Bazoo

I started by getting the Berkley Cherrywood spinning rod from walmart. It might just be an interim or it might be the end. The only thing I don't really like about it is that it's 7' - I prefer a 6'6". It was less than $30 with tax, so my expectations aren't super high. My major concern is that I've seen some bad reviews of Cherrywoods breaking/mechanical failure. But also some reviews were folks used them for many years. The Cherrywood is rated 1/8-3/4oz while the Lightning is rated 1/4-5/8oz. It feels softer in the tip, and while it's rated just 'Medium', the same as my Lightning rod, it is a bit lighter overall. We shall see how it casts and how it holds up. I'm still on the search for a breakdwon casting rod. They didn't have any Cherrywood casting rods in the store, and for that matter, the only breakdown casting rod they had was an Ozark trail and it wasn't suitable. First, it was M/H, but thats just personal preference. The guides were quite tall, as tall as a spinning rod's guides. And the overall quality just looked poor.

Thanks. I like the look of that Lews. It's a consideration. If I can't find one to handle before purchase though, I probably won't risk it.

I looked at Walmart this evening. They have a Berkley Cherrywood breakdown spinning that I liked. they only had a handful of sectional rods in the whole store, not counting the durangos and hotcasts. I've seen some bad reports on those though so I'm leery. I checked out an ozark trails 2 piece as well, in casting. It was a MH/F but not balanced in my opinion. I didn't like it. My Berkley Lightning rod in spinning casts light stuff without issue. The rod I was complaining about was a Berkley Lightning casting rod I had a while. The spinning reel I have on the Lightning rod is a Quantum Drive 30. I also may use the other spinning reel I have on the breakdown rod, which is a Bass Pro Pro Qualifier 2 spinning. I think I like this reel better. I keep braid on one and 8lb mono on the other. There might have been a little confusion. I am shopping for both a new spinning rod and a new casting rod. I don't expect to cast anything lighter than 1/4oz on the casting rod, but I do cast 1/4oz lures, and I want the rod to not just be marginal, but to thrive with them. I do cast 3/8oz, but very rarely will cast 1/2oz lures. Make no mistake, this is a get by kind of deal while I drive a smaller vehicle, and then only when my family is with me. Whenever I can get away by myself or with just the boy, then I'll take my 1 piece rods as I don't care for sectional rods.

It'll certainly be fun. I don't know that I'll be able to get into any bass fishing yet. But I do have some cool gun stuff planned.

I don't know if I understand what you're saying. It sounds like to me, you're thinking that I said I'm having trouble casting a 3/8 lure on my Berkley Lightning rod. I routinely use a 1/16oz bullet sinker with a Zoom Fat Albert grub and whatever hook I have handy. I also will use a weightless Zoom finesse worm, normally with an Ozark Trail 2/0 offset worm hook. I keep the reel cleaned and oiled. I don't know about properly, but what I consider proper. I got into some water that had a lot of silt in it and I ended up having to take the bail all apart and clean it. I am not saying I have a problem at all. I am was merely saying what I have, and what I do with it, but that I need a breakdown rod because I have a smaller vehicle now. I would rate the Lightning rod as medium medium. I don't do ultralight stuff normally, but I have tried a few casts with some lighter lures and it is just is too heavy of an action. ------------------------- I haven't read through all the comments yet, but I'm working on it. I appreciate everyone's insight.

44" or less would be desireable, but I could go 55" or so if they are diagonal in the back of the Tracker. I have a spot devoted to the break down rod I currently have.

I'm not opposed to an off brand, if it is decent quality. Honestly, I didn't even consider looking at that brand. I won't be pulling 50 fish days or working a tourney trail, but I don't want to have mechanical failure due to poor quality. Living in the car though isn't the best thing for a fishing rod though.

