for the reel the numbers mean the following:

it will hold 311 yards of 12 lb test, 255 yards of 14 lb test, and 220 yards of 17 lb test. you could put a higher test line on it, but you will not be able to get as much line on the reel.

since the two came together, more than likely the rod is more or less matched to the reel. look around the rod just above the reel. there should be some markings that say what size line to use.

shimano makes a pretty good reel, you may think about taking it to a reel repair place and have them give it a once over. they can even suggest line size for the rod and reel. they will even put the line on for you.

as for the fish, i live in Texas, no clue if it will work in NY, but i would guess you will be ok. again, your local repair or bait shop can help you a lot there, but i think you should be ok. that set up would work here for redfish and trout.

2. Crankbaits= Rapala, Cotton Cordell, Yozuri, Etc.

3. Reels= Mostly Shimano, Daiwa, Plfueger, Abu Garcia, & (inexpensive but durable), Mitchell.

4. Thats a tough Q without a “price-point”. If I could have a “G Loomis” for every rod I would! (lol) You need to give us an IDEA about how much you want to spend for a rod! We also need to know , baitcaster or spinning?

5. Berkley “Fireline” 4/10 in “smoke”, Stren Superbraid in “green” 6/20, Power Pro in “green” 6/20 Lb. The strength of 20 LB and the diameter of 4-6LB! These braided lines are excellent for sensitivity & tough as nails!

I just answered this same Q a couple days ago.
Check my “starred questions” for further info regarding good reel/rod combo’s for Bass.

PS: Berkley “Gulp” products are an excellent place to start when buying your soft plastic lures.

People to send your letters:
***************************************************************** ****************
Vice Chair (And AB 1253 Sponsor)
Jean Fuller (R)
State Capitol, Room 3098
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-319-2032,
916-319-2132 fax
Assemblymember.Fuller@assembly.ca.gov 32nd Assembly District Bakersfield, Frazier Park, Kern River Valley, Ridgecrest, Taft, Tehachapi

Joel Anderson (R)
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 319-2077,
(916) 319-2177 fax
Assemblymember.Anderson@assembly.ca.gov 77th Assembly District Eastern San Diego area, part of the Imperial Valley

Juan Arambula (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0031
(916) 319-2031
(916) 319-2131 Fax
Assemblymember.arambula@assembly.ca.gov 31st Assembly District Firebaugh, Mendota, San Joaquin, Fresno, Selma, Sanger, Reedley

Tom Berryhill (R)
State Capitol Room # 3141
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-319-2025
916-319-2125 fax
Assemblymember.Berryhill@assembly.ca.gov 25th Assembly District Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mono, Mariposa, and Madera counties, eastern portion of Stanislaus County

Bob Blumenfield (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0040
Tel: (916) 319-2040
Fax: (916) 319-2140
Assemblymember.Blumenfield@assembly.ca.gov 40th Assembly District Canoga Park, Winnetka, Reseda, Northridge, Van Nuys

John A. Perez (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0046
Tel: (916) 319-2046
Fax: (916) 319-2146
Assemblymember.John.Perez@assembly.ca.gov 46th Assembly District East Los Angeles
Florence-Graham, Huntington Park, Los Angeles, Maywood , Vernon

Mary Salas (D)
State Capitol, P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249-0079 Tel: (916) 319-2079
Fax: (916) 319-2179
Assemblymember.Salas@assembly.ca.gov 79th Assembly District National City, Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach

Mariko Yamada (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0008
(916) 319-2008
(916) 319-2108 fax
Assemblymember.Yamada@assembly.ca.gov 8th Assembly District Benica, Vacaville, Fairfield, Dixon, Davis, West Sacramento, Rio Vista

Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee
Chair
Jared Huffman (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0006
Tel: (916) 319-2006
Fax: (916) 319-2106

Anna M. Caballero (D)
State Capitol, P.O. Box 942849 Sacramento, CA 94249-0028 Tel: (916) 319-2028
Fax: (916) 319-2128

Nathan Fletcher (R)
State Capitol, Room 2111
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-319-2075, 916-319-2175 fax

Alyson Huber (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0010
Tel: (916) 319-2010
Fax: (916) 319-2110

Bonnie Lowenthal (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0054
Tel: (916) 319-2054
Fax: (916) 319-2154

***************************************************************** **************
Use this letter if you live in California
***************************************************************** **************

Dear Assembly member __________________,

As a California angler, voter and taxpayer, I strongly oppose AB 1253, the bill introduced by Assembly member Fuller, intending to delist and remove support of the striped bass as a California game fish.

