djmax22

Obvious the Legend Tourney is the best rod you have listed, but the Avid represent the best value. I would suggest buying somewhere else other than Bass Pro. If you buy over the internet you can eliminate sale tax and you can get a better deal other than paying retail.

Does anyone use the Daiwa TD Crankbait Thin Lip? I would like to hear some opinions on them before I take the plunge. They are on sale at *** and the bait monkey is calling. http://www.***.com/descpageHDLDAIWA-TDCT.html

X3 for the Osprey.

Oh yeah! That is a good one to get too. I would get a Buzzjet or a Punker.

That 120 is a beast! Awesome top water lure.

No doubt in my mind that they see braid in clear water. As others have pointed out it really depends on conditions and where you are planning to use it.

http://www.***.com/descpageSWIMBDOG-LPBLEM.html Get the 6" Jr. Punker.

Just got off the phone with Loomis and my rod that I ordered on 1/6/09 is back ordered to the end of March. Bummer

I usually buy a couple in different colors. If I hear of a hot bait on this board like the Red Eye shad I will pick up several.

CA residents add 8.75% sale tax bummer.

I thought clips are designed to collapse upon themselves rather than open up or straighten out. I use clips for all my cranking and have never had a problem.

I like 7:1 for spinnerbaits.

I bought the D7. I have been waiting and saving a long time to get this reel. I have the CuradoE7 and the old Chronarch B and I cannot wait to compare them.

how so?

I was starting to switch over to Daiwa, but the empire strikes back. Just picked it up at *** the new Chronarch D. Can't wait to use it.

I would never fish any moving lure with a spinning outfit period. It will wear you out if you are planning to throw any crank over 1/4oz. Baitcasters offer you much more control and you will bomb cranks once you get it down. You are really limiting yourself to what you can do if you don't get a baitcasting setup.

Nothing wrong with the Chronarch except the weight, but the Daiwa Zillion weighs just as much. Flip a coin.

Shimano MG will work great with 6'6" rod and <1/4oz cranks.

Exactly. I have only tried my LTB and a friends Carrot Stix. I did like the foam grips.

You said your more interested in how it feels to you, but you didn't notice a difference in sensitivity. Do you mean how the handle feels or the feel of the rod in general? As far as it being cool, I agree. But for me it is also functional. With bigger hands and the way I grip the reel, the curveture of the grip directly behind the reel seat "feels more comfortable to me. Same goes for power humps like on the Avids. I have big hands too, but I could not get comfortable with the split grips. For example, I own both the St Croix LTB Sweeper Spinnerbait rod in split grip and full cork. Yes, the split grip might be a tad lighter, but it really didnt translate in an increased sensitivity. I do agree that the foregrip is not needed on most rods.

I use the the DBL wide beavers with 1oz weight for flipping and also on a carolina rig.

I dont like using my MGs for flipping. I use them on light lure setups and for fishing jerkbaits. I personally don't feel like the the reel has enough power to winch the fish out a jungle.

Get a Shimano MG. It is an amzing reel for light stuff. I remember last Spring was launching 1/8oz hakey heads under windy conditions with no problems.

G Loomis for worm/jig Powelll/Lamiglas for cranks

Personally, I dont like split grips. Yeah it make the rods look cool, but I am more interested in how it feels to me rather than how it looks in my hand. I really didnt notice a difference in sensitivity either.