David P

I have lived in apartments for the better part of 5 years now, and on my second boat currently. I've had the same dilemma. I have stored it at girlfriends' houses, buddies houses, mom's house (40 minutes away, was a PAIN!), but ULTIMATELY the best and most convenient has been keeping it at a marina of choice on the body of water I prefer to fish the most. Not sure if you have marinas with boat storage or not, but it's quite convenient. The other option is a storage unit not by the water. They can be cheaper than you'd think if you do your research... Some guys rent out property in their backyard for storage of boats (and you can buy a nice tent type cover that goes above it for $100-$150 from walmart. Some key questions to ask though when considering a place like this... Do they have 24 hour access to get your boat at ungodly hours that us fisherman need to get our boats... Is there an electric hook up to charge your batteries after fishing? Is it covered or in the open? Initial monthly storage MIGHT be cheaper at a place off the water, but consider this... Most marinas when you store your boat their, do not charge you a launch fee (most places out here charge $10 per launch, that's easily $40+ a month if you fish once or twice a week). Gas to tow your boat from a regular storage place to the lake can become costly. Hope this helps a bit. Having been through it all, I understand the pains and hassle... But if you love fishing enough, ultimately go with the MOST convenient.

Simplest and best explanation. Go as fast as you personally like. Lot of guys deep crank with HIGH speed reels, others think it's too much "work" and get fatigued. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT... fish what feels best for you. Can you use high speed for everything? Hell yes.

If storage wasn't an issue would have done it long ago!

30+ Large Plano and Falcon boxes full? 6 Cardboard boxes just for bags of plastics? They've all got a use some time, some place.

The issue is not just affecting the action of the lure, but also the hooks can tangle up together if they're too big, and cause a lot of missed fish and pointless casts. I believe Gamakatsu Size 3 is the biggest you can go without fouling the two front hooks up, BUT there is also a shorter shank gamakatsu Size 2 that fits and they're quite stout, roughly a 2x hook. I have yet to bend one out, although I don't have anything except big bass in my lakes.

Have you tried a jig? Awesome BIG FISH bait and much smaller profile, might help you still target those bigger fish but also help with hook up ratio. Hope you get it figured out, missing bites ain't much fun!

Night + Cold front, I'd look more towards Jigs, big curly tail worms.. Works well for largemouth, haven't done much River Smallie fishing so can't help ya out specifically.

Maybe they're just not eating that large of a worm. Have you downsized to a 7" or 10" power worm? 2,3,4lb fish can certainly EAT a 12" worm, but could be eating half the bait, just the tail, who knows. Sounds like something's got to change whether it be color, or size.

If using braid a typical 20 or 2500 size reel is fine, if using fluorocarbon, a 30 or 3500 size reel is quite nice as it helps tame some of those fluorocarbon negative characteristics.

The leader is not your issue, fluorocarbon doesn't stretch much, and braid doesn't stretch at all. Your MH rod if truly a MH should be plenty. Eagle Claw hooks are not one of the better hooks and could be an issue...Are you leaving the hook point half way inside of the bait? Or pulling it through the top then lightly skin hooking it on the back? Go to a large oversized worm hook... Owner makes an oversize worm hook in 7/0 and 11/0 , I'd try the 7/0.

Certainly a finesse rod... Senkos, yes by all means, but jigs up to a 1/2oz IMO is pushing it. Senkos weigh a good bit, but (at least for me) fishing Senkos wacky rigged, at least the hook is exposed. Fishing a jig, especially deep, the rod comes a bit short for hook setting power, especially with most jig hooks being quite stout. I fish both jigs and senkos on my 743 casting and love it, but I only go up to 3/8oz MAX for jigs on that rod, and mostly 1/4oz. It would be a great shaky head, drop shot, senko rod with 8lb fluorocarbon and a nice light weight finesse bait casting reel.

Ripbaits - 10-12lb Fluorocarbon Topwater - Braid BUT if you must use the same combo, mono is really the best and only solution IMO. 10 and 12lb mono can pull some pretty big bass out of pretty heavy weeds. I have pulled 6-8lb bass out of some heavy weeds with 6lb fluorocarbon, not to say it's ideal, but 10-12lb is STRONG stuff, weeds or not.

