Iowa Matt

Caught hundreds (likely thousands since they're my favorite fish!) of whites on the following: St. Croix Avid 7' UL Shimano Stradic 1000 6lb fireline or 5lb powerpro Love the whites! Matt

X2 KVD = Jimmy Johnson..........complete domination because of relentless planning, correct decision making, and total execution.

Just my $0.02, but I was kinda put off by the volume (audio, not physical........) of the new guy. I watched most of the weigh in on ESPN.com and was amazed at how loud that guy can yell! I understand its a tense and exciting moment, but darn he was deafening when I had the sound up high enough to hear the fisherman. I had to turn it down for him and up for the contestants......which got a little annoying. I think he did a fine enough job as a host, just needs to tone down the screaming a little.....you can be intense without shouting all the time. Matt

Man don't I know about how expensive the winters get! Thanks for the pic of all the Steez rods! I have really really been thinking hard about a Steez Megatop for the PX68R.........I think that rod would really be awesome with that reel on top. Matt

Literally, the day after ice out on the bay where this was caught. Main lake still had some ice. Caught two like this in the same spot and both were fairly aggressive. March 27th of 2010. Matt

Some nicer weather this week has me really hoping that open water is only a month away........so I took a couple pics last night while I was playing around with my tackle in the basement. Casting reels PX68R Core 50Mg7 Calcutta TE 200DC Citica E Curado 200 E7 Zillion 6.3 Pluton 200SH Black Max (always thought they looked sweet!) 2 x Revo SX Calcutta 50B Spinning Reels Stradic CI4 1000 Stella FD 1000 Stradic MgFB 1000 Stradic FI 1000 Stradic FG 1000 Sustain 2500 FE Sustain 2500 FD Rods Some St Croix, couple Loomis, couple Shimano, couple I made, and a Carrot for flavor....... Matt

Bought this one in December and can't wait to try it out when the ice melts! I have used Sustains for several years and been very pleased with them. I am certain that this one will be no different. I really prefer the look of the D model to that of the new E model and got this for $380 on closeout. Seems like I am about the only bass fisherman that likes the 1000 size more than the 2000, 2500, 3000 sizes and many times that means that I can find some good deals. Matt

I use an SWBR903C for the majority of my swimbaits and am extremely happy with it. I would absolutely go with the 3 power instead of the 5 power if you intend on throwing lots of baits under 3oz. I use mine primarily for Spro BBZ Jrs and 5"-6" soft shads. It isn't enough rod for regular sized BBZs or River 2 Sea Kong sized baits. It also makes a fantastic rod for general pike fishing and for large topwaters. Matt

I always wanted one of these (the D model is the best looking IMHO) so I was a bad boy and got myself one that came in a couple days before Christmas. Got my wife something equally nice to match so I didn't feel too guilty...... Now only 3 or 4 more months of ice fishing before I can put this one to use...... Matt

Thats a Spro BBZ Jr in Sexy Shad pattern. Pike have been my favorite fish my whole life and if I could ahve just one lure this one would be it. The fast sinking one is more versatile than the slow sinking most of the time. Matt

I find medium to large swimbaits like the Spro BBZ, BBZ Jr, and River 2 Sea Kong are very effective nearly any time during the open-water season. Matt

I have several of each (Avids and Cumaras) and think they are both excellent. I like the fact that the Avids are made in America instead of China, but the Cumaras fish sooooo nice that its easy to overlook it. I think the choice for me (if I had to choose one of the other) would come down to whether I preferred a traditional cork grip or a split foam grip. Its not trivial, most folks come to prefer one or the other. Also, I seem to be the only person that really likes the Cumara hook holder. I am a huge fan of the Avid, but IMHO the CI4 is a little light to really balance them well, but feels amazing on a Cumara (I have one on a 6' 8" ML Cumara). I really like the regular Stradics and Sustains on Avids. Matt p.s. the best part is you can't go wrong with either!

I bought a G. Loomis SWBR904C for medium swimbaits this year and really like it. Its 7'6" so a little shorter than the Okuma. I know its not "technically" a swimbait rod, but I used a 7'2" Shimano Cumara MH for a year to fish 6" soft swimmers and Spro BBZ Jrs before I got the Loomis and it worked pretty well. Matt

Here is the most recent pic I have of my most used bass rods. The lineup has been added to slightly in the six months since I took the pic. The Calcutta 50 is now on a 7' M Cumara for small cranks and the 7' Loomis now has a RevoSX for spinnerbaits. My favorite new addition for this year is also not in the pic........will try to add it later. Its a Loomis SWBR904 with a Calcutta 200TEDC that I use for throwing mostly Spro BBZ1 Jrs. GL2/Calcutta 50 (small cranks/spinnerbaits), E21/CiticaE (larger cranks), St. Croix LTB Dropshot/Core50 (minnowbaits/topwaters/shakeyheads), Cumara/CuradoE (football jigs), Cumara/Stradic CI4 (dropshot), St. Croix Legend Elite/SustainFE (soft swimbaits), St. Croix LTB Dropshot/StradicFI (Shakeyheads), St. Croix LTW/StradicMgFB (small jigs) Matt

