fishballer06

More than likely the direction change is causing the bite. During your retrieve, try raising your rod tip up from time to time. That could cause a bite from those fish that are following it into the boat.

Anything imprinted or painted on the bill?

It's not just your body of water, or state. Fish (in general) are tough to catch during the hot summer days all over the world. Not saying it can't be done, but it is much tougher. Fish are like people. When it gets hot and sunny out, they seek cover and try to stay cool. Some may go deeper, some may sit under the pads.

I've always been a lake fishing guy, but I recently started fishing a local river to me that is predominately loaded with smallmouth. This time of year, I really enjoy fishing topwater right before dark. However, with the current of the river, my jitterbugs, poppers, spooks, etc. get carried down stream quickly and I end up having to reel them upstream once they drift down past me, and thus making my casts pretty much a waste. Because of this, I need something that covers a lot of water quickly, and doesn't get carried down stream by the time I work it in. This is where a buzzbait comes in. I've always had good luck on largemouth in lakes with buzzbaits, but I've never caught any smallies on a buzzbait in lakes that have them. So my question for you guys is, do smallmouth hit on buzzbaits? I only ask because I don't think I've ever caught a smallie on a buzzbait, and a buzzbait seems like it could be effective on this new body of water I'm fishing. I just don't want to waste my time throwing something that won't be effective.

Great catches. A 17" fish that weighed under 2 pounds?! That's very odd.

I've been throwing topwater in the early morning and at dusk.

That would make for a nice weigh in at any tourney. Way to go.

Most important thing you can teach her is to fillet and cook a fish My girlfriend always wants to come fishing, but she has the attention span of about 5 casts, and then she's putting her rod down and reading a book. Good luck to you, and hopefully you have better luck than I have.

I've tried the camo colored Suffix 832. If the water has any clarity to it at all, it sticks out like a sore thumb. I prefer the standard "moss green" type color.

7 foot, MH, fast action. Basically every rod manufacturer makes this rod, it's just a matter of what you want to spend.

I've got a couple and I've been having really good success on them this season. I like that they're a slightly longer profile than Heddon, and that they come stock with better hooks. Work them just the same and let the magic happen.

I'm guessing the rod is a moderate action? If so, I have the same rod. Excellent crankbait rod.

Shimano Chronarch 201e5. Retails for $200 and is a much better reel than a PQ.

Best all around rod type? 7 foot. MH power. Fast action. Brandwise, you really can't go wrong in that price range. Fenwick HMG, St. Croix Premier or Avid, Shimano Crucial, Diawa Tatula.

Yup, I would have had a Shad Rap or a DT on.

All I can think about is that Alan Jackson song... Confirmed - it's a Bowfish

That's all up to you. If you still want to keep using them, or if you would rather just replace them with something. Or if some of them were a cheaper reel to begin with, you might have more money in getting them professionally serviced than what they ever even cost you. I can tell you that the Bantam Curado's will last forever with routine maintenance.

Might have to do with length or power. It's hard to make any rod over 7' not be tip heavy, espeically if its a heavy action. My 6'10" MH with a Chronarch ci4 seems to feel great in the hands.

A heavy action rod should have no problem pulling a 3-5 pound bass around.

I got the 6'10" MHF split grip casting rod and used it this weekend for a weekend trip. I absolutely love this rod. Easily my new favorite rod. I love the new cork handles. The reel seat and trigger is very comfortable and palms well. It's nice & light, sensitivity is great, and has a good backbone to it. I had no problem lifting 3 pounders over the side of the boat. It throws lures of all weights really well, from weightless Senko's to Zara Spooks. My particular rod would be good for anyone looking for a good worm/jig, medium-big crankbait, jerkbait, topwater, spinner/buzz bait rod. I highly recommend it. I'm sure I'll be picking up a 7'3" for myself eventually.

I honestly fish for a large variety of fish. I enjoy bass fishing because they're probably one of the easier sport fish to try to catch/locate. I also really enjoy catching walleye because of the challenge they are to locate/catch. I've also recently gotten into musky fishing, thanks to a good friend. In the spring, I love catching big crappies in the sunken tree tops. And in most of the waters that I fish, pike come along with fishing for bass and walleye, so I catch those a lot too.

I agree with him. The fact of the matter is; your spool can spin forever if you want it to, but in reality, gravity pulls down on everything at the same rate, no matter what.

I would consider braided line to be much more versatile than mono line. Hands down.

My first baitcaster was a Shimano Curado Bantam, whenever I was about your son's age. I'm 26 now and I still keep that reel in the boat.