You don't even have to send in the full rod, you just need to send in a specific small section of the rod, costs just a few dollars to mail the section, then they send you a new one. ALSO KEEP IN MIND, that $60 hassle free is if it is YOUR fault... If the rod TRULY breaks and it's a faulty rod, the $60 hassle free may not be needed. You can opt to send the full rod to have it looked at, and if determined to be a faulty rod and not your own personal fault, then they will go another route to help you out.

Dobyns 744 or 745DX Extreme rod in that price range. Great all around rod for bottom contact baits like Jigs, T-Rigs, C-Rigs.

If specifically throwing the larger sized 25ft+ cranks that are now gaining popularity, the 806CB is definitely the rod. I throw them on my 805CB but it becomes a workout. 805CB for everything else in that 18-22ft range, it's absolutely amazing.

Frog rod, longer is always a nice advantage, plus if it's even close to handling that weight range, it's a pretty d**n versatile rod.

Never too fast.. My Revo Rockets are 9.0:1 and wish even they'd be slightly faster. Flipping, Pitching, Jig fishing, Senkos, Poppers, Spooks, Buzzbaits, Frogs, the list goes ON. 7.5 is not all that fast. What is the IPT (Inches Per Turn) on the reel you're considering?

Revo S definitely. Can find some pretty good deals on lightly used ones for under $100 too.

Shocked no one has mentioned Gamma fluorocarbon, stuff is absolutely incredible. I have used only Sunline Sniper and Gamma for a long while now, both are great, although doubtful they sell either at your local shops...

If you're fishing your jigs along rocky bottoms, I would highly advice using a leader material... Rocks and braid don't mix well... Depending on your setup, jig weight, and cover, I would suggest 12-20lb fluorocarbon leader.

I started in similar fashion with BPS Rods, the Bionic Blade and Extremes, and slowly made my way up. Every $50-$100 price jump the rods kept getting noticeably better and better. It got to the point where fishing a sub $100 rod just felt unenjoyable and frustrating and all I wanted was that $350+ rod in my hands. I swore when I got my first expensive rod, that would be it, but years later, I've made the switch to all higher end rods. It's an addiction for many.. BE CAREFUL!

If you like the 736 but find it a tad bit heavy, could look into the 765DX, or the 745DX which is a bit lighter in power than the 765. Really depends how you're fishing a jig (deep/shallow, what cover, how heavy line, how heavy of a jig, etc).

If you haven't ordered a rod yet... The Extreme series for bottom contact baits is a very nice step up, and in my opinion a must. I don't want to wonder what else I could be feeling, or what I'm missing, if you can afford it, or save up for another month then afford it, you won't regret it. IF YOU CANT afford it... Why not a 734 Champion? If you like the 7'4 5 Power Extreme, the 734 Champion is not a bad compromise. Some things to consider... The 745DX isn't a "true" 5 power rod like a 765 Flipping Stick, and it's even a bit lighter in power than the 735 Champion.. The 784ML Jig Rod also, is light in the tip... The 744DX and 745DX have a bit stiffer of a tip than the 784ML, BUT the added length is an advantage with casting distance and moving line on the hookset (I like this rod the best for dragging stuff .. football jigs, c-rigs, football heads with grubs, etc..) The 745DX I use for the same football jigs and such, but I also use it to cast jigs and use it for shallower jig fishing (docks or pitching to specific spots). If you're on a budget and really liked the 745DX, I'd go 734 Champion (great ALL around rod, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, spooks, buzzbaits, etc). If you can afford it and you really liked it, the 744 and 745 are GREAT rods, slightly more power than the 784ML. Ultimately comes down to personal preference, and exactly what you plan to use it for. Personally seeing you want it for 1/4oz an 3/8oz jigs, the 744 DX is probably the way to go, or even the 784ML (my rod of choice for dragging 1/4oz and 3/8oz football jigs). The 744 though is a better ALL around rod, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, etc if you want. Depending on budget and YOUR specific desire, sounds like 734 or 744 depending on what you want to spend.

Not sure where you fish or what type of cover you fish with a frog, but my nod would go to the 766 Savvy if you're fishing heavy cover with it... I like the added length as well as the added backbone.

7'4 Medium Fast Tip