jbsoonerfan

I owned 2 Veritas rods and they both broke. These were when they very first came out and I had heard there were some problems, but I think they may have taken care of it. Can't comment on the Carbon LIght. If I were going to buy a new soft plastic rod for around $100, I would get a Shimano Compre 7'2" MH fast or MH x-fast.

That is a great little knot and easy to tie.

Sufix uses it (just an example)

You just posted on another thread that you liked the Citica G series better than the E series?????? You also posted that you like the Revo S in a different thread??????? If that is the case, and you have used both, you should know which you prefer.

Last year was my first year to fish a tournament series. I am failry good at certain techniques and not so good at others. If there was a tournament that I didn't do so well in, I would try to find someone who did well and ask them what they were catching them on. Most of the guys on our trail were good guys and were willing to tell you what worked that day. I wasn't asking specific areas, or specific baits or anything, just what techniques (ie DS, T-rigs, etc) If you are comfortable asking some of the guys who did well what they used, then I would go this route and learn what you did wrong that day.

Normally speaking, you only have to worry about the line "cutting" into the other layers of line when using braid. This usually occurs when one gets hung up and tries to pull the bait loose. It will indeed dig into the line. This doesn't happen near as often with Mono (although it can) when also trying to get your bait un-hung.

Well I am not real sure why you don't want to know the brand, because that is probably the most important thing I consider when choosing a line. For me, it isn't as much about the "lb test" but more about diameter. Larger lines will usually have more memory, but if you are casting heavy jigs, it shouldn't matter. However, if you are casting 1/4 oz weights on a T-rig, you probably want a little smaller line. As far as crankbaits go, the same can be said for line size as far as throwing smaller shallow divers versus larger deep divers. I would say as a "generic" answer to go with 10 lb on the crankbait reel and 14 lb on the plastics reel.

I was disappointed in this years catalog. I want to know everything I possibly can about the gear I am looking at. I want to know rod weights (some man. don't even release that I don't think) line diameter, reel drag weights, etc. etc. I think with the ease of access to the internet they figure most people find browsing the web easier anyway.

A bit out of the norm, but I am going to try to throw a DS on casting gear this year. I tried spinning gear last year and I just didn't enjoy using it and therefore I didn't throw the DS as much as I probably should have. I got one of the Cumara 7'6" ML rods from TW and I am putting a Core on it. I am going to try this out and see if I like using it.

I have only used one guide and he has been mentioned 3 times in this thread. I wasn't happy with my experience. Maybe the fishing was tough that day, but I didn't feel like he did everything to his ability to put us on fish. I have since been on my own and caught more fish each time out than I did with a guide. I know fishing is unpredictable, but I didn't feel like he cared whether or not we caught fish. He fished more than he guided. I didn't pay to watch him fish, I paid to have him help me catch fish. I always heard the best way to learn a new lake was to hire a guide. Not in this case. He almost seemed to try to keep his spots secret.

I plan on going. Trying to get some friends to tag along, but it looks like a solo trip. It's only 3 hours away, so I may as well go. I still regret not going to the 2001 US Open at Southern Hills. Don't want to let this one pass by.

I have killed hundreds of ducks and dove with mine and probably put a thousand rounds through it (guess my % isn't real good, lol) I have only experienced I FTF in all the rounds I have fired. I love mine! I would like to have a Venci, but maybe later.

Got a Core 100Mg and a Chronarch 50E. Also got a Compre 7'2" H and a Cumara 7'6" ML (on sale at TW) Also, got gift cards that will go toward line and terminal tackle.

I spool mine up. Then go out in the yard and tie the end to something like a porch post or anything really. I use a barrell swivel so I have to tie it around the post first obviously. I walk out the rest of the line. I then bend my rod to where it applies a little pressure and I reel as I walk back to where I tied the line off. It usually helps

For fun shooting, I prefer my Ruger MK III in .22. My carry pistol is a Ruger LC9 in 9mm of course and I also have a Kimber Ultra Carry II Stainless 1911 that is chambered in 9mm. Whatever you do, it is important that you become very familiar with your weapon. Good luck! Buying guns is fun.

