djmax22

All rods break if handled improperly whether that involves breaking the tip on a snag or stepping on it. I fish my Loomis's really hard and have never broke one while fishing (I did break one during storage). Part of getting a high end rod is also getting a high end warranty (megabass rods excluded). Having that warranty will put your mind at ease.

My guess is that this will not be your last high end setup. It is all down hill from here Congrats on your purchase I am sure you will be happy with it.

I had both lures out tonight. The Mini DR is more flat whereas the RC is slightly shorter and fatter. The RC also comes with rattles. I love them both.

I made the switch to the lucky craft Gunfish and never looked back.

Lucky craft LV500 (deep), Red Eye Shad, and BPS rattle traps are surprising good.

I believe they are releasing a fast sink version this year. I hate using the slow sink models it takes forever to sink.

Washington county lake in Illinois is chatterbait central around here and it's load with wood under the surface and is off colored much of the time. Most guys fishing there have one tied on at the start of the day and it's one of the few lakes I've been on where that bait will catch fish over a regular spinnerbait many times. Otherwise my results have been mixed. Believe it or not, I have found that to be true with some parts of LOZ. Thats when a white chatterbait is the go-to bait. Did extreamly well down there this year on them. Have yet to fish Washington County Lake, but will have to put that down on my list. Yeap, I did most of my damage at LOZ this year at night. See my earlier post.

Go at least 25# test at minimum.

Has anyone used the new GLX version?

Awesome combo. I have the 955 and 957 and love them both. I use Maxima Green on my setups. I tried the CXX although it is strong I cant keep the memory down with anything above 14 lb test even with KVD line conditioner.

:) Wow and I thought I had a problem. :o Nice haul Natural!!!

Wow. I guess I'm one of the last guys on the planet catching fish on them. Last year it was my number 1 producer at night and at dawn. My partner and I emptied the whole tackle box one night b/c the bass seemed to have lock jaw. The last thing we tied on was a blk/blue chatterbait. We went down the same bank, pitching them shallow against the bank and hammered them. This pattern produced all summer long when nothing else seemed to work. This out produced my other go to, a 10" berkley power worm which I never had happen before. Some vicious strikes. The only problem I had was the hookup ratio. Switching to a Booyah Boogie with its flexible hook seemed to help. Oh I forgot to add I replace the Booyah trailer with a small SK rage craw. It is now the first lure I start out with at night.

If I could only chose 2. My clear water choice would be Lucky Craft Ghost. Stained water my choice would be firetiger.

DD22 and Lucky Craft 20s are my best producers and I do a lot of deep cranking during the summer.

Pointer cannot be beat when the water temps are in the upper 30s and low 40s. I sometimes have leave the bait sit there for 1 min before twitching it. The pointer will suspend there perfectly. Xraps are great too when the fish are more active. Both have a spot in the tackle box. I am surprised no one has mentioned the LC Staycee 95. That lure might be the best of them all.

I broke 3 DT-16s last year. One was my fault after slinging it off a dock. The other two broke off fishing areas with chunk rock. For that reason I have been thrown Norman DD22, Lucky Craft-20, and Manns 30+. No more deep diving Rapalas for me.

I am looking at few items this year. I have been throwing cranks more than anything the past two years so I would like to get a Daiwa crazy cranker reel and put it on a Powell 806CB rod (new for 09) for deep divers. Also looking at getting a Frog rod. Maybe St Croix LTB Frog Rod with a Zillion. Always wanted a Loomis spinnerbait rod and the new GLX spinnerbait rod has me drooling. Hopefully I will be able to get something from that list. As for tackle I would like to pick up Spro Little Johns, a Mattlures Hard Gill, 3/4 Red Eye Shad, double wide Sweet Beavers, and couple Lucky Craft Stacysees Ver. 3 designed by Gary Dobyns. And of course get more terminal tackle.

Here is my two cents. I would pick up a BCR854 for worms/jigs. If you want a Loomis rod for cranking go with the 845. Everyone seems to love this rod. I own several Loomis rods, but I do all of my cranking with Powell or Lamiglas rods. I just prefer fiberglass to graphite.

Thanks everyone. I will be purchasing the Stradic 2500FI it should serve me well.

I have a Daiwa Fuego on my small/medium crankbait setup. It is a great reel, but if you are planing throw cranks over 1/2oz then get something with more line capacity. A 6:3 will be ideal for shallow cranking since it will give you the option to speed up or slow down. Can't comment on the new PT performance. It does look like Quantum made some vast improvements over the original.

I am a baitcaster guy that hasn't fished with a spinning outfit for several years. I am looking for a spinning reel to pair with my new dropshot rod that I received as a gift. I tend to be partial to Shimano reels so what reel should buy out of the following choices: Symetre Stradic Saros Any input would be helpful.

Good choice. I have the Curado 300 paired with my loomis 955 and it has served me well.

I have my Loomis rods wrapped and stored in PVC tubing in my garage during the off season.

I have tried a lot of line over the years and I keep coming back to Yo-Zuri hybrid and ultrasoft, XPS mono and fluorocarbon (with KVD conditioner), PLine flourocarbon, Sunline and Power Pro to name a few. Pline CXX always was unmanageable for me.

Nice Haul! I too go crazy on Ebay. Some say I have an addiction, but i have saved thousands shopping by shopping on Ebay!