Red

Slow Down!!

Went out this morning with my buddy to see if we could catch a few. He managed to catch a few dinks early on but we really weren't getting bit very well. Finally I decided to tie on the good old t-rigged Rage Craw and get to flippin. After a while with no luck I just focused more on practicing flippin(getting better) rather than fishing. Well she nailed the Craw in about 8ft of water, very close to the boat. With my new 7'11" Lamiglas Excel flippin stick it wasn't much of a fight, got her close and my buddy lipped her for me, after a few pics and big kiss from me she was released unharmed. She weighed 5lbs on the nose on my scale. Sure do love that Rage Craw!!

Thanks for the info guys. I just ordered the 7' Medium, however I don't intend to use it for cranks. I will try it though and see how it works for crankin, if it seems well, I will get another. The Excel series does not offer a Medium that is recommended for cranks, only Medium Light and Medium Heavy Glass. Anyway, I will let you know how it works out. I don't normally throw my cranks right up into the timber, but close to them. Thanks again! Cliff

Hey all, I am currently replacing my rods one by one. I am looking at getting a 7' Medium Light rod for cranking duties. More specific, the Lamiglas Excel XL703C. It is rated for 8-17lb line and 3/16-5/8 lures, recommended for cranks, jerkbaits, and topwaters. I don't normally throw any large cranks, mostly stuff like bandit 200's. I am curious about a medium light rod and its power. Does it have good hooksetting power, will it hold onto the fish with all those trebles? What if I hook a 3lb bass around some flooded timber, will it have the power to get the bass out? I ask because I have never even used a medium rod really, only MH and up. I have the XL734C, although I haven't used it yet, it seems like a pretty powerful stick. So anyway, if you use a medium light rod for cranking your input will be much appreciated! Thanks Cliff

For a real special treat, try a peanutbutter and dill pickle samich!! MMMMMMMMM

I have never had a test for it, but I am allergic to shrimp. I swell up in my throat if I eat it or if I touch it. Once while night fishing we rigged up some shrimp until we caught our shad. I had the guy I was with bait my hook for me, then when we had shad I had him unbait it. I put the shad on, then somehow I got it in my eyes, just from touching the hook that had shrimp on it. Had to flush my eyes out with water for a long time. Even if I eat shrimp flavored ramen noodles it effects me.

Don't forget the flea market here on BR. I think I saw some Abu 800 series reels for close to what your price point is, I believe these were $120 reels when they were new.

I haven't been able to fish much in the last few weeks, but not due to crappy economy, it is because I have been working seven days a week, 12 hr night shift. Tomorrow night is the last of this schedule then on Monday we go back to our normal 10hr days, Monday throughn Friday. I have worked at this company for almost three years now and never have I had less than 45 hrs a week, 50 is the norm. Alot of the guys complain about working so much, but I feel lucky to have a job for one, and to have a job that has awesome overtime opportunity. When they complain, I tell them that is is better than what alot of people have. My wife on the other hand had to cut hours for her employees, she actually gave up a few of her own hours so one of her workers could keep enough hours to retain his insursance benefits. But to the question from the original post, it has not cut my fishing time, when I am on normal work hours, I fish 3-7 days a week.

Nice lookin fish! I caught one about that size when I lived in MN. The thing ate my 10 inch walleye I was reeling in. I was using light tackle with 6lb mono. Took a looong time to land it.

I pray that I may live to fish....... Until my dying day. And when it comes to my last cast, I then most humbly pray: When in the Lord's great landing net And peacefully asleep That in His mercy I be judged Big enough to keep. -Unknown

congrats man, awesome name as well, for the baby I mean. ;D

I caught one around 9lbs this spring, and maybe 2 more over 5lbs this summer. I have caught more dinks this summer than ever before. I have had a tough summer finding keeper sized fish. I would be really happy just to catch a few 3-5lbers.

Hilarious!!

Mt. Dew in a can or Bud Light in a bottle.

I throw my weightless stuff with a 6'9" MH and a Revo S-L. I throw trick worms, senkos and flukes with no issues. This is also with 50#PP.

I am good right now, but in the future I might think about upgrading and was considering Ardent, but if no leftys then it ain't gonna happen.

I will recommend another rod in the $100 range and that is a Lamiglas Excel. There is many different technique specific rods, great warranty, and 100% made in the USA!

Does Ardent not make a left handed reel? I notice TW.com does not carry any leftys. If not, is there and hope for an Ardent lefty in the future? hanks Cliff

We posted the same exact thing at the same exact time!

5/16 is 1/16 heavier than 1/4. 7/16 is 1/16 lighter than 1/2. Neither is over 5/8. Hope that helps.

Couldn't help myself, just had to go out again tonight. The wind was down so I headed out. I flipped some boat slips for a while with a jig, no bites. So I moved into some timber and planned to tie on a t-rig, but it seems my hook and weight box fell out of my bag at home!! So I was forced to stick to the jig, no bites, a big fat skunk. However I really liked using this rod. This thing is super sensitive!! I could feel the jig hit the log/bottom when it dropped. Was a totally new experience for me. Maybe someday I will get to actually feel a fish bite and maybe even catch it!

I have a crazy work schedule for the next week at least. Starting tomorrow I am working 12 hour night shift plus 12 on Sat and Sun until this job is done. After that I will have some time on the water to put this stick through the ringer. Cliff

I didn't read this whole thread, so maybe this has been mentioned. I was recently on a trip fishing smallies up north. I was breaking the fluoro off on hookset as well. The guide told me to ease off the hook set and more or less just give a steady "pull" rather than a quick snap. It solved the problem. I was using 50# PP with a 12# Seaguar invisix (sp?) leader. He used a uni to uni to connect them.

Like they said, read the articles. I was like you a few years ago. I found this site and I visit it everyday. I read something new everyday, and I learn something new everyday. I try to read an article relating to the season it is now and the type of fishing I am doing. There is an endless amount of info here, you could never learn it all!!!

Due to some overtime at work, I treated myself to my first proper flippin stick. I got the Lamiglas Excel XL 7116C. Let me say I have never owned a rod of this size nor have I bought a built rod ( I have customs made by me) outside of Walmart or $50 Academy rod. So this is my first "good" rod. This rod is 7'11" and is recommended for swimbaits, frogs, flippin and pitchin. Rated for 1/2-2oz baits. I paid $119.99 with free shipping from TW. All the other models are $109.99 and $99.99 for the glass crankin stick. Right out of the tube I first noticed that it was very very light compared to what I expected for a 7'11" rod. Seems to be very well built, nice cork, nice transitions to the blank. Straight as an arrow. I slapped on a Revo S-L and I took it to the lake to flip some boat slips however as soon as I put the boat in the water, the glass like water turned to white caps, quickly. I did manage to flip and pitch to some timber for a few minutes before I was forced to leave. I didn't catch anything but a few things I did notice were that my pitches got more distance with less effort than what I was used to with my 6'6" rod. Flippin I am not very good at but it did seem a bit easier with this long stick. Sensitivity, as far as draggin my jig through the cover was very very good. With 50# PP I could feel everything it seemed, I am sure dectecting bites will be pretty good as well. These rods also come with a limited lifetime warranty as well as a new fasttrack warranty. No questions, send in chunk of broken rod and $50 get a new rod. Overall, I like it and can see purchasing more in this line for other techniques. I will report back more once I have had some time on the water with this rod, and catch some fish!! Oh I almost forgot the best part. 100% Made in the USA!!! Thanks Cliff