Micro

Why would you need to tinker with the Patriarch? It's made so anyone can cast it.

I'm talking about lure performance.

I've settled on two rods for working jerkbaits. After some time fishing jerkbaits with less-than-optimal rods, I think I've nailed it. At least, they feel really good to me. For jerking jerkbaits, I'm using a Fenwick HMG model GT66M (6'6" medium/moderate-fast). It's rated for 1/4oz to 7/8oz baits. It's perfect for 1/2oz jerks. The length is just right for me. The shorter length and short handle makes for agile handling. The moderate-fast action is plenty fast for a snappy jerk but soft enough for trebles. I have a Daiwa Fuego spooled with 10# Yo-Zuri Hybrid on this rod. For ripping jerkbaits, I've decided I like something else. I'm using a Fenwick HMG model GT70M (7' medium/moderate fast). It's rated for 1/4oz to 1oz baits. The power and action is the same as my jerking rod. But the longer length gives me a little more distance in casting. The big difference is that it has a significantly longer handle. I can bury the butt in my gut or in the bend of my arm for nice, long rips without excessive strain on my wrist or elbow.

I like Abu, but I'd go with the Extreme, too. They have very good reputations. From what I've seen, it's an extremely nice reel for the money. Value-wise, it's unbeatable.

Given Yo-Zuri's break-point versus the test, I usually fish a lower test than I would if I were fishing pure mono. The smaller diameter makes casting easier and lets lures like cranks reach deeper depths. I've spooled my Daiwa Sol that I intended to use for lighter cranks with 8# Yo-Zuri (probably would have chosen 10# if using pure mono). 8# Yo-Zuri breaks at 12#. I've spooled my Zillion High Power that I use for deep diving cranks with 10# Yo-Zuri (would have chosen 12-15# if using pure mono). 10# Yo-Zuri breaks at 16.5# I have my Daiwa Sols I use for jerking jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, etc spooled with this. I've spooled reels I use for worms, bigger wake baits, ripping big jerkbaits, medium/heavy jigs, c-rigs and other heavier applications with 12# Yo-Zuri (probably would have used 15# in pure mono). 12# Yo-Zuri breaks at 19.5 pounds. I've spool my reel I used for flipping with 15# Yo-Zuri. Probably would have used 20# mono. 15# Yo-Zuri breaks at 21.5#. I've also got my frog reel spooled with this. I like Yo-Zuri on my frog rig. It's got very little stretch, is plenty strong, and doesn't seem to get tangled in the tall water lilies I fish as easily as braid.

Those are good baits and good colors. I REALLY like the Nutter Shad color. Good choices. Nutter Shad is pretty close to a sexy shad color scheme. If you are looking to compliment what you've got, I'd pick up a few more: 1) I'd get one in a crawdad color. Norman makes several red crawdad scheme. Pick one you like. I like the "Chilli Bowl" color. 2) Norman makes a really nice "Sunfish" color scheme. I'd get one of these. 3) I'd get a chartreuse color scheme. Norman makes several. Their "Chartreuse SX" color is my favorite. 4) "Smokey Joe" is another useful color. It's just a grey shad color. I don't know if the Fat Boy comes in these exact schemes, but there should be some reasonably close schemes available.

IMO Break Free is not a good choice for reels. Neither is WD-40, at least if that's the only product you are using. CLP means cleaner, lubricant, protectant. It's a great choice for guns in field when you can't carry more than one bottle of chemicals. But I think there are better cleaners, better lubricants, and better protectants. If I were you, I'd stick to lubricants intended for reels. Abu Garcia oil and grease is readily available, made for reels, and an are excellent products. WD-40 is a great choice for cleaning parts, blowing old grease off gears, etc. But it is extremely low viscosity. It's not a good lubricant, it's a good solvent. Use it for cleaning, but not for lubricating.

What Raul said. A flipping rod is tantamount to a crane boom.

I more curious about the ability to deep suspend them. In the lakes I fish, most of the bass I've recently found are still deep near baitfish. Despite the warm days we've had here and there, the water is still in the low 50s. I'm finding them mostly in about 16 feet of water. I want to be able to work them slowly through that zone wth frequent stops.

That's a good price for the new reels, but you may have let the Morrums go too cheaply. If they were in half-way decent condition you might have made a pretty penny on ebay.

