Sonik

I'm looking at a few options for a custom rod. Has anyone built any rods off the Elite Pro Series blanks? If so, what's your opinion? The description says it has the best parts of the standard and high-mod MHX blanks but I just don't know. I'm looking at a standard 7'-7'2" MH fast action rod for jigs, spinnerbaits, soft plastics, etc. I've read the standard is about like the IMX and the high-mod is around a GLX. Just wondering where that new Elite Pro sits.

Well, I did some checking and it looks like group 27 is the biggest I can fit in there. And I lied. There are 2 group 27 sized batteries in there now (cranking and deep cycle). The group 24 was on my jon boat. I don't know where my brain was on that one. Sorry about that. It is a shame I couldn't just grab 1 more Interstate SRM-27 and call it good but the old one is from May 2013. I'll look into some AGMs. I know Cabelas has theirs on sale for like $170 for the 27 size but I think the quality is a little suspect. Probably fine though. I don't really tournament fish so the smart money is probably on just buying two nice flooded batteries. That Edge is tough on the one group 27. I'm hoping the digital maximizer in the Fortrex helps out quite a bit. Oh, and the lift assist is the main reason I spent the money on the Fortrex over a Maxxum. I have a real bad lower back so I'm counting on the lift assist and a metal pull cable to provide some relief.

I'm getting ready to install a Minn Kota Fortex 80 on my Alumacraft Pro 175. It came with an Edge 45 and one group 24 Interstate on the deep cycle side. I suppose I could buy another identical group 24 but I worry that those won't hack it. Or they will but I'll get about 2 hours if that before they go empty. Obviously bigger is better but not being very experienced in these bigger motors I'm not sure it really is needed. I'm not even totally sure a couple group 30s would fit. I would really appreciate some advice on this before I make an expensive mistake.

I'm looking to upgrade my trolling motor to a Fortex 80 and I figured I'd trick out the whole smash. I am pretty inexperienced on stuff like this. I like the Fortrex's lift assist due to a herniated disc in my low back. One of the items is a recessed well. Seems like it'd help my back some. I've seen a bunch and I like the ones that metal. Has anyone seen problems out of the fiberglass and plastic ones? Any recommendations? I am concerned about support clearance on my 2012 Alumacraft Pro 175. At least I don't have carpet (spray on liner) so won't have to deal with that. I'm a little concerned with wiring it up. I have a 12V Edge right now so I'll need another battery. There's a group 27 in there now and I have a spare group 24 but I figure they need to match. I also may need to upgrade breakers/fuses and wiring (#6 ok?). I also have a 2 bank 20 amp on board charger, will I still be able to use that or will I have to go to a 3 bank? I'll probably throw a Troll Perfect on it to help with whippiness and the wind in my aluminum. Probably will get a G-Force handle too to help my back. Lastly, what's the consensus on transducer shields? I have an 898 DI up front and want to takeep care of the transducer. Sorry for the pile of questions. I just have so many things to consider and I know so little. I appreciate any information.

Just as a follow up,I agree on the PQ even though I have the previous gen Extreme. Last Christmas they were $50 I think. That's less than the current clearance price of the old Extreme. But if you can't wait, it's an ok reel. I run mine loose and you can definitely feel it. But so far it hasn't flown apart and put my eye out, exploded and took my hands off, or sucked in and cut off any other appendages .... yet.

I ended up added a 7' MH and another 7'6" MH. I'm a taller guy so I feel like I can handle a 7' rod and still maintain accuracy. I thought about a 6'6 MH but that just seems short to me.

I would like to say, I'm not looking for brand and model ideas. More just length, power, and action for applications. I don't want to get into a post about who has the best rod.

I currently have a 7' medium and 7'6" medium-heavy cranking rod set. Do you have any recommendations for a 3rd and 4th cranking rod in a lineup in terms of length, action, and power? I throw square bills and smaller divers on the 7' and other plugs on the 7'6". I've thought about doing another 7'6" MH so when I'm cranking I can swap between rattling and silent deep divers. I've also thought about a 7' MH. Thoughts?

I like it. I use it on a BPS Tourney Special for my bank fishing combo. Works well. I cleaned and lubed mine this spring for the first time and it was smooth all year.

