Micro

If you try Strike King King Shads, let me know how they work. They are a little expensive - $20 a piece. My plan is to try them in one of my very clear lakes which is loaded with Striped Bass. I'm impressed with how they are built. They are getting excellent reviews.

I fish what works. I have a hard time trying new stuff when I know something works well in a given area. If it's expensive or cheap, doesn't much matter. If it's cheap and it works, it's got a place in my tackle box. If it's expensive and sucks, it doesn't. Any lure that works consistently is worth far more than its cost, whether it's $5 or $25. I have boxes of Rapalas - DTs, Glass Shads, Tail Dancers, X-Raps, Husky Jerks, Minnows, Sinking Minnows, etc. I buy them because they are consistently good. Not only do they produce fish, they have great actions, are well built and hold up season after season. I especially like the newer Rapalas with the transluscent bodies (various models). The reflective elements are inside the lure, not painted on the surface. Even after many, many pickerel they keep on keepin' on. No matter how many scratches, they still reflect like they were new. I have several LCs, mainly DDs. I think they are more refined than the Rapalas. But in my experience not as durable. The finishes don't seem anywhere near as durable as the Rapalas. Great actions, beautiful lures. But I don't catch any more fish on them than Rapalas, and they don't hold up as well. So I don't buy many of them. I have tons of Bombers of almost every style. Another moderately priced bait that consistently produces fish. Like Avid said, Rat L Traps are a mainstay in my tackle box. Rapala knock-offs, too, which are just as good. I've recently tried XCalibur Xr75s which run about $10 - great actions and very loud, but no fish yet. Still working on it. I may be the only bass fisherman that likes Mepps Spinners. I have a kajillion of them because they produce bass and everything else along with them. I recently purchased 5 Strike King King Shads in various colors - $20 each. These are my most expensive lures. They've been getting excellent reviews. Can't wait to try them. One bait I have a few of that seems to catch fish when nothing else seems to be working are Creme pre-rigged worms with the little silver spinner blade. They are cheap, sold at Walmart, and may have been the first artificial bait I ever tried. I like to cast them into water that has algea-muck just below the surface. They have no action to speak of, the spinner rarely works, but they catch fish all out of proportion to their cost and quality. Buy what you want. But no matter what, buy what works. Buying anthing else is a waste, unless you just like carrying dead weight in your tackle bags.

The bags are the same, only difference is the logo.

Oh, the C3. I forgot about that reel. I thought you had a 300 and left off the 00. I would definately go with the 800 over the C3 for bass fishing. I will say the C3 is a darned nice reel. I thought it was going to be cheap feeling but it seems to be made very nicely and the drag adjustment knob feels really heavy duty and has a nice micro click adjustment. I'd like to have that reel for bluegill fishing.

I have to admit that I've bought a few rods from the Gander Mountain in Ashland. They have a fine selection of All Stars.

THAT'S MY BAG G*D D*MN IT! > I SENT IN MY COUPON A FEW MONTHS AGO AND THEY SENT ME A PFLUEGER BAG! Sorry

When I read someone say "were not quality made reels," I think it smacks of BS. I've disassembled both the 500 and 800s and can say, unequivocably, that they are quality reels. The 800s frame, sideplate, rotor and spool are aluminum. The tolerances on the 800 was very close. Like I said, no back play, no wobble, no vibration from the gears. If I'm not mistaken, the rotor and side plate on the Stradic are plastic. Me thinks the Shimano crowd has a thing about Abu Garcia. In the last few years they've turned out reels that as good as or better than the Shimano crown jewels, at much better prices.

Is it recommended for both applications? I mean, is a deep jerkbait rod also a good rod for big lipless cranks? It would seem the power and action should need to be the same. I'm going to stick with using my IM10 until spring then I may buy a new rod(s) for these applications - that's why I am asking.

You've never fished the 800 series, I have. I've also fished the Stradic. I've also compared the 800 series side by side to the Sustain. In terms of refinement, those qualities I listed in my first response, I feel the 800 beats out the Stradic, and edges out the Sustain.

