Look my friend, I live in Pa. I fish all THE TIME. A few years ago I got rid of all my crank baits, spinner baits and whatever. Probably several thousands of dollars worth of lures. In my opinion they are much too expensive and the best of them will not out fish rubber baits. I don't even need a tackle box anymore. I can put everything I need in one pocket. It's not unusual for me to catch well over 100 fish a trip. I fish for anything that swims and if it's in the water it will hit rubber. Crystal clear or dirty as dirt high or low water. Now here's the bonus. It's much easier to get out of a snag while using a rubber bait than it is with any other type of lure. If you do happen to loose a rubber bait you have only lost under a dollar not the extreme price of most other lures. My advice to you is find someone who is willing to teach you and have some fun.

Fishing is suppose to be a challenge, a test of skill. You should always give a fish the equal chance to win. If you win all the time why bother playing the game. Try catching ten and twenty pound fish on four and six pound line. Sometime you win and sometime you loose. That's what makes it fun.

Beings that the average Carp is much smarter than the average fisherman it's no wonder you can't catch many. I usually use a fly rod and flies or tube baits and spinning tackle. I don't eat any fish because they remind me of my ex wife but turtles think they're OK. The really stupid fish are bass and trout and that's why so many people fish for them. If your a sportsman you make all your fishing a challenge. Four or six pound test line to catch 20 plus pound carp is the only way to go. See if there is a carp club in your area. These folks have a wealth of knowledge to share. Good luck.

I would use tube baits. Tube baits have only one limitation and that's your own imagination. Great for fresh or salt water fishing. I have out fished a bunch of fellows that fish for a living and they have asked me for advice. Senko is my favorite brand. Inexpensive and unlimited size and color options. I have caught everything from carp to shark. Have absolute faith in what you are using and have fun.

I would go with all rubber baits. Tubes, worms. minnows, craws and leaches. Once you learn to use them they will out fish anything.I have constantly taken over 100 fish a day. Your bonus is that they are inexpensive and easy to use. They will take anything that swims. Keep the faith.

As a former custom rod builder I have seen and used hundreds of fishing rods. I'm a little older and wiser now so I try to keep it down to twenty. One of my rods is a 9 ft Ugly Stik Elite. I use it for giant carp and catfish. This rod has never let me down. For what I use it for I can't think of a better type of rod.

Fish Monster

Work on one technique. 90% of what you see or hear in the sporting good stores is nothing but B.S. Don't be spending all your time or dollars on worthless things that are made to catch your eye and not fish. Find someone that fishes rubber baits with a great deal of success. Watch and learn. Rubber baits will attract anything that swims in fresh or salt water and wont break your budget. One year I caught over 8000 fish of many different species all on rubber baits. Look, listen and learn.

And open runner guide is a small open guide that you put your line in after you cast. It is much closer to the reel than a normal guide would be. It's purpose is to aid recovering line correctly.

I have owned Alvey reels for 40 or so years. They will in fact outcast anything on the market today. Alvey reels have hooked and landed super monster size fish. The Alvey reel is simple and flawless. There is nothing to break or wear out. Now understand that to get the full potential from your Alvey reel you need a rod that is equipped with and open runner guide. I made my own rods to use with this type of reel. Do some more research. Try to find someone close by that uses one. This would be your best bet.

The cap from a deodorant. Oval shaped with a keel. Use one treble hook and clip a proper size split shot for weight on the keel. You don't have to color it. This rig will work good once you learn how to use it.

I have fished that river many hundreds of times. I got so good at it that the tournament fishermen would come to me for advice. If I had only one bait to use it would be tube baits on a jig head. Brown, olive or black. This works year round. I never use more than 8 lb. line. 4 and 6 catch more fish. My high hook for one afternoon was 180 something. 7 ft. rod with a lighter action is perfect. Try it you'll like it.

I never use real worms. I use plastics on jig heads.What you do is develop a technique. With any top of the line plastics that are available today you can out catch real worms. You can pick your size and color. Your bonus is that your not limited to trout and plastics don't go bad and stink. Keep in mind that IQ wise trout are at the bottom of the list. Another plus is with plastics you have a much better chance of releasing your fish unharmed. Don't limit yourself.

Fishing line and your skill level. In a single afternoon I caught four muskies with 4lb. test mono. no leader was used. My smallest fish was 37 inches and my largest was 52 inches. I did this myself including the netting. My actions were caught on film. What I'm getting at is that you can choose your line test by the areas you fish. Unless your a yank and crank kind of guy I can see no reason why 12 lb. test line wouldn't work on anything short of a great white shark. It's all up to you my friend. Remember, Your the boss.

Walleye is a very funny fish. I have caught many hundreds over the years. Once in mid afternoon while casting a one inch cast master spoon I caught a monster. I was fishing in the rapids of a river. It was 90 degrees and the water level was no more than 2ft. It was very bright and sunny. My point is, If you put a bait in front of this fish he will more than likely hit it. For your dilemma try a lip hooked minnow with a split shot about 18 inches above it. If the walleye is there he won't be able to resist. Walleye is a grand predator and he will take full advantage of any opportunity for and easy meal.

Faith and attitude everything else is optional. A really good pocket knife not a multi tool. A large pair of needle nose plyers and a first class pair of scissors. In time you will add and item or two to fit your needs for the areas you fish.