Steveo-1969

X2. This is my t-rig "go to" plastic for river smallmouth right now. I rig it on a 2/0 EWG hook.

Why not try it? I don't know if you'll catch anything, but you're guaranteed NOT to catch anything if you DON'T go! :-)

My PB (6-7 pounds) was caught on a 10.5" Zoom Ol' Monster worm in Red Bug color.

What a fish! Congrats on your new PB!!!

I will probably be in the minority here but I will never buy another President. It sounded like a great reel when I bought it - $60, 10 bearings, lightweight. It only lasted 3 months before the bail broke (about 200 hours of fishing). And it sounded and felt "grindy" right out of the box. I can't speak for other Pflueger models though.

Or as they are called here in West By God, your son caught a "Goggle Eye".

Count me in! Ever ytime I fish I think I should really throw a bait with treble hooks, then I grab a jig or a t-rig.

BuckMaxx - you are exactly where I was 4 years ago. I saw a Carrot Stick in a tackle shop with a $100 price tag and thought "There's no way I would spend $100 on a fishing rod! My Ugly Stik works just fine!". And I caught fish with it. But fast forward to 4 years later, I just spent $430 on a Loomis GLX. I justified it because it's used for bottom contact presentations and this rod is in my hands 95% of the time with where and how I fish. Other posters have already mentioned how much more sensitive a high-end rod is and being able to feel everything, and it's 100% true. So for me, my only regret is I didn't buy this rod years ago.

I put mine on a Loomis GLX rod. I get goosebumps just thinking about how much fun it is to fish with...

I totally agree! I bought one two months ago and love it! Long distance casts, smooth drag and light as a feather. If someone had told me a year ago I was going to spend $230 on a spinning reel I would have told them they were crazy. Now? Money well spent...

I use Sufix 832 on my casting and spinning rods and really like it.

I've found that a jig head with a Berkley Gulp minnow will catch everything. They come in various sizes from 1" up to 4". Jig weight will depend on depth of the water and wind, the deeper you are fishing and the windier it is - the heavier the jig. For color, start with water clarity. Clearer water = more natural colors. Stained water = brighter colors. But don't be afraid the change it up and let the fish tell you what color they want.

I sharpen until it bites into my thumbnail.

Thanks Sir Snook. I am fishing jigs and get lots of them back by snapping the line, but once in a while it doesn't work. I don't mind losing the jig, but like the OP I hoped I could get my leader back every time when I broke it off. I'll have to check out the Alberto, don't know if I want to give up my Abrazx though... :-)

Thanks michang5. The braid I'm using is 10# Sufix 832. I've tried 3 different fluoros all 8# for leaders: Seaguar Invizx, Red Label and now Abrazx. When I'm snagged on the bottom and have to break off I pull the rod straight back until the line breaks and half the time it breaks just below the uni-to-uni knot on all three fluoros. My initial leader length is about 3', I wonder if I need to make it longer? Shorter?

I have the same problem that the OP described. I use 10# braid and 8# FC leader on a spinning rod. Fishing a very rocky snaggy river bottom and when I get hung up and have to break off, the FC breaks just below the line/leader knot about half the time instead of at the lure. And I have to tie a new leader on. I'm using a uni-to-uni knot. I'm usually fishing 6 feet of water or less and I've been told "if I'm not snagging I'm not bragging"! I don't think modifying my presentation to NOT get snagged is the answer. I use a Trilene knot at the lure end. I've just decided that breaking off the whole leader is part of the deal... (sigh)

How could anyone hate on Bill Dance? That's just plain un-American!!!!!

The Rapala scissors work great for cutting all types of line and are only about $4. But I don't think they come with a holster to attach to your belt.

I've never seen or heard of this technique to go through the gills to remove the hook. I'm not going to say I'm excited to use it (because I hope I don't have to), but I'm going to give it a try if I have one throat-hooked. I've always cut the line and left the hook in the fish. And wondered if I slowly killed it. Thanks for the post!

X2!!!!!!!!!

I've been using 8# Abrazx as leader material tied to 10# braid on my spinning rod for the last couple months fishing jigs in a river with a really snaggy rock bottom. I've been impressed with the abrasion resistance compared to the Invisx I was using before. Great line choice and a 200 yard spool will last me all year long.

As others have said, the most important thing is the length you are comfortable with. I prefer longer rods myself, my spinning rods are 6'10" and 7'. My main consideration for length was based on wade fishing. I get longer casts and IMO better hooksets with the longer rods.

You'll be very happy with the ML rod. I've used a ML spinning rod for the past year and those 12" bronze backs we have feel like monsters!