FryDog62

I also looked up the Aetos and find it odd that of their two MHXF spinning rods, are only rated to a lure weight of 3/8 oz. Seems awfully low for a Rod of that power/action.

The old Rod was a first generation Cabelas XML ... which I believe the blank was made by Loomis...

Nice, a little spendy yes but def worth consideration...

Really like the St. Croix's and the Veritas, but I'm not aware of any of their MH spinning rods that are Extra Fast...

Thanks Grumps, that is pretty close but always open to other options...

Looking to replace an older spinning rod and having a hard time finding one in today's market. Looking for suggestions for the following: -Must be an Extra Fast tip -Medium Heavy -Rated to a lure weight of at least 3/4 oz -I liked the length of 6'-10" but would consider 6'-8" to 7'-0" Hardest thing for me to find is the Extra Fast action in a Medium Heavy. If I can find those two as a priority, I may have flexibility on the other specs. Im also somewhat flexible on price but assume there may be options in the $100-200 range... Appreciate any and all suggestions.... Thx, -Fry

You should try it again, maybe got a bad spool. In fact, YH will stretch slightly less than P-Line CX and probably less than almost any other non-braided line. The only line that I tested that stretched less than YH was Trilene XT.

"Do Hooks Dissolve Under Water?" Basically no. At least not today's hooks. I went to a seminar a couple years ago put on by the Minnesota DNR and they said hooks left in a fish's mouth are a top 3 reason for fish mortality. If you release the fish with a hook in its mouth it will most certainly die - they get sick or more likely can't ingest/swallow food any more. Sometimes a crushed barb can "pass" through. The only real answer is to either learn how to go in through the gills to get a gut-hooked one out, or use side-cutters. I used a side cutter to get a wacky hook out of a 16 inch smallmouth yesterday. Not that big of a deal except you have to buy another expensive VMC wacky jig/hook. As far as turtles go, don't think I can help you...wouldn't want to get my fingers that close..!

I had a rod with 17 fluorocarbon that I removed and replaced with YH 15 pound. I was surprised at how much more manageable it was than the flouro... to each their own I guess. I will say this, they YH 12 pound test is rated as stronger (and just as thick) as many 17 pound fluorocarbons. You may not need to go to 15 pound YH. The 12 pound is on 3 of my baitcasting rods and I have yet to get any kind of a rats nest and it is very strong.

I know Duckett doesn't list lure weight ratings and tip action but am wondering if any can tell me from experience what the approximate specs are for the 6'-9" Medium-Heavy Duckett Ghost spinning rod? My guess is that its rated to either 5/8 or 3/4 oz and is either Fast or Extra Fast but would like to know for certain.

I like throwing a prop bait - specifically the Rapala Skitter Prop. Especially in current, 2-4 quick jerks and a pause works great...because the prop keeps turning slightly in the current even at rest. I like buzz baits too but if you stop they sink. With the Skitter Prop you can rip or pause and it stays on top which seems to work best for me on the rivers I fish anyway. Really ticks 'em off ~

I bought an Avid X this year 6'-8" Medium XF casting rod. Bought it primarily for jerk baits and it works great. It is rated to 5/8 so I have tossed a few plastics with it too. 3/16 jigs with Hula Grub. I would say that it doesn't cast that weight particularly well but its do-able. When I tie on a slightly heavier spinnerbait it does much better. So, in the original post if you're looking to throw 1/8 oz jigs/lures I'm not sure its the best rod for that IMO. Of the Avid X casting rods, none are rated below a 5/8 oz lure so you might consider other options. I actually prefer spinning rods for lures that light and St. Croix has some great options there ~

Yes co-polymers tend to stretch the least of any line type (outside of braided lines), but if mono is a rubber band, then what is fluorocarbon? Most fluorocarbons will have more stretch than mono.... many by quite a margin.

Agreed, if the OP needs density (faster sink rate) then Fluorocarbon may be the best option. But if he needs a more manageable line, less stretch, higher strength, better knots, more abrasion resistance, and better price then XT of YH may be a better option IMO. The other option I would offer is a sinking braid (Tuf-line Hevicore, Spiderwire fluorobraid) attached with a fluorocarbon leader, might be another option worth experimenting with...allows sink rate and sensitivity (and minimal stretch). Just offering suggestions... so he can arrive at his best choice for his fishing style.

I can virtually guarantee if you did a stretch test between 18 pound Sufix fluorocarbon against either Trilene XT (mono) or Yo-Zuri Hybrid (Co-polymer) in the same pound test, the Sufix would stretch more. And the XT and YH would be more abrasion resistant. Fluorocarbon would have more of a sink rate but that's about the only advantage IMO.

I didn't include Sufix fluorocarbon in the stretch tests I posted earlier but did test several other brands. Co-polys stretched the least, followed by mono and fluorocarbon bringing up the rear. Maybe you have a unique fluorocarbon in Sufix but overall, flouros are a very stretchy category of lines...

In fact, almost all fluorocarbon lines stretch MORE than mono or co-polymer lines...

I would agree with you that co-poly stretches more than braid. However co-poly's will generally stretch a significant amount LESS than any fluorocarbon.

This looks like an interesting reel - the 3000 weighs in at 7.4 ounces and Academy Sports has it on sale for $69. Anyone had one long enough to know how they perform? -Fry

I think Punch's suggestion about Leech is pretty good, hard to beat its versatility. Other medium sized lakes near Longville that are excellent smallmouth waters include (Woman, Baby, Mahon, etc). Not sure you'll find a rustic or economical cabin very easily though..

But the Simano Sahara matches the color on the Fenwick Bass Elite rod best

One other angle is the Mississippi River in Central Minnesota - around St. Cloud, Little Falls. Gets waaaaay less pressure than the lakes do and the fishing is awesome. Possibly the best river smallmouth fishing on the continent. Just another perspective to think about ~

So, a hybrid braid like Hevicore - what do you think Roger, float like mono or sink like Fluoro? Has similar properties to both. I ordered some up in hopes that it sinks with a more direct angle to the bait... We'll see --

I'll chime in on the OP's original question... Contrary to popular belief (a.k.a Marketing), Fluorocarbon in general has more stretch than either mono or copolymer lines. However it is denser and density is what affects sensitivity more than anything. Stretch doesn't become a factor until the hook set. So, since Yo-Zuri has fluorocarbon blended into it, logically it is more sensitive than Big Game. Plus once you do set the hook, according to stretch tests I have conducted, Yo-Zuri has less stretch than either fluorocarbon or Big Game. So I'm predicting an overall more favorable experience with YH than BG. And no, I don't work for any line or fishing manufacturer..

My two most sensitive rods were St. Croix Legend and Loomis GLX but are quite expensive. I bought one of the new St. Croix Avid "X" rods this year...and it might be the most sensitive of the three...debatable but close. And a bit less at $200.