Jrob78

So tense! There's been so much movement at the cutline of every event when it gets to the elimination days, you couldn't script it any better.

I appreciate you taking the time to provide a real world example and I agree that balance point isn't the tell all when comparing rods of different lengths, with different components, some of which are on both sides of that balance point. All of those things play a role in how a set up will balance, as will grip position. I'm simply saying, as @BaitFinesse also stated, anything that moves that balance point closer to the reel seat is going to lessen felt tip heaviness on a given rod. This is especially true when you grip a reel with all fingers in front of the trigger, close to the reel nut, as I do. Adding weight to the butt of the rod is going to be much more effective than adding a heavier reel but it isn't nearly as easy or convenient to accomplish.

You are correct. This topic comes up pretty frequently and people love to argue over it, call each other "weight weinees" some even say the reel has nothing to do with balance, which is absurd. I think people just get bored waiting for spring. I've only ever had one rod that I felt I needed to add weight, it balanced out way ahead of the reel seat and was a tip up technique rod. Adding a cap with weights in the butt made the combo much more pleasurable to fish even though it added several ounces to the overall weight of the combo. I've never worried too much about balance as most of my setups are custom and I build them with what I consider acceptable balance based on the technique they are intended. I never worry about it for tip down, cast and retrieve presentations as it doesn't really matter (to me.) Tip up presentations it becomes more critical (to me) but as long as the tip heaviness isn't extreme, I'm good with it and will use a heavier reel to act as a counterbalance if necessary.

Good grief, numbers are down a little on Falls Lake but size certainly isn't! There have already been a few 8's and a bunch of 6's and 7's and it's only a couple of hours in.

Kistler H3 7'3" HXF with OG Zillion

I didn't say today's rods were heavier, I said they were tip heavier than older rods. Longer rods combined with the lightest components and reels possible make for tip heavy rods. The flipside of that is you can have entire combos that weigh less than your daddy's guides.

I think part of the reason it has become such a talking point in the last 10-15 years is mostly due to the trends in rods and reels. Rods have gotten longer, grip materials have gotten smaller and reels have gotten lighter. All of these things work together to create combos that are increasingly tip heavy, there is no way to avoid it. I don't think balance was much of a concern when reels weighed 10-12oz and rods were all 6' long.

I know they are hitting it at the perfect time but the fish there seem so healthy.

It's going to be a long year but we have some guys with a chance to prove whether they belong. Not expecting a whole lot of wins though.

Marty Stone and JT Kenney have great chemistry and are really good commentators. It doesn't normally feel forced. They give good info without overpowering what we're seeing.

I've been trying to find a concrete answer but it doesn't seem like anyone writing articles knows for sure either. It does seem like he probably won't be able to defend next year, I was wrong.

No, I'm not 100% sure about that. I'm not arguing with you, you're probably right but what happens if one of the Opens guys or BASS Nation guys wins the Classic? Are they also not qualified for the next years Classic if they don't fish the Elites? I would think the previous years winner would be in no matter what. Edit: It looks like you guys may be right. I've seen one thing that says it will be up to BASS whether they allow him to fish next years Classic and then I saw this on another sight.

This is what I do too. Open them, change out the hooks and split rings and organize them in plano boxes.

Yes, the winner gets an automatic invite and fishing the Elite Series isn't a requirement to qualify for the Classic. Edit: It looks like I was wrong, he probably will not be allowed to fish next years classic.

Crazy day!

I think you're right, I can't tell that it does anything else. Faircloth caught a 9-04 to jump into 2nd! NC is going to end up beating FL and TX.

You don't, the correct answer is to buy it. ?

Anybody know what the stars are for next to each angler's name on the scoretracker? You can highlight them but I can't tell what it does.

It isn't what I would use but if you are actually flipping or punching and not pitching, I'm sure it would work fine.

NC showing out for sure, I'm impressed!

I didn't know much about any of these lakes but there have already been several 7 lbers caught and it's only a couple of hours into the day. Greg Vinson leads with 4 bass for 19-03 right now.

I've had a lot of luck with the old Xcalibur wake baits that look quite a bit like these and the old Lucky Craft RC wake baits that are this shape but jointed.

I like horizontal line ties for things like shakey heads, football jigs, basically jigs I crawl along the bottom. I like vertical ties for swim jigs, flipping jigs and jigs that I move through vegetation. I'm not really sure how much difference it actually makes but that's what I do.

My dog prefers documentaries.

Just use a backer and if the 17 doesn't work out you can change it to something a little lighter and won't be out too much line. Another thing I do sometimes when I'm only taking 1 or 2 rods on a quick bank fishing trip is switch reels out to get an optimal line for whatever set ups or techniques I plan to use that day.