I don't get too crazy either. I use a Zoom Fat Albert grub most of the time. If I want a little more action, I go to a twin tail grub. If I want some thump, it's a swimming/boot tail minnow.

Well, first off, I have to say that my rod lockers is full of first gen *** Blacks (which I need to sell), Cabela's Tournament ZX, and Lew's Tournament/Tournament Pro/BB1/BB1-Pro reels and most are spooled with P-Line Floroclear (some don't like it, I do). Just so there is a frame of reference to what I normally fish with. But, I bank fish with 2 cheap combos. I mainly use a 7' MH/F BPS Tourny Special/6.3:1 Tourny Special reel. I do most everything with that. Rarely I will use the 6'6" M/F Tourny Special rod/size 20 Tourny Special spinning reel combo. I spool the baitcaster with 12# Big Game and the spinning setup with 8# Big Game. On Saturday, I cought a 5 ½ pounder off the bank. The night before I caught a bunch of dinks but a couple of 3's were in there. Those cheap combos didn't miss a beat. Had them for a long while too. On Sunday, I took the boat out and the square bill I wanted to use was tied onto my cheap BPS rod so I just threw it in. As soon as the boat was in and off the ramp, I just got lazy and threw the Tourny Special combo instead of retying the crankbait onto my normal BB1 Pro/Tournament ZX crankbait rod. It just tore them up. That poor Square A is chewed up and beat to pieces now. I guess it just dawned on me that I feel like I wasted my money on the more expensive stuff. Granted the Omens and the ZX's aren't Loomis or Megabass stuff and the Lew's reels aren't Chronarchs. But each combo cost me about $70 total before tax. And Big Game in the ¼ pound spool? Pennies. The Square A was maybe $3 after tax. I could have filled the boat with Tourny Special setups and had duplicate rods for stuff for way cheaper. I know I have caught more and bigger fish off the Tourny Specials. Drives me nuts. If I had it to buy all over again, I would have filled my boat with those Tourny Specials. Maybe 12 setups. The reels come in a low 5:1 ratio up to a 7:1. The rods go from medium to heavy power. The have smaller but I could have had 6' up to 7'6" and the 7'6" would telescope to fit my locker. It's just what I should have done in hindsight. I would have had more money for gas, insurance, bigger trolling motor for my Alumacraft with another battery, etc. I guess that cheap stuff just really fits me. Would you have done anything different with the setups or gear in your boat?

Anyone had any experience with these? They definiely are the same design as some of your Big Bite Baits, Bass Pro, and I think Netbait plastics. Limited color selections but definitely more than you need. I am concerned about their composition though (plastic formula, salt content, scent, durability, softness) and how the action and fall is. They seem like they're going prices and I've heard LPO has excellent customer service. Anyone have experience with the plastics specifically?

"Let the fish decide" is the correct answer, right? But what do you start with? I have a feeling this may go similar to the same question someome else asked about jigs a while back. I always fish them with rattles but I'm going to try them without this year with some KVD 1.5 cranks. I think Bass Pro has the rattling version but I have plenty of rattling squarebills already. I've heard some people start with rattles and then go to silent and they'll pick a few more fish up. Then, I've heard people say that all they fish with is silent versions because the hooks and rings make enough racket anyway so it doesn't matter. Just looking for some thought on the matter.

I've been trying out plastics with scent already on them the last couple of years. Right now I'm working with Bass Pro plastics that have their "8up" scent impregnated. They are pretty slick out of the pack compared to my standard Zooms. Oily compared to what I am used to. My Zoom Z-Hogs kind of stick or rub together on the smooth body portion of the bait and have a faint rubber smell where a BPS River Bug feels oily and the dang things slip and slide all over the bag and have a little bit of funk to them. I also bought some of their 8up stuff in the 8 ounce spray bottle. I think it washes off pretty quick but I do think it covers up my scent well enough. I will shoot a bit onto my Zooms or a jig and get more bites. I don't think it's actually attracting fish though.

