Dirtyeggroll

I was supposed to go into Scheel’s only to try on sunglasses and I couldn’t resist these on clearance. I bought all that was left... I did however, achieve my original goal and am now in the market for some Costa Jose or Blackfin 580G Green mirrors.

Wait until next month when Bass Pro has their spring sale (you can use a Cabela’s card at bass Pro). I would suggest getting a Pro Qualifier reel, which in the past would go for $50 during the sale and then use the rest to buy a rod. (Bass Pro came out with a new model of this reel called the Pro Qualifier 2 so I’m not 100% sure what the sale price will be.) If you can’t wait there is a Pro Qualifier Reel in the Flea Market A Daiwa Aird is a good low budget casting rod.

For some reason a bass hitting a lure reminds me of one of my dogs attacking a toy that I shake at them. Its often just an impulse they can’t resist. Sometimes they couldn’t care any less. Of course there are lots of differences, but for some reason I like thinking of it like that.

Last year I used a 7' Heavy/Fast Daiwa Aird with 65 lb braid (my frog rod) and I lost two of probably what would have been the biggest bass I caught all year because the trebles ripped out. A more parabolic rod is definitely a good idea. I purchased a 7'10" Cabela's Crankshaft ZX (rated 5/8 oz to 2-1/4 oz) specifically to throw the larger size ploppers in hopes that the rod will be more forgiving. I would use mono to gain some stretch but I am afraid that with the size of the plopper I would snap it off and send it across the lake or deep into the bank with a fouled cast.

I actually take the Rage Bugs completely out of the bag and plastic clamshell trays and thats how I can fit 5 packages worth in one of the containers. It fits snugly and the Rage Bugs don't move. For instances where I don't have enough to to fill the container to fit snugly, I put place one of the hard plastic clamshell packagings that the Rage Bugs come in, in the container in to make everything stay in place. If I take the Rage Bugs out of the bag and leave them in the hard plastic clamshell, I can fit two packs snugly in each container. If I leave the Rage Bug in all of the original packaging, it's a struggle to fit because the plastic packaging is just a hair bigger than the container. Scissors might fix this.

Haven’t had it long enough to find out. 48 hours hasn’t melted or warped them, but I’ll keep an eye on it and update.

Yep it’s the same! Nice find! I’ve a pair heading my way now.

The winter months have given me some time to put together somewhat of an arsenal. From left to right with what I primarily plan to throw with them: BPS Pro Qualifier Rod 7' MH/F - BPS Tournament Series TS10HA Reel 6.3:1 // Versatile Cabela's Tournament ZX Topwater/Jerkbait 6'9" M/F - BPS Pro Qualifier 6.4:1 // Walking baits and Jerkbaits Abu Garcia Veritas 2.0 Micro Guide 6'9 MH/F "- BPS Pro Qualifier 6.4:1 // T-Rigs and worms Berkley Pro Signature 7' MH/F - BPS Pro Qualifier 2 7.5:1 // Buzzbaits Abu Garcia Veritas 2.0 7' H/F - KastKing Speed Demon 9.3:1 // Punching and Heavy jigs Dobyn's Champion 705CB 7' MH/MF - Shimano Curado K 6.2:1 // Squarebill Daiwa Aird 7' H/F - Daiwa Tatula SV 8.1:1 // Frog Cabela's Tournament ZX Crankshaft 7'10" H/F - Daiwa Tatula SV 7.3:1 // Whopper Plopper 130 and Big Swim baits Cabela's Tournament ZX Crankshaft 7'5" MH/F - Abu Garcia Orra Winch 5.2:1 // Medium and Deep Crank (DD22) Daiwa Tatula 6'10" MH/F - Daiwa Tatula SV 8.1:1 // Skipping jigs Cabela's Tournament ZX Crankshaft 7 M/F - Shimano Citica 7.2:1 // Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and swim jigs Shimano 5'9" M/F - Pflueger President 6930 // Skipping light baits (Wacky rigs) Fenwick 7' M/F - Pflueger President LE 6935 // Dropshot Pflueger President 6'6 M/L - Pflueger President LE 6935 // Ned rig

$29.99 plus tax. They had a smaller version with only 12 boxes for $19.99, I opted for the bigger one since I figured I would eventually (or probably can now) fill it up. https://www.containerstore.com/s/collections/media-storage/photo-storage/iris-16-case-4-x-6-photo-storage-carrier/123d?productId=11004246

Gonna try something new for storing soft plastics. This is marketed as a container for storing 4x6” photos that I got from The Container Store. It comes with 16-4.5x7” containers. I tested and can fit 5 packs of rage bugs in each container. I plan to use this to store soft plastics and then just toss a couple of 4-5 of the small ones in my co-Angler bag loaded up with the appropriate plastics.

Nice! Where did you find these?

