ChiCityBasser

Just got a notification I'm on the waiting list for the Illini BFL event at Rend Lake

Congrats on your finishes and even boating zero I'm sure you learned something from each outing.

Right now I have 13 setups but usually 3-5 make it out on a regular basis since I'm fishing from the shore.

I haven't had any success with the jig in the few times I have tried it but I have been using the senko and fat ika after reading a post by RW. I can only speak on the worm bite after having much success and learning to really feel the bite except when the fish just picks it up and moves off with it. I've had great success fishing with the worm, fat ika and creature baits and agree it's a matter of line watching and other factors plus the rod and line that contribute as well and practice, practice, practice and more practice. There have been days that only my plastics rods come out with me so I can get a better feel for the bites and learn what the cover and bottom feel like when using the fat ika and that has really made a difference in my hookup ratio. Great post Catt also.

Good Luck

I think you can go to the site and get that information regarding what they were catching them on.

I have 2 setups I use with the first being: 6'6" Cabelas XML H/F,Quantum Accurist 501 PT with 50# Cajun Braid 7'11" Quantum Superlite QTC711F(Telescoping Blank), H/F, Quantum Accurist AC101 HPT (7.0 Burner) with 50# Cajun Braid Those are my 2 choices and haven't had the 7'11 rod out yet but the Cabelas XML set up works great.

I like the show after seeing 2 rounds as well and like the format with the real time updates and no practice as well and actually having to put something together and find fish in the 2.5 hour period. I also like the smaller boats format as well.

The 75-10 would be the anglers total weight for the 3-4 day tourny of 75lbs, 10oz.

Great tips and info and I hope more members chime in as I'll be fishing my first tournaments as a co-angler as well in a couple of weeks.

Great write ups and thanks for sharing.

Just watched the first MLF fishing debut on the Outdoor Channel with Jason Quinn using the A rig and Brent Ehler just making the elimination rod within the last 3 min. This is a really good format with no practice and having to figure it out on the fly. All the anglers are great anglers on the b.a.s.s. or flw and I just enjoy watching them compete.

The Cabelas Prodigy is a very good rod and normally $100 and on sale now for $70 but doesn't come in a 6' 2 pc rod. i have a 7' 2pc MH/MF casting rod and a 7' 2pc M/F spinning rod.

My first was a Shakespeare which I sold to someone here on the board to use as a crankbait reel. My next was a Cabelas Prodigy and that was 4 or 5 years ago and still going strong.

I have a 7' MH/F Rig & Jig Tech Spec rod which is made by F&S for Dicks and the rod works great. I believe I paid $60 for the rod after a discount coupon and a in store rebate and it's a great rod even at full price. I use it for t-rigged soft plastics and mainly fish 7"-10" worms and fat ikas along with the damiki hydro. Right now the rod has 6" cajun red line mono and the rod sensitivity is great and I can feel the lightest of bites and last couple of days I have fished it with primarily a fat ika and it has produced eat day. Most fish were small but the rod has enough tip and backbone to handle any fish you may encounter.

I have a 7' MH/F Field & Stream Tech Spec RIg & Jig rod from Dicks that I use that is very sensitive for a bargain rod at $60 with the coupon. Don't know if they still make this model rod since they stepped up to micro guides. I also have a 6'9" M/F Cabelas XMLTi that I use for weightless plastics that works very well and you may still be able to find it in a Cabelas store as they were on clearance.

X2

No pics but these are the setups with a couple spinning reels needing rods: Spinning Equipment Quantum Catalyst PTi-20B / Cabelas Prodigy 7’ M/F Pflueger Supreme XT 2030 / Cabelas XMLTi 6’9” M/F Rainbow 1000 BM / Cabelas MagTouch 6’6” M/F (First cheap reel that has held its own) Quantum Kinetic PTi-20B / Dicks Tec Spec Rig&Jig 7’ MH/F Shimano Sahara 1000 / Cabelas XML 6’6” ML/F Quantum Incyte/Cabelas XML Rig&Jig 6'2" MH/F (Broke the tip and retipped was 6'6") Bps Viper 30(one of my first reels) Casting Equipment Quantum Energy PTxm 6.3:1 / Kistler Magnesium TS 7’ M/MF Cabelas Prodigy 6.3:1/ Cabelas Prodigy 7’ MH/MF Daiwa Exceler 7.1:1 / Cabelas Prodigy Micro 7’ MH/F Quantum Accurist PT 501/ Cabelas XML 6’6” H/F Quantum Energy PT 6.3:1/Cabelas XMLTi 7’ M/F Quantum Accurist PT 7.0:1/Quantum Superlite PT 7’11 H/F Cabelas Prodigy 6.3:1/Cabelas XMLTi 6'6 M/F

I have a couple of the XML including the 6'6" ML as well as a couple of the XMLTi rods of last year so looking forward to seeing how they compare as well. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/98789-cabelas-platinum-zx-rods-field-stream-writeup/

Simmons Sporting Goods just went back up on the price to $99.99 + $18.00 for shipping. I got my rod for $59.99 + $4.95 shipping which was possibly a mistake on the shipping since it did come in the hard pvc rod tube. I was eyeing the 6'10" model as well but pulled the trigger on the 7'11" model. I would wait for it to go on sale again and then grab you one before they are gone. As I originally wanted the 7'6" model and wanted too long and then they were gone.

Looking forward to the write up as I handled the rods in store but haven't pulled the trigger on one yet.

There is a review on tackletour but the review is of the 7'11" Heavy model which I purchased off ebay as well for flipping and pinching. In the review they tried to use it as a swimbait rod which didn't work out as well but you can get a bite of a review on the construction and components of the rod. You can also do a search of the net for reviews which is what I did before purchasing the rod off ebay from simmons sports. Haven't had to chance to test the rod but it feels good with the quantum accurist mounted on it.

LOL and I live near a BPS and Cabelas and made 2 trips to BPS during the classic and the wife never asked how much I spent at BPS, but each time I go to Cabelas she wants to go cause she likes the store and I can't make a trip without her to Cabelas.

Try ebay for a Heavy rod as I picked up a Quantum Superlite PT rod for $64 from simmonssports. The rod is 7'11" H telescoping rod. They also had some all star rods on sale that might work as well.

I think I was close to $125, Pflueger Supreme XT, glass beads, havoc plastics, 1 KVD 1.0 to round things out. I got in on the reel trade in and had $50 in gift cards