FishTank

Sometimes it pays to be a nice guy. Congrats

Here is a couple of ideas. 1) Shimano Stradic 2500 ($120) and an Avid AC66MLF (~ $60 w/discount)= $180 2)St. Croix Avid Series AS2000 Spinning reel ($44 w/discount) and a Legend Elite ES66MLF ($120 w/discount)= $166. I have not fished St. Croix reels but I have talked to a few who have and they really like them. If it were me, the rod comes first and reel second. One things for sure, I am jealous of the discount you can get. You're very lucky.

For anything lighter than a 5in Senko I use spinning gear but I have had great success with a Shimano Calcutta 251, a G. Loomis BCR803 and 14lb Gamma. This combo works great for Senkos, Yum Dingers, Fat Ikas, etc. The only thing bad about using a baitcaster for weightless plastic, is when a Senko or whatever breaks, flies off and leaves you with the mother of all backlashes. For finesse fishing I like my Quantum Energy PTi-a 20 spinning reel,a St. Croix Avid 6' ML and 6lb P-Line Floroclear. I hit a nice 4+lb small mouth today on this set up with a Zoom Finesse worm and a Tru-Tungsten Weed Wacker jig head.

Out of the ones you picked I like the Moonassault CB-001 in Ghost Minnow. I have caught several fish on this lure this year. I always tie it on when I'm out. You also might look at the CB-50. It too has been a killer.

I have been trying to follow this discusion since I tend to fish GYCB most of the time and no I have not tried *** yet but I will soon. I have been able to get Senkos and sometimes Fat Ikas for $3.20 a pack. At that price I can't turn them down. I could fish anything I want with in a $3.00 to $4.00 price and still be, IMHO, affordable. I choose to fish the Senkos just because they work. I have yet to find their equal, only imatations. So when I do the math that's .32 cents a piece.

I have two Pti 20 and have never had a problem with either of them. So far they have been perfect. I think ReelMech, as usual, has some solid advice. I hope you find one that works out for you.

Went to BPS today and picked a couple 1000 yard spools of hybrid in 6lb and 10lb for $4.88. Great line at an amazing price. I usually pay $7.00+ for 275 yards.

You might try P-Line Floroclear 15lb or Gamma 14lb.

I won one of these on ebay today for about $12.00 with shipping. It looked liked a jerkbait and a prop bait put together. Has anyone used one of these? Good bait or did I get dud? I could not find anything on the net about this lure. Any info would be great. Also, I just missed out on a Megabass Scream-X for $23. I would have been a collectors item for me. I have seen one of these in action and it is unique bait but the one I saw cost the owner about $60. He did catch several fish but I can't imagine tossing a $60 lure. I did win another auction for a Vision 110 for about the same price as the Lap Stick. These will be my first Megabass lures so I'm kind of excited.

I have two Avid spinning rods, 6'6'' M and a 6' ML and both are fantastic rods. I would highly recommend the Avid series over the Premier.

If your budget is around $200, you might take a look at the Shimano Sustain 2500FD. Awesome reel. http://www.***.com/descpageRLSSHIMANO-SSSR.html

I keep mine in the original packages. I place them on key chain rings with a package of silica gel.

Just bored and wanted to hear everyones opinions. For me, I like the Flat Mini MR in Chartreuse Shad.

I am not much for their equipment and hard baits but I do like their soft plastic, Trilene XL/XT and BigGame. My favorite Berkley product currently is the Sabertail Bug. The big ones just seem to love this bait.

I have a G. Loomis BCR803 GLX with the recoil guides and only one have one complaint. I don't care for braid with them. They tend to make a loud whistling noise. Other than that there fine. As far as the Johnny Morris rod, I have the Signature series from last year. It is a good rod for the money, not great. It has some of the finest parts available but it is not a sensitive as I would like. Finally, I purchased a St. Croix Avid 7' MH last year and did not care for the hump in the middle. After fishing all day, my hands were cramped so I returned it and picked up another Loomis. I do like St. Croix rods. I have two Avid spinning rods and they're fantastic. Bottom line, if you don't mind the hump in the middle I would go for the Avid. It just has a better blank. If you want to save a few bucks get the BPS rod.

I usually use them close to shore or around rocks. I use either a 1/4 oz black or pumpkin with a Zoom finesse worm. I like the Luck "E" Finesse Football Jig from BPS. The spring on the front holds the bait in place.

I have been using these for about a week now and I am not overlly impressed. I have caught a few fish but nothing outstanding. The Rapala DT's and my favorite LC's have done better. Maybe if my confidence improves I will have better luck. It's still too early to give them a thumbs down. I hope I can find a technique that will get more fish in the boat with these lures. The fish I have caught have been soft strikes on a short pause.

The kreature is one my favorite baits as well. I have had good luck T-Rigging it and using a stand up type jig like a spot remover or a football head.

I got some of these marine worms from a buddy in Florida many years ago. They are the meanest and nastiest live bait I have ever used. I only had a dozen and they were gone in about an hour. I caught a fish on everyone I had. The thing is, I have never seen them since. I was surprised to find them on the interenet.

I had a Shimano Sahara 750 for little over a year and it was a great reel until I hooked a 40lb catfish on it. I was not about to let that monster go so I reeled it and destroyed that reel in the process but I did get it in. I found the 750 to be alot of fun for bass. It was smooth reel and a great value for the money. For bass, IMHO, it would be fine but nothing bigger.

Dick's finally got the new Shad X-Rap in. The baitmonkey got me and I picked up 5 of them. They look amazing. I hope they work as well as they look. I'll be trying them first thing in the morning. I'll let you guys know how they work out.

I know Eastern is a Christian college but I'd say forget the fishing and go out partying ;D. But if I had to pick, I would go with #1. It looks like you might get some good action along the banks.

I was fishing off a pier in Tampa just before sun up when I thought I got caught in some weeds. I pulled my rig in and attached to the other end of it looked like a big pile of moss so I reached out to take it off and before my fishing buddy could stop me, I put my hand around a scorpion fish. I thought my hand was on fire. The owner of the pier gave some kind of heavy duty solution to rub on it but by then it didn't matter my hand had gone numb. I still have some nerve damage in my hand but it has for some strange reason become more sensitive so I guess it was a bonus in the end.

I was looking for a rod at the beginning of the year for the same purposes that you have listed and with the forums advice I ended up with a G. Loomis MBR844C IMX. This rod has proven to be the best general purpose rod I own. I have yet to find a lure or bait I can't cast with it (1/4oz or more) and the hooking setting power for a topwater frog is awesome.

I have tried Berkley Transition and Seaguar Carbon Pro and both of them were the worst lines I had ever used. I have been reading about Seaguar Invisx and Gamma and I think I will give it one more try but if I have no success, they will be the last fluorocarbons I'll try. As far as the ones I have used, both of them broke easily, not strength was OK, and both had more memory than any other line I have tried. The memory was so bad on the Carbon Pro that it cut my casting distance in half; you could actually hear the line hit the guides when you cast. One other thing, they both streched like a Slinky on a hook set. I am starting to think, if it ain't broke don't fix it.