webertime

This is how they got called Loomis TFO's TFO: "Hey Gary how are things?" Loomis: "I'm well thanks, what can I do for you?" TFO: "We was wondering if you could look at something?" Loomis: "Sure thing what can I do?" TFO: (pulling out a prototype) "Does this look like a fishing rod?" Loomis: "yep." TFO: "If we pay you some royalties, can we quote you on that?" Loomis: "Um sure?" TFO: "SWEET" (fist pumps) "We'll have our attornies contact yours." Loomis: "Sure thing, thanks." Hangs Up TFO: To themselves, "Wooo Whooo! Loomis' name! Loomis: To himself, "Easy money..."

That's like asking for a $20000 Bentley... VW could just slap that logo on a Rabbit, it's still a Rabbit... Lots of companies with multiple brands (successful ones) intentionally have a "high" end and "low" end brand names. Mostly to make the high end ones keep the high end mystique and the low end ones can advertise that they have some of the high end brand's tech. See: Lexus-Toyota-Scion, Acura-Honda, Sony-Aiwa, Cannondale-GT-Schwinn Bikes, Bentley-Audi-VW. Even Pure has Abu/Pflueger-Shakespeare. The only time it becomes an issue is when you start having too many brands and those brands actually compete against eachother, one brand could create a loss. (See Trek bikes in the 90's, they had Trek, Gary Fisher, Bontrager, Klein, Lemond branded bikes all competing against eachother for the same customers). Klein and Bontrager (THE highest quality bikes in the lineup) lost hundreds of thousands of dollars and were discontinued. Keep them seperate. Besides you can still get GL2's with older cosmetics (same rod as the new ones, functionally) for $100 if you look in the right spots.

Spro Popper Frog Cordell Pencil Popper Spro McStick and KVD jerk baits

So I was actually lucky to get on the Prespawn bite on Champlain last year (May 7th ish 50-55 degrees). On the 7th my buddy landed 105 smallies (I got 87) on a Slender Pointer on straight Power Pro, red that had faded to Pink. No Leader. I think when the Smallies are in their prespawn feeding frenzie a leader isn't going to make that much of a difference. But if it turns out to be something that makes you more confident then by all means go for it.

Hag's Tornado's float (at least for a very long time before sinking) ALL of the Strike King and Z-Man Elaztech baits float. I use the Rage Shrimp and Hag's f5 Tornado a lot and have great success DS'ing and C-Riging them.

Looks like Berkley has their "take" on the Keitech Swing Impact coming out soon. Nice as far as availability goes (Keitech is very hard to find locally up here). 4" 8 per pack... ALSO a 5" Pit Boss!

It's a Code with lipstick.

Yeah what Arv said ...

BPS Extreme is $60 now. Good start there, or wait for the spring classic sale and the pro qualifier is usually $80. Get a ~$100 7' mh rod (bps carbonlite, ***, Shimano Compre, Abu veritas, etc.). That should leave you with some $ for some nice line (Sunline Sniper) and some other small things.

I make my own. Buy the hub, skirting, wire to tie them and if you want some rattle bands to add rattles. You can easily make exactly what you want for the same or less than what some companies charge.

Fat Ika's Senkos Pitbosses Hags Tornado Zoom Speed Craws Keitech Swing Impact Fat and Regular You can do everything you will need to with these 6 baits. Flip/Pitch, DS, Shaky, C-Rig, T-Rig, Swim, Trailers, Weightless. Carry 2 colors, Green Pumpkin in all then one color of your choice for each.

About 80 more decibles! (RimShot!)

Seymour

NOS Daiwa Advantage HSTA's for $70-100 or Tierra for slightly less, on eBay from Simmons Sporting Goods has to be on this list. Citica B, D, E & G are locks. Pro Qualifier Curado B's. I can't really go beyond that as far as readily available <$100 reels. If you have good timing you can score amazing deals on used gear. I have a Revo Premier I paid less than $70 for, Zillion HSLA for $125, Citica E for $44.

I think they tear less and get a bit more head wagging on swimbait hooks like Gamakatsu weighted one with the screw locks. Try them on a biffle head too.

3.8 & 4.8". Silver flash, gold flash, pro staff special, bluegill.

You haven't lived until you've tossed a wacky rigged 10 inch "senko". Dead serious. Take the 5" senko's "rock and roll" & turn the volume up to 11! The sway/roll literally covers a 2.5-3' column of water. Great for stained shallow water on pressured water.

They are the same as the old Tierra rods with cosmetic changes. Very nice rods for the $.

Look up Nemire Red Ripper. Lots of things Nemire makes slay smallies.

6' 10" MH xf Shimano Compre with 30 lb 832 and a Daiwa Advantage HSTA. Very good for 3/8+ oz. spinerbaits (all I really throw).

AHHHH, well I heard from it was tough for the 2011 TBF Eastern Divisionals. LOTS of 0's... There is a Marina near the lauch (assuming you are going out of the Resort on the lake) that gave up a few nice fish. My buddy had a great top water bite in 40-something feet of water for smallies one day. By in large a very difficult tournament (mid September). Maybe you know some of the competitors and they can help with more specifics. http://bassfederation.com/tournaments/results-new/?tid=65 http://bassfederation.com/tournament-news/eastern_division/acox-finishes-in-first-qualifies-for-2012-tbf-national-championship/

I know a bunch on Champlain and one that specializes in smaller bodies of water in Northern VT if you are interested.

Thanks Tom I love your posts. I totally get what you are saying here. I went and checked the diameters of 8/10/12lb of the 3 respective lines. McCoy and YZH are the same (.011/.012/.013") CXX is much larger at (.012/.014/.0148"). IE 10lb CXX is larger than 12lb YZH/McC. Hmm gonna have to research this one a bit more, but I think I may go CXX.

Lake Champlain's spawn from 55-70. (May through late June). Bigger fish spawn deeper, one lake up here (better than Champ for smallies) has 6+'s spawning in 20fow in 60 degrees. IE whenever and wherever they want

I'm looking at these 3 lines for topwaters and occasionally jerkbaits. I've narrowed it down to these 3 only. If you have used the 8-10lb size of at least 2 of these let me know your thoughts and compare them. Thanks folks!