aren't? Meaning they are targeting the prime spots and you're being left in the dust. Honestly though it could be a lot of different things, your presentation...what jig you're using, colors, etc...

I would go with the X Fast tip, and yes I believe that thread rockchalk was referring to was a pretty good recommendation. My jig and worm rods - All my GLXs have a XF tip, my favorite Cumara has a XF tip and my DS/All purpose plastics (Crucial/Fenwick) all XF. Honestly, I think it's a preference thing and you can go either. Heck some people even use a moderate fast tip.

At least with 50 lb braid + you can sometimes bring the stump, tree limb..etc out or straighten the hook out with a snag.

I just buy the Gamakatsu Weedless wacky, I guess why I worry is that I use Mustad Demon Circle hooks for my DS. It is my favorite, hook up rate is very high. I guess that is where my concern lies, the circle hook to me would think if you waited too long it would get down there good. (Only once did I have an issue with a gut hook, because I had to fix my birdsnest and didn't realize a fish was taking my bait) I probably will stick with what I'm doing, however if I run out of hooks on a trip I will have to keep it in mind knowing it won't be an issue.

Hrm thanks for the info, but it would seem to me that it would gut hook them if you had to wait a little longer.

Congrats and way to go on placing 13th! Thanks for the write up, sure will help me out when I start out.

I peg usually in heavy cover like others state, I will usually use the 1 pc hook/weight tackle, you can get them at BPS. Works very well, saves time tying on a traditional ewg/bullet weight, I will use a bobber stop if I have to go 1oz or higher.

Wacky rigging a circle hook, I'd worry about gut hooks. Why I never done it.

Family outings are the best, looks like it was an awesome day. I took out my daughter today at a local pond. She was trying an inline spinner and had no luck, after about 40 mins of not catching anything I asked her if she wanted to learn how to drop shot. Since it is one of the more "simpler" finesse techniques. On her first cast, fish on..caught another a few casts later and after that she was hooked. The next hour she caught 7 1-2lb bass and she loved it. She wants to go again. Loved watching her get excited!

I have that same Fenwick Elite Tech Rod M/F - awesome all around rod, which can be found for around 100. So he did give you a recommendation within your budget. Also, you can find the Gen1 Cumaras for around 150.

In all seriousness though, that is pretty vague...wayyyy too many variables to help you out.