michael68w

A falcon cara Amistad rod, Diawa Tatula, the new G.loomis IMX 852S spinning rod, stradic ci4 3000 were the big things but I've also bought several packages of tubes, grubs, and jigs.

I've used both but if I had to pick I'd go with red label. To me it's one of the best performance per dollar fluoro lines. If you had the extra cash I'd point you to INVIZX or Berkeley 100%

I just bought the new loomis IMX 852s for my tube jigs and grubs and I'm very happy with it. It's my first IMX so I can't compare it to the old but I can compare it to the Bronzeback series and for the extra cash it's worth it. The new finish looks great and mine came with no imperfections, the handle is very comfortable for me but some people may find it small. Over all I'm very pleased with it and haven't found anything I don't like.

i wade more often then not and my choice of rod is normally no shorter then 6'8 with most of my setups being 6'10-7'0 all spinning with 6-10lb line.

16.75inch smallie. Setup was a 7'1 G.loomis 852s IMX W/ shimano stradic 3000fa. I was using the ol poorboys 3.5 tube with mark zona jig head and #8 yozuri hybrid soft.

I bought the new IMX 852s spinning rod for tube jigs and grubs. It's a beauty. The X Fast loomis action is incredible. I really like the look and finish. The handle is very comfortable though it seems small and I don't have big hands but it's not a complaint. I don't have the old IMX to compare it to but it's a great rod. This is actually my first Loomis all my other rods are St.Croix but I'm very impressed with this Loomis and highly recommend it

I have three lexa's 2 in 2500 and 1 2000. I highly recommend them especially for the price point. They aren't the lightest but the one of the smoothest and well built reels in that price range. You can frequently find the new on that one auction site for under most everyone's retail price.

I used the mojo wacky style for wacky rigs and shakey heads and it did great with both of those. Didn't use it for drop shot but I'm sure you could get away it just fine. The carbon lite isn't a bad rod and can be had on sale for 79.99 often.

I like both! I use owners more then VMC but if budget is an issue then VMC will do you just fine.

I've bought a few micro guide rods both casting and spinning and I can't tell a difference with sensitivity or casting distance. Not to say they don't work I just can't tell. I could def see the weight savings with micro guides but I feel there's much more to a rod being sensitive then micro guides. I'd say just give both a try and decide from there.

Well if budget isn't an issue I highly recommend the new G.Loomis IMX852s. That's what I have paired with my Stradic and it's a great combo. Oh and if you're looking for something a little cheaper I'd also recommend the St.Croix Avid.

G.loomis SMR882s would be a good option. I drag tubes with an IMX852s which is a couple inches shorter then what you want(7'1) but it works well. The SMR882s is from their Bronzeback rods and is 7'4 medium/fast 1/8-3/8 #8-12 test

I use #8 yozuri hybrid soft on my Stradic 3000FA and I've enjoyed it. I mostly throw 1/4oz jigs, tube jigs, grubs etc and have zero complaints. As far as size of the line I'd say that's more dependent on the types of cover you maybe fishing. Seems like a lot of guys will use 14-17lb for most moderate to light cover jig and worm(if it's a baitcaster) and a lot of guys use braids for thick grasses etc. #8 is my only experience with yozuri hybrid but I enjoy it.

My current setup for tube jigs and grubs is a Stradic ci4 3000 on a Loomis IMX852s(7'1 medium/xfast)

I bought and fished a duckett for awhile. I thought it was OK but didn't really wow me. I had an issue with the guides being weak. I eventually sold it and probably won't buy another. It's not that it was a terrible rod but I've fished better in the same price range. I had also heard of many breakages and warranty issues.

I'd say no to the GL2. The avid is great for money. I know this is said a lot but loomis tends to shine in the IMX range an up though I've used there Bronzeback rods and enjoyed them. I haven't used the mossyback rods so I can't comment but I do have 2 avids and 1 IMX and love them both.

