dave

Never fished the Vendetta but, I really like my Crankin Stik.

I too enjoyed the "glory" of having been a successfull high school football player. At reunions and seeing old classmates, they (we) still talk fondly about the glory days. Thirty years later, those memories are the only positive thing I have to show for it. I am prescribed to take 2400 mg of Motrin per day (I only take 1600). I've had two knee and two shoulder operations and a herniated disc in my neck that has my neurosurgeon baffled and my legs tingling a lot of the time. I don't have one day or even maybe one hour or minute without some kind of pain. Knee, neck, back, foot, etc... Some may say, "I'd do it all again the same, I wouldn't change a thing." I am not so sure I would. I don't know what I'd do without those memories, they sure are good but, the pain really sucks. My son played boys club football when he was in second and third grade and then switched to soccer. He really didn't have love of football. You have to love football in order to play it successfully. He switched to soccer to be able to play with his friends and I fully supported him because it was more "fun" for him. Funny thing is, is that he is 20 now. Voracious reader and techno geek, in the body of a 6' 3" 250# football player. LOL

The older I get and the more I fish, I am glad to catch fish. I can see where in a tournament it may be an issue but, not for just fishing.

Hollow bodies typically also need the legs cut down in order to walk. The long legs inhibit the side to side movement.

As a Skins fan also, if the same Romo shows up next week, the Skins are in serious dog doo.

Here in Maryland LAST weekend, water temps in the upper 60's. We killed them on hollow body frogs, even with a 68 degree water temperature. Night time air temps in the 40's with days in the 70's. All this past week, air temps in the upper 80's to 90 degrees. Today the water temperature was 76 degrees. An eight degree increase since last week. I thought just maybe, fishing would continue to be good. I was wrong. By 11 AM, the creek was a ghost town. By 1:30 PM, we called it a day.

I think your rods that are "weaker" (your words) at the tip, are much better suited for the uses that you mention. 7 MH for larger, single hook techniques. Jigs, big spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, worms...

The only thing I can add to what some have said, is that there is a difference between the strength of a line at a dead pull, and it's "shock" strength. You may be able to pull up a branch with 6# line but, it's shock strength against an improperly set drag will break lots of different brands, tests and types of line. But yeah, you caused the break off by grabbing the line.

I have a friend that has been guiding for bass for over twenty years. Every client rod on his boat is spinning. When I joined him, I have over a dozen rods on my boat for clients, all spinning. We fish the pads and grass of the Potomac River for bass and snakeheads with buzz toads and hollow bodies. 7' MH with 3000 series spinning reels. 30-40# braid. I had a cancelation one night and decided to fish by myself, with the same tackle that I ask my customers to use. I had a blast. Spinning tackle can be less of a hassle than baitcasting, especially with any decent wind. The vast majority if not 99% of anglers fishing the Chesapeake Bay for stripers via light tackle jigging, are using 2500-3000 series reels and 6' 6" spinning rods and 15-20# braid. Personally, I love my baitcasters but, I won't hesitate and have complete confidence picking up THE RIGHT spinning tackle for the job.

Try to find a local bass club called New Horizon Bass Anglers. Great group of guys focused on fun, learning and sharing information. Tournaments and social gathering as well. Some members live in Ashburn. I know one is a member here. Maybe once this thread gets moved to the regional forums, he'll see it.

Once again I will say Academy H2O Mettle. $50, maybe even $30. You won't be disappointed and will save a ton of money. Put the difference toward a nice rod.

I've seen that called a blood knot.

The northerns certainly are.

I have a couple of spiral wraps. One 7' MHF and one 7' HF. I am still doing some testing but, they pitch poorly. It has a lot of guides and I think that is affecting the line flow. When I tie on a hollow body frog, it will cast a mile very effortlessly. I am thinking of rewrapping one with standard size guides.

If you have the time to take a trip up the coast to Annapolis MD, there is shop with good selection.

I have not used them but, I have handled them and they feel really nice. I have a customer that has used them and ended up having a custom made. When you first see the big grips, you don't think light but, when you pick them up, they really surprise you.

http://www.overboardfishingrods.com/floating-fishing-rods/

How much stuff were you tempted to buy while you fished with him? LOL

If you hold tension on your line as you wind it on and your thumb and forefinger are right in front of the spool, make sure your position is directly dead center. If you favor one side, it will pile on that side. If you watch the level wind with your position left or right, you will see it as it is happening. After you get on the water and fish, it'll slowly fix itself.

HB RW

There is a website out here in MD whose origins are about the Chesapeake Bay. There is a thread PAGES long on this particular poacher. Most concerned that courts have not treated these poachers with harsh enough penalties. Hopefully the judges hammers him. Also, illegals and immigrants aren't the only poachers. Plenty of locals and watermen on the bay poach as as well.

1991 Illinois Bassmaster Invitational I believe.

I always check out spincast reels to see if they may be cool to have for the inexperienced. Too slow. I am though going to go out on a limb and say that the early tournament fishermen were not using spincast reels for tournaments. I do remember Woo Daves winning on one. (I went out and bought a Zebco 888 because of it, even though I believe he was using the Zebco 808) It was a very specific technique for which it was perfectly suited.

Especially then.

I've used both on baitcasters. Depending on the method, the 15# has better shock strength. Say for spinnerbaits, crankbaits, buzzbaits in open water, 12#. Jigs, worms, bigger baits where there is going to be a hard hookset in cover, 15#.