i built my rod, it's a 32" light power fast tip with an ultralight spinning reel (brand is shakespeare not sure on model) spooled with 14lb flame green fireline, and a 2' 4lb flourocarbon leader.
i'm a big proponent for braid, but i really like fireline so far, every hit was obvious, even the lightest bumps; and i could feel even the smallest jigs in my box with ease.
as for fishing area, my first task is locating either a weedbed or a dropoff, i drill holes 10 paces apart, then check with my sonar until i find some kind of structure or the edge of the dropoff. once i find that, i'll drop a line and see if anything is down there, if not i keep moving. i don't set up the shelter until i find fish, and once it's set up i pepper the area with holes for dead rods.
if i stop catching fish, or they move out of the area, i start searching again, beginning with the dead rod holes then moving along the shoreline looking for weeds or a dropoff as before.
