webertime

Lipstick Red... hmmmm

I wouldn't use a Recon for cranking. However Phenix makes some sick and highly regarded cranking rods (x-11 through x-13) and they're cheaper than the Recon.

Revo Winch @ TW for 159, slightly cheaper on the bay.

ebay, new Curado G's for less than that. MAYBE a new Gen 2 Revo STX as well.

I'm up in Vermont, I have fished all over New England though. Your 6' m/f spinning rod could be used for tubes. I didn't realize you used a ML for your DS. Here's your spinnerbait rod (no need to thank me): http://www.stcroixrods.com/shop/catalog/Freshwater-23-1.html#Legend_Tournament_Bass_Casting_Rod_LTBC66MHF_11-325-23.html That's a great rod and a steal! I use (for whatever this is worth) as a non boater: 7'6" H Phenix Recon [766] (Flipping, Jigs, Carolina Rig, Frogs) 7'1" MH Phenix Recon [715] (Keitech type swimbaits, spinnerbaits, bigger cranks, smaller jigs/Texas rigs, some jerkbaits) 7' M Lamiglas Excel [703S] (Spinning rod for DS, shaky, tubes, etc.) A Medium power with a more moderate actions so the tip is pretty soft, a fantastic rod. These three went with me to all tournaments I cycle in the following depending on where the tournament is, weather, smallmouth or largemouth bais: 6'6" Medium casting (jerkbaits and topwaters) 7' MH Cranking rod (cranks, ripping cranks out of weeds) 6'8" M XF Spinning rod (senkos/ikas) Another flipping stick if it's shallow and I'll have a frog on the Recon. Just another thing to consider if you already don't have one, one of the inflatable life vests, I just keep it on. For me I find the faster and easier I can move around (re-rigging, getting the net for the boater, getting settled when the boater says "we're out of here", etc.) the better I can concentrate at keeping a line in the water and not worrying about loose ends. If you are heading up to VT at any point drop me a line, I'll hook you up.

For your (our area): Rocky "Smallie" Lakes, weedy shallows, and in your case the CT River some funny tidal Largemouth action... If you haven't already done so, learn tubes/football head jigs (very similar techniques), Drop Shots, Shaky Heads (technique is similar to a tube and DS hybrid), and Carolina Rig. Flipping a Jig or T-Rig is very productive, fun and easy to learn, takes a bit to master. Tubes/DS/Shaky's can be fished on one rod, C-Rigs, footballs and Flipping "can" be done on another. Treble hook baits on another and a nice MH for spinnerbaits, senkos, etc., sort of a utility rod of sorts.

Southern Lake Champlain last winter, 18+lbs Northern, 14" Crappie.

If $ no object, Patagonia or south island of New Zealand, my brother is a guide down there. He's fished all over the world these are his favorites. If you want really crazy and hard to catch Browns, then sea-run Browns in Iceland or Argentina, mean mean trout. If you are interested PM me I'll get you in touch with him.

Non rod/reel stuff... Culling tags of some sort Scale Weigh bag of your own Bac Rac (I love mine, my boaters love no hooks near their seats). Lindy leader rolls for you c-rig and drop shot leaders... pre-tie a dozen of each in various lengths and you'll save a TON of time rigging on the water, makes life easier when you need to re-tie and you boater calls for the net.

Just to get you ice fishing stoke up...

"Fast Sinking Braid" is like saying "Skinny Fat Guy". 832 and Spiderwire Fluorobraid were supposed to be fast sinking, and aren't.

Rod: Lamiglas Excel 703S Reel: Pflueger Supreme XT Braid: Power Pro 15 or 20lb Leader: Orvis Mirage 1x Fly leader material (2'-3' long, hook 4"-16" from the swivel) Swivel: SPRO (tiny) Hooks: Gamakatsu Drop Shot 1/0 and 1 Weights: Danielson Pencil (belt slightly into a banana shape)

Tons of shops have Shimano Saharas for $45-50, I'd go that route. Rods... lots of nice ones out there, I LOVE my Lamiglas Excel 703S. I've landed 100's of fish on it, it's American made and the same blank as the Certified Pro. PM me where you can get this rod new for $80 shipped. (The Elite Tech's are nice too), Now I love braid for DS, you don't fish a DS on a slack line, so the "advantage" that fluoro "has" is a moot point, braid is just as sensitive. Braid will NOT give you line twist and loops, huge advantage there, just use ~20lb braid of your choice, a nice tiny SPRO swivel and make leaders up out of flouro. I pre-tie a dozen leaders in various length droppers and hook sizes and load them on this: http://www.cabelas.c...4620680��Inside the roll I put a selection of weights and keep everything nice and self contained. Saves a ton of time re-tying on a rocking boat. Lots of tournament guys are going this route.

