FryDog62

If any larger fish are present, tube all the way. If the bite is poor and nothing is working, I opt for the dreaded Nerd rig..

Only two deep diving squarebills I've heard of the are the KVD deep diving squarebill and this one from Lucky Craft: https://discounttackle.com/products/lucky-craft-skt-110-mag-mr-deep-diving-squarebill-crankbait?variant=31423118114905&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=&scid=scplpshopify_US_4462193016921_31423118114905&sc_intid=shopify_US_4462193016921_31423118114905&utm_source=Bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Product Feed

Sure will, thx Scott... will be turning 60 soon ?

Scott, do they say a target age for when you should get the vaccine? And how long is it supposed to last - 5 years, 10 years, life? Thx

Crazy people out there...

After years of using the Trick Worm, I became frustrated with them not floating, or at least not consistently. Switched to NetBait T-Mac straight tail worms and have never looked back. Tail always floats and is a lights out worm when shaky is on. When the bite is subtle, a floating tail prevents you from over working the bait - it undulates better on its own IMO. Great Carolina worm too. Plus its hard to beat 20 worms for $4 anymore.

Yes, the wider weight range of the K2 is what caught my eye - going down to 1/16 but also up to 5/8. I realize lure ratings vary much by manufacturer, but that suggests to me some versatility in terms of bass fishing versus the BFS trout rods with the super low weight ratings. I prefer a bass BFS rod that can throw a 1/16th oz hair jig “farther than I’d ever want to fish,” but also be able to dangle a 3/16 oz drop shot, or pull a Ned or plastic in and around at least some light cover without the tip collapsing (Sierra UL). I’m very happy with the Phoenix Light, but when considering a second rod, it gets you thinking. I may order another Feather, or explore a custom build. I would consider ordering the K2 if I could justify the cost for a rod I knew for sure fit the bill. Until someone says they’ve fished it and can talk to some of these specifics, $525 bones is too much to take a chance...

Yes, Dobyns customer service is hard to beat IMO... I have 5 of their other rods. The tip on the 740c ( and 700c) is just so thin/light. It would be difficult to pull lures through even light cover and I think would be over the max with a 1/5 oz Ned. I did talk to Gary and he thought a 701c would be perfect for what I was looking for. Unfortunately they don’t make those any more. To his credit, he looked around the warehouse to see if he could find a return, demo, etc. unfortunately did not find. That’s when I bought the Phenix Feather 7’1” Light. Like it so much I’ve thought of adding a second rod - and that’s when I saw the K2.

I actually bought the 740c and was very disappointed. Trout rods, not bass IMO.

Is that a spinning or baitcasting rod?

Primarily hair jigs and Ned rigs, and may also drop-shot with it. I just picked it up this year so my experience with it is only about a month. It casts very well and I caught some nice 3.5 pound white bass and a couple 2-3 lb largemouth so far. It definitely holds its own. Originally I bought a Dobyns Sierra 740 ultra light, but it was just too light fishing fishing around any kind of cover. It also seemed like it would be overmatched even with 1/5 oz Ned rigs. The Phenix works so much better for bass fishing IMO.

No, but that’s the lowest I go weight-wise. I probably throw 3/32 most often and occasionally 1/8. The Air TW does a fantastic job of casting smoothly and getting distance.

Yeah, I was originally intrigued by the wide range of the weight rating. The Feather Light I have is rated 1/8-3/8 oz. It casts the 1/16th oz hair jig very well, but I envisioned the K2 blowing my socks off for that price.

Anyone have first-hand experience fishing the 7'1" Medium-Light Fast Phenix K2 casting rod? Lure rating is 1/16-5/8 oz and I'm thinking of pairing this with a BFS reel to throw 1/16 oz hair jigs and other lighter lures. TT did a review on it awhile back, but didn't address how well it cast ultra light lures from what I can tell. I would think if rated to 5/8 oz it would have enough power to bring plastics, light T-rigs, etc through some level of cover... its the lighter end I'm wondering about specifically. I have the Phenix Feather 7'1" Light Fast... and really like it. So for the extra cost of the K2, I'd want to know it is something special for casting light lures as a borderline BFS end. https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Phenix_K2_Torzite_Casting_Rods/descpage-PK2.html

If not spawning yet, try Jerkbaits for sure, also paddletails, 1/2 oz Dark Sleepers, maybe spinnerbait/Chatterbaits in mid/shallow depths. If they are in spawning, then find beds and throw plastics like Ned/craws, flukes, worms. On the rivers, depending on water clarity, I have had some good luck with both the Haze and Mutsugorou colors of the 3 inch (not 3.8 inch), 1/2 and 3/4 oz Dark Sleepers for smallmouth. Might be an easy lure for dad to cast if there is wind, waves, etc. They sound heavy but are actually very compact - and they work and track well in current!

