J Francho

I wouldn't know who to pick, but it's kind of fun seeing these guys compete. I watched them on SML and Oneida years ago.

Most of my half day trips have been 4-6 miles traveled.

I was thinking you were on Cops.

They will be equal if the same line is used, and they are filled to the same level.

Unless the other rods I own are also tip heavy, I'm not really feeling the complaint. I remember someone arguing the tip heavy thing pretty heavy. They had NEVER held a Saint Croix rod. It was funny when I met them in person, and had them cast several combos. They ended up buying several. Like I said before, it's a lot of internet huffing and puffing about pretty much nothing. I'll be sure to measure the tip heaviness of a Victory, along with some other rods I own. I'll have to use my fingers though, unless someone has a link to an inexpensive tipheaviometer.

I'm not free on sundays until at least the evening.

Water makes mass disappear? I'll tell my doctor that next time he gripes about my BMI. I prefer the rod be too heavy, as in heavier from a fish.

The bait was a floating jerk bait, like a Rogue or something similar, not a plastic fluke, lol.

That's the model I'm interested in. I want to learn drop shot.

Quantum. The Ram truck of reels. Sorry Zebco lovers! *I actually own two myself.

The tip heavy thing is mostly keyboard huff and puff. Some are, but there no different than any other company's rods. They're all rip heavy when you tie a bait on. @A-Jay I'm leaning towards spinning.

I'm going to have to get one. Since I have more than 30 SC rods, many of them Avids, I'm pretty sure I can make a reasonable comparison. I think the main deal with SCIV is that it's fragile, so why not mix it with the proven durability of SCIII. They're already well versed in blending glass and graphite rods.

Never caught a smallmouth shallow enough in the 40s to think about using a topwater. One time at a pond, largemouth were biting my jerk bait as soon as it hit the water, so I tried a topwater. Temps were right around 40, but I think this was a fluke.

We're all here to help.

Another vote for a stakeout pole.

That's an interesting point. A boat is a bit of a long term purchase. It would stink to have to comply with new laws a few years down the line, instead of buying into the compliance now. I hadn't thought of that.

That actually has me thinking about what those juvenile fish are eating. I wonder/bet if certain critters can be seen better with UV vision.

Three fish was the difference Seriously, though I think you need to have something closer to 20:1 to really have an observation.

It could also mean dispersal to other areas usually not frequented in search of alternate food sources, hence the lack of bites when fishing usual spots.

I uni works for me most of the time. I use an improved clinch on wire baits because it's faster to tie. My line is usually a little oversized, so I'm not worried about what knot is stronger, just that I tie a good, clean one.

I think people have this impression that the ice is a hardened surface to the water when it's really just a floating sheet of ice. That would freak me out enough to not go out on it, even knowing why. Nice job catching!

No, I'm serious about your fishing outfits.

Baby Don't Ertz Me!