Hooligan

That's the way to go.

I don't think I can count the number of DT6s that I've broken. I think the vast majority of it is where you're fishing them. In chunk rock, I'll break at least three or four a day when I am fishing them hard. In wood, I don't think I've ever broken one. The only time I've ever broken a DT 16 is in big chunk rock, too.

I've got a pile of Shimano Curado 100 + 200 B reels that are well aged. Not much for rods, though.

I'm mistaken of nothing. During normal use is an indicator of materials and workmanship. After nearly thirty years of involvement in the industry and with a couple of the companies you've mentioned, as well as experience at the corporate and retail level with others I speak from experience. I'll leave it at that you're not really understanding what it is that you're professing. You're reading the warranty alone, have no background of information or of the processes involved therein.

Honestly, the day I understand that aspect of it, I'll make ten million in a minute. What I really believe that it has to do with is not the majority of anglers. I think the really hardcore guys, guys that can pattern fish, and are capable of thinking on their feet aren't the ones that are buying into it. BUT the guys that see shows and see fish being caught in numbers and decent fish- well, they think it will work for them so they buy it. The chances are that a lot of them will catch fish on it, and continue the pattern of buying what they see work. It's the magic bullet theory all over again.

Here's the thing- Red Craw is a KNOWN good color throughout the South during the pre-spawn. It's no surprise to me that it was that color, none at all. Look in any of their boxes and I'll guarantee you there was a LOT of that same color or a variation thereof. It would have been full of Red Craw, Demon, Chili Craw, Chili Bowl... It happens every year, in and out. When KVD won on the Black Chart 1.5, it sold out in hours all across the US. Then, a year later, they introduced the Catouache Special color, and said, this is what he REALLY was fishing- IT sold out all across the US. When Chris Lane won it on Otters- you couldn't buy them regardless of color. Cliff Pace? Couldn't find a V+M football or twin tail anywhere they were sold. Think anglers aren't looking for a magic bullet? Look at the threads here, even! "Top Five Baits" "If you could only have Ten Lures", "Top Three Soft Plastics", "Soft PLastic Colors". It never ends. We, as a whole, are always looking for the latest and greatest. That's the way it is.

Oh but they will; and by the thousands. Don't you know it's the next magic bullet?

THat's why St Croix has an actual Warranty- if the rod is broken under normal circumstances, they'll fix or replace it. BUT- the caveat is you have to send the rod to them. Like DVT stated the replacement is more of a retention tool than anything.

It's stated at various places, including in Bass Pro Shops warranty information from the corporate standpoint, as well as from several other stores, and in the Shimano dealer agreement. Just like the dealer agreement with EVERY Pure Fishing full line dealer states that within one Year of P.O.P they are to handle the exchange in store, beyond that all rods would go back to Pure- there are a couple of exclusions here, though.

You think incorrectly. The agreement is that Shimano warranty will be honored over the counter, it's supposed to be that way with all Shimano dealers, it's an OVER THE COUNTER warranty. The warranty is the sole responsibility of Shimano, not Bass Pro Shops. Unfortunately, there are some poorly educated folks in the stores that don't realized, or understand, the corporate policy.

What's innovative about a spinnerbait? Well, in certain cases, head design and balance of the bait. Granted it is still the same premise, but, when the bait balances properly, there is far less tendency for the bait to run on angle, there's far less tendency for the bait to roll. Tapered wires and arms- greater vibration and flex in the blade arm, with increased frame rigidity. Super large profiles with lower mass weight- less thrown baits. The general premise hasn't changed at all. It's still R bend with overhead blades. Any variation of that, be it a drop bait, or ledge bait, or burner, or anything like that- they're all the same in that sense.

Only blade bait I ever fish anymore is Wordens.