There seems to be a general progression among skippers over time, present company included. Start out with a shorter rod to get better at the mechanics of skipping and to make accurate casts. However as you improve, you should become pretty much as accurate with a 6’9” as a 7’0”. The difference is the longer rod will help get more distance and easier to pull the fish out and away from cover, dock posts, etc. I started out with a 6’8” and moved up to 6’10” but now the rods I use to skip are all 7’0 and 7’1”. And I’m only 5’9” with longer arms. Be sure to consider handle lengths too... they can vary. For instance when I moved up from a 6’8” to a 6’10” the handle of the 6’10” was 2 inches longer. So the distance of the rod from the trigger forward was exactly the same and I didn’t gain any ground.

Good input Dean, some good rods you listed as well as specific actions ?

I've been doing a little more research on these two rods, they both look fantastic for the right situations. Fairly versatile, but I would lean X10 for squarebills and 725cb for lipless. For me, if the 725cb could cast a smaller 3/8 oz squarebill far enough and keep fish pinned, knowing it would also do very well with 1/2 oz lipless, that's the direction I would probably go between those 2 rods. Final decision for me probably comes down to a Dobyns 703/733 or the Powell Endurance 725cb.

Thx, any specific rods/models in mind?

Interesting in that I sent an email to Gary Dobyns earlier today and as usual he responded almost right away. He recommended either a 705cb or 733c. The 703c I’m assuming would be same as the 733c just 3 inches shorter... but the same kind of action that might work well for both applications. Thx guys - I tend to agree and steer away from glass for a lot of reasons... however the Daiwa Rebellion 7’0” Medium-Glass is unique in that it is also listed as a Fast action. Not too many glass rods are. Might be effective rippin’ lipless around weeds and also have enough parabolic to keep fish pinned. Wish I could test drive one!

That's kinda where I'm at too - there's probably something out there I hadn't thought of... (yet)

That looks really close to what I think I need... I just wish the online retailer where I have the credit carried Powell rods..

Yes, Thorne is very good... was just there yesterday as they are repairing one of those fragile AGS guides on a rod for me. I also had a chance to fondle the above mentioned Daiwa Rebellion rod. That rod has promise, wish they allowed "test drives" lol...

I have used the 685cb for squarebills in tighter areas where accuracy is important... and in terms of action and keeping fish pinned it is excellent. Thinking the 705cb would be great too, but better with longer casts. Let me know what you think once you've tested it out. I'm going to guess its also very good with squarebills, but does it have the right action and backbone to at least occasionally rip a 1/2 oz lipless through light/moderate weeds? Too moderate of a tip can be frustrating in my opinion to keep the hooks clean.. Ideally I'd go custom to try to get that just right action. But, I have a credit at an online retailer and would like to use it up if poss... I don't crank that often, so I need something good for both purposes, but not super high-end either..

Wondering if there is a casting rod that will work well to throw both a 3/8 oz squarebill as well as a 1/2 oz lipless crankbait? For a squarebill it obviously helps to have a moderate action, and a lipless too - but when ripping a lipless through vegetation, a fast action is sometimes preferred - altho some moderates might work... so that's what I'm looking for. Do I need 2 rods or is there one that would do both well? I’ve been looking in the $150-250 range and here’s what I’ve found as possibilities so far: •Daiwa Rebellion 7 foot Medium-glass. Although a medium its rated 3/16 up to 1 oz. Could it rip a 1/2 oz lipless around some weeds? I’m sure that rod would be great with a squarebill. •Dobyns 705cb graphite, I have the 685cb for jerkbaits and it’s a heckuva rod and keeps pinned to those light trebles. Does it have the backbone to rip a 1/2 oz lipless through weeds? •Megabass Levante 7’5” EMTF. Reengineered with a more forgiving mid-section for trebles. I would think it would handle the 1/2 oz lipless, but not sure about smaller/lighter cranks. Any thoughts/experience with these rods pulling double duty? Or other rods that work well with both squarebills and lipless?