I'm considering getting 2 breakdown rods to keep in my Tracker. My van bit the dust so now my handful of solid rods don't get to go much because I often fish a few hours when I am in town with my family and there isn't room for my rods too. I primarily fish from the bank. Preferably I'd like something I can find at basspro/cabelas, walmart, or academy to so I can get an idea of the action in person. ----------------- For baitcasting rods, I have an Abu Garcia Black Max 6'6" Med rod. I like its size, weight, action, and softness for an all around rod. This is my favorite rod. I can cast 1/4 oz lures on it with ease, but it will also handle crankbaits and spinnerbaits okay. I normally run 12 pound big game with a Bass Pro Pro Qualifier 2 I like a Bass Pro Crankin' stick but it's 7'3" for crankbaits and similar things, again with a Bass Pro Pro Qualifier 2. Lately however, I've mostly been using a cheap zebco 5'6" rod with an Abu Black Max reel since it's my only breakdown casting rod. I do like it for some stuff and because it has a softish tip and does well with lighter lures. I can throw a weightless texas rigged lizard easily, with a weightless zoom finesse worm being the limit of what I can throw. This rod doesn't have enough backbone, but it's light and manageable. I tried a Berkley Lightning rod in medium 7' and I didn't like it. It was way too stiff in the tip to cast anything lighter than 3/8 and preferred 1/2 oz lures. Like casting with a broomstick. I rarely fish heavy lures, and rarely heavy cover. So what I'd like is something that will take the place of the Abu rod, in the $120 or less range. ----------------- For spinning I have, Berkley Lightning rod 7' in medium with a Quantum drive 30 reel. I like the cork grip. Bass Pro qualifier 7' rod in medium with a Pro Qual 2 spinning reel. Both are medium action. I dislike this rod doesn't have a forward grip area. I like the action good though. I like them both just fine and about equal and I use them about the same amounts and for the same things. The Quantum has braid on it currently and the Pro Qual has 8 pound big game mono. So basically I would use them depending on which type of line I want to use. I use a spinning rod for light lures. I throw a zoom grub with a 1/16 oz bullet weight or weightless plastics. I also use a spinning rod in brush when I can't cast a baitcaster. Sometimes I'll shoot the lure to where I want it to go. I rarely will use a spinning rod with stuff like crankbaits or spinnerbaits, but occasionally. I do have a breakdown spinning rod, but it's heavy and not suitable for lightish lures. It's a Rhino Tough 6'6" medium. I don't care for it, though it did save my bacon once. I had it in the car and I'd forgotten my other rods. Whichever rod I get, I'll be using one of the above reels on it. Again, $120 or less is my range. ----------------- Suggestions please.

I want to get some more experience with flukes. And I'll be working with jerkbaits and Rapala's more I think. I also want to get into tubes.

Thanks for sharing. I lost my mom to cancer. I remember when I took her to the cancer treatment center, there were a couple of hand made toboggans someone made and left for those that needed them.

My other hobbies take over, guns, casting, reloading, and working on my cast bullet website. I read a lot about those subjects too. I like to whittle next to the wood stove. Mostly Christmas ornaments and spoons. That goes right along with my knife hobby. I also do a lot of chopping wood when it's cold. I enjoy splitting with an axe.

Very interesting, thanks for taking us along.

Interesting thread. I have undoubtedly caught the same fish multiple times from a pond I fish. Who knows from the city lake a I fish. I was fishing down at the river one day and a guy there described catching a small mouth with a bump on his lip. I had caught the same fish a couple days prior and happened to have a photograph on the phone. I showed him and he confirmed it was the same fish.

I used to want to go into tournaments. I grew up watching Bill Dance, Roland Maring, Jimmy Houston, Hank Parker, which gave me the itch. But I never had the money to get started, and I ended up getting married and having other interests such as guns and reloading, even going through a pretty long spell where I didn't fish. But through it all, I realized I didn't really want to be a pro bass fisherman, I just wanted to be a bass fisherman with a pro skillset. I like the learning aspect of it. I like trying new stuff.

Thanks Goby. Well, that's why I ask, I don't know anything about the place. Guns, reloading, knives, and fishing are my only interests. My wife wants to see some interesting stuff. I'm interested in seeing my buddy's guns and going to the range with him. My buddy chose to move there because of its beauty. I am thankful to live in a place that is more friendly to guns, and aligns more with my values.

Tagging with interest.

Thanks. I'll be up around Eureka, centered in McKinleyville. No boat.

Welp, this ol' boy has been reading about tubes.

I'm interested to know more about this lure. You should make a thread describing it in detail and we'll figure it out for ya!

I'll be taking a trip in a month or so to visit friends up in Humbolt County. I am completely clueless as to bass fishing around there.

That sure sounds like a heck of a time. I have had a day where I got 15 I think, but they were all small ones on a pond with hardly any other pressure, so not much skill involved for mine.

Thanks for all the responses. I've fished the FF sonar minnow on a Carolina rig and gotten a bit of success there. Fished it very little though. All of the success I've had with flukes has been with a weightless super fluke. I've had some days that it's what they wanted and I gave it to them.

Tubes! I forgot about them. I've never had any luck with them, but I read a lot about them last year and thought they'd really do well, especially since they are sort of fallen out of favor.

I'm still learning and building confidence with flukes. I've done pretty good with them when weightless. I never considered throwing a weighted fluke, but my 5 year old was fishing with a Texas Rig, and decided he wanted to fish a fluke like old dad, so I just put a fluke on him. He likes a weight because it casts easier for him. He didn't catch anything so far with a weighted fluke. Does this work at all or is it just never going to produce? Of course being 5 he fishes everything fast, but if fished slow how does it do?

Thank you very much for sharing. The alkaseltzer thing, is there a season or time that it shouldn't be used or tried? So, lets say I got a while and I'm getting skunked, and I try that, does it stand a good chance of producing?