Gone_Phishin

Yea, 10-4 zelmo. Unfortunately they are sold out of the models I want. When I can afford a separate rod for jerkbaits, I'll give the medium rods a look flippin. I'm going to give Trey a buzz next week. From what I've learned so far about the 08's, the MH's are faster than the previous blanks, but I'm not sure about the mediums. I'll post an update after I get the skinny from Kistler.

Same here. Oh well.

Will do, thanks guys. I see a He76HC in my future Sam, too bad this one wasn't on clearance at Cabelas. I don't own one heavy powered bass rod, and this one is near the top of my list. It'll see a lot of use for frogs, c-rigs, and jigs, basically an all-purpose heavy rod. I have a Zillion just waiting for a new home.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with the new 2008 Heliums? I know the LTA's tend towards the mod-fast side, and was wondering if the 08's have retained the same action, or if they have gone a bit faster? The website says the blanks are stronger than before, so they have been changed. I was wondering how that change has translated towards the action of the rods? Also, while I'm on the subject of LTA's, I have a question about the 07' He63APC. Any comments on this rod? I know it is a MH, but I was wondering how soft the tip is? I ask because I was thinking about picking it up for topwater and jerkbaits, and I usually prefer a meduim powered rod for these techniques. I figured if the rod is more mod-fast, and/or has a softer tip, I could substitute this for my medium powered rods and not miss a step. Also, anyone using this rod for cranks or spinnerbaits in cover? -Thanks, Shaun

I missed Sara Evans???? Dang!!! I was taking a nap. She makes me melt.

Amen!

You might want to step up to a MH. Unless you're fishing smaller jigs, a lot have a stout hook. And a 10" worm is a lot of plastic. I have the LE counterpart to the rod you mentioned, and although it has great strength, I'd go with a different rod for the lures you mentioned. With the $350 budget you mentioned, if you wanted to stay with the Avid, or keep your eyes open for last year's Legend Tournaments which can be found on sale, you could get the 68MXF (which is in the Avid, LT, and LE line), and still have enough to buy a MH for the baits you mentioned. You'd really be covered there. Also, you are right on with the XF action. Good choice.

These winter tornados are unreal. We had one level a small town in SW WI last month. Our prayers go out to all.

franklin, I own the 68MXF, but in the Legend Elite. It is paired up with a Daiwa Sol. I really love this rod. I use it for 4" Senko-type baits, tubes, small jigs and T-rigs. The LT model is listed as a topwater rod. That blank is a bit too fast for topwater for me, but that's just my opinion. If you like a very fast rod for twitchin'/poppin' topwaters, this rod should suit you very well. I just don't like a rod that fast for treble-hooked baits. If you're lookin for a plastics rod, this one will shine. Plus it has looks to boot.

Great score. I've always done well on our home lakes with that bait.

I really enjoy playing disc golf. I got into it in college. My alma mater has an 18 hole, championship caliber course right on campus. Lots of woods too. They even offered disc golf 1 and 2 for one PE credit. As far as organized extra curriculars, or leagues, I've played darts(cricket), softball, and bowling. I ran cross-country in college. I also enjoy reading, hunting, camping/hiking, making candles, golfing, gardening, and splitting wood. We heat our home with wood in the winter, and I actually enjoy splitting/stacking the wood; weather it be with a wedge and a sledge, or a gas powered splitter. Also, we go all out for Halloween. Our front yard is really something that time of year. We build most of the props ourself (electric chair, guillotine, hangman's scaffold, etc.). This is pretty much a year-round project. So I'm always scouting for new material, or designing new goulish props.

Couldn't agree more Ronnie. What bums me about this is the example he left for the youngsters. Win or lose, sportsmanship is the name of the game, and hoodie left a terrible example for all of the young viewers. The NFL is the pinnacle for a football player, and the Super Bowl is the biggest game in that league, for him to show such a blatant lack of respect on such a grand stage is inexcusable. He has won three Super Bowls and had no problem celebrating them, but now that the table has turned he goes totally juvenile.

