K_Mac

You can laugh all you want. : The rods in your diagram all have the same amount of force applied. The XF rod reaches the backbone of the rod in the first 25% of the rod. The rod will still bend more beyond this point, but how much force is needed is determined by the power of the rod, not the action. The SLOW rod reaches the backbone of the rod much nearer the handle of the rod. The force required to cause this movement is the same as the XF. What has changed is the is the speed/amount of distance the rod must flex to get to that point. If a 7' XF rod reaches maximum flex in the first 25% of the rod, then 21" of rod are involved. If I break 2" off a 84" XF rod the point that it reaches full flex is now 19", or 23.1% of an 82" rod. The rod is now FASTER than it was before being broken. A MODERATE action rod reaches full flex in the first 50% of the rod. Using a 7' rod that happens at 42." 21" more rod have to be moved using a MODERATE action rod than an XF rod. The point where the rod reaches max flex is determined by the taper of the rod, and does not change when the tip is broken. The only thing that changes is the amount of rod involved to get to that point. Less equals faster. You may have more broken rods in the attic than I do, but you need to show me how these numbers are wrong.

John with all due respect, that does not make any sense to me. Go to the thread below and look at post number nine, where the action of rods is shown. If I brake the tip off of any of these rods the result is a faster action, not slower. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1141187546

It does not change the power of the rod. It does make the rod faster. You have removed some of the protion of rod that is designed to flex as you apply pressure. How does that make the rod slower?

Great analogy. Remember in the movie Tin Cup when he played most of the round with a seven iron? If all you have is a seven iron, that's what you use. Add a driver or three wood, and a putter and your odds of shooting a good round go up. Fill the bag with a set of good clubs and and now the ability to execute and make good choices become key. Just like fishing.

I once fished for a year or two with a beat up old baitcaster on an even older Fenwick rod that had a broken reel seat. A few raps of electrical tape and you're good to go.

Leon the answer is no. The power of the rod is determined by the force needed to cause it to flex and the max force it will take. The effect of braking 2" off a rod is that the action is now faster. There is less flex before the backbone of the rod comes into play. Having been there and done that it will definitely cause the rod to feel faster/stiffer while casting. Speed is a function of how fast the power of the rod comes into play. A slow action has more flex in the taper and takes longer on a hook set to bring the full power into play. A MH crankbait rod will have the same power as a MHF rod as shown by the Line rating. It will just take more flex (slower)to get to the backbone of the rod.

I have several Extremes in both spinning and casting. For the money they are decent rods. The balancing option works well and makes them more comfortable to use.

I agree Paul. My trouble is I am an tackle enthusiast on a very limited budget. I have learned to live within my budget, like it or not.

RW and J Franco make the case very well. Having the right set-up for the technique being used does add to the enjoyment for me. The first time I threw a small crankbait on a med loomis crankbait rod I understood why folks will spend crazy amounts of money on technique specific rods. My budget prohibits the purchase of high-end tackle, but having the right power and action rods makes me a better fisherman. If nothing else it makes me more confident, which makes me a better fisherman... ;D The logic may be circular but you get the point.

I would concentrate on seasonal techniques. What I mean is as winter ends and the lakes thaw you will have the opportunity to try some of the techniques you've been reading about. Plastics, jigs, and suspending jerkbaits can kill in colder water. As the fish begin to move up in preparation for the spawn, rattletraps and shallow/med cranks, top water, spinnerbaits, Senkos, etc. begin to produce. As the water warms and fish begin to establish summer patterns deeper water techniques come into play... Since you are comfortable with soft plastics don't be afraid to throw them. Shallow to deep they can and do catch fish year round. Jigs are the same. Learn to fish them. Just some of my thoughts FWIW. Good luck.

