Lucky Craft Man

G Loomis NRX 916 UBR It is labeled an Umbrella Rig Rod, but I have used it for Swimbaits, Frogs, Punching, Flipping, in addition to throwing an A-Rig. Just a great heavy cover/heavy lure rod.

That Pike is Amazing, but that Lake Trout is out-of-this-world!!!!

As mentioned above, if you are referring to the Spinning Version, I would give it a 5 (I never used the Baitcasting model). Every spinning rod I own has a Supreme (from my NRX's to my Cabelas XML's). Just a great reel independent of price.

Yesterday in Erie (this one was not big, but fun to catch)

I hear you. I picked up my boat from the marina after they winterized it, parked it in the garage for it's winter hibernation, and the drove North to catch some Steelhead. I love winter trout/steelhead fishing. There is just never an "off" time of fishing.

I do exactly what they say for my feet (i.e., thin "wicking" sock, thicker wool sock, and a size larger wading boot), but I take it one step further and add a foot warmer between the sock layers. Even when standing in 33 degree water, my feet are feeling fine!

I wrap all my handles with Rod Wrap, so it doesn't really matter to me. However, if I had a choice on a fishing rod handle, I would take a rubber one, much like the grips on golf clubs. My hand grips the rubber better (when dry or wet), very easy to clean, and if it wears out, you can put on a new one (like you would regrip a golf club). I'm not sure why these grips have zero popularity, but I have a custom (and another being made) with this grip and I love it.

You know, when I started this thread, I thought it was a lame idea, but I was bored and did it anyway. Well, I am glad I did, because I really enjoyed reading the different fishing situations you guys really like. Some are so descriptive, I can almost visualize myself in that moment. Pretty cool stuff.

I know it's not winter yet (these dumb threads usually crop up around winter), but I was just thinking about all the various fishing situations I have been in and there is just one that keeps coming back in my mind as my absolute favorite. I really loved casting huge lures for Fall Musky on Lake St. Clair, or drifting a size 26 midge on the San Juan River with snow flakes falling all around in the Winter, or throwing hollowed bodied frogs over huge mats for summertime Largemouth in the South, but the one experience that I just can't get enough of is Smallmouth Bass fishing on Lake Erie (Spring, Summer, or Fall). Just being out on the huge lake drifting, or holding on a small rockpile, or trolling a contour while casting are just the definition of pure Awesome to me when it comes to fishing. I love all types of fishing and actively engage in all forms, but those Lake Erie Smallmouth just keep calling my name. What specific fishing situation really holds that special place as you all-time favorite?

I've seen Musky eat adult ducks on two seperate occasions, but never a bass eat one. That would be cool to see.

A-Jay, I know. It is a shame when 5 and 6 pound Smallmouth are considered nice fish, but just not the one you are looking for. Now if that fish was caught out of say the Allegheny River, that would be a replica worthy fish, but Erie has just set the bar so high. As far as heading south with you guys to dink drop 7 pound Largemouth, that would be like a dream come true! However, that is a trip I won't be able to put on my radar until my girls are older. In the meantime, I will have to live vicariously through you guys, so be sure to keep posting pictures of those slobs!!!

My scale got swamped and shorted out on me, so we didn't get a weight on it. However, since we knew it wasn't over 7 pounds, it didn't matter much that we didn't weigh it (7 pounds in Erie is that line where anything under doesn't really need weighed).

Scott has done quite a few rod projects for me (from modifications to full builds) and his work is just incredible (as you can see). Very nice work!

It was finally nice to be able to give Dwight some tips after all the help he has given me. Here is a picture of the biggest one we caught that same day (this was caught by my buddy). Dwight, we should have gotten those two fish together for a photo. That would have been one awesome picture to add to the "Your Favorite Pair" thread.

The best leader I have found are Stealth Fluorocarbon Leaders. The won't kink and I have yet to have one fail or a fish break me off with his teeth while using one. one 130# and up would work.

What I paid and what the retail is are two different things. I have a fly combo that would go for about $1,300, but I definitely didn't pay that much. The bargain hunting is the best part.

Nice find. Those are some good looking replicas. The most important thing to me is how close the colors on the replica fish match the real one caught. I would love to see those replica nest to the picture of the actual fish caught. Like I mentioned before, I had a Chinook Salmon replica made, but the colors didn't match the one in the picture so I don't even display it. I know its an oddity about myself, but I am really anal about having the fish look as close as possible to the real one. Here is whose currently doing my Muskie replica - fittantereplicas.com. He does Smallmouth (and other fish) as well, but his specialty is Musky, which from what I've seen, he is one of the best. I was on the verge of ordering my Smallmouth through him, but for some reason, I didn't. That website you posted has some very good looking Smallmouth (and Steelhead) replicas. It's almost as if some of these places really shine on certain fish, but no so much on others.

I am actually interested in hearing the response to the OP's second question (good places for replicas). I had a Chinook Salmon Replica done at Lyons & O'Haver, which the mold came out incredible and the paintjob was great, but the fish was off in color (the fish looks overall green vs. the overall gold that it really had). I am having a Musky Replica made from Fittante and I am anxious to see how it turns out. I would like to get a SM replica made, but I am very picky and would like to hear more responses on where people recommend. I know 00mod let me know where he got his one done, which was incredible, but from what I understand, the wait time for this guy is looooong.

I used to have "sentimental" rods that I left on their own rod rack, but when The Hook Up Tackle had their NRX Trade In promotion, most of those rods got packed up and were traded in for a NRX 916 UBR.

If you tear apart my NRX and find it spliced like that, let me know as I will be returning it promptly.

I fish PA lakes as well and there is no good maps for around here. I just purchased a new Lowrance Gen 2 Touch with the ability to "create" HD contour mapping and I am hoping this works somewhat well. I figure a good day driving around a lake should be able to capture enough points for a reasonable contour map to be generated. Let's hope this works, because there is no other real option for us PA anglers!

Well, I walked into Cabelas today with the intent on purchasing a Humminbird 899ci SI Unit and walked out with a Lowrance HDS7 Gen 2 Touch (with Structure Scan). Playing with the two units, it just hit me that I really like a touch screen and I also liked that the lakes I fish the most were preloaded in the Lowrance (no extra $179 for a Navionics+ Chip). The $400 off didn't hurt either. I don't know if I made a good choice, but man that touch screen is nice (this touch screen world has ruined me from buttons). I want to thank everyone for their help! I do appreciate it.

Hey A-Jay, See if you can get Dwight to do a review as detailed as yours on his new G Loomis NRX 923S MR rod. As a side note, I think an "A-Jay Equipment Review" segment should be a regular thing on here.

Tackle**** who? Great Review, A-Jay!!

All those techniques scream G Loomis GLX 893C JWR or if you want to die and goto Heaven, a G Loomis NRX 893C JWR.