Ballpark Frank

Just a reminder, there are two eras of the Abu Garcia Silvermax. One is the 90s model Round and the other is the current Low-Profile. The 1700 schematics should be for the right hand low pro, and the 1800 should be for the left hand.

I have the 7'2' model and love it. The extra fast action is excellent. I use it for dropshotting, senkos, shakey head, and other light plastics work. My only issue was balance. I use a Shimano Symetre 2500 on mine, and the weight was way forward. I added a 1oz Carrot weight to it and now it's great. The thing about all Carrots is you love them or hate them, no inbetween.

Usually I would say a T-rig 6" lizard, but not the past few weeks. My backup favorite has been doing the business though, a RI Sweet Beaver in Hematoma on a 1/4oz RI Screwed-Up jighead. I have caught decent fish every outing(at 6 different areas) on this rig.

Agreed Me too!

Another Symetre fan here, I have three that always perform flawlessly. I have a couple of Saharas as well, other than the frame material, I cannot tell a difference.

Yep, Yep, That's Right, Gotta Agree with ya again Burley Once you are infected with the orange, you will never feel the same.

I have a Vizsla/Beagle mix that does the same thing. Well, with the exception she doesn't run into the wall.

That makes two of us, Catt.

Raul, I have been eyeballing one. I just wished there was more info on them. For just $80 , I might just have to get one and try it out. Heck, I've spent more on a couple of swimbaits that haven't lured or caught anything except me and my wallet.

Comparing the Black Max to the Energy is like comparing a Yugo to a Corvette. No offense, but please tell us you have a mixup here. : Black Max- El cheapo graphite Abu Beijing, bottom basement Garcia($50) to Energy- only one rung short of Quantum top($190)

I fish big worms(and lizards too) most of the time. I find that the dinks will take them as well as the biguns, but not necessarily the other way around.

I can say never with a fish. I have only broke one rod in my 30 years fishing. That was because my daughter had lain it down on the back deck, and guess what? I stepped on it.

Never used a swivel, but I have been known to use a Berkley locking snap occasionally.

I have always relied on Zoom for most of my plastics, with the occasional Reaction Innovations, Yama, and Wave. Last year I picked up a couple of bags of Shads and Toads, and was very pleased with them. They last forever, I am still using those couple of bags. I needed to replenish my Big Worms and Lizards, so I stopped by my local tackle shop to pick up some Ol Monsters and Lizards. They had just got a new shipment of Rage Tail stuff in. I ended up getting a bag of plum Anacondas and green Pumpkin Lizards. WOW, there action is great. Last night at the lake behind my house, I SLEW the dinksters that swim there. This morning, I caught several keepers at one of my favorite bank spots using one lizard dragging in throught the rocks. I will be stopping at the tackle shop to get more selections from the Rage Tail catalog(probably some Monkeys and Craws too).

How did you break the rod? I only have one experience with them and it was excellent. My first Carrot was one of the early models. The durability of the finish was sub-par(in my opinion); so I emailed their customer service about it. I was just asking about if the newer ones had more durability. I received a reply the same day(a Tuesday) asking for my address. I emailed it to them. On Friday, the UPS man came to my door with a long thin cylinder, inside was a new Carrot. I did not have to send the old one(of chunk of it) back. I now have 5 total, with more to come, and the finish is better.

Carrots, for $150, I can't find a better rod. I have G.Loomis(all flavors), Quantum, St.Croix, and Shimanos; but the Carrots win out.

Yes, they work. I always have a few Bubblgum or Merthiolate, and Limetreuse in my box. Like Raul, I have found them to work best in clear water. If the fish are there and they aren't hitting my greens, browns, or blacks; I'll chunk one of these out. 80% of the time, they will hit it. I think it is something different to them, something they have not seen alot of, so they hit it out of curiosity or reaction. I use them as a last ditch before heading for the dock.

Get infected and go orange!! I use them for everything, but my favorite applications are t-rigging and jigging. I have a spinning that I use for light worming. My Carrots have relegated most of my G.Loomis(all flavors) rods to backup duty.

Gotta agree with you. I didn't vote due to limited selection, apparently $150 + is the preference and not the reel. Personally I like my Citicas(E and D) and Accurist IIs, I haven't found a need to spend more. I(me not anyone else) would rather put the excess money toward a rods, lures, gas, etc.

Texas rigged Zoom 6" lizard in Junebug

Ol Monster in Tequila Sunrise and Junebug

CONGRATULATIONS, having children gives you a different look on life. Some of those important things become trivial, and some of those trivial things become important. My two daughters are my life.

I must agree. I got the 5 piece kit a couple of years ago and they are still going strong. They are some of my favorite baits, especially the blue back/chrome and red craw.

I found this interesting this morning. My wife has many(about a hundred) smaller B/W photos of our families on the hall wall. I just happened to glance at a picture of my grandfather and I fishing when I was around 6 or 7. My basic tackle looks eerily similar to what my grandfather has in the picture. Other than mine being more modern( my Citica to his AG, my box plastic to his aluminum), my setup looks alot alike. This was the man that taught me how to fish, use a baitcaster, and instilled his love of bass fishing into me. This man knew how to fish well and always caught plenty(some even became dinner). I just found the picture ironic and very interesting. Sometimes we do better if we go back to where we started. I wished I had a scanner so I could put the picture on here.

Yeah Raul, I was thinking about that. The tackle box was a gift from my youngest daughter, so I have to use it. The handle is hollow, so I have put a length of flat webbing through it for a sling. I know the plano box and backpack thing, but I did the same as usual. I packed everything I could get into it and it became more of a pain. This little box is not packed, has all I NEED(the lures I actually fish,not just look at in the box), carrys well with the sling, and fits perfect behind the seat of my little pickup. Of course I could always drop back to my trusty Zebco and a rooster tail.