My two cents: 1. Start watching Bassresource's videos on YouTube. 2. For soft plastics, I know and like Zoom and Bass Pro brands. Zoom is really good and available everywhere. I have been buying more Bass Pro brand plastics in certain styles. They have salt and their 8up scent on them already and so far this year, they've beat my Zooms heard to head. Green Pumpkin Watermelon Red June bug Zoom/Bass Pro Trick Worms/Fin-Eke Worms Senkos/Stik-O (5-6") Super Fluke/Sassy Sally (pearl color) Baby Brush Hog/Crack Craw Z-Hog or UltraVibe Speed Craw/Riverbug

I have 6 of them. Five casting and one spinning. I love them. At $60 on sale they can't be beat. I used to keep 4 *** Blacks in my rod locker and couldn't get over the reel seat. The ZX is perfect.

I use a 7' ML Tourny Trail for dropshot and splitshot rigs. I got it in the combo with a Pflueger President for $70 on sale.

Cabela's has upgraded theirs from no-name to Matzuo. I love their Dig-Its and Grave Diggers which both have the Matzuos. I'm fairly sure Bass Pro doesn't list their hooks but I've heard good things. When I have to switch, I do VMC or Eagle Claw 374s and they work fine.

I picked up some June Bug Red colored Ol Monsters on my lunch break. I do well on regular June Bug so we'll try that. I'd like to pick up some Red Shad.

I am going to try some big worms this summer. I'm sick of cranking ledges, dragging Carolina rigs, and waiting in shakey head bites. I am a Zoom guy. But I see the Mag 2 and the Ol Monster and I don't notice a lot of difference except you get 9 Ol Monsters and 20 Mag 2's per bag. I think the Monster is all of 1 inch longer at 10.5" where the Mag 2 is 9.5". Am I missing something here?

6' light/fast spinning rod with a white panfish jig. Pull up on a brush pile and catch some redear, bluegill, and crappie.

I went into the one by Chong's and the mall today to get 1 stinking item and it's ridiculous. I'm not one to dress up just to go to the store but those people in there had no self respect. I could smell people from 10ft away. People with their underwear hanging out of holes in their sweatpants. Parents swearing at their toddler-age kids. One woman was back by the paint eating a bag of chips and I heard her snort. They say southside out near Reidland is worse. I did swing by the fishing stuff and they inly carry Trick Worms, Flukes, Brush Hogs, and Lizards in Zoom. Similar in other brands. But if you're looking for junk fishing line, $20 combos, and panfish jigs, they have a whole wall of it. Dick's is about as bad and Gander is overpriced. When I went to school at Murray they had better stuff. Benton may be better too. It just boggles my mind that the stores near Kentucky Lake don't have a good selection. I hear good things out of The Cabin in Eddyville and Bass and Gas and Fishermans HQ in Benton though.

Buy 3 of them. Free shipping on $99. This always bugged me about the big box stores. Tackle Warehouse always has their deal, I don't get why Cabela's and Bass Pro can't do something similar.

I traded my *** Blacks for a rod locker full of Tournament ZX. They go on sale for about $60-70 fairly often. A little more for the Crankshaft series. The 7'3" H frog rod is one of my favorites. It's so versatile. Don't think it's just for frog and slop. It works well for Carolina rigs and of course pitchin and flippin. The only rods in my locker that aren't ZX are a BPS Crankin Stick and Extreme and a Cabela's Tourny Trail spinning rod.

I can't speak for the heavy models. Or the IM8 version that is brand spanking new this year. But no one else has replied so I will throw my 2 cents in. I like the Tourny Trail rod. I believe they call the model I have the "SE" which is from the last few years. It has foam split grips and is IM7. Although at the price point ($35 U.S. when on sale) there can't be a world of difference between the two rods. I have the 7' ML/F spinning rod and it is excellent for dropshot and ned rig applications. I have pulled in some fish that I didn't think it could handle and it did so without creaking, popping, squealing, or anything of the sort. I also had a 7' MH/MF casting rod before I handed that to someone who needed it more than I did. That was a nice rod. Very versatile. In short, I like them. They're inexpensive and quality. Light weight and sensitive. I can't speak for the IM8 of this year but I imagine it's a similar deal. Cork may not be top notch though.