webertime

If it's not too weedy you can use a 1/0 Octopus or Circle hook through the Ika just below where the tenticles start and insert a nail/neko/wacky weight in the nose of the Ika. Causes it to stand up more (sort of like a Weeble ). I use a Medium XF rod with 8lb Sniper fluoro. This works well when working up or down humps/slopes. As you are pulling it up the slope is runs parallel to the terrain, then when you stop it "pops up". Smallies say "Oh no you di-int just stand up in my face!" and smash it.

2 Phenix Recon 766c with a Curado 201E7 and 50lb PP Powel Diesel 765 with a Citica 201E and 50lb Tuf Line.

Sedona and Sonora spools will work as well (just as long as they are the same generation as your Spirex').

Try "skooting" too. Instead of lifting your rod tip up as you retrieve, causing more of a "hop", you move your rod tip down (like a slower less powerful jerkbait motion). The bait just shuffles along, I think more naturally and with less slack line involved.

How's this... Fished a tournament Saturday up on Missisquois Bay (Where David Dudley won the Champlain FLW). We gave the reef a break at noon and went to the backwater. Sunny, very few clouds, water is LOW (77 degrees) and the weeds/pads are lacking this year. I threw into 8" of very clear water near an isolated group of pads and had a 2lber smack my frog. We had several more blow ups before we got sketched out about getting the 522 we were in stuck and moved back to the reef. Fish them anytime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you find any of the closeout Saharas? My Dicks had them for ~$45.

I also heard from a few guys that use them (and saw it first hand) that the swivel with bend and mess them up.

Phenix Recon 715.

I've got the rod you are wondering about. No issues with braid and eyelets. It's really light (not fragile light though). TONS of backbone. 1/4oz baits.... hmmmm I really don't think that I would endorse that. I bought because I throw Frogs and T-Rigged Plastics/Jigs a lot, but I hated re-rigged when I switched from on technique to another, so I have used it a lot for that stuff... It will throw a SPRO baby frog, but not that well. Flipping a 1/4oz jig is easy as long as it has a trailer (IE is heavier than a 1/4oz). I guess I am being long winded in saying don't do a 1/4oz with it, BUT it's still a sick stick. I have not broken a fish with it yet. (wah wah wah).

On a 15 year old budget in waters that have Pike/Musky as well... I'd get a bunch of 5.8", 4.8" and 3.8" Keitech Swing Impact Fats. Fish them on Jig heads in open/not too weedy water (1/4 and 3/8 oz Yammamotos are good) or on weighted swimbait hooks when around weeds/snaggy stuff (I like the Davis hooks with the screw-lock 3/0-6/0 1/8-1/4 oz.) I was fishing them on 16lb fluoro and made the switch to 30lb braid and get more hook ups. I fish them on a 7' MH (Phenix Recon 715) with a Curado 201E. I fish them slow and leisurely. Keitechs are $7.50 for 4-6 of them, Jigheads and hooks are ~$4 a pack.

Fish them weightless. I fished them weightless in 20+' and hammered the smallies. A weight kills the shimmy/drift of the Ika. Not saying you can't, I just haven't found a reason to use them.

Try the San Diego Jam know. I was having fits with breakoffs and fluoro, this not appears to have solved it. I also really like braid with fluoro leader material (fly-fishing) it's pretty different from main line fluoro.

I have been fishing a 765 for a month now. Totally blown away by it. Light, almost carrot stick light, sensitivity that equals my lamiglas excels, balanced with a citica e far better than I could have imagined. $60 when on sale... if you're a tournament Guy you have to base your arsenal around them, maybe not have to but the money saved is a lot of entry fees and gas.

My understanding is that with the goofy levelwind you will run into issues on retrieves where you throw slack into the line (jerkbaits and TW).

http://docirvcustombaits.com/tacklebox/ This guy does a great job and is in PA,

I don't think it's a question of will they, they could very well be in there if there is not better cover or structure for them to be in nearby. As a rule I always look for the prettiest weeds (ie greenest/darkest) including cattails.

They sold out in 38 minutes on their July 4th sale. I logged in at 9:38 and they were all gone...

Mend-It makes your Ikas last twice as long. I've found a custom pour guy that will do most any color/flake/skirt you could want for less than what the Hydra goes for (insert stupid happy smile). I am actually trying to get a Fat Ika printed on the back of my club jersey.

Literally just read that too.

Gotta say the Quantum Energy PT really got me thinking about them for the first time ever, $150 and 6.9oz, and it appears that they may have streamlined the mag adjuster on the side too. The Rapala hybrid wood/plastic look cool too, we'll see how it plays out. I was really bummed when I read that the Daiwa Lexa 100 weighted 11oz!!!!! Put that in a pillowcase and you could kill someone with it!

I have the 765 Diesel and it's very light (not carrot stick/Veritas light but lighter than my Recon 766). Feels like it would fit right between a MH and H St. Croix with a similar flex/tip. I got mine to use as a Jig/T-Rig rod when I am using the Recon for Frogs (hate clipping and retying so often since I use both techniques so often on my waters). It balances nicely with a Citica E spooled with 50lb Tufline.

The 765 Powell Diesel is a great frog rod and significantly less (with the a way better feel than the Mojo). I really like mine

Fat Ika in Green Pumpkin Black or a T-Rigged Pit Boss w/ 3/8oz weight.

When I started using baitcasters I started with them spooled up with braid. I find that as long as you spool it up with nice even tension it handles (easier to get back lashes out) better than mono or fluro.

Contact Shimano.