Kevin22

There's another thread going titled "???" that is the best $100 rod. From test driving a friends selection of ducketts, I'd have to say the micro magic is the best $150 rod. Very sensitive and great actions. Im very eager to try a ghost and see if it is the same. I hear its the same blank, just cheaper guides.

If they are just for yourself, paint them with fingernail polish and then clear coat with epoxy or clear nail polish. Sally hansen hard as nails is what you want. Comes in hundreds of colors. We had to do some emergency painting once on a trip, the fish were inhaling black spinnerbaits and all I had on me was 1. Fish destroyed it so had to make a trip to the local shops in the area but nobody had any. Found some black skirts and bought all they had, then stopped at walmart and bought some black fingernail polish. Took white and chartreuse spinnerbaits and painted the heads and installed black skirts. Was the only option. Surprisingly they held up great and I still have them somewhere.

Red and chartreuse are the known bleeders. Keep those baits contained in their own packaging.

8# sufix mono, I like the rubber band stretch in this application. When the weeds come in I will switch to 10# seaguar fluoro for better sensitivity (ticking the top of the weeds) and a little more strength.

I should say the breakage issues should NOT keep you from buying a veritas, the customer service is top notch. Just send an email with pictures of the break, the whole rod, and your receipt. If its under 30 days old they will send you a new one no questions asked, if it is older than 30 days then they charge $9.95 (payable by CC or check) and they will send you a new one no questions asked. My replacement for the one that broke on Weds is on its way as I type this. I should also note that it took them 15 minutes to reply with a case # and a phone number to call. After calling it took less than 5 minutes to pay the $10 fee and have my replacement rod's "order" sent to shipping dept.

I'm sure you are right. Just a myth that this one broke on the hookset last Wednesday.

Lemon? Banana? Apple? Whats the point of this thread other than calling your child a fool in public?

Salt on the inside gives the bait more weight, making it sink. The variety and amount of salt determines the correct fall rate, especially on stick baits. Salt on the outside is to keep the baits from sticking together in the packaging, it washes right off on the first cast. Either way, I don't consider it a fish attractant.

GP with green and purple flake. Man that is a killer color! I think it is 301?

USUALLY smallmouth fishing is done with smaller lures, so a 6'6M might be a very good choice! Smaller lipless cranks, plastics, spinners , compact jigs, senkos.. all of those can be thrown on a 6'6 M. I typically suggest a 7'MHF for a good all-around rod for largemouth, but the 6'6M could be a great rod for smallies. A lot of the techniques used for largemouth transition over to smallies though. I've caught smallies with a 7'H rod and a 3/4oz jig, and I've had to downsize to an UL and a small 3" fluke at times.

Oxygen absorber wont keep your hooks dry.

Didnt like the grip of the ***, but it is a nice rod!! I prefer the veritas. I know they break alot, but they really feel good to me. Im eager to try a duckett ghost, I think that could take #1 for me.

Twitch a jerk! I catch bass on minnows under the ice, they feed year around. No bass can resist a small minnow at iceout.

There is no possible way circle hooks will work on a frog...

I cant remember the last time I used a snap swivel. I use #1 and #2 duo lock snaps from eagle claw for some applications. And I use #0 & #1 spro ball bearing swivels to reduce line twist when needed.

Accurate pitching needs some tip flex. Heavy is probably too stiff. *** MHF would be my suggestion.

Ive never seen a firetiger colored fish, yet that color excells around here. All about triggering that basic predator instinct inside every bass. General rule is i use natural colors in clear water and anything bright in dirty water.

I really like it. Best low price fluoro i have found. I use 15# on my football jig rod and have thrown some t-rigs with it, works great. Low stretch, very sensitive, and good abrasion resistance. Cant wait to throw squarebills with it this year. I use 8 on a spinning reel, and 4 on my UL reels. Also great. Looking to put 10# on my jerkbait rod as well.

Pike/pickeral and yellow perch spawn at 38-44 usually. Not sure if you have any of those in the lake. Was probably just shiners though. Ive netted some that were microscopic this time of year.

3

I have one in the garage that is a good 10 years old. Still works fine.

I like red label. Its by far the best I have used in the cheaper price range.

14-16"

Is this a custom rod or a factory rod? If custom, is your rod builder making you a heavy rod out of a musky blank for throwing big swimbaits (2-6oz) or is he using a heavy rod from a standard blank (3/8-2)? BIGGGG difference!

$12 fish gripper and a $5 luggage scale off ebay. Mine is accurate to within 0.5 ounce (checked with certified check weights).