ww2farmer

Yup

I use 20lb braid on multiple casting setups,but never without backing. So you might want to take it off, put some backing on, and then put it back on. But, as I said, I use it on multiple casting set ups (as well as 30 + 50 lb braid) and have no issues. My jerkbait/topwater rod is one of them.

Pike fishing (as well as walleye) is CLOSED IN NY STATE in most waters from March 15th till the first Sat. in May......and by CLOSED it means you are not even supposed to target them. Bass fishing, however, is open during this period for C&R only, artifical lures only. Just go "bass fishing" you'll catch plenty of pike on "accident".

The Berkley Havoc stuff works pretty good, and is easy on the wallet.

Berkley Havoc "the jerk ".

Same stuff I use the rest of the year. In fact, this is one of the times of the year where they don't seem to be too picky.

Well since you kind of hold the rod by the reel seat.....IMHO, no sense in forcing yourself to like it. If you hate it now, your probably always going to hate it, and since the thing you hate is always in your hand your going to be constantly reminded of it. I have gotten rid of rods because I didn't like the reel seat, so it's not just you.

Most of the time I frog with a 7'mh veritas, gen3 revo stx, and 30lb braid. If I am in the really thick stuff, I use a 7'6" H vendetta, gen1 revo stx, and 50lb braid. I also have thrown the smaller jr. size frogs often on a 7'M abu Vendetta with a curado 51e, and 20lb braid. For frogs, I like the booyah pad crashers, and the SK KVD sexy frogs for hollow body types, and zoom horny toads for the other kind.

I have nine casting combos, and four spinning combos total. Usually they are all on the boat at once. But sometimes I remove a few if I don't think I will need them for a while.

I seem to catch less of everything, including the toothies when I use one. So I don't. It's probably all in my head, and just a confidence thing, but hey... Someone has to keep the crankbait companies in business, might as well be me.

I have both Veritas's and vendettas... Flip a coin.

I do not like the same rod (in general) for both. I prefer something less than 7' with a F or XF action for jerkbaits, and a 7' Mod. action for squarebills. The only exception is if the grass has gotten thick and grabby, then I will use a F action with the squarebills.

I am not a chatterbait expert, but I have fished them enough. They come through grass good without a weedguard.................wood however....not so much.

I am sorry to hear this. I do not have any words of wisdom for you, because I am going through the same thing with my granfather. He had a stroke in Nov. of 2012, and since then he has not been the same.

I almost always go with out a rattle, unless I think I need one. And even then I only use one to make me feel better. It probably dosen't matter.

If were going to be honest here..............if it was two adult strangers. I am calling the cops first, then I would attempt to get the dude to stop by yelling/shouting/etc....... You never know what the heck is going on, and it's best not to risk your own well being.

Stay local.

Even though I preach black/blue and green/brown as the only jig colors you "need" ....I, like most fisherman like pretty colors, and have/use PB&J jigs often, I always liked green pumpkin w/purple flake on them. And whatever you do, don't use junebug....

What he said. I use 10lb braid (2lb mono dia.) on my spinning gear, and I think it takes like 45,000 yards of it to fill a spool..............backing of any kind is your friend here.

I will share this from my perspective. My last deep cranking rod was a $250 St Croix Legend Tournament 7'10" "Magnum cranker"....My current deep cranking rod is a 7'6" Abu Garcia Veritas Winch. I have not lost any feel, I now have a lighter, less tip heavy rod. Does that mean the St Croix was not "worth" the $250?? No....it was priced fair. Why do I think that? Let me lay it out for you. #1 The St Croix comes with the better warranty...........life-time vs. 3 years on the Abu..................that's not "free", it's built into the cost of the rod. #2 The St Croix is built in the USA with higher labor costs vs. China and low labor on the Abu..........some people want to pay for that, some don't. #3 The St Croix is built with top shelf, brand name components, vs. Abu which uses in- house sourced, or "no-name" components.... and #4 the St Croix name itself is worth a few extra bucks and they know it, and charge accordingly. With all that said, you might be asking yourself why I wouldn't have kept the St Croix. The simple answer is because .............I was bored with it......

Another Red Eye Shad fan here. I also like the Storm Rockin Shad.

Humans that respect each other, and the water...I don't come across them too often. Couple times a season at best.

A little bit of everything.

I fish shaky heads probably 80% of the time on spinning, 20% on casting Wacky rigging and drop shotting 50/50 casting/spinning..........IDK why, just because.

Sure.............if that's what is on, if not...........thanks for donating. There are a couple of guys around here who do nothing but jig fish, 3 tournaments out of the ten they fish they do well, they tank the other 7, yet refuse to do anything else. Same goes for the senko slingers.