lmbfisherman

You should've jumped all over that deal, those go for 150 around these parts used.

Yeah even the BPS ones don't honor it either. That is why you stay local and do business with the local guy. They will take care of your better imho.

I would base the next setup on what you find you're throwing mostly. If it's jig and worm, soft plastics. I'd go with the MH/F rod and I prefer a 7 to 1 ratio reel as I like to pick up the slack quickly for a hook set. If you throw cranks more than plastics, I would recommend what roadwarrior recommended, I'd get a 5 to 1 or lower reel. The the next one should be either or in your arsenal. To round out the rods, I'd probably go with another M/F rod like the 6'6" M/F - jerk bait rod and get another MH/F for spinnerbaits. Then use your heavy rod as a flipping stick. You will now have all situations covered on a single setup.

Go to google and look up 6 rod system, there should be an article from a respected site about what 6 rods you should get and they explain also the reels. Very informative.

I agree with what Christian stated about jpb, you pansy. I wish I had bass thumb days all the time. Actually I meant to say, YOU ARE ONE CRAZY WHINY PANSY!

Congrats man!

I would think it would go down further as the year progresses, especially when the new ones start showing up..late fall I would think. I've seen the Ci4 go on sale lately. I have a feeling though the Chronarch E series isn't going away though. The CI4 version will probably be a line of it's own, higher tier than the standard Chronarch.

My best jig rod is the the GLX 894C - love it! Best Jig Rod I've ever used.

I'd stick with the others and more proven rods. Not knocking TFO, but lets be real...it's not a Loomis rod, he may have given them recommendations..etc, but I'm sure it's just a marketing thing. Right now you can nab a 59.99 Symetre FJ on sale at American Fishing Legacy, if you sign up to the news letter you can get 10 dollar off coupon. You can order your *** through them 100+59.99 - 10 = 149.99, there you go! Free shipping too. However, I have no experience with an *** rod. If you wanted me to give you a recommendation at that price point..it would be a Shimano Compre or a Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth series. Love these two rods, especially the latter....it's grown to be one of my favorite rods I use on the daily.

Well I think it would depend on how heavy jig/weight you would be using. If you are using 1/2 oz or above regularly I would suggest 745. If you are using less than 1/2 and occassionally above 1/2 oz to 3/4, I'd probably go with the 744. iabass beat me to it!

x 2 and water clarity...if it's stained/muddy I'll go straight braid.

I am in agreement, with just 1 issue. A current Gen Cumara wouldn't fit your requirements (small guides), but a previous Gen would be awesome. You probably could find for cheaper too, although it's getting harder to find. I love my Cumaras and plan to buy more previous Gen Cumaras when I can afford them/availability. Like in the other post here is how I'd rate them with kickerfish1's recommendations. GLX > Champion Extreme > Cumara > Champion > Avid > *** Black > IMX

This is how I'd rate it.. Dobyns Champion Extreme > Shimano Cumara > Dobyns Champion > ***

My Calcutta 250, now I need to buy a new round reel..thinking I didn't need it!

I have one, I've had for a year now. Solid rod, never had an issue with it, other than it being stiffer than the power states. It is currently one of my favorite rods, haven't used it lately though as I've been testing out my newer equipment this year. Once I start going out on the water (small boat/canoe) it will see more action. The MH/F 7'3 I have serves as my multipurpose backup. Need another frog rod? check, need another Pitching/flipping (light cover) check, jig/worm? check, spinnerbait? check! ..etc.

Thanks guys! I did have a blast. Either way you got fish! Better than nothing some days.

So I woke up at 6:30 this morning and get some fishing in, didn't want to risk taking the canoe or small boat out due to the forecast of Thunderstorms. So I went to the local pond to do some shore fishing. I got to the pond around 7:00 am and I started off throwing a Super Fluke (White Pearl), after the 2nd cast...fish on! After about a 30 second fight, I bring in a 2.2lb largemouth. Decent start, after a couple of missed bites...something hit fiercely and bam my line went slack. Reeled up my line, Mr. Pike took off with my fluke and hook. I guess he'll have indigestion. After retying, I thought I double checked my leader and did cut about 2 inches off...I guess I missed another nick on the line..and there went my fluke and hook flying off into the water. So I was a little annoyed, I retied and again..but made double sure the leader was good. About 4 casts later SLAM! Fish on! This was a fighter..I'm like wow this is a big Largemouth, taking line out and fighting for it's life. After taking about 1 minute to get it close to shore it was then I noticed it was a Smallmouth. I was shocked, after all this time spent here at this pond I never seen a smallmouth in this pond and not one I've caught this big..it started roaring off again took about another 10 ft out, fought him back close to shore and bam flight again, went out again about 8-10ft..finally brought her/him back close again...and took line out again! I was like WOW! This thing wanted to live! I had a wait a good 5 seconds as it kept pulling line and then started bringing it back..it finally got tired and I was able to reach down and grab her by the lips. I was so thrilled! What a FIGHT! I had to keep my excitement down the whole time, it was the best fight I've had with a freshwater species in my life. (Saltwater was where I mostly fished) What a way to remember my 39th birthday. It weight 2 Kilos, (4.40 lbs).

So I was out shore fishing the local pond today. I didn't land any bass, but landed two small pike 18" and 20". The interesting thing though on the 2nd pike, I caught them both using a fluke...but on this guy the hook wasn't in his mouth. I was like weird? Then noticed that the line actually gotten tangled around his mouth. I was like wow how did he not get free? So he must've tried to smack it while I was jerking it. I untangled the line from one side of his lip and poof he dropped off. Curious has anyone else caught a fish like that? I should've taken a picture, but I was so perplexed that it didn't cross my mind to do it. Actually does it count as a catch now, since I didn't hook it?

This rod even balances well with my Citica Gs and Lexa 100 (although the big foot profile of the Lexa isn't ideal to keep on the Fenwick) it balanced well too.

Although I like Hootie and trust his judgement , but the Savvy series as a bottom contact rod is horrid. I tried a friend of mine's Savvy, it felt dead in my hands. The Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth I was fishing was far superior for feel. Of course sensitivity is subjective, but I was just amazed how crappy the feeling was. Other suggestions go with a Phenix rod or Fenwick Elite Tech. The weight of both that I have experience fishing balances well with a 50 size reel.

The problem I had with pairing my 50E with a MF Avid..it didn't balance the best. To me it didn't feel like the complimented each other well, it's a good rod though. The Lexa 100 I have on it, balances far better imo. As for the 50E, I'd put it on a Cumara..you can find an old gen 1 if you can, they are going around that price. 7'2 M/F would be an awesome setup with it.

Try the Gamakatsu, I hooked 20+ bass on it and the the only issue I had was it slid down. It was still going strong until I lost it in a tree. I was peeved, stupid wind.

This, I use the same Gamakatsu brand. I found when I did a sweeping hookset I was getting success. At first I tried to do a hard hookset and believe what was happening is that I was pulling it from their mouth too as kylek stated. I also found before I set the hook, I slightly reeled in the slack and then did a sweeping set. I think this is the other problem, going through the motion (delay) ensures the bass has engulfed your bait. I was using this a 6'8" M/XF spinning rod spooled with 10lb braid and 8 lb p line.

As for my opinion, if a product is quality I will buy it. Agree 100% on what rockchalk posted.

G Loomis makes their rods in the USA too.