While I have not yet tested the Alberto knot in the field, I have been working on tying different knots this winter, and the Alberto knot is by far the easiest knot to tie for this purpose in my opinion. The Uni to Uni is very popular but I just don't seem to have the dexterity to tie it consistently. Since both knots are used without problem by many trusted site members, come spring I will use the Alberto.

should be #1 for crappie, but for bluegill, waxworms and crickets trump all +1 I often get a bonus catfish or two with these baits in a couple of the lakes I fish. 8-)

Steezy I'm not sure Ike would endorse anything for the right money, but when I read that the new rods "have similar properties of the Steez rods, even better" I couldn't help but think that was more about his past relationship with Daiwa than the quality of the rods. You and I fish at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to $$$ spent on equipment. I use inexpensive stuff because that is what fits my budget, but we both understand that there is a very real difference in high end rods compared to rods at the lower end. Whether or not it justifies the dollar difference is an on-going discussion. 8-)

That's funny ;D ;D I am fairly sure that the Shimano world wide machine would qualify as a "mongo conglomerate." Not that there's anything wrong with that...

I used to work with a guy that claimed he hand fed the bass in his pond. I always thought he was stretching the truth... :-[

Captains Courageous with Spencer Tracy is my favorite. While I think fly fishermen for the most part are nancy-pants wearing elitists, ;D I liked A River Runs Through It.

George you're comment about folks changing their minds when it gets right down to it tickles me. I was one of those guys. My brother and I took a guided trout fishing trip on the White river a number of years ago. I have reached the age where I don't remember exactly how many. : What I do know is that my brother was killed in an accident over ten years ago, so it has been a while...Any way, we told our guide that we wanted to catch big browns. The big browns did not play along, and by mid day we decided to catch a bunch of smaller rainbows. We had a ball the last couple of hours. I don't know how many we caught, but it was a bunch, including a couple of native fish. I have gone on record as choosing the big fish in this thread. Based on the premise of one day/either/or that would be my choice, but if you were my guide for a once in a lifetime day your water, I would trust your judgement. I would let you know I was an experienced angler who didn't know a thing about your water, and let you do your job. I would fish the whole day anticipating a monster fish. 8-)

Another vote for Zoom finesse and trick worms. Trick worms most of the time, and the smaller finesse if the bite is slow.

There must be many dealers around who don't mind braking the rules. When I bought my 9.8 Tohatsu this past summer I was shocked that the first two places I called were more interested in selling me a bigger motor with 9.8 decals. When I asked about the serial number, one said,"no one ever checks the serial number." : The second said they would take the serial number plate off, and I could keep it in my boat or truck. :-? I fish regularly on a 10hp limit lake. There is a local club that has regular tourneys there, and I think based on speed and sound, most of them are running something bigger than legal. I bought the legal motor and race around the lake at upwards of 7.5mph, but if I get stopped I won't be wondering if I'm going to get busted.

I wish we could have spirited conversation on these topics here, but these conversations can get heated even among friends. It just does not work in this format. I was here before this policy was in force and even with constant moderator involvement it used to get nasty at times. Glenn and the mods do a good job of keeping things under control. Even guys as warm and gentle as I am have been censored a few times for the greater good. ;D I like that inflammatory posts and people are deleted. It keeps things a lot more comfortable for everyone.

It may have been the worst half-time show ever (there is some serious competition in that category) but the game was worthy of the name. The line in the Bud Light add where the guys all are hanging around the women's book club meeting is very funny. She asks, "do you like Little Women?" He responds, "I'm not that particular."

RW you read my mind. I was posting at the same time you were. This should be a cautionary tale for all the old groups who want put it together "one more time."

With all due respect, put the original handle back on and re-test. Then take the handle off and re-test turning the shaft with your fingers. The amount of line retrieved in all three cases per turn of the handle shaft will be the same. I'm not sure of many things, but I am here. The length of the handle does not change the speed of the reel, only the feel. Come on spring!! I have got to get out of this house.

I always thought Mikey was the brains of the outfit. With his business sense and intellect, and his father's charisma how could this show fail?

That is like saying a woman is barely pregnant. You are either legal are you're not. There is no gray area. Why risk your reputation by braking the rules?