Just got the new Level rods in! 7’3” heavy rated up to 3/4 oz. To replace my current frogging rod. I’ll update this after tomorrow or Sunday. Fall classic starts so I’ll be on the water!

Looks - 10/10!

Feel - 8.5/10 - balances really well, but just ever so slightly tip heavy (in my opinion)

Rod action - 8/10 definitely going to be great for frogs and up to 3/8 oz flipping and in tighter areas. Which is exactly what I wanted

Price - 10/10 - I’ve always found that rods in the $150-$300 range are the best. And this fits the bill

This is just from opening the package and holding it and making a couple casts in the back yard

I'm off to a good start in our Fall Classic... 83.15" today, and biggest spot.....(biggest so far..) I probably caught 25 or 30 bass today, plus a dang gar...lol. All on the Oconee river, Milledgeville, Ga..with NO ffs.!

How the weekend started and how it finished up with me taking a PTO day off today 🤣

Just want to thank B-Lat for last week’s “sermon” on fighting big fish. I’ve never been one to actively adjust drag during a catch, however I definitely did during this catch, which is now my PB - 5.94 lbs (extremely rare for my home lake).

B-Lat! I think you forgot the number one rule in fighting a big fish…stay calm.

Me and my youngest son went fishing for a little while this evening. Caught this 3 lb 2 oz LM on a fluke in grass beside this dock. Per Brian’s instruction - we were focused on the predominant feature of the lake - grass/weed beds along the bank.

I hung another one that looked to be similar in size but got hung up in the weeds and couldn’t get him out before he got off. We caught a few more but they were smaller.

Took my dad with me this morning and landed my PB striper! My first time taking him out so it was a freaking blast getting to put him on some fish. Thankfully they were eating today. These were the best of the day, All on an 1/8oz jig head with a 3” paddle tail in wind blown pockets and coves

Enjoying fall break with my mini me lol…

Baits used MR6 crank bait and a Zoom speed worm 6 to 8 ft of water with one second pauses on retrieving.

Working on my rod skills play/learning how to use drag.

Hey Brian Latimer - thanks for the instructions on how to land a big fish. I had just watched the video Tuesday night where you were telling your tips for how to land a big fish and Wednesday morning I tried your method for opening the bail and thumbing my spool to work the fish in. This was the first time I had ever tried it. How'd I do? I did land the fish and he only had a single hook in him so I was pretty pleased with using your method for the first time.

I fought him for over 2 minutes - of course I had to trim this video way down.

I fished this rip rap bank for a little while using this little jerk bait. I varied how I was fishing multiple times trying to figure out what they wanted. I fished it using light twitches and I tried fishing it with sharp heavy jerks and some retrieves I would mix it up light and heavy jerks in the same retrieve and also periods of just straight medium speed retrieve without any jerks or twitches. Oddly enough - the straight reel retrieve was what got this smallmouth to hit. I did start the retrieve with a few little twitches - so maybe that got his attention and he decided to go for it on the straight retrieve. I don't know 🤷🏽‍♂️ What do y'all think?