fishnkamp

I have both and prefer the IMX. I would not miss a deal over it. Check and see if they intend to get them in. I am sure with the rest of your arsenal the 723 is the way I would go. I think it will be more useful overall.

I agree with some faster retrieves. Since you have two Daiwas you might want to add some more. Right now Tackle Warehouse has Excelers for $60. I own one of these and they are very nice for a reel that normally costs $100 and is now selling for $60. I also own 4 Tatula Rs and 2 tatula CTs. Those CTs are closer to the size of the Exceler, but with the nicer setup of the Tatula. Tatula CTs are available for around $100 of the internet. Since you own one of each you decide what you like best. For the lightning rod I would pick up a 7-1 or even 8-1 Daiwa reel. Rod 2 I would have a 7-1 on it. Rod 3 would have a Tatula 6.3 because of the possibility of deeper cranks. Rod 4 would have the Exceler on it. That is probably one of the most versatile rods so let's keep it that way. Rod 5 Here you may want to decide which Abu Garcia do you like best, I would think the Revo can outcast the Black Max since it costs a bit more. Anyway you could pich one of those or sell them and add another Daiwa. I really do not want a reel too slow here because I think this rod should handle cranks but may be nice for bombing rattle traps too so it makes sense to have a 6.3 or 6,4 here. Next thing is to move some reels around and see what you like matched up in reel life. Make sure to toss some baits on each combo. Then once you get your combos set next comes the line choices for each combo.

EvanT123 These "old style" graphite rods sure feel good in your hand. My wallet can not afford a boat load of NRXs but that is okay these rods still fish beautifully. I trhink he will love either one pretty quickly.

This topic is no different than the "preference'to use longer and longer rods. I met a guide named Craig Powers. He fishes the FLW series out in Tennessee ( I believe it is called the Choo Choo series). Anyway he had won close to 1 million dollars and much of it was made throwing his home made pop r style baits. He would skip them way, way, way back up under docks and trees. Of course on those lake there are tons of boat houses too. In order to get his cast to work he had a custom made short handled (almost like the old pistol grips) 6 foot or less rod with him. I was amazed just watching him work. He had a mastery of his baits and the tools he used to deliver them. The pros trends are not always the best way to go.

The rod box on my boat is full. It usually has 10 baitcasters and usually a couple of spinning rods inside. Here is how they break down. First I own two good 7 ft medium moderate rods and two 6'6 medium moderate rods that I use for rattle traps. The two 7 footer ( a Falcon Bucoo and as Irod Genesis II) are always aboard the boat. They handle rattle traps and larger spinnerbaits as well as small to medium crankbaits. The two 6'6" Berkley Lightning shock rods only see duty when I need 4 different trap type baits tied on for fall stripers. Next a couple of spinnerbait, chatterbait rods one 6 ft md lt for tight quarters, and one a 6'6" mh mod fast Next a 6'6" mh fast for topwaters One 6'8' Powell max MH EF for jigs, texas rigged plastics although this rod can handle a ton of other duty A 7 ft MH fast that rates 1/4 to 1 1/2 used for carolina rigs, big hvy texas rigs and deeper dining cranks A 7 ft mH Fast Abu Garcia Veritas (1/4 to 1 ounce) for throwing big jigs and frogs One 7 foot HVY for punching, pitching and flipping. So, I carry a bunch of rods, but there is some much needed duplication. After all how can you resist the bait monkey when he comes around? So yeah there is always a reason for an extra swiss army knife.

I use a bunch of Daiwa reels that are 6.3 to one which works out to be 25.7 ipt. Not much difference so use it.

Both rods are great rods. My wife and I fish six of the Classic series spinning rods. She owns two GL2 and 1 98% graphite specialty smallie rod. I own a GL3 and 2 IMX rods. Love these rods. They are light and super sensitive. We use them mostly for bottom contact baits. I also have to mention VERY strong. We were fishing Ned rigs on our SJR722s (classic series) this past April on Dale Hollow. The big females had just pulled off the spawning beds and were not eating ( just in time for my vacation oh boy) While these rods handled smallies up to 7 pounds very well, it was my wife's 8 pound catfish that taxed our gear the most. I was rolling laughing as she fought that cat from both the front and back deck of our boat. She looked like Ike running around LOL. She landed it after about ten minutes of battle, back reeling and hard work. No I would not pick any 6 foot light action rod to battle that big pig but it did it well. Those two rods you are looking at are available in GL3 and IMX graphite. The IMX is more sensitive and since you are thinking of this rod for bottom contact baits spend $45 more and go IMX definitely! For the weight you specified either one will work. The mh will be more versatile for other baits. I guess i would go with the mh, but neither one is wrong given your original intention. I just believe once you have one of these in your hand you will end up loving it for other techniques.

