Stasher1

The only ones on clearance are the '07 spinning models, and they'll ring up for the clearance price. I bought one 2-3 months ago. They were originally $159. The 08 models are/were $169, and the 09 models are closer to $200, IIRC. The '09 models are out already, so the '08 models should go on clearance pretty soon.

If you print out the listing from the web then they'll match the price. I've down this on my Extreme rods. Works great!!! I've done this at the Atlanta BPS, but didn't have to print out the listing. I just walked up to the customer service desk and asked them if they'd match the online clearance price, they looked it up themselves and gave it to me for the online price. No problem at all.

I make my wife buy me rods and/or reels for B-days and anniversaries, and I buy tackle all year so I'd probably use the money for something I wouldn't usually buy...like swimbaits or higher-priced lures like LC's. Or, if you've got a sizeable collection of rods/reels you might think about a nice rod rack.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I've got a few Ugly Sticks on my rod rack right now. My two oldest boys (6 and 9) use 5'6" casting models for bream and catfish. I'll upgrade them when they're able to go fishing without stepping on their rods. I've got a 6'6" Ugly Stick Lite paired with a Zebco Omega Z03 that works just fine for bream. I wouldn't use it for soft plastics or jigs, but it actually makes a half-way decent crankbait rod. It's a little more sensitive, slightly stiffer, and not quite as "whippy" as the regular Ugly Stick.

I usually use 12# Sufix Elite or 30# Power Pro in heavy cover. I picked up two spools of 12# Rapala line from the clearance bin at Target. They were marked $2.48 and each one came with a free Husky Jerk.

I haven't owned the current-generation Procaster, but I have owned a few of the previous Procaster models and the Megaforce. The older Procaster-based reels (like the Capricorn and Rojo) are great reels, built on aluminum frames, with strong smooth drags and good brakes. I'd highly recommend them to anybody on a budget who is looking for solid, reliable gear. The Megaforce, on the other hand, I would not recommend. Mine was noisy, not very smooth, and and the drag required adjustment after every cast. I only used it about a half-dozen times before I got rid of it. For the same $60 you can pick up a discontinued Procaster Rojo, which is a much nicer reel.

Ya they look like they'd be good for soft baits, jig, hook and weights to too, hows bout wire baits? I use a Plano 3503 for my spinnerbaits. It holds a bunch and fits perfectly into a soft-sided insulated lunchbox so I can just throw the strap over my shoulder and go. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_1502____SearchResults

If you want a Crucial, don't settle for a Compre. They feel nothing like a Crucial in the hand.

I picked up a 6'6" MH spinning rod a couple months ago and so far, I like it. I haven't used it all that much, but it's pretty light and very sensitive.

I have three of those things in my tackle box and they've never caught anything but weeds for me. I don't even know why I keep them. I could fit six "normal" crankbaits in the space they take up.

I've never used the PQ rods, but I have three Extremes in my "collection". Two casting rods (7'0" MH, and 6'6" MH Woo Daves worm/jig) and one spinning rod (6'8" ML Woo Daves split-grip rod). They're a real good buy if you get them during the Spring Classic for $59, but I'd pass on them at their regular price of $99. I'm not overly impressed with my Extreme casting rods, but I like the spinning rod a good bit for Trickworms and floating worms. I don't use it for anything else, so I can't offer any info on how well it does with different techniques. EDIT: I caught the one in my avatar on my ML Extreme spinning rod. I was sure it was going to break in half as I was trying to yank the fish out of the weeds, but it didn't.

I think you'll have a hard time finding a better handling or more sensitive rod in that price range. The Crucials are very nice rods for the money and come with a lifetime warranty. They had been Shimano's top of the line rod until the release of the Cumara earlier this year. As far as the ratcheting foregrip, I've had mine for about a year and haven't had a problem yet. I don't even recall having to retighten it.

The "standard" PQ's are about $140 and I've seen the other PQ's on sale at my local BPS for less than $40. Obviously not the same rods.

I switched from Trilene XL to Sufix Elite a while ago and have no plans of ever going back. It's smoother, more manageable, more consistant, and just as strong as XL if not stronger.

Dollar for dollar, they're pretty hard to beat. They're even harder to beat if you do a little shopping around and find last year's models on clearance.

I was going to buy the matching casting rod for $79, but they're apparently sold out now. :'( They're leftover '07 models, so I'll just wait until next spring and buy a leftover '08 on clearance instead.

I've got four BPS rods that have been pretty good so far. 6'6" MH Extreme "Woo Daves" worm/jig casting rod 7'0" MH Extreme casting rod 6'8" ML Extreme "Woo Daves" split-grip spinning rod 6'6" MH Johnny Morris Signature Series spinning rod I'm more of a spinning reel kinda guy so the last two get used alot more than the first two. The JM Signature Series is actually pretty darn nice and well worth the money when you can get them on sale. I paid $100 for mine on clearance, but I'd have no problem shelling out $125-$150 for another one. I think they're currently listed for $200 on their site, which is a bit more than I'd be willing to pay...but they'll be marked down again in a few weeks.

Fine wire hook behind the head and let the barb come out in the middle of their back. Try not to kill them if you can help it. If I can see the bream, I hook them under the chin and leave the hook imbedded in their thorax. The hook will act as a keel and keep them somewhat upright. This is only good if you know the fish will be on them quickly as they don't seem to like dead (or freeze dried) bugs.

I use it strictly for bream fishing, so I stick to live crickets, red wigglers, fresh mussels, and occasionally 1.5" Creme "Spoiler Shad". 90% of the time it's crickets on a #6 or #8 hook, though. Caught this monster on a Spoiler Shad:

I've got a Daiwa Regal 1000Xi spooled with 4lb Trilene XL on a 5' Eagle Claw "Featherlight" rod. The rod was a gift from my mother, the line was in the clearance bin at Sports Authority for $1.50, and the reel was roughly half-price at $22.

It really depends how you fish the cover, imho. I use use 8lb Sufix Elite on spinning gear and 12lb Elite on baitcasters to fish the area in the pic below. The fish in the pic was taken on 8lb Elite and a ML spinning rod. What kind of cover are we talking about? What kind of lures are you trying to use? Are you fishing from a boat or bank fishing?

Unless you absolutely have to fit it into a suitcase or something I wouldn't buy a multi-piece rod. Personally, I'd opt for the cheaper of the two reels and use the difference to step up to an Avid instead of the Premier.

Good advice. The new ones are out so last year's model is on clearance just about everywhere. I just picked up a brand new Symetre 2500FI on ebay for less than $63 shipped.

That sounds about right for this area as well. It would really have to be something special to get more than $1000 for one that old around here.

If you do a little searching you can find the Sahara 1000FB (last year's model) for about $40 or a Symetre 1000FI for about $20-$25 more.