ww2farmer

For LMB, square bill crankbaits, overcast with light wind, wood cover. For SMB, drop shot, dead calm, 20+ fow, drop to marks on the graph.

Well up here ice out is a big factor. Then after ice out when things start to stabilize, and we get that one warm spell that gets dark bottom shallow area's water temps up to the low 50's, and , this is the key part, those water temps STAY in the 50's over night and are on gradual rise, it starts a big migration from there staging area. I call this early pre-spawn, because they move to these staging areas in late fall, and over winter there, at least in my lake.

What????? : Drugs are bad.

IMHO, if the rod is fine with the exception of the one guide. I would find a local rod builder/repair shop to put a new one on for you. It'll cost less than shipping it to Loomis.

6'9" ML/X-fast St Croix Mojo if you want a rod just to drop shot with, other wise the 6'8" M/XF Mojo it's more of an all purpose rod that will fish the drop shot just fine. Both are $100 If you want to spend less and still have a nice rod, my first drop shot rod was a 7' ML/Fast St Croix Triumph, that was $70, I upgraded that rod to an Avid, but the Triumph was more than adequate.

I like the Daiwa Exceler.

I used the Buckeye Flick-it's but they are too expensive. A buddy and I are making our own this year.

I have an 8E that I use for small ponds, creeks, and stuff. I haven't used it much since I bought my other boat 5 years ago, but when I used it alot one thing I did,which you say your going to do, is put the TM on the bow, makes manuvering in tight spots a whole lot better. One screw is all that holds the TM head on, on my MK Endura 30, take that out, turn the head 180, reinstall the screw............now you have a hand controlled bow mount. I am 300 lbs so I try to sit as close to the middle as I can, and with the battery in the back it balances out nice. I can reach the TM fine with out any extensions, but remember I have the 8E.

Spinning: St Croix Mojo 6'8" M/XF Casting: Abu Vendetta 7' M/Mod fast

Zoom finesse worms are a favorite of mine, drop shotting and shaky heading are how I fish them most of the time.

I only have one SM right at 6. Even on Erie my best is just a mid 5. No 5+ SMB from Conesus either. But I do have a 6-0, a 5-9, a 5-3 and a 5-2 from a place that dosen't have any SMB ;D :-X

Poor was the wrong choice of words...........but you guys got the jist of it.

Premiers are great rods, as are any SCII rod like the Mojo's and Triumphs. They are far and away better than most other high end rod companys entry level rods, and very affordable.

The Avid your asking about is a good dropshot rod, but a poor shaky head rod. If it were me, I would get a good multi-purpose spinning rod, and adapt drop shotting to it, rather than vice versa. I'd go with the 6'8 M/XF St Croix, while it's not the best DS'ing rod, it's a much better all purpose stick than the 6'9" ML/XF

Watch.............Skeet will finish 2nd in AOY points this year, but win the post season. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ;D ;D

This might be the winner in the "how old of a thread can I comment in" contest. 1-23-05 Almost 6 years to the date of the OP. :

GYCB/Kinami Zoom Netbait Reaction Innovations Berkley Strike King Roboworm Yum Jackall LFT BPS Usually a couple things from each brand, more from Zoom than any one, mostly small Gulp! from Berkley for DS'ing, Sweet Beavers are the only RI I have/use. BPS 3.5" Tender Tubes are about all I use from them.

Dude, go ahead. Many up here use them on their centrepin rods. in freezing temp, you just mash the ice out of them. That's their best application if you ask me. A little OT, but one of the funniest things I have ever seen involved recoil guides, sort of. I am at BPS in Auburn one day, looking and fondling some Loomis GLX's with recoils, a sales clerk comes over grabs a Loomis spinning rod off the rack and says "these recoils are great you can bend them and the won't......................SNAP!!!!" And he walks away embarassed. LOL He grabbed a non recoil guide rod to "show me" the flex of the recoils and with out batting an eye broke the stripper guide off a $300 rod. I almost passed out trying to hold my laughter in. Been back to BPS many times and have never seen that guy since.

Same here, Revo S or the Citica. Look around on e-bay you should be able to find new ones around $100. Out of the rest of your choices, the Daiwa Exceler is not bad reel, and it comes in three gear ratios which is rare for a sub-$100 reel. I am sure some one will be along to recomend the BPS Pro Quaifier too, many people here like it, but I don't have one so I can't comment.

I have a " Good" buddy who uses them. They are nothing special, actualy pretty cheap. But they are reliable for him. He pairs them up with 6'6" ML St Croix Premier spinning rods, and use's 8lb Vanish on them. I can't for sure say that he knows what he's doing though Ask J. Francho.

I don't find the hooks on Redeye Shads to be too offensive, unlike the rest of SK's crank line up I don't change them right out of the box (the KVD Square bills have decent hooks too). I fish the stock hooks till dull,bent, or I just feel they need to be changed, then I put Mustad KVD's on them. I just go with the stock size, #2's on 3/4oz, and #4's on the 1/2. I don't have a problem with them set up like that.

When fishing shallow clear water skipping a bait is much LESS............yes, LESS likely to spook fish, than a regular cast. Trust me. It's a great way to get the attention of bass that are just cruising around in shallow water with out spooking them, providing you stay far enough back to go undetected.

I fish as both a non-boater, and as a boater in open team tournaments. I will pay 1/2 the entry fee, and 1/2 the gas for both truck and the boat, and expect the same in return, my boat or yours. No more, no less. Winnings are split 50/50 as well. Paying for insurance, maint., etc............thats part of owning a boat, you shouldn't expect any financial help with that. I have helped my buddy with repairs, and winterizing by being an extra set of hands, and he has done the same for me, but no $$ is exchanged. Now if you bust something on my boat by being an idiot.............your going to pay for it, and I would do the same if it happened on your boat. All that above is obviously for tournament fishing, if we are out just having fun. I could care less, I was going fishing anyways, you want pitch in $20 for gas great.............I'll take it, if not no big deal. I always try to do something for a buddy when we use his boat to fun fish. Buy lunch, or a couple bucks for gas, even maybe just bring the cold drinks for the day. Being a total free loader isn't cool.

A 6'6" Med power, is an excellent choice. I also would make sure it's a fast action. A slower taper tends to load the rod a bit too much for my liking when I am working jerkbaits aggressively.