Go for a swim? 1. Live minnow (from the bank) 2. Black/blue Strike King Tour Grade Skipping Jig with a Blue Bug Rage Bug trailer (way up under a dock) 3. Black/blue Strike King Tour Grade Skipping Jig with a Blue Bug Rage Bug trailer (way up under a dock) 4. Green Pumpkin 1/2 oz Karu Football Head chatterbait (near a dock in open water) 5. Green Pumpkin Yum Bad Mamma on a swing head (way up under a dock)

This

I don’t think I have ever bought anything directly from a Bass Pro retail store. When I do buy from BassPro it’s usually because I got a gift card to Bass Pro, I have rewards points or I got a gift card to Target. I will purchase a Bass Pro gift card from Target with my Target gift cards. When I finally purchase from Bass Pro I do it online and I try to make my orders over and as close to $35 as possible and have it shipped to store. Sometimes I do multiple ~$35 orders at once. When I go pick the items up, I get a $10 Bass Pro gift card for each order. There is a Bass Pro nearby and our local club meets there so it’s not much out of my way to pick my orders up.

I like 1/2 oz because I can cast it further.

The Lowrance Hook2 7X TripleShot is what I'd go for, on sale for $399. Seems like a nice starter unit with Side-imaging, down-imaging and GPS.

What about the Fury 705CB has made it fall out of favor?

Picked up a Cabela’s Tournament ZX Crankshaft 7’ 10” Heavy Fast as a rod to throw my new Norman DD22 HD’s. I might go exchange it for the 7’5” model so I can also throw medium divers.

Great discussion being generated here! @iabass8 have you loaded up the graphite 705CB on a fish for comparison? What makes the graphite a better option to include throwing mid divers and traps?

I called Dobyns Rods yesterday. Neither Gary or Richard were there, but I did speak with a Brent and asked about which 705CB (glass or graphite) he suggests as a squarebill rod. His first answer was that both are great squarebill rods and it comes down to personal preference. He stated that he preferrred the glass rod, because he felt it was more forgiving than the graphite rod. However, he agreed that the glass rod was not as sensitive as the graphite rod and that he prefers one of the graphite rods for his deep cranking setups so he can feel the bottom. I like the idea of feeling the ticks of brush piles and rip rap and I plan to use a forgiving line (Seaguar Tatsu 15-20#), so I am leaning toward the graphite rod. I've read in other places that Gary Dobyns created the graphite version because he doesn’t like glass.

Got it. My understanding is the that graphite 705 actually weighs MORE than the glass 705 so that’s actually a point against the graphite in this case. I do realize that in many cases glass rods are heavier. Who knew choosing a squarebill rod could come down to such minutia?!? Haha

Do you think you are losing anything in the forgiveness of the graphite in these rods? (Have you fished the glass? What makes you prefer graphite? Sensitivity?)

I am looking to purchase a dedicated squarebill rod. One rod for that will work well over the whole range and for all types of cover (rocks, brush, weeds, rip rap etc.) I plan to use this rod to throw most sizes 1.0 (3/8 oz) to 2.5 (5/8 oz) squarebills including some wake baits. (I already have a rod I am happy with for throwing jerkbaits and rip baits). I've been doing a TON of searching reading and there seems to be a consensus that the Dobyns Champion series rods make excellent squarebill rods. Despite the consensus seeming to be centered around the Dobyns Champion series, I cannot find consistent information as to which model is preferred between the 704CB and the 705CB. Further, I cannot seem to find consistent information as to what is preferred of glass versus graphite for these rods. So it seems to come down to: 704CB vs. 704CB Glass vs. 705CB vs. 705CB glass as an all around squarebill rod. The closest preference I have found is that if most squarebills are 3/8 oz and under then the 704 is the better option and if most are 3/8 oz or above then the 705 is the better option. *UPDATE* I think have decided on the 705. So... Glass or Graphite for the 705 as an all around squarebill rod? (I have seen other threads for glass vs. graphite but I don’t think specifically for squarebills) **UPDATE**Summary of General Pros and Cons of 705CB vs. 705Cb Glass in this thread as of January 12th, 2018: 705CB GRAPHITE Pros: -Subjectively more sensitive than the glass model -Versatility (Is a better lipless and heavy jerkbait rod than the glass; doesn't really apply if a dedicated squarebill rod) 705CB GLASS Pros: -Better at loading up on fish/keeping trebles pinned -Slightly lighter 705CB GRAPHITE Cons: -Slightly heavier -Doesn't quite have the load-up/forgiveness of glass on fish 705CB GLASS Cons: -Subjectively not as sensitive -Not as versatile (doesn't really apply if a dedicated squarebill rod) Does anyone use either of these rods to throw the sprectrum of squarebills? And can you comment your thoughts? (I know ultimately this comes down to personal preference but since I don't have any way to hold and test a Dobyns rod without purchasing one, I'd like to know the consensus of the community). Thanks!

Sounds like the rod might be a bit mislabeled as a “crankbait rod”. I’ve probably got at least a couple of months before I have a chance to find out.

I guess I’ll find out... I pretty much only throw squarebills in brush and rip rap ?