J Francho

Cool, I might be up in the next few weekends. This weekend is booked with funerals. Blech!

Catt, I would NOT have shared that info....Great Lakes tribs are very touchy, and can be ruined by even posting images. It's even MORE touchy when trout run. There are people that scour the internet, and illagally take these fish without regard for sport.

No thermocline there.

Like hooligan said, super deep, probably not. But for baits up to 3/4 oz. you should be fine. I use 10 and 12# Trilene 100% Fluoro, or P-line CXX 10# for all my treble hooked baits that aren't swimbaits.

Yeah, all the great lakes have current, I get that. I think I know where he's talking about, and there's too much current, as in a pool on a river system.

That combo should work out great!

If there's any current, there probably isn't any thermocline.

Well, I pretty much use whatever I'd use in spring or summer, just the location I fish changes.

I tried to get a screaming deal on Citicas, but the manager wouldn't honor my $40 off purchases of $200 or more. If you're interested, I have one more Curado, and two Citicas left. See the Flea Market for details.

NONE of the BPS aftermarket handles fit Shimano reels, including the ones you linked, the longer power handles, or the Gator grip Hawg Handlers. As was mentioned, Shimano uses a different size crank shaft.

You'll have to call around....can you get the rod repaired locally? Any custom rod builder could do it, probably for much less than shipping.

Not all PBs, but some nice fish... Erie Tournament, with Jordon: Oneida with Jim Sr. and Jim Jr.: Jim Sr.: Port Bay, with Burnie Haney: Keuka Lake open tournament: The LMB was 8-5, the SMB was over 6: Practice on Erie (me): Woops! That's not a smallmouth (my son Al, and I): Noel "No" Good, on Erie: And of course, my own PB:

Yep, and some have discounted rates, like St. Croix.

What company?

My only gripe with the reel is that it's a graphite frame. It's a durability issue. When looking at reels, I must have a metal frame, unless we're talking some other high end material, like carbon fiber or magnesium. Those reels don't fall into the $100 range, though. I think the rod is fine, and you'll catch fish with it. That said, start reading reviews on this site, and pay attention to the Flea Market. There are GREAT deals to be had for new and gently used items all the time!

Look for a broken down parts reel on eBay. Otherwise, yeah that's all you can do.

Guys, I ran retail stores for ten years. You can't look at it in that granular, one unit way. You buy pallet of reels. It takes 2/3 of that pallet before you realize profit on that pallet. After that, it's all profit. So, if you're down to your last 100 reels on that pallet, it doesn't matter what you sell them for, you are making money. The longer those last reels take up space, the less they are worth to you. Especially when there is a new product waiting in the wings for you to play the same game with again.

Sorry, no 50E. I have a few 200E7 though. I can get a couple Citica 201E as well.

If you guys can't find them locally, PM me, I have some and could get them to your door for $80.

That may be true, but I've caught jig fish on everything from medium to XXXXH. He probably just hasn't matched the hookset to the rod. And did the OP verify that the hook point wasn't rolled on that jig? That'll cause all kinds hookup issues, regardless of rod choice.

Joe Dirt.

Imodium AD. DO NOT over do it.

In Europe, carp meat goes for over $50 a pound.....

LOL, it's a heavy power, x-fast rod - made for wormin' and jigs. It probably just isn't a match for you. Not every rod works with everyone. That's how preferences develop.

Nate, look into Eneacanthus spp. and Cheatodon sp. They are dwarf and pygmy sunfish, and are VERY cool. You should have no problem keeping them in a 30 gal. tank, and they're all over the northeast, if you know where to look.