A little help from my friends.... A community project.

[Alex Ball]

This chart is what started it all for me. A puzzle to solve. Just for fun, and because I live in the bfe part of bfe, I'd like to try something with you guys.

     Below is a list of all my rods and reels. I'd love help pairing them for specific applications. These will be my setups for my first year as a tourney Co-Angler on Bull Shoals, a rubix cube of a lake. 15-20 is shallow here and no vegetation really. Super to crystal clear. Rock bottom. Also, the remainder will be for bankin' and river fishing on the White. My 3 fave species are Bass, Walleye, and Gills. I use P-line Copoly and Flouro and Yozuri Superline Braid.

     I know we've done this before, but I just love it. Good brain food. I have every lure/plastic you can imagine so don't be shy on odd ideas.

  Finally, thanks to J. Francho, Bulldog, IronBjorn, WRB, T-billy, RangerJockey and anyone else who has helped me on my way. I'm now the proud manager of the smallest tackle shop in N. Arkansas. You guys took a rank amateur and helped me learn enough to get the job. I'll never forget that.

Some pics of our adventures as well. I'm the twig. LOL.

 

Spinning

Rods

Heddon Mark Magna Graph/5'/1-16_1-4/ULS

Abu Cardinal Tournament Grade/5'6"/1-16_3-8/LM

Shakespeare Micro/5'6"/1-16_3-8/LM

Kastking Crixus/5'6"/1-16_3-8/LMF

Denali Pryme/ 7'/ 1-64_1-4/MLF

Denali Kovert White River/6'6"/1-8_3-8/MM

Ugly Stik GX2/6'6"/1-8_5-8/MFC

Abu Vendetta/7'4"/3-16_5-8/MF

Lew's Xfinity/7'/3-8_3-4/MHXF

Shimano Fightin Rod/5'9"/1-4_1.25/MHMF

Ugly Stik Catfish/7'1-2_3/MHMF

Reels

501-KK Lancelot 2000/12lb drag/21.3 IPT/8-235

511-Lew's Laser HS 30/14lb/27IPT/10-165

521-Denali Spin 50/10lb/22.4/8-110

         BPS Microlite Supreme 20/8lb/22.4/6-90 (x2)

         Lew's Laser SG 200/14lb/25/8-120

         Pflueger President 20/6lb/20.2/6-80

         Pflueger President 30/10lb/8-130

621-KK Valiant Eagle 1000/17.6lb/8-115

         KK Valiant Eagle 3000/22lb/10-180

         Shimano Sahara 5000/24lb/14-165

Casting 

Rods

Denali Kovert CB/6'10"/1-4_5-8/MM

Abu Vigilante/7'/1-4_5-8/MMF

Denali Kovert SB/6'9/5-16_1/MHMF

Abu Conolon Premier/6'/3-8_3-4/MHF

Shimano FX/6'6"/1-4_1/MHFC

Berkley Air Select/8'6"/1-2_1.75/HM

Lew's Mach 2 Pitchin'/7'4"/3-16_1.5/HXF

Denali Lithium Flippin'/7'6"/5-16_1.5/XHF

Denali Lithium Flip-Rig/7'10"/5-16_3/XHF

Reels

531-Abu 5500 C3/15lb/26IPT/12-240/Cent. Brakes

541-KK Megajaws/17.6lb/22.4/10-125/Mag 

641-Abu Black Max 3/18lb/26/12-145/Mag 

        Pflueger Summit/15lb/26.4/10-140/Cent./aluminum

711-BPS Johnny Morris XPS/14lb/31/12-120/Dual/aluminum

731-Pflueger Monarch/12lb/31/12-145/Mag

         Pflueger Trion/12lb/31/12-145/Mag

751-Lew's Reactor/15lb/30/12-110/Mag

911-KK Megajaws/17.6lb/37.7/10-125/Mag

 

[Deleted account]

We'd see them at the first bike races in the spring every year, chill in the air, barely after sunrise, bright eyed and full of enthusiasm, with shinny new, nary a scratch high end road bikes. All I could think of as I sat there (enjoying a bagel and coffee) while they were trying to figure out how to pin the number on their jersey, waiting for the race to start, was "I wish there was a way for them to just give us the entry fees directly, sure would save a lot of time".

