VolFan

I think what everyone is saying is you’re expecting it to load like a glass crank bait rod and that’s not what it is. Cast a few baits throughout its weight range, work on your casting stroke for more than a week, and then decide if you want something more moderate, which probably means you’re going glass or Dobyns. A glass rod that’ll do the upper end of that weight range is going to be heavier, and may not have the backbone to set larger single hooks at distance. YMMV

Targeting tarpon, and then snook when Mother Nature would cooperate…this guy ate a fluke…

Is that the weedless one with the jig hook hidden inside? That’s a fish catching machine. Fish it in, and I mean in, cover and grass. I fish them on braid. Sometimes hanging 1/8 oz from their chin helps keep them nose-down on retrieves. Those are like underwater frog fishing, think of it that way.

The lighter foam is…wait for it…lighter, and saves weight on the rod. How it wears we’ll see but I have rods with light foam grips that are probably older than my son (more than 10, less than 20). They’re still in great shape. Just like cork, take care of it and don’t get sand or anything that degrades the foam on it and it’ll last as long as you’re interested. I’ve never heard any complaints about Irods for that matter.

‘Slow Sink’ is like ‘MH’ in that some are slower and some are sinker, depending on the manufacturer with no real standard. Floaters usually float pretty good but I’ve never had trouble getting one to slowly sink. With the conditions you describe, I’d use heaviest hooks, suspend strips, and tungsten wire to dial in an extra slow sink

As a ‘someone has to say it’ - make sure your braid isn’t slipping on the spool. It could be tight enough to reel but not tight enough for a good hook set and fight. Just a thought.

Flexible rod, more gradual stroke - the rod flexes and creaks instead of the things that are holding your shoulder together. I also have gone to an almost underhand golf flip of a cast, where space allows. More comfortable and much easier on my body. I’ve never understood trying to overhead muscle big baits.

I just don’t. I like to fish, and I’m here for the info. I check the Other Species Latest Catch more than the bass pics. I just don’t take many pics while fishing. So I don’t post many pics…but I don’t start many pointless threads either so I think we’re even…???

Wall Doxey State Park should be right in your area - I grew up just into TN from you.

I had that a few weeks ago for my annual check-up. No blood work so no fasting and I did my normal breakfast/coffee routine. When she did my blood pressure she sat there for a second, sighed, and then said, ‘maybe a little less coffee before your next visit.’

You forgot to tell everyone to get off your lawn… ?

I like that soft jerk rigged on a c-rig so that the nose juuuuust turns up a little. I makes it pop up and flutter /glide down. Caffeine Shads are my favorite but it works with any.

The sender of the money picks Goods and Services or Gift (or whatever it is on PayPal). You should’ve agreed with the seller on who pays the fees. You get protection if you pay as Goods and Services ( I assume you’re using your wife’s email/account to pay). I will not pay someone via the Gift option unless I know them personally.

Just miserable weather today in Charlotte - curious to see how they do.

I bet they’re catching A LOT of the though- great numbers lake.

It looked like he throttled it all the way back a split second before it went horrible.

The older I get, the more I learn to hire the person, not the skill set (obviously within reason). I’d rather teach someone that wants to be there than try to guide someone who doesn’t. I don’t think that’s changed in the 20+ years I’ve been interviewing/hiring people.

While I prefer well water straight from the hose, I do like the unpasteurized version of coconut water. The canned versions vary widely from decent to utterly unpalatable.

When I was in Colorado, I saw them built out of pvc and plexiglass- the actual rudder was about the size of a shoebox lid. I also saw people that just zip-tied a rudder to their trolling motor shaft above the motor, so that may be an option as well. The wind out there is no joke.

Mine would sell me before the cats. Buy the person or by the lb.

My general rule is if I feel like I need to carry to go fish a spot, I just don’t go fish that spot. I have better things to risk my life on.

Your constant work on and in yourself is truly inspiring. I hope the personal life stress can be worked out.

This. Within reason.

They used to sell it in the fish case in Kroger in Memphis. I remember asking my dad if it was the same Buffalo like Buffalo Bill shot. True story.

The pics on the sonar company’s FB give a little better view - I would guess he was trimmed down but with the Jack plate as high as it would go. It came right out of the rails of the Jack plate. You can see where the cowling hit just forward of the transom where the steering cables exit the body. Still hard to believe this happened this way in a 40 mph collision and he was still in the boat and uninjured. But glad no one was hurt either way.