I've had a MH Veritas and have a Recon 715. The recon is lighter and infinitely (for me) more comfortable than the Veritas. Action/power between the two is kind of hard since the Veritas fish a little heavier than their power and Recons fish a bit lighter. My 715 can toss a 5-6" Keitech on a 1/2oz head and not feel like I am over taxing it at all. The Veritas in a MH felt like I could snap it with a 1oz. bait (how it felt to me). Action-wise I'll put it this way, BOTH are called "fast" neither in reality are. Veritas is closer to an XF and the Recon is a bit slower, but nowhere near "Moderate/Fast". Now the M1 is, from what I gather, a 30 ton graphite (veritas grade, akin to IM6 graphite) with a Chinese version of that 3M resin that Loomis and NFC started to use a couple years back. With this resin less material is needed to attain a specific strength. With that you can go "ultra light" weight with adequate strength or you can go just plain old "light" weight with excess strength. The M1 is the latter. What are you planning on doing with this rod? (Reel/Line, etc) If you are prone to ripping fish faces or loosing fish once they are hooked, you may want to check out the Recon.

El Dee See... Local to you, call him... support 'merican made!

It looks an awful lot like the 17.5' Rick Clunn model 170 dc. I've seen 3 of those 94 to 96 go for $1200 (yes that's right) to $4000. A buddy has a 750 from 98(?) with a 115 and hits 48-49mph.

Silverbuddies DEEP for smallies.

I think you don't have far to go to get your rod! By all accounts those are great sticks.

Up here C-Rigs are one of the top 3 techniques. "Whatcha catch em on?" "Rig" That being said I sort of hated fishing it, just too big and cumbersome. Then I gave it and learned to embrace it and have to admit the darn thing works. Up here we use it in 17-30+fow to find fish on humps or flats. It's so windy up here you can't easily keep control of the boat and work a crank in those depths. Bomb a rig out, use the motor to control the drift ~.7-1.2mph. Pay attention to where the hits are (wind blown side of the hump? Top? etc.) once you get the pattern of where they seem to be relating to, you start concentrate on the spots with tubes, ds/shaky's (I still love flipping my T-rigs though).

Same here for my 6'9" all purpose, the line would slap the blank, until the trolling motor and 4 footers killed it...

Zombie

Go with the 6'8" Mojo Medium XF. I've had both Veritas and Mojo's. Veritas do have cracking issues, it's documented all over this site, the other larger forums, abu's own reviews on their own page, TW and BPS reviews. If you are looking for a ~$100 spinning rod, check out the 6'8" med xf BPS Carbonlite.

Lamiglas excel 705g can be had for ~$100. Same blank as their old SR models.

They will work anywhere. They not only look like trout, but suckers, shiners, bullhead and several other longer bodied forage.

Talk to the boater, stress to them that you don't want to be a bummer for them. I do that because every guy is different. Some don't mind if you bring 10 rods and a ruck sack full of tackle, others aren't psyched if you bring a single rod and 3 senkos. In time you'll figure out what you need to bring and not bring. There's a guy in our club (AOY or 2nd each of the last 4 years) that uses 2 spinning rods both rigged with the same bait. He switches the weight on occasion and rarely the color, but that's all this guy brings and uses and he stomps us regularly. This is to say that you should bring what you know you can catch fish on and no more. You don't need all 12 colors of senkos that you have in your bag at home. I used to get all spazzed out looking at all I brought and just confused myself when it came time to change baits, wasting time and losing confidence (have confidence is the real deal!) Generally the non-boater gets one of the compartments in the back of the boat, I always plan on that compartment being the size of a Nitro Z6's (small). This way all my stuff isn't wedged in there and taking me a ton of time to get too and making a big mess on the boat. Likewise you will often be kneeling where the livewell hatch is and you'll not want to be in front/on that for too long if the guy wants to get in there. Again it's all about not being a neusense, if you're cool to them they will be cool with you and that makes the days much better. Keep thier boat clean, unhook bleeders over the side of the boat, don't let a pickrel in the boat (we're weird about that up here). Ask what they do about netting. Do they call out something and want you immediately? Do they never use a net? Only the big ones? Take care of thier fish first if you get doubles. MY Suggestions: (I live on Champlain big lake with lots of variety) "Big Rod" C-Rigs, flipping, frogs (766 Recon/CuradoE/50lb braid) "Common Rod" Swimbaits, spinnerbaits, footballs, some flipping, some flukes, rarely bigger cranks/jerks (715 Recon/CuradoE/16lb Fluoro) "Pixie Stick" Spinning rod for Fat Ika's/Drop Shot/Senkos/Shaky Heads/smaller cranks and jerkbaits (Lamiglas Excel 703/Pflueger Supreme XT/20lb braid) "Trebles" Jerkbaits/Cranks/Topwater (6' 6" M Daiwa Tierra/CiticaE/30lb braid w/leader) "Just in case" I use for spinnerbaits, swimbaits, spooks, buzzbaits, if I already have a bait I am using on the Recon or Tierra, I'll use this one for another I'd use them for (6'10" MHxf Compre/CiticaE/ 12lb Yo Zuri Hybrid). MAX 6 3600 sized boxes, occasionally a small worm wrap as well. Scale, Culling Clips, lunch. pliars, something for leaders (C-Rig/DS), glasses, rag. Offer to pay thier entry fee or gas (our club tourneys are $30 so they are cool with me paying for them and call it good.) I offer to share if I am on fire with a certain bait, but try not to be annoying/obnoxious about it.