On my favorite lake! Looks like the main point on the west side of the north pit. Thats a good spot......there is a very large, shallow shelf there that fish in a feeding mood often use. Try a 5" hollow body swimbait there sometime.......... This one was caught a few yards from where you are on a Roboworm. Nice to see someone else on this board that fishes in the same places. Matt p.s. Go 'Clones! (B.S. 2003, M.S. 2007 from ISU)

I have caught a fair number of them on craw/nymph patterns while flyfishing for carp. Looks like a channel cat to me. I will have to try that thing with the vanilla......thats a heck of a good idea! Matt

Totally agree with you. I don't think I'll ever buy a standard bass boat. I live to close to saltwater to limit myself to a freshwater boat. If I ever join a bass club I'll be "that guy" with the deep-v. How can you not feel safe in this?...and it's d**n sexy too 8-) I'm "that guy" too. I have a 2009 Lund Predator exactly like the one in the pic except with a 4 stroke motor. I think its perfect for me and my family! The only downside I can find versus a traditional bass boat is that the slightly higher profile makes fishing windy shorelines a chore for the guy on the trolling motor. Other than that, its safe in big water, fast for its motor size/length, lighter than a same-length glass boat, far more durable when we go to Canada and there are going to be bumps on rocks, and easier to tow with a regular suv/truck since its lighter. Matt

Do you have the absurd rule that all fish must be kept? I know it wasn't in effect when I was there and fished in the late 90's, but I have heard bits about it since. I think that would really curtail angling (and that seems to be the point). Matt

This was the single best purchase i have ever made for a boat back when I had my Tracker (also underpowered). I can't tell you what a difference this made to my boat. It was literally like night and day. It planed in half the time and added 3-4mph to my top end (I assume because it added lift and got more hull out of the water). It really is a very cheap way to make an underpowered boat act better. Matt

I find it funny how the walleye guys and the saltwater guys can't get enough Gulp! and the bass guys almost universally hate the stuff. It is absolutely my go-to bait when walleye fishing, but I don't use it for bass because I hate how it dries up so quick when you don't have it in the water for two minutes. I would vote for anything Yamamoto as being overrated. They are so fragile that I typically get 1-2 fish per bait..........thats why after about 2 bags I started buying other brands of the same shape baits. Matt

I have the 6' 8" Cumara medium light spinning rod and it is my favorite out of all the rods I own! I use it for drop shots, shakeys, weightless plastics, and small topwaters. I bought it specifically for drop shot, but discovered that it is an extremely versatile rod for all sorts of things. It also makes a second to none walleye rod for jigging and casting grubs. Several family members have used it and they don't ever want to give it back! Highly recommended!

What on earth were you doing to cause all that? I use spinning probably 60% of the time (I have Cores, Curados, and Calcuttas on the casting rods) and NEVER experience any of the troubles of which you speak. I guess there are a couple observations I seem to make often about "bass guys" that hate spinning tackle. 1. They often use spinning tackle that is a step down in quality from their casting tackle. This sets them up for unhappiness. 2. They almost invariably use line that is too heavy for the reel they have. No wonder you have trouble if you put #14 flouro on a 1000 size reel (not saying you did, but I see it on here a lot). 3. People spool their line incorrectly onto the reel. Having worked in a tackle shop for more than a decade I saw this weekly. A nice reel + good line (in a proper size) still equals a mad fisherman if the line isn't spooled right. Just my $0.02.........with modern spinning tackle, there is no reason to ever have line twist issues or feel like you are undergunned. Matt

I would argue the opposite is true. Nice rods are more important in ULs than any other power since the cheaper ones are whippy noodles and essentially useless for casting any distance with accuracy. A decent rod paired with a decent reel and good line opens up new territory for UL fishing effectively. Just my $0.02, your results may vary Matt

My biggest thing on UL rods (having sold tackle for 15 years) is to make sure people get the longest rod they can in their price range. This will certainly result in them using and enjoying the rod for a larger range of fishing situations. I use a 7' St. Croix Avid UL ($180) a lot and its the ticket for sure! In the 100$ range you can get a 7' St. Croix Premier and thats what I would get if I were on a budget. Matt

It is worth saving a while longer or staying another couple hours at work.........do whatever you gotta do, but YES, the Cumaras are worth the money. I was an absolute St. Croix shill, until I got my first Cumara. I still LOVE the St. Croix line, but I have not fished another rod like the Cumara in terms of solid feeling and crazy light weight. I throw a Spro BBZ1 Jr. on the 7' 2" MH and thats a decently chunky swimbait. We do not really have any heavy cover situations around here so I can't comment on that. Matt