What are your thoughts on these? They seem to suspend very well. I've only fished the regular DD22s and Deep Little Ns but picked up a few of the suspending and tried them very briefly this weekend. Weather permitting, I'm going to give them a real go next weekend.

I really enjoyed it when I did it. I haven't had the urge in years but it sure was fun. Nothing like a chilly spring morning trying to get a shock-gobble with a high-pitch glass slate. I have about a dozen calls or so I may put on the flea-market page.

I use my All Star American Classic 7' H/XF "pitching rod" almost exlusively as a frog rod. It's perfect in that respect.

People that "mosey." People that mosey in front of you when you are shopping. I friggin hate shooping, and I can't stand getting behind someone who has to walk slow and stop and look at everything. STEP TO THE SIDE, TURD, AND STOP BLOCKING THE AISLE. People that mosey in traffic. People that hang in your blind spot, or people that drive 10 mph under the speed limit. DRIVE LIKE YOU HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO! People that mosey trying to get into traffic on on on-ramp. You are coming up on them and they are on the on-ramp slowing down. You can see them looking at you in the sideview mirror - usually slack-jawed and breathing through their mouths. SPEED UP, ***WIPE, YOU DON'T NEED AN INVITATION TO GET INTO TRAFFIC! People that take 10 seconds to realize the light has turned green. I swear, this must be directly linked to a person's intelligence. grrrrr!

The Jackall T/N70 and Yo-Zuri Hardcore Drum are the greatest lipless baits ever made.

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I've recently moved to Zillions myself. But I can't say the Zillion is a whole lot better than the STX. The Zillion is a little smoother, the brake works a little better, and it is finished a little nicer. But it costs $70 more, so it ought to have some advantages. The STX is very smooth, is very robust, feels very powerful, has a hella more powerful drag, and mine will outcast my Zillions with lighter baits, and about equal with heavier baits. Even though my STXs cast light baits better, I've reserved my STXs for heavier duties. My STXs are on my frog rod and two jig rods. I have Revo Ss on my flipping and c-rig rod. I've fished Revos for some time now and I have a lot of confidence in them.

If that's the noise people are freaked out about, it's the noise the Revos with HCPR bearings make. All my Revos with HCPR bearings whined during the cast. My Winch and Premier made that noise, and my STXs with those bearings make that noise.

LAO, consider a Fenwick HMG. The HMG has two 6'0" options, a M/MF (GT60M) and MH/F (GT60MH). There is GT60M is rated for 1/4-3/4 oz lures, and the GT60MH is rated for 1/4-1 oz lures. The HMG gives up very little to the Techna AV in terms of sensitivity from people that own both. The HMG is also very good value and can be had for well under the $119 MSRP. I have both TASs and HMGs. As far as sensitivity goes, and overall quality, I'd take the HMG over the TAS all day long. I have a HMG 6'6" MH/F and a TAS 6'6" MH/F. The HHG is rated for heavier lures, feels lighter and is, IMO, significantly more sensitive. It also has a lifetime warranty.

I forgot about the Ima Flit. Probably because I haven't caught anything on them yet. But they sure do look good in the water. I have high hopes for them.

Of all the recommendations RW has ever made, the Yo-Zuri one was the best. I use it exclusively on my baitcasters. I even use it frog fishing. I like it better than braid even in heavy cover.

They're glass rods. FiveBassLimit says they are very good rods for cranking and I trust his opinion.

Jackall's Squad Minnow 95SP is my favorite. It is very similar in looks and profile to the LC Pointer 100 SP. But it is somewhat different in that it does not have shifting weights. So the LC will cast a bit better. But the Jackall's weight system seems to bring it to a stop much quicker in the water than the LC. When you jerk it, it doesn't drift to a stop near as much as the LC. You can achieve a real stop-and-go with this Jackall. It gives it a more realistic look in the water. This is a bait where it really does what the manufacturer says it will do. http://www.jackall-lures.com/product10.html http://www.tackletour.com/reviewjackallsquadminnow.html http://www.***.com/descpageJACKRIP-JSQM.html

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A 5/0 Owner Phantom 1/16 oz hook and a Zoom Big Tube in green pumpkin. I've caught a lot of fish flipping this combo.