Micro

I looked at it at a local tackle store. I didn't take the time to fiddle with it, open it up, or cast it like I do with some other reels. It seems like a solid reel. It doesn't seem to display the same level of cosemtic refinement as the Revos do, but its supposed to be that way. It actually looks a tad bit bigger than the Revos, but I may have just perceived it that way. Looks like it holds a lot of line.

I looked at a few of these rods the other day. They are extremely nice for the price - extremely. The anodized aluminum highlights are killer. I though they might look good with the Daiwa Sol, but the orange on the rod is a deeper orange than the orange on the Sol.

Actually I picked up three (sold some older All Stars), but have only tried one. Here's a couple more. One is a 6'6" medium-heavy/medium-fast. The other is a 7' medium-heavy/fast. These are three only three I have.

Some of my favs...

That reel has tempted me more than once. Haven't pulled the trigger yet.

I think its better for smaller hands, but not as bad for bigger hands than I had feared.

My only issue ever using Power Pro is that it seems to loose its color quickly. But so did Fireline. That stuff would leave black marks on your fingers. As far as smoothness, they all sound like crap when casting to me.

Yep, a 7' model. Felt just like the old HMG 7" MH/F rod, but with the updated grips. They also have a new MH/MF 6'6" model. Might make a really nice spinner bait rod.

I picked up one of the new Fenwick HMG rods. I got the GT66M-F. It's rated for 1/4oz to 7/8 oz lures. I paired it with a new Daiwa Sol and loaded it with Yo-Zuri Hybrid 8#. I fished it a bit Thursday and today. The rod is "faster" than the previous HMG 6'6" medium rod. That rod was rated as a medium-fast and was very suitable for small cranks and top waters. The new HMG is noticably faster which suggests to me Fenwick is rating their rods properly. My new rod feels about right for shaky heads, light t-rigged worms, split-shot rigs. I also tried it with a few smaller jerkbaits. The rod is very sensitive. It's not really any more sensitive than the old HMG, but that was a very sensitive rod. So is the new HMG. The guide inserts are Alconite. Otherwise, the frames are the same as on the old HMG. Fujis. The rod blank is flex coated its entire length, like the old HMG. It's darker red than the old HMG, and the graphics are a bit different. The hook keeper is just a little ring. The real difference is in the grip. Fenwick went to a composite rubber/cork grip. The butt end is the same size and the old HMG, but the foregrip is a bit bulkier. I like a foregrip. Some people don't like foregrips so this may not appeal to them. But I like foregrips. The material chosen is extremely "grippy" feeling. From first picking it up, to using it with wet hands, my impression remains that it is superior to pure cork. It feels harder than either pure cork or foam. But it feels tackier than either. So far, I rate the grips as excellent. The top of the foregip has a nice looking metal winding check. The butt has the usual Fenwick logo cap. The reel seat is a Fuji ACS with a soft-touch coating. As far as feel, it compliments the composite handles nicely. You get a nice grippy feel from the top of the foregrip to the bottom of the butt. I didn't think I would like the finger grooves, but with the Sol on top the set-up palms exceptionally well - and I have large hands.. The one thing that sort of put me off was that I could not tighten the reel ring down enough to keep the reel from moving in the seat. I put a little piece of electrical tape on the front of the reel foot and that did the trick. Now it's on nice and solid. I can't tell if it weighs more than the old HMG. The old HMGs were very similar in weight to comparably rated Avids. The new HMG doesn't feel any different, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a few grams heavier given the new grip material. But it certainly didn't strike me as heavy. I only caught one small bass - about 1.5 lbs. So I didn't get to really see how well it will horse up a respectable bass. But given the blank's similarity to the old HMGs, I'm sure it will be fine. Price is the same as the old HMG. I got this one for $109.

Leave them alone. They won't borther you.

I agree with Sam. Unless it's a small crank bait, I use a snap with all my cranks, even if it has a split ring. I know some people say not to use both, but on larger cranks I see no dicernible difference in action or catch rates. On small cranks, it may affect the way it floats or suspends - so with those, I only use either a split ring or a snap.

I haven't owned one for some time. But I do remember it was best with heavier baits. And as retiredbosn said, it takes a bit more brake than, say, the Revos.

Looks more like Canada given all those spruce trees.

I've never fished Back Bay. But its only like an hour from me. May have to haul the ole jon down there and checker er out.

I never heard it before. That was great! ;D

I don't have a TDZ. But if its better than the Zillion, it must be a fantastic reel.

BTW, I got to play with some of the new HMXs and Eagle GTs as well. These have been revamped, also. The first thing I noticed is that the cork on the HMXs and GTs is MUCH nicer than on the current models. The forgrip locks the reel down on these rods, too. And I noticed some new power/actions I hadn't seen before. I handled a 7' HMX with a MH/MF rating. I think it was rated to 1.5 oz lures. It looked like it would be a good cranking rod.