I've never been shy when expressing my hatred for coach hoodie, but his post-game comments set an all time low. After his team's offensive front was pounded by the NY defense all night, and his team lost the biggest game of the year, he gave NO credit whatsoever to NY. He simply said, 'they made some plays, we made some plays, they made a few more.' Typical pompous hoodie. This ticks me royally, and I am not even a NY fan. hoodie is the face of the franchise and just played on the biggest stage in the world, man-up for Pete's sake and give credit where credit is due. But no, instead he went about with the demeanor of a spoiled little brat who had to settle for vanilla ice-cream at his birthday party, because Chuck-E-Cheese ran out of chocolate. > Congrats NY giants.

Another vote for the 101D. A nice medium powered rod like that deserves a lightweight reel that excels at handling lighter weights. The 101D is it. Save the 201D for a longer and/or heavier powered rod to balance it out. Plus it will give you added line capacity for heavier presentations. I'd save the Zillion for a heavier powered rod as well. The mag Z can get a bit cranky with lighter casting weights. Maybe the 201D for spinnerbaits and buzzbaits as the HEG kicks tail. And the Zillion for jigs, frogs, c-rigs. Just a thought.

Were you at the Gander on 27th St.?

If I had the dough, I'd be heading south for the jazz fest. Stevie Wonder is one of the headliners this year. He is near the top of my list of shows to catch. I caught Dr. John about five years ago in New Orleans at the Popeye's music fest. It was right down the street from Cafe Du Monde.

Open water spinnerbaits.

What model is that Burley? I am looking for a new slip bobber rod for 'eyes, and the CUS76M has caught my eyes.

I seen Otis at the Fillmore East on the Lower East Side of NYC and Action City in Brooklyn THE SINGLE GREATEST STAGE PERFORMER I HAVE EVER SEEN< HE OWNED HIS AUDIENCE FROM THE FIRST NOTE ON! Both times: Booker T & MG's with the Memphis Horns were the back up 8-) That's awesome Muddy. I do not doubt he was the best on stage you have seen, especially with that brass behind him. When I am sitting here, watching his live footage on Youtube, I'm darn near dancing in my chair. I couldn't imagine witnessing that energy live. Unfortunately he was gone long before I was born, so old footage is all I have. I don't know how he did it. Every single second of every single song, that man was all out. Just by watching his face, his legs dancing, his facial expressions, you can really tell how much he loved performing for people. And his voice was so rich and consistent. He truly was something special. When I was a kid, I listened to some of his performance @ the Monterey Pops Fest. I was blown away. His performance there is a story in itself. Great story Muddy!

Otis Redding (if I could see anyone living or dead, it would be Otis) Sam Cooke Stevie Wonder The Temptations (especially their later stuff) Smokey Robinson and the Miracles Marvin Gaye Sam and Dave Del Vikings, and just about any other do *** CSN&Y The Grass Roots Buffalo Springfield Three Dog Night The Dead Traffic (and every other Stevie Winwood stuff except his solo crap) The Association Allman Bros. The Yardbirds The Beatles James Taylor Neil Diamond Phish Pearl Jam Medeski, Martin, and Wood and String Cheese Incident Also, Avid mentioned early 60's: Del Shannon, and all the one hit wonders........ Love them too, always makes me smile.

A St. Croix EC68MXF, and a Loomis BCR852. This season I need to pick up a few rods for heavier presentations. I'm probably going to go with a BCR853, a Shimano Cumara 68MHXF, and a Kistler HE76HC. If I can find a good enough deal, I'd friggin' love to pick up a Steez STZ 711HFBA. God, I'm going to break the bank here and these are just plastics rods. This doesn't include the respective reels, a crankin stick, a few walleye rods....... This never ends does it?

St Croix makes a spinnerbait rod in the LT series called the Sniper Spinnerbait. It's 6'3", medium powered, and has a fast action. If you look around, you can find the 07' models for right around your budget. I have not fished it, so I can't attest as to how it handles cranks. Just a thought.

Great idea, looks sharp. Now I don't have to worry about my skirts melting when the temp gets above 90*. ;D

Any word on the specs?

St. Croix. They make a very fine product. The blanks are awesome, and the attention to detail and QC is fantastic: no gobs of glue here or there; handles are flush; never had a winding check come off, etc. I can't say the same about some other high price rods that I've bought over the years. They are a multi-species rods company, with rods tailor-made for everything from pitching tiny jig/minnow combos for spring walleye, to ripping monster wooden jerks for fall muskie. Aesthetically, they are really nice for a domectic stick, especially with the release of the new LT's. And I love the notion of a family owned rod company nestled in America's northwoods.