The striped bass, a fish legally introduced to the State by the California Fish and Game Commission, established itself as one of the state’s premier game fish and coexisted in harmony for over 130 years with the state’s native fishes. Even in the 1930′s when the striped bass population was believed to exceed 12 million adult fish and the species was fished commercially, the fish did not impact the state’s salmon stocks or the health of the delta’s fisheries including the delta smelt and the long fin smelt.

The striped bass fishery along with the Chinook salmon, steelhead, delta smelt, long fin smelt, American Shad, green sturgeon, and white sturgeon fisheries only began to decline with the operation of the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project in the late 1960′s. As exports have increased, the populations of all of these fishes has crashed to all time historical lows with the delta smelt now on the endangered species list, the long fin smelt threatened, the Chinook salmon run the lowest in history. The current striped bass populations are also at historical lows.

The striped bass is a fish of legend and has been a part of California’s angling heritage for 130 years. AB 1253, a bill sponsored by a number of water districts is an obvious attempt to transfer the blame of the decline of California’s once great fisheries to one of the species that made the California Delta one of the greatest fisheries on earth instead of their insatiable demand for larger and larger amounts of delta water. They realize that if the delta’s fisheries can be destroyed, it is one less reason to obstruct the dra
draining of the delta for subsidized agribusiness farming.

Please vote this bill down when it comes before your committee. If passed, it will do nothing to restore California’s once great fisheries and will cause the destruction of one of California’s greatest game fish.

Sincerely,
Name_____________________________________________________________ ____

Address including zip code (important)______________________________________________________ _________________

*******************************************************
Use this letter if you live outside of California

Dear Assembly member __________________,

As a US citizen, angler, voter and taxpayer, I strongly oppose passage of AB 1253, the bill to delist and remove support of the striped bass as a California game fish.. Please vote this bill down when it comes before you as a member of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. It is public resource and not responsible to eradicate the Striped Bas
Your name_____________________________________________________________ __

Address including zip code (important)______________________________________________________ ______________
go **** yourself

Well my lake is really big and it ranges from 1 foot to 10 feet in the middle. The water’s temperature this week is between 75-60 right now.

It is obviously Winter time.

Now i have caught so much Largemouth Bass here that i lost count but over 200 100% sure of that. Now i caught them every season except Winter so what lure should i use right now and how do i reel it in and where are the fish hiding??

In Spring Buzzbaits and Spinnerbaits are beauties

In Summer Soft Lures are killers

In Fall Shad and Fish-style baits are beautiful i caught my biggest and most fish this season on a single day!

In Winter -?!?!?!?_?!_$__$L$ What should i use??!?

My rod is a 7 foot casting rod, 12-16 lb. test line. I have about 40 feet worth of line left in the reel.

The weather is Partly Cloudy and there are no Obstructions whatsoever.

I have a row boat i can borrow from my Neighbor if i have too maybe not today. it is 4:00 P.M local time and it has been Sunny the pass 2 days. Please Help i am using a buzz bait which is not working due to the fact there is a loud Fountain Supressing the noise it makes.

The reason i say cast upstream and bring the lure towards the fish is simply because, while they are fish, bass are not stupid. They know that no meal is simply going to suddenly appear right in front of them and not try to get away. This is what is causing them to lose interest and get cautious.

Also remember this. The key to bass fishing is knowing this: As the fish’s hunger goes up, its caution goes down. So if a fish isn’t hungry, it’s not going to bite just anything.