PourMyOwn

I do the same with my Cabelas card. I haven't paid cash for a rod or reel since 05. Everything but the car payment and mortgage go on that card, points pile up fast.

We don't have those up here, sadly. I can sympathize with the OP, the Hooksett BPS is not that great.

Up north right now I'd throw a spinnerbait in shallower water, these fish are moving up and feeding.

I think that if you can wait until the end of the season there will be deals, and you can get both.

I'd hate to consider the line twist of a spinning reel with 14lb mono. That being said, on Lake Erie we flipped Roboworms on 12lb Trilene on spinning equipment. When I got back to NH I reeled it from my spinning reel onto an empty baitcaster.

Rat L Trap is a great bait, as is the inline spinner. I'd have to agree with the grub. I caught more bass on a "Mister Twister" before the age of 13 than anything else, including a few 4+ while fishing for perch and crappies. I've also caught fish throwing a big Mogambo 6'' grub like a buzzbait. I should use them more than I do.

These days I just look at the bargain bin for stuff to melt down-usually a color that I like. If I'm buying new the GY stuff is great, and I love Mann's Auger tails. All of my other staples I pour, so I have a lifetime supply.

And that's why everyone needs life insurance!

I've seen this a few times in NH, fishing deep clear lakes for smallmouth. I'm sure they came in via another fisherman, but nobody will ever know. Very little evidence of small bass, but a few nice ones.

Until I started using fluorocarbon, I used Silver Thread on everything but my frog rod. It has less stretch than mono and I think it casts/handles great. Btw, I fish in really clear water.

I'm ok with it. I keep any bass that is bleeding to the point that I doubt it will survive. The only thing that really grinds my gears is boat ramp/lake etiquette.

It's funny, I have a few kicking around my "surplus" equipment. PM me your address and I'll ship them out to you. I'm up here in NH, probably won't take long to get to southern NE.

They're amazing on a shaky head for smallies, too. I snagged a bunch of 100 count bags in the 1990s, I'll never run out!

I love the Mann's Auger tail. Those thinner worms come through the grass really well, plus-who else really throws them?

Caught a bunch in February through the ice, but that's probably not the spirit of this thread...Rapala HJ 10 on 6lb Seaguar fluorocarbon, there was still a little ice on the north end of the pond where the sun didn't hit yet.

I would have spent more on the rod, less on the reel. I have 10-12 "combos", most of which are approaching 15 years old (had a ton of disposable income in my early 20s). It's all high quality Fenwicks, Falcons, early Johnny Morris and Team Daiwa reels. I take great care of my stuff, every year I maintain my reels, all that sorta thing. As it stands now, I only buy rods and reels with BPS/Cabela's credit card points. Last year I picked up an Abu Garcia Silver Max reel-I know, not exactly a tournament pro quality-but it's a nicer reel to fish with than my 1990s $200 dollar reels. I figure it will last until I want another one, then my nephew gets it. Point being, all of my sweet reels that cost me a ton of money are obsolete, but the rods are not.

http://www.fishusa.com/product/Reef-Runner-Cicada-Lures?utm_source=google_ps&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_ps&gclid=CjwKEAjw1riwBRD61db6xtWTvTESJACoQ04Q_ZDrhzpWav7Y-ItL5D9Jsdxkj92lCgkPBLD8FjTSNxoCOQvw_wcB These Cicadas on a spinning rod have saved many a trip for me. I catch perch through the ice jigging them too.

I've also found that heavier line makes a difference. If you must use mono, 17 is the best I've found. You don't want a ton of stretch, you'll have issues driving the hook in with lighter lines. I use braid during the summer, then go back to fluorocarbon or Silver Thread once the grass starts to die, usually this time of year. I superglue my knots to the hook, just to keep it at the right angle, too.

Arkansas shiner is my favorite color for Zooms. I prefer the Bass Assassins, I like the plastic better-it's heavier and softer. I started making my own about 10 years ago trying to get some that floated, some that would sink. Overall, I think all the brands do a nice job on these, the hook is the most important factor to me.