Nothing really caught my eye this year besides the refreshed Loomis IMX which BPS didn't have when I went last Thursday. I did however leave the store with a Shimano Stradic CI4!

I always have lucky dragging a tube jig (I like poor boys 3.5 inch tube the best) or swimming a 5inch grub. I stick to really basic natural colors(pumpkin pepper, dark melon with purple,blue or copper flake, most variations of green pumpkin)

I have the 6'8 XF mojo, the 7'0 F mojo, and the 7'0 veritas all medium power fast or xfast. In my opinion ST.Croix makes a better rod all the way around. Not to mention the warranty service by ST.Croix is great. I feel the mojo is worth every bit of the 20 dollars over the veritas. It's not that the veritas is a bad rod I just don't feel it's as sensitive. Now I haven't used any of them for jerk baits but I have for wacky rig and they all work well. I'd say go ST.Croix and don't look back!

I haven't used much of their hard baits but I do like their tender tubes as well as some of their worms. I haven't had any issues with how they are molded. They have a good color selection and the value is great.

I haven't used z man baits but more then likely the others fall to the side due to the salt content. I know that zoom has a line of finesse worm that's molded without salt and they float well. I've never had issues with them when I'm using them on a spot remover head.

I use a couple spinning rods from 6'8-7 foot I length all fast or extra fast. My tubes I fish on my 7 foot medium fast st.croix premier or mojo(which ever one I feel like using for the day) both those have diawa lexa 2500s. I use my 6'8 st.croix legend tourney for the same exact things lol all of them have the same reel. It's basically what ever I feel like using for the day. The fenwick elite tech smallmouth rods are pretty nice for the price. I also use a st.croix avid 7ft med light fast tapper. All those rods perform really well I've even used the avid medium light for tube jigs without a hitch though I do recommend you use a medium but with st.croix their medium lights are pretty similar in power to a lot of other manufactures mediums. The bps carbon lite fits nicely into your price range and is a lot of rod for the dollar but I'll admit I don't think they are as nice as st.croix. At the top end of your price range I'd take a look at the shimano crucial rods as well that's a hard warranty to beat.

A new st.croix mojo 7ft Med fast spinning rod and a quantum pt smoke and a bulk back of mizmo small jaw tubes in knappy blue!

Hey I have no expierence on the river you're talking about but I fish some very similar streams here in missouri. All the streams I fish are very clear spring fed streams. I use three different baits pretty heavily: 1. 4-5inch curl tail grub in green pumpkin or avocado. I normally throw it on a 1/8-3/16oz ball head jig and swim it back. You can vary your retrieve until you find what they like. When there's a lot of swift current or you want to fish deeper you can step up to 1/4oz. I used a 7 foot medium fast tapper spinning rod with 8lb fluro. 2. 3-3.5 tube on a 1/4oz tube jig in any darker brown or greens (brown melon, pumpkin, green pumpkin, etc I like tubes that have copper, purple,blue or green flake) I slowly drag these along the bottom and just hope it every now and then. The tube bite is light and you often won't feel it most of the time the line just feels heavy. I use the same rod and line as the grub. 3. 3/16-1/4oz football jig with craw trailer (brown purple flash, green pumpkin blue, any variation of those has worked for me) work it similar to the tube. Medium rod should work fine but I normally use 10lb for my jigs. Another bait work mentioning is inline spinners like mepps,silver fox etc.

The last two seasons I've tried two new methods for when I fish for smallmouth and now I absolutely swear by them. I used both methods with some degree of success before but I never really focused on them until recently now both tube dragging and football jigging are my main methods. On the flip side I've fished senko style baits many times and while I do catch some fish I'm not blown away by it performance I'd say it catches as good as anything else (I know MANY people will say other wise lol) in the end the conditions play more a factor not only in the bait style but presentation as well I'm sure as I continue to try senkos and my confidence in the bait goes up the fish will come.