Viper0463

Here are the reels I use on a consistent basis. Shimano stradic ci4+ 2500 and 3000 Shimano saros 2500 Diawa lexa 2500 I like all of them and they have all been put through some serious torture. They all have at some point been on my steelhead rods and had several caught. I personally don't like quantum and my cousin was a factory rep for them and I still won't use them as I have no faith in them from several bad experiences. I have no experience with pflueger. The 4 reels I use are all still smooth and work great with little to no maintenance.

If it's a new reel and it didn't get really wet then I would return it because it should be smooth. If it got real wet then it's probably the large rubber ring under the rotor that is the problem. I had a symmetry that got soaked during a rain storm and got stiff. After some Internet searching I decided to change that ring out with a new one and I haven't had a problem with that reel since.

Between these rods, what would you all recommend for a topwater rod, spooks and poppers. I'm only going to list power, action and, material. No brands and I would really appreciate it if we could stay away from any brand specific comments. If you have another set of specs you think I should think about list them. These are casting rods. Thanks everyone. 6'10" medium 1/4-3/4oz, mod-fast, glass composite 7' medium heavy 3/8-1oz, mod fast, glass composite 6'8" medium heavy 1/4-3/4 oz, extra fast, graphite 7' medium heavy 1/4-3/4oz, extra fast, graphite

I forgot to mention okuma has a few different rods in various price ranges that are worth a look.

For salmon and steelhead i use a 9' or 10', 2 or 3 power rod. They're actually to light of a power for salmon but it's what I use. If I were to purchase a new one I would purchase a 8'6" to 9', 5 power. I would also use a 3000 or 4000 size spinning reel. As far as spawn sacs I never use them for salmon I find that spoons, 1/4 oz super spots and, hot-n-tots work best for them. I keep my eggs for winter steelhead. Oh I almost for got I would also recommend braid in 15# or 20# with a fluorocarbon leader anywhere between 12# and 20#. When I started fishing for salmon and steelhead years ago I used a 7' berkley cherrywood rod and quickly realized I needed more specific setups for the species. Yes I caught some fish but it was a pain and when I stepped up to a 9' wild river I was amazed at how much easier it was to control the bait as well as the fish when I hooked them.

I use a few different rods for salmon and steelhead. For float fishing the creeks I use a10' light power or 2 power, moderate action spinning rod with a 3000 series reel spooled up with 12# nanofil hi-vis. For tossing spinners and 1/3 oz spoons and 1/4 oz cranks I use a 9' ml power or 3 power moderate fast action spinning rod with a 2500 series reel spooled up with 10# suffix 832. I use a fluorocarbon leader on both setups from 2# to 10# depending on what the situation and fish call for. Now that I've told you about my main setups let me say this about your question, I have used the big game rods and would not recommend It for anything other than cat and carp. If you want a suggestion for a rod take a look at the fish eagle series or 6 rivers series for a sub 100 dollar rod if you want to spend more take a real close look at the new e6x series and the avid series. I have not used the e6x but a friend just bought one and loves it I have a avid that is great. If you want to get a little crazy like I did you can always have a custom made with a north fork composite blank, the 2 I have are awesome but very expensive and totally unnecessary unless you just really want one like I'd did.

Inline spinners are one of my favorite lures to use. I completely disagree that they are a beginner lure. There's definitely a few was to use them that are very easy and then some that are not. If you fish in a river you can drift fish with them, bumping it off the bottom or keep it just above the bottom and feel for the soft strike, not a beginner technique. Inline spinners will produce fish in any water type and just about everything will at some point chase them, I'm not saying it will always catch fish but, there is nowhere I personally wouldn't try one.

I like the original slug go 6" and the perfect plastic magnum shad.

You forgot hook size

I'm relatively new to bass fishing but, I feel color is important. I base my color selection on water type and time of day and cloud cover. Now with steelhead fishing color is almost as important as location. I know there's a huge difference between the 2 types of fish but, maybe that is why i feel color is important. i have already found that using the same type of lure in 1 color may produce fish in the morning and then turn cold and a color change more often than not will bring back the bite for me. Thats my thoughts on the subject.

I'll order some and just guinea pig them myself. I've tried a ton of these type of baits recently and I like some and others not at all. I'm just a little leary about all these little bait companies. Everything deserves a try I guess. I ordered a few hardbaits recently from a company I've never heard of and I actually was very happy with them so I guess my point is, I personally can't judge any bait by its price or company name. I've only just recently started any kind of serious fishing for bass and I'm trying a bunch of new things and technics with some success and some without. I'm a steelhead creek fisherman. I will say that bass fishing seems easier to me and a lot more family oriented for me and my family.

No it's not spam but thanks for being rude about it. I can see already it may have been a bad idea to join this site and ask about something. I've asked one question and received a pm about it being spam and now you saying it's spam. I guess if you haven't been here for a year or so you just shouldn't ask about anything. So thanks for showing me what this is all about. I'll just go back to lurking and not posting. I see that I won't get help here. Yes I'm over reacting and no I don't care what anyone thinks. If someone can't join to ask a question then close the site down to new members or make it so they can only respond to topic that has already been started.

Hey all I just joined up. I've been lurking for about 6 months and decided it was time to join up so I could get a few questions answered and maybe help some others. I'm actually more of a steelhead creek fishermen but lately I've been hitting the local ponds for bass and having a lot of fun with that. I'm a dj at a local club and a brand new father to a beautiful baby girl. Being a dj gives me a little more time to be at home or out fishing than most people I know. I've been experimenting with a lot of new to me lures this year. This is my first year using stick baits and hard jerkbaits. Bass fishing is fun but my passion is creek steelhead. I find that it bass fishing in the ponds locally is easier for my girlfriend to come out and fish with me and we can even bring the baby to most places, that isn't the case with creek fishing. Anyways there's a little on me and why I joined up.

I ran across this small company last night called Castin sticks. Has anyone ever used their worms? How did they work for you? What other stick bait would you compare them to, in term of action and softness as well as sink rate? Thanks in advance.