ww2farmer

On the 6XD I replace the stock hooks with Mustad KVD's. They come with a size 2 hook, so I replace them with a size 2, even though the KVD's are 2x short so you can upsize the hook to a 1 or 1/0 with out a problem, I haven't seen the need for it, the KVD #2's work fine for me.

You'll be dissapointed if you expect LC quality from SK out of the package. That beeing said I love SK,you need to realize some need to be tuned out of the package, and I change the hooks on every one of them. Yes you will get a higher % of baits that slipped through SK's QC then with LC, but SK takes care of any problems,and then some. I also must be very very lucky, out of the hundreds of SK crankbaits I own, I may have only gotten a half dozen that were duds. One thing SK baits are is durable, the paint holds up very good, and the baits take alot of abuse like slapping them on the water to clean grass off, banking through rocks and wood, and pike teeth. Rapala DT's, which cost more, and don't catch me any more fish than the SK's are just the oposite.

I am heading back out there today, freezer is full..................for now, so back down the hole they go.

Hey we agree on something..................sound an alarm

Stike King just has everything under one brand name, Mann's does the same thing. Pradco has Yum, Booyah, Excailber,Heddon,Bomber etc... , one company but many brands. Same with Normark, which has: Rapala, Storm, Terminator, Trigger X, etc..

Senkos.............alot of them, next would probably be Beavers.

I have an 07 PT170, I usually carry 10 or so rods with me at any one time. I have, in moments of frustration and stupidity, had all of them on the very small front deck..............not advisable. Lucky for me nothing got broken, stepped on, or kicked in the water. I am comfortable with 3 or 4 up there and thats about it, it's a small boat. But at lest I can keep the rest tucked out of the way in the locker.

New Legend tournaments start at $220, and go up from there. If you can find a used one for less than an Avid, I would jump on it. But at new price, Avids IMHO are a better bang for the buck. I have several rods from both series, and while the LT's have the the fancy paint job, and handles, the performance differance between them and Avids has never "wowed" me into thinking I need more of them at the higher price.

I don't use a cranking rod for lipless cranks, and don't plan on starting either. What I use works just fine, and I can use the rod(s) for other things when I am not fishing lipless cranks. Check on e-bay for a Kistler Mag TS 6'9" MH "all purpose special". Simmons has them for $68 bucks right now. Great lipless rod, and can handle many other tasks as well. Besides lipless cranks, I also use mine for, spinnebaits, topwater, square bills,soft and hard jerkbaits,senkos, jigs, and t-rigs around moderate cover. Great rod for the $$.

A buddy and I pore our own, He has the round mold, I have the finesse mold (pencil shape). I lose way to many to be buying them.

Well if that's how you think you "become an expert" at anything it explains why alot of what you post makes little to no sense to me. You can read and/or watch videos all day, and sure that will give you a staring point, but............I dunno.........I guess I am old fashioned it think that time on the water actually using the bait, and gaining experience with it is the best way to learn. I have also learned in 20 years of fishing to take little advice from people that are self proclaimed experts.

Your going to buy a whole new set up JUST to fish t-rigged rage craws??? Seems a little ill-conceived to me but..........it's your money. IMHO get the Avid, and as a bonus, you'll be able to fish other t-rigged baits, as well as jigs with it. :

Two. Beavers, and Paca Craws. Both in a couple colors, and a couple sizes. One with alot of action, one more subtle..............works for me.

Yum.........yesterdays limit, through the ice of course. No giants, but all good eating size.

Jeez a guy who sells baits saying you need to have more colors...........who would have guessed that. : I myself carry more than one color, but I think you be just fine sticking with GP. I catch fish on it in crystal clear water, and in dirty water. It's about the most "all purpose" color out there, and If I could only have one color that would probably be it.

I usually use only 1 pin. No balance issues.

Really................I'd stop now if I were you. :

But you shouldn't HAHAHAHAHAHAHA :-X

I just dont get this. I can pitch into a soup can from 35ft and hit it 9 out of 10 times. A rod under 7ft in not a pitching rod, and I venture to say anything under 7'3. Practice pitching if you cant hit a small target. Set up can at various distance's and stand on a milk crate. Before ya know it you will be able to set that bait softly into the can. Also a pitching rod needs some give in the tip, you want it to load a bit, gives more control. Who says a 6'8" rod is not a pitching rod........you?? I can pitch accurately around docks and in tight spots with an 8' rod.............I choose to use a 6'8" because I like it better, and was offering my opinion on that. Yeah if I am pitching to a target 35' away a longer rod is better, but when I am pitching under a pontoon boat 5 foot away with 2" of clearance between the boat and water, and doing that like 1000 times a day I like the shorter rod. Thats not even comparable to your coffee can analogy So you like a 7' or longer rod...........great, I fail to see how my opinion on what I like effects you.

Just another thing to think about, but what kind of water are you fishing. If your pitching to weed holes in 10'-20' that 7'6" length is fine, but if your pitching in tight spots, I find a shorter rod to be better, like a 6'8"- 6'10". You could always middle it and go with a 7'er . Simmons on e-bay has Kistler Mag TS 6'8" H power, fast action " Heavy cover fish snatcher" rods on sale right now for $68 + shipping.

I don't like braid as a main line on c-rigs, but have used it and it works fine. Personaly I use 17lb fluoro w/15 lb leader on heavy c-rigs, and 12 and 10 on light rigs. If I am using braid as the main line it's usually 50lb w/17lb fluoro leader.

The only time I have ever seen St Croix's on sale anywhere besides TW's store wide sales are when St Croix changes or upgrades a series of rods.

Yes, every rod I have does double, triple, and sometime quadruple duty. I use 4 rods for T-rigs,jigs, and c-rigs. All depending on cover, bait size etc....

That's total B.S. For $500 I wouldn't expect surgical precision, but the dang rod ought to be built flawless, with top attention to detail, and top notch components.Unless you wipe your backside with money, $500 IS alot to spend on a rod, so it better be worth it. Custom made or not.

I use a Frabil rubber net. Not having that net cost me a tournament once last year. Never again. I wouldn't use anything other than a rubber net, trebles don't get caught in it as much as the others. I can see not having a net because your not allowed to use one (BASS Elites), or you don't have room for one, like on a yak or small boat, but if you like catching fish your not doing yourself any favors by refusing to use one.