This reminds me of deer hunters that feel bad when they kill a deer. I wouldn't hunt if it made me feel bad. Same with fishing. I wouldn't fish if it made me feel bad. But, that's just me. I suppose I am cold hearted, but I don't feel bad for the game I choose to pursue.

Okay, I give up. Comparing a 4" set of scales to a 18' boat, I can't compete. One thing I never go fishing without is a set of scales. I want to know for sure what a fish weighs, I don' want to guess. Especially if I am guessing at my PB.

I'm talking about a small set of berkley scales or something like that, not a grocery store vegetable scale set.

No excuses needed. Hopefully, your family and job is more important. I have missed many good days of hunting and fishing due to work, but I realize that my job and my family are far more important than my need to hunt/fish.

Buy some scales. Sure makes it a lot better "knowing" what a fish weighed as opposed to "guessing" what it "might" weigh.

Sorry, but I wasn't patting myself on the back at all. I use Cores, Curados, and CIticas on Crucials, Falcons and Daimikis. I don't use cheap stuff at all. I think the weird tendency is people thinking they are better than others simply because they buy expensive gear. And if you or anyone else thinks that there aren't those types of fishermen out there, then you are blind. Never once did I claim to be better than ALL anglers who spend good money on high end gear. Just saying that doesn't always equate to catching fish. Trust me, I have had my butt handed to me plenty of times on the golf course by guys swinging sticks made 15 years ago while I was hitting the "latest and greatest" My point was, having nice "expensive" gear is great, but it doesn't always make you a better angler. I apologize if my post somehow seemed as though I was trying to pat myself on the back. I certainly don't get my jollys off on an internet forum trying to brag on myself.

This thread makes me think.......I just recently joined a tournament trail. My partner and I showed up the first tournament and I was embarassed to say the least. I have a 1998 Champion boat that is 17' long and a 115 Merc. We were the 5 th team to take off and were passed by 15 other boats before we made it to the main body of water. We had the smallest boat with the smallest motor. We had the cheapest graph and smallest TM. I just knew we were about to get our butts handed to us. At the end of the day we placed second and those guys with $70K + rigs went home with their tails tucked. Since then we have managed a 3rd and 7th place finish out of about 22 teams and each time we have been the guys fishing with "cheap" stuff. I have owned Steez rods, Loomis rods, Cumara rods etc......but I don't know that any of them made me a better fisherman than I actually am. A 15+ handicap golfer won't all the sudden become a scratch golfer simply because he buys the best clubs available, same can be said for fishing. I'm not dissing anyone who chooses to use high-end gear (I have been there myself) but don't stick your nose to high in the air. The guy with the Ugly Stick may just put it to you.

Okay, so I have been checking out the Damiki rods on TW and I am somewhat confused. Their 7' MH rod says it handles 12-20 lb line and has a lure rating of 1/4 to 3/4 oz. on the other hand Their 7' H rod says it handles 12-25 lb line and has a lure rating of 1/8 to 1 1/2 oz. They are both x-fast. I have looked at a couple different places and these are the same numbers I get everywhere. If these are true, how does this work. How is the heavier power rod able to throw a lighter weight with the same action as a MH? I don't understand this. I thought the 1/8 was a misprint and should have been 3/8, but it is 1/8 everywhere. Please explain this to me. Also, if these numbers are true. Which would be better for throwing a t-rigged worm? Thanks, JB

Has anyone used this rod yet? I am looking at a rod for using braid and fishing jigs and heavy cover. I have used a couple Carrot's in the past and really liked them. I just wasn't sure how heavy this rod actually was. I can't seem to find anywhere that actually has one on hand. Thanks, JB

If you have already bought it, go try it out and see how YOU like it. After all, YOU are then one who is going to fish with it. That being said. I have three and love them.