Lucky Craft Man

I have several Zillions and I am not a big fan. They are smooth, but are heavy. If you are going to spend that type of money, get a Revo Premier (6.7 oz and $120 cheaper), Shimano Core (100 MgFV - 6.7 oz, 50 Mg - 5.5 oz, and both are $20 & $30 cheaper respectively) or a Diawa Steez (5.5 oz. and $80 more). I think these are better options. If the new Zillion weighed say 6 oz., then I could see the price justification. As you can see, I am a big fan of really light reels and my Zillions don't fit the bill.

Dwight, I don't know how you do it. I fish in Erie quite a bit, but I just can't dial it in like you do. I have been catching a ton of smaller males, but haven't been able to hone in on the big females (5 lb 12 oz. is my biggest this year, which, as you know, is not taking advantage of Erie's full potential). If you have any tips you wouldn't mind kindly passing on, I would greatly appreciate it. Congratulations on those Nice fish.

Let me give you the reason why the tickets were so cheap...it is the Pittsburgh Pirates. I'm from Pittsburgh and we as residents are sick of owners who won't invest in the team. The problem is that they are still making money, because people goto the games to enjoy the stadium (which is really nice) and the atmosphere. I guess in the end, that's all it is about, but I still would like to see a contending team once every 10 years.

This is the key right here and from the sound of it, your reel is not fast enough to reel in the slack between snaps. I tried the walking the dog technique with a 3.8:1 and it was almost impossible. I use a 28 IPT Reel (6.4:1 ratio for this reel) and a 6'9" rod. As others have said, I don't think the length of the rod is as critical as the speed of the reel. I would try another (faster) reel and then see how you do.

I've become a fan if the new G Loomis CBR896DF. I didn't think I would like the moderate action (hence the Deep Flex name), but it's not too whippy and really handles my DD22's well. Hence, I think a Medium-Heavy Power Rod with a Moderate Action should work well. Length is up to you, but I think the longer the better.

I don't fish with jerkbaits on anything but fluorocarbon. The sinking quality of the line gives you a little more running depth. You should be good to go with that set-up and line for jerkbaits.

x2

I have faired very well with this line. Never had knots slip or unexplainable breaks. XPS and Berkey Trilene 100% Fluoro I think are the two best Fluroro's out there (though, I haven't tried them all, so there maybe other good lines).

There are a lot of guys I would like to fish with on here, but if I had to name one, it would have to be Dwight Hottie. I fish Erie alot and I still don't seem to put the size of fish he does into the boat (I'm still looking for that first 7 pounder). It would be good to just pick his brain and observe the subtleties in his techniques.

Either a uni to uni knot or a blood knot (which is why I like 30 lb. braid, because it has the same diameter as the 8 lb. Fluoro.) I used to use a swivel, but I started to forget it was there and wind in up into my guides.

30 lb. Braid with about a 10 ft. 8 lb. Fluoro Leader.

I learned that lesson a while ago. Even though I have slowly migrated away from braid (except for a few applications), I actually use some mono as filler and then double uni connect my braid and finish out the reel. It helps me conserve the good line by using less and the mono hasn't slipped on me yet.

Hmmm...what I have found is that the GLX has a little more of a "crisp" feel when holding it, but functions with a little softer action than the IMX's.

Man, when I catch a 6 pound smallmouth I have trouble not smiling for days. Is that mustache made of iron?

Chuck Norris Doesn't Teabag the Ladies...He Potato Sacks Them.

Hmmm...looks like a bird trying to swim underwater. I have actually seen a muskie eat a bird. Do you make this thing in a 10" to 12" version?

What on earth do these guys do to their rods? I have a lot of G Loomis rods (40% of them are GLX) and have never broken one yet. I assume if you take proper care in using them and transporting them you will not have many problems with them breaking (no more than any other rod).

I use a Shimano Core 100MgFV. Just a great reel for any application the deals with heavy cover.

A G Loomis GLX BSR852 and a Shimano Stradic CI4 2500 would be quite a reward for winning that hockey poll.

My wife and I paid for most of our wedding. I didn't think it was fair for either of our parents to foot the bill. Also, when you pay for your own wedding, you get to control the planning (particularly, who is invited). That was the best part. No Aunt Clara, who I haven't seen since I was 2 years old or gaudy decorations. It is the only way to go.

I use a MH rod that has a lure rating from 3/8 oz. to 1 oz. It has a moderate fast action, which I feel is really a perfect combination for jerkbaits. I throw Pointer 78 up to Pointer 128 with this rod. I like a little heavier rod, because I hook a lot of musky in the spring while bass fishing and I want to have enough power to get them in. It is all a personal choice, but I tend to go heavier in power than most (I don't think I even own a medium power baitcaster. If I need a medium powered rod, I pick up a spinning outfit).

I would buy the Core 50mg, unless of course you have a pressing need for two reels. My experience has always been that if there was a higher end piece of equipment I wanted, but settled on a lower priced item, I would eventually end up getting the higher end item in the future. So if you want to save some money in the long run, just get the Core 50Mg and be prepared to experience euphoria.

That reminded me of this..... Man, that was good! I watched a few other OSN clips and they are funny.

Do you also use the palomar for braid ? For me, the palomar doesnt seem to want to tighten cleanly with braid, I still use it for the same reason, it has never failed. I use it for braid was well. Never had an issue. One thing I do to all my knots after I tie them is to dynamically load them (very hard and quick jerk on the knot from a slack line state). A dynamic load (e.g., hook set) greatly increases the amount of short term force on the knot, which I would assume is where a lot of knots fail or "slip" loose. If the knot slips or comes loose after my dynamic load test, I just retie and test again. I don't know if that makes a difference as to why I have been so lucky with knots holding, but I think it helps.

I have found that if I can only have one rod with me (whether I am shore fishing or fishing from a boat with limited space onboard), I take a 6'6" rod that has a fast action with a line rating of 10 - 17 lbs. and a lure rating of 1/4 - 3/4 oz. I feel that rod can handle jerkbaits to spinnerbaits to topwater to t-rig plastics to jigs to shallow/medium running crankbaits. I like the shorter length (as opposed to a 7' length), because I like a shorter rod for jerkbaits, topwater, and spinnerbait applications. I like a longer rod for the other applications I mentioned, but I feel I can fish a t-rig worm just as effectively with a 6'6" rod as I can a 7' rod, but I don't feel I can work a topwater (or jerkbait) as effectively with a 7' rod. Therefore, I feel I lose the least in performance with a 6'6" rod. I don't know if any of that makes sense, because I myself started to get confused as I was typing this.