Logan S

I like MH/H power and regular/mod-fast taper rods slightly longer than 7' with flouro. I like both glass and graphite rods that fit those specs, but currently using graphite. I've used just about all the rod types, but this is what I've landed on as the best for my fishing. Not to contradict pros or other experts out there, but I notice a difference in how the bait actually fishes on different rod styles to be the big reason for my preference. I'm primarily fishing bladed jigs in shallow water with heavy grass, so the big key is ripping it out of the grass - And I've found that the MH/Regular (or mod-fast) rods do this the best. It's tough to explain, but it sort of lets the bait load up a bit and then accelerate away as it pops free as opposed to just more direct stop and go that you seem to get with a MH/F jig rod. For me it's about getting bites, I think I get more because of how the bait acts on my preferred rod style. I'm aware that's a pretty nuanced take and people might think I'm full of it or over analyzing...But whatever, it's what I've found to work for me over the course many years experimenting and many many many bass caught on bladed jigs with all rod types, it's a primary technique on many of my home waters for long stretches of the season - So I have plenty of time 'in the workshop' with it. YMMV depending on where and how you fish I'm sure .

You always upgrade electronics and in a few years the 'better' electronics will be starting to age anyway. Can't upgrade a hull. My advice is always get the biggest you can afford and store. Like many here have said already too.

What it usually looks like...I typically don't pack every single rod and piece of tackle into the boat, but it would all fit if I wanted to .

I don't own any of the P5's but based on my experience with other MB rods, I'd say the Cyclone would probably be the most universal medium power in the P5 lineup. But it's probably not a huge difference between all three....The ZCrank will likely be skewed more toward crankbaits and the P5 110 Stick will be skewed more toward jerkbaits and poppers - With the Cyclone being the middle of all of it.

Disclaimer, I don't own the rod....But I think it'd be underpowered for 'normal' jig fishing with 3/8 or 1/2 oz jigs. I'm sure it will handle finesse jigs and the Dark Sleeper swimbaits very well, but when you talk about pitching to beaver huts with 3/8 or 1/2 jig I'm thinking at least an F5 and more likely an F6 (sticking with MB powers). FWIW, my jig/texas preferences with MB rod powers are as follows: F5 = 3/8 jigs (up to 1/2 if lightwire/openwater). 1/4 for texas weight size. F6 = 3/8 to 5/8 jig. Up to 3/4 max for texas weight size. F7 = Up to 1oz jigs and 1oz texas weight size.

Shallow water anchors will be spot lock 100% of the time in water shallow enough for them to hold....But they are useless in water that is deeper than than their effective holding depth. If you're picking one or the other, the amount of time you spend in shallow enough water should be an easy guide on which to get. Note that the effective range is about 1.5' less than the SWA's rating...IE with 8' poles the deepest I expect to get a solid anchor is about 6.5'. If it's dead slick calm they will hold closer to their max rating, but those conditions are rare. The bonus to shallow water anchors is the convenience they provide when docking, launching, loading, etc...

I think the rule is that there is no rule .

You can use a full 5 hooks in VA. In MD we're limited to 2...But you can still use 5 arms, just put dummies on 3 of them.

I haven't done it...But there's been many times on certain lakes where boat traffic churns up shorelines mid-day and I find active fish there. Makes sense.

I generally only make my own skirts for black/green since no companies offer that retail...But I use 2 tabs of black and 1 tab of green. 2 to 1 Seems to be the appropriate ratio to me (the one on the right I trimmed the inside strands out for a slimmer profile...was just a pic I had on hand).

'Unwritten rules' and 'moral compass' are the same thing IMO...Or at least the same concept. In all sports there are lots of things that are technically not against any formal rules, but are considered poor form - Thus going against an 'unwritten rule'. So how do you know? You generally don't when you're starting out, but keeping an open mind and being observant are how you learn. It's hard to quantify unwritten rules and moral compasses, but in reality most people know whether they're in the right or in the wrong. The original post isn't really hard to interpret IMO...The 'stump guy' was already being given courtesy for getting there first but now that he's "taken thousands" (shouldn't it say 'won'?), people don't want to be courteous anymore. Putting the specific spot details and the 9 acres aside for a second, if he was being given courtesy before why should it change just because he's been successful? As for what's too close and what's a community hole...Also hard to quantify since it can be situational and different on different bodies of water...But it's another case of "you know it when you see it".

For everyone saying that 9 acres is too big for 1 boat to 'claim', you're absolutely right...But I think the issue is that access is limited, so while it's a large area, it's not like a huge grassbed where boats can just pile in as a community hole. If it's really just 1 boat path through and the rest is inaccessible, it's not really 9 acres of fishable water...Just the sliver on either side of the boat path and 'half the perimeter'. I have no idea what lake this is or whats the spot's really like though, so just guessing based on the OP. I think if you really want to fish it and he beats you there, the answer is to hold back a bit and fish behind him at a distance. He may not like that, but it falls within the 'unwritten rules' as acceptable.

