Help With Rod Choice, Please.

[4fishys]

Thanks to all for your thoughts. I took Dutch's advice and bought both, then took em to the local pond for a quick comparison. A few casts with different things on the end of the line gave me my answer, even with tags still attached. Went with the 7' medium/fast. As I got to looking at the rods I use the most, this also fit right in a gap. Have medium light and medium heavy, but this fits right in the middle.....kinda like baby bear. Not too hard and not too soft. If I really need to go heavier I can get into a few baitcasting outfits, although I prefer spinning for most applications.

Techno, I agree that you can certainly miss fish by not knowing they are even there. I'm not the hottest stick in the group, but there is definitely something to be said for the increased sensitivity of a little more upscale rig. These aren't cheap, $219 at Bass Pro, but not getting into the $400-500 range either. I'm sure I'll be happy after my little test trip.

Best to all, and enjoy things as they heat up down there. Might try to get a long weekend in, but weddings, graduations, etc. seem to be working against me.....arggggghhh!

Bill

[Gary Lange]

Hey, 4fishys? I see you live in Naperville, Il. Do you fish any of the rivers in the area like the Fox, DuPage, Kankakee or those a little further like the Kishwaukee or Apple? Used to live in Bolingbrook and fished those rivers with the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance. They have there big fund raiser this weekend called the Bronzeback Blowout where are very own Al Agnew is going to speak.

[4fishys]

Hey, Gary. I'll occasionally hit the Fox, but spend a fair amount of timeon the Dup. Live north of 95th by Knoch Knolls Park, so I do a lot of hour or so visits just to scratch the itch down there. My newest favorite lake just opened up last summer. Down Royce Road they opened one of the old quarries. That's where I go and have a blast in the kayak (see other post on this forum). Do pretty well for the smallies inj there, with an occasional 3-4 pound LM tossed in. It's C & R for the balance of this year, and then I'm afraid of what will happen to these 80 acres of water when 9" bass go into buckets. If you get back up here and want to check it out, let me know. Have an extra kayak for you to use. Same offer goes to anybody from down there. It's the least I can do for all of the helpful info. gleaned from this site.

Bill

[Gary Lange]

Hey, Gary. I'll occasionally hit the Fox, but spend a fair amount of timeon the Dup. Live north of 95th by Knoch Knolls Park, so I do a lot of hour or so visits just to scratch the itch down there. My newest favorite lake just opened up last summer. Down Royce Road they opened one of the old quarries. That's where I go and have a blast in the kayak (see other post on this forum). Do pretty well for the smallies inj there, with an occasional 3-4 pound LM tossed in. It's C & R for the balance of this year, and then I'm afraid of what will happen to these 80 acres of water when 9" bass go into buckets. If you get back up here and want to check it out, let me know. Have an extra kayak for you to use. Same offer goes to anybody from down there. It's the least I can do for all of the helpful info. gleaned from this site.

Bill

Since you live up in Illinois may I suggest this Organization. They are the guys that make Smallmouth Fishing in Illinois better every year. It is a great group of Conservation minded people and with Smallies in that lake they may be able to do something since the Director of the DNR is a member and the Gov. is a big believer in there efforts.

http://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/