I'm a huge fan of Costa lenses. Plain and simple. That said, the technology that Oakley has put in their lenses of late is really gaining on some of the best in the business. They've gone to a process that allows the polarization to occur throughout the lense, rather than a single coating like a lot of others. One of the big things, too, with Oakley and Costa is that they're the only two companies that I know of that make a pair of lenses for one pair of glasses at the same time. Everyone else makes a bunch of rights, then a bunch of lefts, and it can lead to differences in the way the light is handled by the lenses. When it comes down to it, I'll still buy Costas. I fish the Copper Green Mirror lens for about 95% of what I do, and have no problems in low light. When it is really early and I'm sight fishing or something like that, I can get by in a pinch, but really prefer the Sunrise for the purpose. Touching on the low light- I still have excellent vision on cloudy days. The only time I really need to switch to that Sunrise is very early morning or very late in the day. I tend not to like them when there is much ambient light, at all, because they let in too much light. Lastly, you can get 580P Costas for around the $150 mark, easily, and you are going to be at a minimum $300 for the Fast Jackets. Get one pair of 580G Costas in a copper green mirror for what...$250? Wear them, decide if you DO need the Sunrise and if you do, get a pair of 580P glasses to swap out for those times. You'll be happier in the long run, methinks.

They're a lot wider bait than the Pointer, or the Rogue, and they don't have any of the rogue roll at all. The thing that I've found with the KVD, too, is that you can work them very quickly or with slow pulls. About the only other bait out there that will do that is a 110.

The SS. I'd have to say that it's pretty similar to the ROF5 8" Hudd. It might be just a little off of that fall rate, but it's very close. You know how some Hudds will sink just a touch slower, and some will be just a wee faster? I get the sense that the Savage Gear baits are a little like that. I've talked to other guys that have fished several of them side by side and thrown out there that the sink rate is a little bit variable in the SS. I didn't spend any time throwing the S at all, so I can't really compare it.

I don't have any pictures of the bait, sorry.

Right now, my most favorite stick for those two purposes, and for super size cranks, is a Shimano Crucial Swimbait MH with a Calcutta 300D. The rod will set you back about $180 and a decent reel will be around $200 at a minimum.

Primarily because spinning reels in freshwater sizes are lacking in torque, and the retrieve rate is far too high for most techniques. I use MH spinning rods for a variety of techniques from stick baits and plastics to soft jerkbaits to light Carolina and Mojo rigs.

I'm a bit of a trouble maker... Always have been, always will be. Picked up the name Hooligan some 30 years ago, and it stuck.

Maybe I just got a bum deal on one. The second section of mine just shredded. I mean, literally, it was holding by a thread. The mesh almost seemed like it never even got seated in the plastic and tore free at the joint really quickly. The other thing, too, is that the "line through" portion of the bait seemed to wear very quickly. The nose was torn after just one fish. It should have been adeqaute to pop the treble free and let the bait slide up, yet it didn't seem to do that. It seemed like the hook wouldn't pop out of the slot until after a couple head shakes and by that time, the damage was done. What I will say, though, is the bait swims better than almost anything I've ever thrown. It's extremely realistic in the water, and it moves really, really well. I definitely like the way the bait swims and the sink rate.

Meh... The thing is, not all lakes stratify. Secondly, it isn't about temperature change. That's the reason that the lake stratifies, but the reason the thermocline is important is because of oxygen densities, as well as phosphorous and nitrogen levels, along with CO2 density.

The water column is from surface to bottom, regardless of where I am. Target depths are just that; based on my knowledge and ability to use maps and my GPS/sonar. Using any method for determining water clarity is somewhat unimportant. Fish can be shallower or deeper than what that reading might actually say. It could also be a very localized occurrence. I use water temperature, sonar, weed growth, structure, and light more than just water clarity.

Glenn, I'll definitely try to touch base if I get time. Like I said, I don't really know what my schedule is yet. If it works out that'll be fantastic.

Anyone headed down? I am down Friday and Saturday. Wouldn't mind grabbing dinner or a drink with anyone if there's time. Don't really know my schedule yet, but if it might work out, give me a shout.

Decent bait, but man, they're fragile. I like essentially everything about it. I threw it this past week in CA and about five fish shredded it.