The Dobyns Fury's are great rods. I would consider the FR 704C and the 705cb. They list those baits specifically for the 705cb, so maybe that is the best choice. Another great choice would be a Falcon Bucoo Micro 7 foot MH mf rod they call the Trap Caster. It specs for 1/4 to 3/4, has a nice tip and plenty of backbone. Falcon actually suggest trying larger cranks, spinnerbaits and even some buzzbaits. Personally it is one of my go to rattle trap rods. During fall you will find 4 rods with traps tied on but usually it is my Falcon Bucoo and an Irod Genesis that handle these duties.

I am right handed. I use both right and left hand reels for some strategic reasons. If I am throwing a bait that I cast and retrieve by cranking then I will use a right hand reel. I cast, change hand on the rod and wind in with my right hand. These baits include spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, crankbaits, and rattle traps. Lures that I toss and retrieve with a pumping, dragging or hopping motion I prefer to use a left hand retrieve reel. So any texas rigs, jigs, carolina rigs, spoons or blade baits and definitely anything I flip, pitch or punch I prefer to have my dominant hand on the rod at all times. I think I am in a better position to strike if it gets a quick hit as well. The last reason to switch hands for me has to do with my career. I have been a mechanic for over 30 years and my hands can cramp up if I perform repetitive tasks for too long, so by switching to a different bait & style of fishing thus changing hands a long day does not mean a painful night. I concentrate better ( and thus fish better) when my hands do not hurt. For example, if I am fishing down a bank or rock bluff and am throwing a square bill I might pick up a rod with a jig and toss the jig in a piece of wood for several minutes. Now that is always a smart move from a fishing point of view. For me it also means a different hand clutching the rod and thus I am not keeping my hands all cramped up one way. If I do not catch a bass either flipping or pitching that wood then maybe I pick up a rod with a swim jig and cover some shore with that before I go back to the square bill or toss a jerkbait. That just seems to work for me.

First the Keitechs will not need to be fished on such heavy gear. I throw those baits on a 7 ft mh 1/4 to 3/4 or my BPS Extreme 6 foot light baitcaster. If you are really thinking about 6 to 8 inch Hudds than another rod like a Irod Genesis II big swimbait rod is needed. Really I think the 7'3" heavy ought to be a lot like the 7 ft MH Veritas I throw my frogs on. I could easily pitch with that rod if I needed to. I have both a 7 ft MH Veritas and a 7 ft HVY Veritas. That hvy is like mag hvy. It is setup for deep jigs on ledges ( like out on the Tennessee River lakes or punchin mats here on the Susqy flats. It sits here at home most of the time while my MH gets to go most times when fishing here at home.

Lonnie do you run a jackplate? If so there are some made to bolt onto a jackplate

The Skeeter hulls were good but you do not want the Force engine. I sent you a pm. As for the first boat I would walk away from it. I would look at boats like these https://huntsville.craigslist.org/boa/5903680509.html http://bham.craigslist.org/boa/5933089660.html http://bham.craigslist.org/boa/5894992155.html http://montgomery.craigslist.org/boa/5936114702.html http://montgomery.craigslist.org/boa/5933944849.html

Keep this in mind when looking at used gear as far as bang for the buck. The reels available today are really improved over reels sold just a few years ago. If you can afford $60 to $150 for a reel then I would look at some new Daiwa reels. For $60 Tackle Warehouse has the Daiwa Exceler reels, this is a very nice reliable reel that actually retails for $100. Next take a look at a Daiwa Tatula CT, these are some really nice reels for $100 off Amazon and elsewhere. Lews and Shimano have their fans too. Sometimes you can find some higher end reels that sold for $300 or more selling used for $150. I can supply a couple of places to look if you pm me later. As for rods. Here is where you can really get some good deals. The pros push what is hot and set trends. The push towards big long rods has made some good used rods available. For used continue to look at Dobyns, G Loomis, St Croix as well as Powell.

You did not mention a budget but let me assume it is going to be around the price of your current rods. Go look at a Dobyns Fury FR 735C. That stick is well made, balances well and will feel good in your hand. The rod is perfect to frog, flip and pitch. It costs $110. Personally I use an original Veritas MH 7 footer. That rod rates for 1/4 to 1 ounce. As you already said Abus run on the heavier side. It handles frogs but if I had been aware of the Dobyns back then I would own the 735

Sorry I have the 6'6" medium spinning and the 7mh baitcasting. Those are the only two Escalades I have ever touched. I believe the 7 mh would handle 3/8 to 3/4 ounce spinnerbaits, maybe even slow roll a 1 ouncer. I have never done it though.

Yes the rod fishes nice. It feels a lot like a Falcon Bucoo which i also own one of for traps and cranks. Physically the diameter is similar to a Veritas but weighs nothing in your hand. That has to be due to the IM8 graphite. This is a "house" brand rod for Dicks and as far as I know it is only available from there. I fish my 7 ft mh Escalade all of the time.