Your 6'6" MH is the GT66MH model. It's a medium-heavy/fast rod. It's an excellent rod. I use mine for t-rigged plastics. The current (old model) HMGs don't have their actions printed on the rod. But you can find them on Fenwick's website, or simply judge it by feel. Essentially, if it's a medium power rod, it will have a medium-fast action. If its a medium heavy, it will have a fast action. (Beware, though, Fenwick's website shows the GT66M as a fast action rod, and the GT66MH as a medium-fast. This is wrong. Should be the other way around. I can not only feel this on my rods, but the lady at Fenwick I spoke to checked an confirmed it.) The HMGs are excellent rods - light and very sensitive. I have 5 baitcasters (GT70MH, GT70M, GT66MH, and GT66M x2) and 2 spinning models (GS70MH and GS70M). One thing I like is that they are rated to handle a wide range of lure weights. And while I have other rods and reels, the HMGs I own would cover just about all the fishing techniques I use. I don't plan to give up any of the HMGs I own. I don't own one of the new HMGs, yet. I will own a couple in the next few weeks. (I'm going to retire some of my older All Star rods.) The new HMGs I've handled feel great and look fantastic. My understanding is that the blank is the same as the old HMG. They still use the Carbon Veil. They are darker in color than the current HMGs - almost a black cherry color. They do use Fuji Alconite guides, spaced the same as the Hardloy guides are on the current HMG. The grips are a cork/rubber composite. They feel very sure and very durable. The foregrip is bigger than on current HMGs. The new rod's foregrip is what tightens down the ring that goes over the reel's foot, unlike the current HMG that has a seperate ring. Unfortunately, the foregrip does not click like on BPS brand rods. The new HMG uses nice champagne-colored winding checks. The reel seat is a Fuji ACS with a "soft touch" coating. This proved durable on past HMGs, though Fenwick did away with it for some reason. The rod's blank is flex-coated just like current HMGs. It's also made in China just like current HMGs. The new and current HMGs both have lifetime warranties. I don't know why the new HMG is the same price as the old HMGs. If it uses the same blank, I suspect the new ones will be just as sensitive and durable as the old ones. I like the grips very much. I'm not sure if I will like the ASC reel seat. I have big hands the finger grooves seem designed for smaller hands. The Alconite guides are nice, but the current model's Hardloy guides are just as good, IMO. $90 is an excellent price for the current HMG. It is an excellent rod. For that price, and the hassle of returning it, I'd keep it. Mine have served me very well and I'm sure they will continue to do so. Edit: the HMG does not use the foregrip to tighten down the reel. it used a standard Fuji ring.

I don't ask for directions, I don't read directions, and I don't call no stinkin' exterminators. I gots a fly swatter and a can of raid. That's all I needs. Seriously, though. It's not like my place is crawling with them. And an exterminator is not going to do anything I'm not doing. I mean, I spray behind siding, cracks, crevices, lawn, trees, eaves, under the house, attic, voids over the porch. The vast majority of the spiders I find are already dying. They are also almost always juvenile females like the one on the picture. I've only found one or two adult females BWs in the years I've lived here. I've never found any males. My next door neighbor has a barn next to my property and it's full of barn junk. I suspect there's a link. He's in Florida for a month or so so I may go over there and spray. It's the only thing I haven't done yet.

I just went out and sprayed again. I just don't get it. I will find one. Kill it. Clean the web. Spray all around looking for others. Within days, there's another one. I find them around the inside of my garage door, my front porch and my back deck. Usually when I find them, they are already half dead from the last spray.

Found this just outside my front door. It's about the 50th one I've found and killed this year. I swear, I have no idea where they are coming from. It is just about the most common spider around my house. It's nuts.

Dan, I didn't see any high siders or jrs. They did have a variety of cranks and jerkbaits. Sam, I love Darryl at Hookers to death. But if that man doesn't get some new stock in, people like me are going to stop going there. He's not replacing anything he sells. His store has essentially the same stock he had this time last year. No new reels, rods. He has a dwindling supply of Jackall, LC and Ima. I rarely go there anymore because there is hardly ever anything new to look at. I've picked him clean of the Roboworms I use and he hasn't replaced those. I don't know how long he will survive selling minnows and catfish hooks. He may have some $$ difficulties which is preventing him from getting new stock. I hope things change for him. His store is neat and given that he sells high end stuff, his location near Williamsburg ought to make make his store a tourist destination. But it seems terribly slow to me. BTW, I'm game whenever you are to hit Chick Lake.

Man, you gotta love that place. They now have the new line of Fenwick Rods - HMGs, HMX and GTs. These are nice, nice rods. I think I'm going to retire some of my Older All Stars and replace them with some of the new HMGs. And they have them even before Tackle Warehouse. They've got the new Daiwa Aggrest, regular price is $149. $30 less than Tackle Warehouse. Of course, Greentop has been carrying Jackall and Megabass baits for some time now. Now they are carrying Deps and Ima. I was able to find some of the new rattling Roumbas. Can't wait to try them. Everytime I go there they've got something new. No need to shop anywhere else.

I'm sure there are some high-falutin, herbal-tea-drinkin', fancy-talking bass in that lake. But most of them are just don't give a d**n.

This maybe the trick. I've tried slowing down and don't know how much slower I can go. I've seen this phenomenon before, but this is the first year I've experienced it so much.