...this is more important to me than my own marriage! Please give me your thoughts on a top water rod. Expecting
1.3 to 4.1 pound bass in 78.4 to 87.7 degree water on poppers or buzz baits. Do I set the hook immediately or wait .3 seconds or .48 seconds? Thanks, my life depends on this!

Yeh. I got nuthin�. RIP

Well. Ok. Since it�s life or death....

Bass don�t grab baits with their fins. They grab it with their mouths. As soon as your bait wiggles, reelset the hook. As for rods, a medium to medium/heavy rod (depends on lure weight) with a moderate to slow action. You want to rod to give a little while still maintaining control of the fight.

Most importantly, use mono or braid. Never use braid on a �fast� action rod, you�ll clear the basses mouth before the rod bends and no stretch in the line. You�ll miss too many. Mono stretches. It�s more forgiving. They both float. Fluorocarbon is not good for top water. It sinks and will mess with the lures action.

Buzzbaits, frogs; braid and make sure they take it under. Buzzbaits they usually hook up pretty easy as long as they actually eat the damm thing. Frogs gotta wait a sec then set the hook like your trting to break your rod.

It may be easier to fix your marriage than to get this group to agree on a rod.

RIP

If your rod is not right your marriage is probably not also.

My first rod was the end section or limber end of my Great Grandpa's triple jointed 20 ft. cane pole. One of the joining sections was split and the pole was split. That end section was in perfect shape. I took the old drill with the hand turned wheel and drilled a couple of holes so I could attach my reel to that metal joint. I carved an extended handle to fit into the joint; then drilled the holes. I used bailing wire to attach the reel then finished it off with electrical tape to cover the wire twist. Made about 8 wire loops for eyes for the line to pass through. Grandpa had already put an eye on the end of the pole so he could use it for Doodle Socking the bushes at the river for Crappie. It cast very well, chugged all the big bugs for top water and drug numerous huge Bass out of all the farm ponds within bicycle range. I made do with what I could come up with and was glad I had it.

whats the barometer,and windage.

Man just use your favorite rod, and don�t jerk too hard when the fish hits, just lean into him, reel up the slack and keepem pinned, it�ll be alright...

This

Thoughts on a top water rod. Well lets see, yep I like using them.