ChiCityBasser

Yes I agree I might be packing it all in just after this weekend as well with the colder temps the soft water fishing season is going to be over with til spring.

The story was a great read and so were the posts after wards and thanks for sharing the experience with us.

You might also try the 3" Damiki Hydra

I agree the video is sweet.

Right now for finesse I'm using a fat ika and a 5" senko on both spinning and casting rigs.

Thanks guys and true Big-O and much better than sitting home watching someone else catching them on WFN...lol

I was off today and wanted to get out today and see if I could have any success with the fat ika or any other soft plastics. Temps are in the high 30's to very low 40's with a slight breeze and overcast and dreary. I hit the lake and started with a green pumpkin fat ika with a rattle inserted. I made a couple casts and felt that familiar pecking on the line and set the hook and missed. I cast to the same are and felt the pecking again and swung and missed. I got anxious I think since its been awhile for catching one with our cold weather. Made the same cast and felt the pecking again and this time I got dink # 1 which went 1 lb. Dink # 2 came a couple of cast later on the same bait fished on 6# flouro also. It just felt good to get a hookup and both fish were on the outside weedline with me lifting and letting the fat ika fall. The fish picked them up while they were sitting still right after the lift. I missed 2 more but just to feel them take the bait and get a couple felt good as I said. Soon it will be iced over here til mid april so this was fun.

Not trying to highjack the thread but for the Braid users what color do you go with red, yellow or green?

No problem Dan and I think I picked mine up for about the same price.

The Accurist 2 AC501cx is the older of the 2 models with it coming out in 2005. The Accurist AC501pt came out in roughly 2007 with a good write up on the AC501cx on TT posted below. The newest model is the dark grey with red accents which came out just a couple years ago. I have both PT versions being the AC501PT and the latest dark grey versions and actually purchased both off ebay as well. http://www.tackletour.com/reviewquantaccurist2.html

I have both the older accurist model and the new model accurist as well. I have used the older model and its held up well over the past couple of years with no complaints. The new model hasn't even seen line yet but it will soon before the freeze over up my way.

Good luck with your rod choice and since they are sponsor your choice makes even more sense. Sure it will perform well for you and great reel choice as well as I have the accurist ready to go onto a rod for light flipping and pitching as well.

Give this rod a look over while its on sale at 50% off. Its a Kistler MgJTCR 7' Heavy http://www.kistlerrods.com/p/fishing-rod/c-magnesium-ts-fishing-rods/MgJTCR70.html

Mom got you a great present and got that email and thought about picking up the other rod on sale for myself. Let us know how it works for you after some water time in the spring.

Nice looking combo and yeah its ashame you have to just stare at it for awhile. Water will be froze over in my neck of the woods soon as well so I know your pain.

Right now I gotta go with soft plastics and the fat ika and senko have been working well for me when I can get out.

I suggest if you can that you get to a store that carries a couple of brands and get a feel for some of the reels and reel zizes. Everyone here will have a personal preference and what may work well for me may not work well for you. Pick a price point and get some hands on with reels in that price point.

Cabelas XMLTi 7' MH/F for $119 at Cabelas and the Daiwa Exceler 7.1:1 I have in the flea market for $50 for a $169 total. Reel is spooled with 30# Cajun Braid so you wouldn't need to have it spooled. Great combo

I have one of the newer XMLTi rods that I use 6'9" M/F that I use as a plastics rod and got it on sale for $109 after $10 off and I don't know about some of the other rods but this is the best bang for the buck. It's super light and sensitive and I've been using it for plastics, mainly fat ika's and senko's. My brothers fish the Veritas and Verdict and its no comparison after they've used the xmlti rod. They are still on sale for $119 as of today as well.

Smoke 100 for me but that is a personal preference.

I've used 832 30lb with a mono backing on the reel with no leader as I don't fish many or at times any lakes that are clear enough to warrant a leader.

Rod

From the TW review: Casting: The Smoke reels are good casters, especially with the heavier stuff. The reels make use of the proven ACS cast control system which is an externally adjustable centrifugal system. I’ve found that this system is good for the complete range of weights and in free mode really allows anglers to get the distance they want on larger heavier baits. Just make sure to properly feather that spool as “free” mode really is just that, and if you are not careful you’re going to waste valuable fishing time picking out nasty backlashes. A closer look at the main gearing During the field tests we found the Smoke good for casting weightless rigged plastics and excellent for casting heavier baits including big cranks, ripbaits and swimbaits. The 105 class reels proved to be superb at handling large Luhr Jenson Woodchoppers in the Amazon and the ability make changes to the centrifugal system without dissembling the reel is a major plus.

Nice looking setup kinda looks like the energy reel from a couple years ago

Nice fish guys and last time out got one at a small lake/pond near Morraine Valley college that went 1 lb and have to post pics later.