 

[new2BC4bass]

Good luck getting serious answers.  I tried asking the same thing a few years ago.  Naturally I had my own ideas, but wanted the perspective of more accomplished anglers.  I don't think I got one person that tried pairing reels to rods.  It's one thing when you ask about 2 or 3 combos, but something entirely different when you have that many.

 

I wouldn't attempt to make any suggestions.  I am not familiar with most of your gear.  I can say that if your Trion is an older model...like the aluminum frame one...or the new model casts the same as the old model....that it will do much better casting heavier weights.  My old aluminum frame Trion was a backlashing machine with light braid on a 7 ' MF Compre.  At Mike's (of DVT) suggestion I went to heavier line.  In this case 17# mono and mounted it on a 6'10" HF.  The reel is now a casting machine.

[Choporoz]

I like the prose.  But everything after 'Spinning' is a hot mess...at least on my phone. I would probably put the spinning reels on spinning rods.  

 

I have been a huge fan of that chart.  I've copied and linked it many times.  I wish Mr. Schwarzkopf would drop by so that I could thank him.

[Mobasser]

I live in north central Mo and have fished Bull Shoals  few times. It can be a tough lake to fish at times. We always did best on lighter line and smaller baits. And best of luck on your tackle shop.

 

[Alex Ball]

3 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

Good luck getting serious answers.  I tried asking the same thing a few years ago.  Naturally I had my own ideas, but wanted the perspective of more accomplished anglers.  I don't think I got one person that tried pairing reels to rods.  It's one thing when you ask about 2 or 3 combos, but something entirely different when you have that many.

 

I wouldn't attempt to make any suggestions.  I am not familiar with most of your gear.  I can say that if your Trion is an older model...like the aluminum frame one...or the new model casts the same as the old model....that it will do much better casting heavier weights.  My old aluminum frame Trion was a backlashing machine with light braid on a 7 ' MF Compre.  At Mike's (of DVT) suggestion I went to heavier line.  In this case 17# mono and mounted it on a 6'10" HF.  The reel is now a casting machine.

Newer one. Graphite. Very good reel for $40. Use it for heavy apps.

This is just a mental exercise of sorts. I like trying different ideas other than my own. Makes it fun. Thank you for the tips.

 

[jbsoonerfan]

There is a lot going on there and I am not familiar with a lot of those items, but here is what I would suggest as a co-angler. One spinning rod (your choice ML or M), four casting rods, a M for treble baits, MH for moving baits, MH for soft plastics, H for jigs. This is what I would do down here where I fish. Sounds like you may need more spinning gear and leave the heavy stick at home though, I have no experience with lakes like that.

[Alex Ball]

10 hours ago, Choporoz said:

I like the prose.  But everything after 'Spinning' is a hot mess...at least on my phone. I would probably put the spinning reels on spinning rods.  

 

I have been a huge fan of that chart.  I've copied and linked it many times.  I wish Mr. Schwarzkopf would drop by so that I could thank him.

Yessir. The Holy Grail for me. Helped me make a name for myself here in my area, being able to seemingly have access to every conceivable setup type. Mr. S did us all a favor with that list. 

7 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

There is a lot going on there and I am not familiar with a lot of those items, but here is what I would suggest as a co-angler. One spinning rod (your choice ML or M), four casting rods, a M for treble baits, MH for moving baits, MH for soft plastics, H for jigs. This is what I would do down here where I fish. Sounds like you may need more spinning gear and leave the heavy stick at home though, I have no experience with lakes like that.

It's Mars!!!

A different planet. So weird how spinning is the money here. I'm from the Lake Conway area, so this is like starting over. Funny enough, My Denalis are in the ranges you state. 2 are XH, but they are very soft. Guess we solved that quandry. Thanks.

[Lead Head]

I haven't been on Conway in years, but going from that to clear DEEP water is about as drastic a change as is possible in fresh water. Sorry I'm no help with your project, but I do wish you good luck. 

[Jig Man]

What tournament circuit will you be fishing?  
 

Time of year and part of the lake would make equipment and bait choices for me.  I once ran from the dam to Bee Creek to find fish.  I believe that is over 60 miles each way.

[Alex Ball]

2 hours ago, Jig Man said:

What tournament circuit will you be fishing?  
 

Time of year and part of the lake would make equipment and bait choices for me.  I once ran from the dam to Bee Creek to find fish.  I believe that is over 60 miles each way.

Just the local weekly's. Nothing too serious.There is a team division. I WISH we could get to BC on our boat. It'd take all day. T.O.Y. and area are critical. I'm a bottom scraper and my pilot loves the mid water column stuff and jerks. 

     This is mainly for mental exercise and for setup ideas for my shop. My goal is to give the customer a complete, specified combo with line and relevant tackle. Any suggestions would be very welcome. 

[Alex Ball]

3 hours ago, Lead Head said:

I haven't been on Conway in years, but going from that to clear DEEP water is about as drastic a change as is possible in fresh water. Sorry I'm no help with your project, but I do wish you good luck. 

Oh I almost cried when I was told shallow here is 15-20ft. I'd never been deeper than 12 before. No need. Had to trade/sell everything I had and start over from zero. Jigs, Shakeys, Jerks, XD's, Spoons and dropshot are your options here. Or anything on a spinner setup. Knew jigs. Had to learn all the rest. I love my XD's and Dredgers. Gettin a Mann's 30+ Friday. For me It's power all the way. I'll run a Shakey instead of a dropshot or ned. Not good on Jerkin yet. Spoons are sentimental but BORING. I'll figure this place out or lose my mind trying. It's so remote here, like being in a time machine. Heaven on Earth.

[Alex Ball]

14 hours ago, Mobasser said:

I live in north central Mo and have fished Bull Shoals  few times. It can be a tough lake to fish at times. We always did best on lighter line and smaller baits. And best of luck on your tackle shop.

 

Yes to the line. Nothing above 10lb dia. here. They have Eagle vision, the bass here. 8lb floro sells out before it gets to a shelf. 

I'll try a smaller profile next time. Thanks for the tip.

[MidwestBassAttack]

If your going to be co-angling, simplicity and versatility is key. Here are my suggestions at a very general level. Base the rod action on type of hook (single vs treble) 

 

Spinning - Medium power - use for finesse; weightless, wacky, etc

 

Casting - Medium heavy power - chatter-baits and spinnerbaits

 

Casting - Heavy power - Jigs, Texas rigs, frogs

 

Casting - Medium power - cranking and topwater

 

Casting - Heavy/Extra heavy - punching

[Mobasser]

12 hours ago, Alex Ball said:

Yes to the line. Nothing above 10lb dia. here. They have Eagle vision, the bass here. 8lb floro sells out before it gets to a shelf. 

I'll try a smaller profile next time. Thanks for the tip.

One thing I'll always remember about Bull Shoals. My brother and I made a trip down there in the late 1980s. Our intentions were to fish for LM bass. The LM fishing was slow, but the white bass were running. We switched up to light spinning rods and white plastic grubs. That day I caught 50 white bass, and I think my brother caught more. The white bass saved the trip for us. It was some of the fastest fishing I've ever had.

[Alex Ball]

10 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

One thing I'll always remember about Bull Shoals. My brother and I made a trip down there in the late 1980s. Our intentions were to fish for LM bass. The LM fishing was slow, but the white bass were running. We switched up to light spinning rods and white plastic grubs. That day I caught 50 white bass, and I think my brother caught more. The white bass saved the trip for us. It was some of the fastest fishing I've ever had.

Yessir! My ride/pilot has done that too. Got em cornered in a cove near the marina and lost his mind. I always questioned his number, 52, but now I don't. CANNOT wait for some WB action.

[Lead Head]

I've ran into them on the AR River a few times where I could catch as many as I wanted... I always get bored with them after 20 or so and continue on after LMB. They are fun, and can definitely save a day, but for some reason I just lose interest in them when they stack up like that.

[Alex Ball]

57 minutes ago, Lead Head said:

I've ran into them on the AR River a few times where I could catch as many as I wanted... I always get bored with them after 20 or so and continue on after LMB. They are fun, and can definitely save a day, but for some reason I just lose interest in them when they stack up like that.

Goodness, I hope I can be good enough someday to say what you just did. 1 yr  experience here. Still in the baby stages.

 

[Lead Head]

Pfft... very little skill involved. Main river point with a ton of surface activity almost straight across the river from where I launch. Can usually pull a spot or two off it, but the WB will absolutely stack up there. If you happen to be there when the WB are stacked, and eating... 

 

If I were actually skilled, I would never hit that point looking for easy action.