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Man I havent thought about them in ages. They were a go to florida river lure when I was growing up. Better action than rapala but more expensive. Great buy.

I dont use a rental row boat but i use a kayak. Never take more than 2. And one stays stored in the hatch. Even on my buddies bass boat I never see a need for more than 2. One spinning one casting. I never understood the logic of bringing multiple rigs just to avoid tying a knot. I dont believe in these supposed technique specific rods either.

Your gonna have to buy replacement line when you find the 14# floro dont work so hot with that small a reel/spool. No offense meant...

You might have to tweak the prop blades. Every tiny torpedo I buy I have to adjust the prop to make the right noise and make bubbles. Maybe they make the nose dive. Also check the hookeye make sure it is vertical.

He fishes? I thought he just had that show to show off his rings, Hummer and wife....

Why worry about a longer rod? Ive had very expensive rods up to 8'6" and always go back to the 6' med. All because internet experts and "pro's" who drag bass across the water on tarpon tackle do it doesnt mean you have to. A true rod building expert will tell you the rods length has more to do with your height and arm length than lure type or technique. Ive spent what could have been a nice retirement nest egg on the latest and greatest for over 20 years to discover Im happier with the Ambassadeur and 6' med rod.

Ive come back from BPS empty handed but usually cause they don't have what reel I went in looking for. If I go into a local shop I'll always come out with a few lures. Even though I don't need them. I can't seem to walk past the Sebiles without buying 3 or 4.

Check that video on youtube. Jose Wejebe on Spanish Fly. You dont need tape either. Its very easy too. No backing might be expensive but Ive never found the specs on capacity to be correct anyway. A 125 yard spool has always worked fine on bass size reels. Besides in a world where rapalas cost $15 and good reels start at $200, whats the cost of braid!

Ditto, never use backing anymore. Just wrap the line around the spool 2 or 3 times before tying with a uni. Watch Jose Wejebe's video on youtube showing how to do it.

I dont mean this to offend you but location does mean something. Perhaps not for Shimano and Malaysia. Im very happy with the Stradics made there. But compare St.Croix's products made at their new location and their home factory. Same components and blanks. But this site is full of complaints of the new factories misaligned guides and such. Not a bash on one particular country. Be it the mother companies quality control, the training it offers or what.

To each his own. I think the palomar is the easiest knot to tie. Ive never had that knot fail and I always cut very short tag ends no matter what knot I'm using. Being that the line your using is a coated line, could it be that the coated shell is slipping or the core is drawing away from the coat in the lower test size? That line is highly acclaimed here but I avoid lines that have a coated outer shell.

Shallow shad rap for sure. The new xrap version of the shad rap has been very productive for me after removing the feathered rear treble.

South Fl. I thought that too with the D series. Got a few when the rebate was on marking its end. I was glad because I thought the E was junk in comparison. Sad to say Shimano couldnt keep parts in stock for the D for another year afterwards. So stocking up on soon to be discontinued Shimanos doesnt seem to be a good idea. Sad to say I cant find any quality in a Lews/Revo/BPS concoction either. Or an overpriced Daiwa that will be discontinued quicker than Shimano gets rid of theirs.

I have half of my combo, a vintage Ambassadeur 4500C custom made with new stock parts. Dual level wind bearings, main shaft bearing, no anti reverse, bearing mounted idler cog, Abec 7 ceramic spool bearings, ceramic pawl, carbontex drag. All mounted on a chromed brass frame. No I want a custom made topwater rod with a short straight rear grip, no foregrip, backbone but a very flexy tip. Just cant find the blank.

Abu C3 I feel is your best bet. Its more reel than most "bass anglers" will admit. Best of all you can upgrade the reel with minimum cost and make it better than nearly all top of the line reels. I catch tarpon with them they can surely handle bass lures. Your right ref mono and swimbaits. Most experts will recommend mono.

I tried an epoxy dip on the first ones I painted. They turned yellow after a month or so. Not sure if it was Devcon brand. Thanks I will pick some up and try it out. Auto Clear Coat sounds like a simpler solution maybe. I'll also give that a try.

Ive been experimenting with refinishing battle wounded topwaters like spooks and poppers. What is a quality sealant to finish the job? Spray poly came off in flakes after just a short exposure to water even after a 30 day cure. And it was oil based. I searched Barlows and Janns but havent found any sealants listed.

I use a Med TFO 6' spinning for jigs. I dont go over 3/8oz but the key is the hook size and type. Hvy wired flipping jig hooks probably not a good idea, but swim jigs, finesse jigs and such hasnt been a problem. I prefer spinning for jigs actually, I feel more what the jig is doing with the line under the rod than I do with casting rods. I also make sure to keep the trailers slim and small.

I catfish with a Premier MH cause thats what I already have and Im wishing for a rod with a softer tip. St. Croix's MH is like everybody elses Hvy anyway. Its too hard to keep bait on the hook on the cast. Try a slip float or check out the european rigs in In-Fisherman. They keep your bait just alittle off the bottom and help alot with turtles.

I agree with what Hank Parker said on his night fishing show a few seasons ago. As he got older and his eyes changed he went strictly with spinning reels because his depth perception changed. I've found that the most helpful advise on night fishing since I started wearing glasses.

Bold topic for a newcomer to a pro Shimano forum . Im alone on this but saw things going downhill when they catered to the weight obcessed and got rid of the D series Curado. The real clincher is their business saavy in assuring they never keep parts in stock for current or very recently discontinued reels. Unless your a commercial account.

It could be that the drag washers got contaminated with oil. Could be other trouble too though. When the reel isnt in use, do you make sure you loosen the drag completely?

Yeah I prefer wood lures often because they dont have rattles. Lately Ive been getting more bites avoiding rattles. My wife hits any garage sale she finds. Ive made sure she knows what creek chubs and devils horses look like. She knows what I like and last week brought home a few older Poes cedar crankbaits in mint condition.

War Baits with either Gambler Ugly Otter trailers or hand tied bucktail, EP Hair or Steve Farrer Ultimate Hair.

12lb. and 14lb. Invicta Mono for casting. 10lb. Suffix braid for spinning