A boat race is sometimes a part of fishing tournaments. Two wrongs don't make a right. Those are my initial thoughts on this specific situation. I really hate the term or phrase "I'll give him/you this spot (or area or amount of space)"...I've heard it many times and it's even been said to me on the water. It's as if the person saying is doing you a favor by not crowding you or stealing your stuff, despite you being there first. Fishing pressure is another big part of tournament fishing. I can't tell you how many times I've made a run to a spot only to find a boat already on it - You say a curse under your breathe (to vent) and move on to another spot. Having said all that - There is a difference between a spot and a community hole. 9 acres sounds big enough to be a community hole, though the limited access might change that. It sounds like you know what the 'right' answer is.

The world record largemouth (Kurita's fish) was caught on a Deps Sidewinder rod with a Shimano Antares DC7 and 25lb Toaray flourocarbon. Probably close to $1000 retail value at the time. The world record spotted bass caught recently by Cody Meyer was on a high end Daiwa rod with a Daiwa Exist spinning reel and he located the bass on his electronics and was able to drop right on it to catch it. in another 10 to 30 years this gear will be considered outdated too...Time goes on and equipment evolves.

Haven't had a XXX, but recently got to handle one that a buddy has...It was very nice. I'd like to grab one eventually but not really in need of any new rods with those specs right now so I'll probably wait to find a deal on a used one.

Rather than type it out, here's a screenshot of my tackle sheet...I'm not coming out of the rabbit hole . This is all what I personally find them to excel at. Primary/Secondary means the rod is very good at it, Other means it's good enough, but probably better suited to a dedicated rod if you use that technique a lot. In terms of better options, I'm sure there are - All depends on budget and personal preferences...You can probably see one instance where I do prefer another brand though...The lone Daiwa . I've found the XX series to be one of the best price/performance values in higher end gear which is why I have so many of them. (In case anyone wonders...I keep this sheet mainly as an offseason boredom project, but it does help me decide to get or not get rods sometimes - Easy to see holes in the lineup this way)

Pretty much the same as the Potomac - Bladed jigs, spinnerbait, shallow crank, etc...Depends on what you like I guess. You can also cover a lot of water flipping/pitching by doing it while moving around instead of picking apart an area to death. No problem...Yes that's true, but pretty much everywhere is better in spring and early summer than they are in August.

It's a custom/homemade based on a slider-spider head.

This rod with this bait is on my deck close to 100% of the time...It doesn't mean that I fish with it the most, but its always ready to go. If I'm struggling for a bite, this will go into action to solve that problem .

They are similar in ways and different in others ... The tidal stuff obviously and the shallow cover fishing (mostly grass) are where they're similar....You can fish the Bay without re-rigging your Potomac stuff. On the Bay you can target fish in deeper water (more than 6') more often. Smallmouth are also more of an option on the Bay, there are small windows during the year where you can catch really nice smallmouth. It's still dominated by largemouth, but smallies play a much bigger part than they do on the Potomac. The Bay also fishes smaller than the Potomac in general...There's a ton of water up there for sure, but there are less of the major tributaries that make up a huge percentage of the fishing area on the Potomac. The Bay is also a little more hazardous in terms of navigation overall, so make sure you pay attention to where you're going (especially in the Susky). Starting out, attacking it with the same mindset as the Potomac will get you going in the right direction and once you get some time on the Bay you'll start to tailor your approach to it's nuances.

In the long run, I'd put money on the same people being successful in a no-electronics trail....From Pro level down to local level. And you don't need four Solix 15's or HDS 16's in order to use electronics successfully. Even very basic units have Side Imaging now for affordable prices (relative to the tournament world, where we're assuming the person already has boat/truck/tackle/etc). The top of the line units are nice, but a person that devotes time to learning electronics can be deadly effective with the budget models too. Using electronics is a developed skill like any other. If you did take them away it probably wouldn't be long before the same people start to complain about shallow water anchors or mapping or boat/motor size or practice time or or or or....

@Delaware Valley Tackle Thanks! Following your advice I removed it carefully in a few minutes. I'll clean it up a bit eventually but I'm just happy to have it off! Thanks again for the fast and accurate advice .

Hope to get some advice from the experts. I purchased this Megabass rod used and the previous owner had a hook keeper installed by a rod builder. I hate the location of it, it's always getting the line caught on it....I just want to remove it. Is this something I can do myself without ruining the rod? I've searched and seen people saying gently heat up the epoxy and I should be able to unwrap it...Any truth to that? I don't want to replace it, I just want it gone....It would be nice if the original MB lettering was once again visible too so I don't want to just clip it off and leave the threads/epoxy. Pic of the hook keeper for reference. Thanks!

Skeeter ZX250 / Yamaho SHO 250 Atlas Hydraulic 12" - Dealer installed Any future boat I'd get will have one too, though I plan to keep my current rig for a while . My home waters have the 2 biggest reasons to have a hydraulic plate - lots of very shallow water and lots of rough water. Being able to lift or drop the motor on the fly makes life much easier....Particularly dropping the motor in rough water, acts like a completely different boat and takes waves very well.

I can't believe it went unnoticed through practice and Day 1 launch...Especially since those guys have to drive past a tournament official during launch for livewell checks. The FLW tournament staff definitely should have caught it beforehand, but it doesn't excuse the violation. I think the rule makes sense personally, not sure why so many are upset about it....But even so, it's been on the books for almost 10 years now. I feel bad for him, but at same time...It's not like a hidden or interpretive rule.