I have fished the 7 foot mh for about 2 years. It gets most of my texas rig fishing, 3/8 or more, as well as my carolina rig fishing. It is light and has decent sensitivity. It has help land bass, catfish, and stripers with no problem. I fish the tidal rivers on The Chesapeake Bay so you never really know what will bite your bait. It is a good deal for the price. The rod has a bit wider spec and I think it is correct. The rod has a lighter tip and traditions nicely into a powerful backbone. The rod acts a lot like my Falcon Bucoo, in fact they feel very similar in my hand. With the tip it has it might even make a nice rod to throw larger spinnerbaits like 1/2 and 3/4 even slow roll a 1 ounce bait.

I own 1 6'6" medium Escalade. I got it to throw Sencos, shakey heads,and light texas rigs. It is paired up with a Pflueger President 6935, It works fine for those. It specs for 1/8 to 1/4 which is stupid. It is more realistically able to handle lures from 1/8 to 1/2. That rod could handle drop shots and lots more. I think it would fish grubs and tubes as well I also own a baitcasting version of the Escalade. It is a nice rod. It is 7 ft mh fast 1/4 to 1 1/2 that i use for mid to larger texas rigs, and carolina rigs. I will probably give my wife the spinning rod and I plan on replacing it with either a custom rod from my friend Tom or a ST Croix Avid X 6'8"mxf.

I use an Abu Garcia Ike delay series jerkbait rod. It is a 6'4" composite medium moderate action rod. The rod is really like a 6'6 or 6'8 rod with a shorter handle. That helps with jerking and not hitting your arm. For line I throw 12 pound P Line Floroclear on a Tatula CT 6.3-1.

My frog rod is a Veritas original series 7 foot MH. That rod handle frogs well. I have the same rod in a 7 hvy for punching and deep water jigs. I would be better off with longer rods i am, sure but they will not fit in my rod locker. Anyway I like both rods for what I want them to do. Everyone tells you to go with the pros trends of longer and longer rods. Funny thing is I I got to talk to Larry Nixon at at fishing show in Richmond a few years ago. I was joking with him about how things have changed during his career. He was laughing about the huge bass he caught in a MegaBass tournament. That thing was caught on one of his favorite pistol grip rods. He says he still carries a few custom rods 6 foot or less rods. Makes dock fishing easier sometimes.

Those rods are in the same class. The Avid X ( or Avid depending on if you like full cork handles or split grips) are more sensitive. The G Loomis Classics are really nice and sensitive. Obviously the higher you go in the G Loomis the blanks get lighter and more sensitive and of course more expensive. Take a look at the Dobyns Champion series as well. A Dobyns Champion XP DC 683SF might be an answer also.

There is quite a sep up from the Mojo to the Avid and Avid X rods and if he is stepping up from his current combo he may as well really step up. IMHO. Take a good look at the Okuma RTX30 reel to match up with the Avids or G Loomis, That reel is really nice, balances well on the St Croix Avid X and holds plenty of line. I have several friends running that reel on a Avid X 6'8" medium.They throw tubes, grubs, Sencos and light weight texas rigs.

I am afraid the Daiwa lineup is getting as confusing as the Lews lineup! I hope as they bring forth the new models they drop some of the models that share the same price points. Their selection between $75 and $200 is getting cramped.

The choice of an Avid or Avid X is a great one. Both have a terrific blank and components, you just have to decide if you want a full cork handle or a split cork handle. My personal choice is the split set on the Avid X. To me St Croix Avid and Avid X rods are a tad bit lighter in the tip compared to other rod makers. So I suggest you look at a 6'8 medium 3/16 to 5/8 rod or the 6'9" ml model that says 1/8 to 1/2. My wife and I use some older G Loomis spin jig rods. Those things have great blanks. Look on G Loomis's website. Look for conventional rods, then bass, then classic. Pick a 6'6" or the 6'10 medium 1/8 to 3/8 rod. That should work real well for you.

Today the quality of rods and reels that "retail" between $100 and $200 has improved immensely from the equipment available for the same price just 5 years ago. If you are fishing with a Daiwa Fuego reel then you have a good reel and Fenwick has always made good rods. At the point you are at you are not costing yourself many fish or handicapping yourself much. Yes a G Loomis NRX or Dobyns top of the line Champion would be really sensitive for bottom bouncing baits. Plenty of anglers do just fine with rods that do not cost over $250 though. A $400 reel is not necessary either. Having said that I do suggest realizing what techniques your combo does well. Most likely jigs,texas rigs etc. Make sure you complement it with a good spinning rod and reel combo that lets you handle lighter baits. For this maybe a 6'8 to 7'3 medium power fast action rod. Here is a rod I would recommend spending say $140 to $250. The other combo worth looking at is a 7 foot to 7'3" medium power moderate action baitcaster to help catch fish on crankbaits, squarebills, spinnerbaits and even some topwaters or jerkbaits. These baits need some give to keep the fish buttoned up. This can easily be a $100 to $160 rod. The suggestion of a Tatula CT is a good one. For years i fished with one rod and only a few type of baits, Heck back then I could fit them all in a Plano box, one of those with several drawers and an open bottom area. Today I need at least a 17 foot bass boat to carry all of my tackle!LOL