FishTank

I have yet to buy a rod online but that doesn't mean I won't. For me, I like to put the rod in my hand and have one of those moments where I just picked up a magic wand for the first time. Of course this means nothing until I have fished it.

6'8" MXF Spinning rod with a 2500 or 3000 size spinning reel for soft plastics.

I picked up a Citica G for around $40. Awesome workhorse reel.

I always think of the St. Croix Avid as the best bang for the buck rod. Also based on the rods I have fished and owned, I think Avid is where St. Croix line up begins when it comes to sensitivity. I have fished the Premier and Triumph and the Avid is big step up in overall quality as well.

I use to make a big fuss about color but I have come to the conclusion that presentation is the key. My rules for color are as follows though.... 1. Stained water/dark water>>> Dark or black baits 2. Moderate everyday water>>> Pumpkin, brown, watermelon, or whatever sort of matches the gravel bed where you are fishing 3. Clear Water>>> Maybe something bright and sparkly When in doubt, anything dark.

Pliers, nail trimmers, and my all in one Leatherman. I use my head as a fish finder and my senses for everything else (doesn't always work but it's what I like to use).

Both are great reels but seem like different animals on paper. I would think of which application you intend to use it for and make your decision based on that.

I like Invisx. I got one bad spool of it but after that never had an issue. I also like Trilene 100% FC. I have yet to try Sniper but it is on my list.

I have broken a few rods in my time. I would like to think it just happens but sometimes it's just user error. One thing is for sure, all manufactures can make a bad rod.

Gamakatsu 4/0 EWG or my personal favorite, Gamakatsu 5/0 G-Lock (it's the right size and it holds the bait better).

Very cool.....and well done.

Sounds like an awesome deal. My local DSG has next to nothing on sale.

I have the 201 and it is a great reel but the Calcutta 301d would be my reel of choice for this application.

A rod for a jerkbait is a weird thing to me. In my opinion it should be stiff at the bottom and soft at the top but not whippy or soft like a crankbait rod. I also don't want the rod to be to long because I tend to jerk down towards the water and if the rod is to long it will hit the water. So with all that said, the one I use the most for this application is a G. Loomis 783 GLX 6'6" MH Fast.

Power Pro

15years ago I would do 10-15 miles a week. Then I got into powerlifting and now my knees can't take it. I still love to hike and walk though. I do miss the running and lifting.

Sorry to here that he passed. I enjoyed reading his posts. He told it like it is.

Do I believe, not exactly. If you want to read a good book series about a wizard, pick up the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. A good story for giggles, across the street from my brothers house is home with a sign that is for a " Professional Witch". She has lived there for years and is supposed to be the real deal. On the other corner is a school with a real cemetery attached to the play ground. On the other corner is a church and behind his house is a school for nuns and troubled teen girls. He lives at the corner of creepy and scary. Love the Harry Potter books though.

I use to use Floroclear for everything. It's good stuff but there are other lines I like to use better. I still have a reel set up with the 6lb from last year and it still works great. I also caught my personal best (10lb 2oz) on 6lb test as well. It's strong stuff.

I like12lb Invisx or 12lb trilene 100%FC.

I still have the rod and reel. the lure was a zoom lizard, Texas rigged. The rod was a MH xf 6'8"st crioix avid with a shimano stradic. I was using 6lb pline fluoroclear. My fish was 10lb 2oz and I still dream of it.

I see a shimano in your future. Maybe a curado or a chronarch.

Shimano chronarch 200 e5 or a Calcutta 200gtb

I received a new G. Loomis 803C via the expediter service to replace my old version 803C yesterday and wanted to share a few thoughts.... I was able to take it out and fish for a few hours today. My first impression was that the rod is very well made. The design is sort of different for G. Loomis. The new version has a split grip and no longer has the recoil guides but instead has fuji titanium guides. The reel seat is sort of, well, odd. The rod itself feels stiffer and stronger. As far as fishing goes, I will get right to the one thing that bothers me the most..... It's hard to say but it is not as sensitive as my old 803C. I am not sure G. Loomis was thinking but it is definitely noticeable, especially when fished next to my 783C GLX and my 844C IMX. This rod feels more like my 844C IMX. It has just a little less power and it may be a fuzz lighter. This rod sort of fits somewhere between the 783C GLX and the 844C IMX when it comes to sensitivity. Hooks sets with this rod are not quick as they were with my old rod, despite it being stiffer and a little more powerful. Now for some positive notes..... Casting distance with this rod is somewhat better and maybe just a little more accurate. It loads extremely easily and makes casting a breeze. It also has nice balance. Once a fish is on, it has plenty of muscle, so no worries there. It does however seem to have a little weak spot just above the reel seat where the epoxy ends (seems odd, but if you fish it you'll see what I mean). Bottom line, I think, at first, this rod is not an improvement on the old version but is really a step back. One thing I would expect Loomis not to mess with is the sensitivity. One other aspect that the old rod did the new has yet to show is> it fit the technique specific application perfectly. This is not to say that the new version is not a finely crafted and great rod but it is not what I would expect from G. Loomis. I guess I had higher hopes. I should have found a way to get the NRX but I thought for the same money I would be investing I could get a new reel (Chronarch 51e). I know what you guys will say, " You broke your rod. They sent you a new one for $100. Why complain?"> I am really not upset just disappointed. I really thought the new rod would be an improvement. But for the $100 I spent on the expediter service, I have a sweet new rod (just not my old one).

Based on the price of the PQ, you might wait to until Spring and trade it in at BPS's big sale. I would venture a guess that shipping, a professional cleaning, and the replacement parts would be quite expensive. Below is a review from BPS's website to drive home my point...... "I bought 6 of these reels over the past 3 years. I bought these reels with the hopes that they could be used for years and years but that has not turned out to be the case. I have purchased two of these reels every year for the past 3 years and if you lined them up you couldn’t tell which ones are new. The reel cap are discolored, not a big deal but they look like antiques versus reels that are newer style. Another issue is that all 6 reels went to BPS reel repair and all came back with parts that need to be replaced. Not a big deal but 2 reels were 9 months old. I don’t know which ones but regardless the bill was $198.00 for 5 reels to be repaired. So my point is expect that 25-30% repair expense per reel to keep these going. I attached a picture of one of the "newer" ones but they all look like this."