You could go with much heavier pound test line than 17 or 20 if you are going with powerpro. The thing to remember is that the diameter is very small. A 10 foot rod will huck lures.

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Yamamoto Senko Watermelon with Chartreuse tail

I also do a trip like this each summer. The trip is on the Maine/Canada border. Me and five other great friends have been going up for nine years. We all love being in the outdoors and this trip lasts for about a week each late spring. It is some of the best smallmouth fishing that exists combined with good friends/good food. I go hunting and fishing with the same guys all year round, but this is our big trip each year. We all hope this great tradition continues for many more years to come. We are currently thinking about doing a camping/hunting trip in the fall. Hope it happens.