Full of crap he is ;D

What is the best rod for bigger (3/4 oz) lipless cranks (Rat L Traps, etc). I'm not talking brand, but rather length, power, and action? Whats the best rod - length, power, and action - for deep diving jerk and slash baits? Like LC Pointer 100 DDs? I've been using my All Star IM10 6'8" MH/F for both but I'm not sure if its optimal. I like burning the cranks and very aggresively working the deep suspending jerks. What everyone else use?

Have you fished an 800? I will tell you that I've fished the 800s and Stradics and the 800s have it all over the Stradics. I even considered the Sustains and I don't think they compare.

I don't know what the "3" is. You mean 300? I have an 804 and an 802, as well as a 500 ALB. The 500 is a nice reel for its price. It's smooth, rugged and has a nice drag. But it doesn't compare to the 800s. The 800s are, IMO, the best spinning reels out there for a price under that of the Shimano Stella. These reels are built like tough Swiss watches. They look precise, and feel precise. The handles have no back play. The rotors are balanced with no detectable wobble at all. You can't feel the gears when you reel. The bail closes with no reverberation through the reel - it just snaps shut. Removing the spool reveals the dark Everslick coating ont he shaft and two stacked bearings. My 502 ALB is a nice reel and it gets the job done. But the 802 and 804 is simply a huge step up. You really need to handle them to see what I'm talking about. If I could only have one, I'd save my money and buy an 800 series. Sweet, sweet reels. Have you seen the new 600s and 700s? They might be good compromises. The 700 is a damned fine reel.

I don't see how it could be damaging. It doesn't know if it's in water or not.

A friend told me today that turning on your fishfinder and letting the transducer click while out of water can damage it. I do it occassionally before a trip to make sure it's working and to make adjustments. I think he's full of crap. Who's right?

Does the L&T have a retractable butt section? It looked like it to me. I don't like retractable butts. Maybe nothing wrong with them, but something about them bugs me. I usually use my pitching and flipping rod for toads and frogs - All Star American Classic AC FRH 7'6" heavy/extra fast. Light, sensitive, tough as nails. No retractable butt.

I think you have a serious problem no matter how you slice it. No offense, but I have a hard time believing anyone could spend that kind of money on tackle. If you really spend that kind of money on fishing tackle, you have a compulsion disorder and you need professional help. If you are ***ting us attempting to sound impressive, then you are a ***ter and have ruined your name.

Man, can you post a picture of your massive collection? I'd like to show my wife I'm not so bad. Just one or two pictures of all your stuff and that'll do.

It was free. I'd feel funny about asking for another.

It was a huge decal - about 2 feet by 1 foot. Woulda looked sweet on the back window of my truck.

I sent an email to Abu Garcia detailing all the Abu reels I have. I asked if they could find it in their heart to send me a window decal for my truck. They did. When I got it it was stuffed in a hard Express Mail envelope, folded in half, with the backing peeled off one side, and the decal stuck to the inside of the envelope. Man, I send off for an All Star bag and get a Pfleuger bag. Now my decal's all screwed up. SIGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

I pased over Quantum due to the weight of the reels int he size I wanted. However, the spinning reels I looked at were among the smoothests I've ever handled. Impressively smooth.

I recommend a Team All Star IM10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ............... ;D

I agree with Chris. But it's not to say it can't be done. A M/F rod would be best for what you stated earlier - lighter, unweighted plastics. A M/F is OK for cranks, but not ideal. I use M/Fs for cranks. Just be careful on the hook set. In my experience, fish will usually hook themselves, or just need a light hook set, when using cranks. You may want to loosen your drag a bit more when fishing cranks if you tend to have a hard hook set.

I went by Little Creek res today. It's about 11 feet low, now. It's so low that the bottom of the 10' water level ruler by the dam isn't even in the water any more. The lake is closed to boats and the side of the park where the launch ramp and concession stand is is closed due to low water levels. You can't even drive back there.