J Francho

Dick's Sporting Goods has Daiwa Capricorn XTC on sale for $50. The 2500 size is a good all purpose size. Excellent reel, I have two 2500's, and one 1500.

I use Duo-lock snaps for cranks, topwaters, and hard jerkbaits - no swivel. Just about everything else, I tie direct. About the only time I use a swivel, is with a spoon, casting or jigging. The difference is, that I use a split ring to attach the swivel to the spoon, and no snap - tie direct to the swivel itself. I've had good luck with Eagle Claw Lazer series snaps and Spro swivels.

Before the Senko was a figment of Gary's imagination, the dead stick wacky rigged straight tail worm was referred to as a "Do Nothing" rig. Funny, before that, that was what a Carolina Rig was called. We used to call Drop Shot a tight line rig. The only difference was we didn't pass the tag back through the hook eye, and usually had a real night crawler on the hook, LOL. If you said "Rapala" it only meant the original minnow bait. Now there at least 30 different Rapala baits. Tubes were Gitzits, and "tubes" were tiny little crappy jigs. Times change, names change.

But its upside down! Just kidding ;D

Pointer 65 River2Sea Spirit 65 Ahhh, "sissy baits." ;D Just kidding! With the right reel and line, you shouldn't have any trouble tossing those with a BC. Obviously, not as far as a Pointer 100, but I really don't think you gain with a longer rod.Consider this. I have two MH Team All Stars, one 6', and another 6'6". The handle on the 6'6", is longer, so you're really only gaining about 2-1/2" in length starting at the reel seat. Go to 7', and there might be more gains, but then again, If I were throwing Pointer 65s, I'd be using a medium power rod, not a MH. The ideal rod for me, would be the handle on the 6' rod, with the front end length of the 6'6". The larger handle gets in the way, and the extra weight adds to fatigue. Its very interesting how wildly different everyone's preferences are for this.

4/0 Owner WGP, though I've also had good hookups with their Rigging Hook, though I don't like the tie off offset to the hook point. That may all be in my head though. Haven't noticed any issues.

Its a colloquialism, and can refer to many things, like Speed said. Here in WNY, stick baits are long, skinny jerkbait cranks, like Rogues, Husky Jerks, Thundersticks, etc.; slashbaits are X-rap, Pointers, etc.; jerkbaits can also mean flukes, but we usually just say flukes.Senkos, and all the knockoffs, are however referred to as Senkos. I have heard them referred to as "stickbaits," most recently on In-Fisherman radio of all places.

I'd think you'd run the risk of breaking the rod at any point along the blank. You need a heavier rated rod.

There is no central focus in the picture, and no strong compositional structure. Therefore it is just a document of the area n the field of view. I'd say the first then. Long exposures can be fun, but you've got to put together something strong compositionally. Here is one from my local trout stream taken last winter.

I don't think 6" would really have any effect on the length of the cast. Obviously, a 7'6" rod generates a ton more tip velocity than a 4'6" rod, but it is not nearly as important as the taper and power. It would also make a difference if you are using spinning or baitcasting gear. Personally, I prefer baitcasting. Also, I don't consider most jerkbaits "light" - what are you guys using that you consider "light"?

Ghost Tenn. Shad is a newish color, and he said this was an old bait, so I'm ruling that pattern out. There isn't any "netting" pattern on this bait as is seen on all the "shad" colors. My guess, Brown Hitch or Clear Lake Hitch.

I've played several bass back to the boat on a crankbait with the hooks removed (prefishing for a TX.) but never landed one like that. That's wild, you must have been dead sticking the bait for a while.

It can be done on a forum without any issue at all. here is one I did for a photography forum: http://photocamel.com/forum/image-editing-color-management/18832-anatomy-product-shoot-part-ii-lots-images.html. If you need help hosting images, let me know, I have plenty of room on my site.

A fast taper doesn't make it feel stiffer, but a heavier power rod does.

That's pretty cool, and CUTE! With that rig, I would have all the confidence to hand a kid any rod while we're in the boat. That's actually my biggest fear - losing one over the side. God knows, I've done it as an adult, LOL. A guy in my club chucked a GLX and TD-Z into the lake at the last TX. That was a bummer, since the TX before, he broke a rod.

All you guys using 7'+ rods, are you jerking to the side?

Its going to take a MUCH larger aquarium to house even a small pickerel. Think 8x2' and you're getting started. Not an ideal captive resident.

My 9 year old son uses a 5'6" pistol grip with an old "33" and a 6' Med Shimano Convergence with a Stradic FD 1000 spinning reel. He has snuck a few casts in with a BC, but knew enough to tighten the spool down. He is most comfortable with the pistol/spincast rig. Big Al at 8 years old with a fish on one of casting rigs:

Actually, the biggest fish I ever caught was a shark - a Mako. It was about 6' long. In FW, the biggest are carp and salmon, somewhere in the 30# range. Other notable big fish are a 22# brown trout and an 18# northern.

or hooksets or speed of retrieve, or erratic retrieves. That's a classic case of the fish talking to you... No trailer hooks for me. That too, great points. Its a constant game of adjustment.

Only when I tie my own replacements, and that's usually similar to the way the came.

If its marked with a price tag, then Dick's will usually give it to you at that price. If it looks like some one tampered with the tag (tag switching) they'll use manager's discretion on pricing. I bought my son some baseball equipment that was mis marked. Same story, pointed it out to the cashier, but still got the price. When I went back, they had fixed the prices. In a store with that many SKUs, and under trained part time help, accidents like that happen. Be honest and keep your eyes open - managers will remember you, and sometimes offer you better deals later.

I think this really comes down to you mechanics and physical height. I'm only 5'8", so I prefer the 6' length. I generally pump the rod straight down, or a down and a bit to the right, depending on the retrieve. If was building my own though, I'd make it 6'2". That would be perrrrfect for me.

If I get that many on the trailer, I start experimenting with other colors.

Some is conventional wisdom, but a lot is preference, and what you're used to. For me its exactly the opposite. Don't confuse power with action. I want a fast tip and tons of backbone for cover. Rocks are not cover, but structure, BTW. For lighter stuff, I like a slower, lighter power rod. The exception being my DS rod - for that I prefer an X-fast, ML power rod. I also prefer a slower action for treble hook baits.