Big Tom

My sentiments exactly. Good luck!!!

LOL. ;D If I ever broke one, and I somehow was in love with it, I would just go buy another one. That sounds like an idiotic warranty.

Haha. It actually seems like its more work to get a license now then ever before. A lot of good that is doing. I know here in Kentucky, drivers have to keep a detailed drivers log and such. I just wished people used a little common sense. It says a lot about our society when they have to make a law against texting while driving in the first place.

I smile every time I see those little rods. I think it would be ultra fun to fight a fish on one and I can definitely see why it would be tricky to get the hang of. Do they have a Min. - Max. lure and line rating?

Congratulations, man.

I have a Powell 766 that I love. It is freaking powerful too. I use mine for Flipping and Pitching and it does both of those things perfectly. Its also rated up to 2 oz. but I think Powell is underrating it a bit. It is definitely a workhorse rod. I am not sure how the 765 would be.

I think they are both fine reels. Wouldn't mind having a whole bunch of both.

I bet that green reel would match a Champion Extreme just fine . I am a little bit particular about my rods and reels matching as well. There are a couple guys on here that has painted their reels. That may be something to consider.

I really enjoy most all pizza. I didn't get this sweet body being picky.

http://www.***.com/Megabass_Flap_Slap/descpage-MBFS.html

I don't really like using short rods but I do make an exception for topwaters. I have a 6' rod that I use and even though I have tried like crazy to replace it, it is perfect for that technique.

I may be alone in this, but I feel like GLoomis' rein as the rod company by which all others are judged is just about over. I'm the first to admit that I haven't been fishing very long but based on my experiences, other rod companies have just about caught up to Loomis' higher end offerings. (I say this loosely because I haven't spent a lot of actual fishing time with high end Loomis rods). Rods are becoming lighter, better balanced, are full of high end components and although it is accepted that sensitivity is mostly subjective, it isn't hard to tell that even the cheap offerings are much more sensitive than the budget bass rod offerings of the past. You can also currently get a whole lot of rod for a lot less money compared to the GLX and NRX lines. I think you can do very well shopping in the 150-250 dollar range. That range gives you a whole lot rod for the price. You mentioned that you already have a Dobyns. I hear nothing but good things about them and I plan on owning a few myself. St. Croix is a great rod company. I own a Premier spinning rod. I know its more of a budget rod, but it definitely gets the job done. I have also fished the Avid and it is a very nice rod for the money. I use Powell rods quite often. These rods are relatively cheap considering the quality you are getting. I own a 704C and it is pretty much my go to rod for just about any tip up/bottom contact technique. I also own a 766 Flip/Pitch/Punching rod which is an absolute beastly stick. Tackle Tour has a few reviews up. Kistler makes a mighty fine product. I have a friend that swears by them. He could easily afford any rod out there but is quite comfortable with the Magnesium TS line. I have fished Daiwa Zillion rods and I found them to be pretty amazing. I found them to be light, sensitive and ridiculously strong. A member here - KYNTUCKY WARMOUTH - has two of these sticks and he talks highly of them. If they intrigue you, shoot him a PM and he will address any questions you may have. Another manufacturer that sometimes gets overlooked is Damiki and their Dark Angel rods are superb. I think they only have a three year warranty but they are decently priced so it wouldn't break the bank if you accidentally broke one. I think the options you have are virtually endless. Good luck in your endeavor and let us know how it is going.

Yep.

If a close member of my family was dying and I could not afford their medication, I would steal it in a heartbeat. If that medication meant that he/she would pass more comfortably and with a little bit of dignity, it would be worth whatever punishment I would receive for my actions.

JCVD knows how to deal with that problem:

What he said. That sure is one peculiar little booger.

If only he had pulled out in front of a crash proof van...

I am glad you are liking your new rod. I have been a little interested in this series as well. Of all the rods I have handled, I think the Excel is the best feeling rod in its category.

I really haven't heard that much about it. I have handled it a couple of times. It is pretty heavy just holding it in the store but the building has pretty low ceilings so I wasn't able to get the tip up. It may be a pretty good deal for the money. I wish I could tell you more about it. There has to be a couple people on this forum who has fished with one.

If you can afford it, the Stradic would be a great first reel. I use a friends (KYntucky Warmouth) and it has every feature you could want in a spinning reel. It is also exceptionally light which is another good reason to own one. I don't really think it is overkill at all. Its just a little pricier than what is usually recommended for beginners. That said, those other options aren't too bad either. I really think you would be happy with any of those reels but the Ci4 is definitely in a different league.

This would be my guess as well.

That much is true. He actually has a pretty impressive chin. He lets people hit him and shrugs it off. I was amazed that Chael did wobble him a bit. I think its relatively safe to say that if there ever was a chance for Chael to beat Anderson, Saturday was it. If they are given a rematch, I think it will end the same...just earlier.

Couple more: