Cgrinder

Elite jig. Blue bug skirt. Blue brush head. Wire tied.

Shimano still has an October release coming. It may be cool. If you're looking for something new and interesting, Daiwa's Tatula is looking to be a pretty good reel.

I got a rubber-netting one from Dick's for like $40 and I believe it extends to six feet. Plenty big for bass. I would get the biggest one you can keep around, really. Here in Pike Country, nets save fingers, line, and lures!

Nice fish!

I use one-piece rods so my friends can't cast the top half into the lake.

If we can bump it up to $160, Shimano Crucial.

I have a 7'1" MH *** Black and it's been very good to me. The reel seat takes a little getting used to and some people (I am one of them) have trouble casting it one-handed. The rod balances very, very well. I have had Pro Q's, various Shimano reels, and a Smoke on it and they were all feelin' pretty good. It's sensitive enough in my hands, but I use it for frogs and stuff that doesn't require sensitivity. To me personally, it feels better than Veritas, Mojo's, and Carbonlites. I don't believe a Falcon Bucco would be "better", but it certainly can be "as good", especially in the hands of a novice fisherman (not that I'm calling anyone a novice). Falcons are also made in the USA if that matters. I am of course waiting for the other shoe to drop and the *** rod to explode on me one day. ***'s are certainly Flavor of the Year, but they're at least somewhat deserving of the praise they get. At the end of the day though, it's still a $100 rod. It won't perform any miracles.

733C

I would say ML.

They should be fine. You might want ML for finesse, but it kinda depends on what you do for "finesse".

Could be worth a shot. Chart/black back is very popular with squarebills.

Pike are part of the reason that I do not fish spinnerbaits. I know a guy who feeds 2-3 Booyah spinnerbaits/week to the Pike.

Are you prepared for the Shimano v. Pflueger slugfest that you're about to spark? We've been awful civil recently. I think we're due.

Yep, not a fan. Then again, I like Cumara A grips, so what do I know?

It's been unseasonably warm for the last three days. Skunk city until I got one on a frog today. Spro popper, natural green. When it was windy, overcast, and cooler on Sunday, I was getting assaulted on a Sammy 100 in crack blue. Two solid 3's and an angry pike. My Fall strategy is a combination of Shallow Shad Raps and walking baits. However, it's not quite Fall yet.

As soon as I find a trailer that works, the pike will eat mine and I'll order more.

I'm still a fan of the *** at that price point. $100 is also a good price range for used rods. You can certainly find Avids for $100, especially with the season winding down. Veritas is a fine rod but you can certainly do better.

Fits pretty nicely on a 1000 spinning reel.

I guess that's not a bad idea but I'd still want to have swimjigs and something else that moves, like a fluke or popper maybe. If he's talking about clear, still, pressured water, then it makes more sense.

I'm in favor. Braided line on a glass rod is also pretty cool. I'm testing and liking it.

I'm waiting on the type R. It's only $50 more, which puts it at the reasonable price point of $200. Then we can have a fair shoot-out.

Champs are going $150 with shipping on the bay.

Yeah it's more of a visual bait. The trailer puts off a little vibration but nothing like a spinner or trap. That said, there aren't rules with bass fishing. They are more like guidelines. The clear and still water bass will tell you what they want.

Clear and still says swim jig to me.

I prefer Mepps but I do have a couple 3/8 oz Roosters that see water once in a while.