islandbass

Thanks for your response, Alpster. Mayby some day for the right price, I'll pick one up. I agree they do look nice.

I don't doubt you but if you could, could you share with us what it is that sets it above the rest? One thing about spinning reels is you seem to get a whole lot of reel for the money, like a symetre for $99 whereas that same $$ gets you entry level gear with baitcasters. The Symetres are sweet to me and so are stradics, and I can only imagine the performance of a Stella. So what makes the Stella stellar IYHO? Thanks! Stella!!!! Stella!!!!! ;D

BAM! That's the way, a ha a ha I like it, a ha a ha! x2 That's how I "roll" (the line) ;D

I'd be fine with the 9, small or large, but a 9 lb smallie? You'd hear me Iaconelli'ing it on the east coast.

I think your worry about the palomar failing is not going to be an issue. It is one of the simplest knots and very strong. I use it for drop shotting myself and have never ever lost a fish because of the palomar. Other than having memory up the ying yang (which doesn't bother me) it is a solid line.

I still think that the line will twist. The way I address the line twist with inline spinners is that I build mine with the swivel on. I commend you on your attempt to think out of the box. That was cool. 8-)

That's the whispering in the ear. ;D Shhh Shhh Shhh Shhh Shhh.... Shimano! ;D @ flippin - How have you been? It's a good thing you don't here that whisper coming from the Stradic CI4. Passed by one at Outdoor Emporium not too long ago and almost walked out with one.

Thanks! I look forward to future reports. I would like to know its approximate lower weight limit for tossing lures. For example, my curados easily handle 3/16 oz and do alright with 1/8 oz. stock. I think it looks pretty decent too.

How do you make adjustments (i.e., reassess your situation) to your plan of attack if you come to the realization that your game plan isn't panning out? For example, if you're fishing rip rap in say 20' of water with nothing to show for it, do you change lure color first, or lure size, or even lure type, or do you move in closer or go deeper? I've kept it generic because I don't want to have any constraints on his thought process. I also wonder if it would be better to first make observations of water and atmospheric conditions and other happenings first. As a bank angler 99.999% of the time, I really think it would be helpful to know, especially without the aid of sonar using equipment. You'll also have to tell him I've adopted his lines, "He just crushed it," or "pummeled it!" I love those lines. The other question I have for him is, "Mr. Shaw, may I go fishing with you?" ;D Thanks, Keri!

Fair question, but my reason is I'd rather be fishin'.

That is a nice looking reel, and way better than that Cabela's commemorative faux symetre. All it needs is a red led and it would be a cylon raider. ;D

That is awesome! Just got done entering. Thanks.

Just a humble shot of my son and daughter fishing this past summer. We were targeting bluegills with floats and night crawlers.

Congrats! You won't go wrong with the FJ. I agree that the Saros beckons when you buy a Symetre.The CI4 starts to whisper in your ear too, but you won't really hear it unless you bought the Saros. ;D

Succinctly put, it seems to be Shimano's answer to the Ugly Stik. Not a put down by any stretch on my part. If you need the durability, go for it.

I have seen the BPS catalogs in local bookstores in my area for years. I don't think that this is anything new. A fool and his money are soon parted anyway.

Don't you know? Global warming causes all kinds of weather phenomena, including blizzards. :-/

I don't see why what you propose won't work so I say go for it. You could also try reversing it such that your set up would be more in line or closer to a carolina rig. Many river anglers in my area "drift" their presentations in this manner. I also agree with JF's suggestion in using pencil lead. There is a special pliers you can buy that can cut pencil lead to the size you choose and poke holes in it. Matter of fact, I can't recall the last time I used a "drop shot" specific weight. Pencil lead for me because it is economical and customizeable on the fly.

Wow, that's a firs, lh only. That's good for me! ;D The black and purple color combination sends a tingle up my leg.

Lamiglas also has a similar thing. However, I think but I might be mistaken, those rods will not be covered by the warranty. They also have an annual event at their HQ selling rods too.

Technique easily resolves this. I am definitely shorter than you at 5'5" and when river fishing (which means fishing for salmonids), I pitch with an 8'6" rod when necessary. Also, done from the shore and not from a boat and no problems or issues. You can tell the non-bass anglers as they get their stuff tangled up in the bushes with overhead and sidearm casts. Then they see lil' ol' me underhand casting nonchalantly. The looks on their faces are like, "Dude, how'd you do that?" ;D

Here is the rest of the warranty info off of that site: $50-Excel, Competitor, G-200, Classic Glass, G-1000 freshwater, Sardina, BFC $70-XMG Bass, XMG Salmon/Steelhead, G-1000 Salmon/Steelhead, Certified Pro Bass, Certified Pro Salmon/Steelhead, G-1000, LGM, Tropic Pro, Tri-Flex Saltwater, Tri-Flex Surf, Kayak, Indian River, Inshore Classics, G-1000 Fly, Spring Creek, and Surf & Jetty $90- XMG Fly, Titanium, Super Surf, Ron Arra and Travel rods Doesn't it make you wonder if this is the REAL cost of the rod and the actual price you pay is two or three times the amount so that they can offer these kinds of warranties. I would rather them offer a one year free replacement warranty and sell the rod for less. Like people have said above: If there is something wrong with it, it will break in the first year. I think that is partially why such are are pricey upfront, to cover that. I could be wrong and I don't have a problem with that. They have a right charge what they need to stay in business and if the market is willing to pay for it, so be it. What perplexes me is how so many anglers demand a free replacement rod especially if they might have been responsible. When we wreck our cars, we don't go to the dealer and demand a new car because "it" broke. I wonder why people do with fishing rods, or maybe we should demand a new car! ;D I can see the sensibility in the one year warranty, in that if something were faulty, it would likely show up in that first year. You know, cracking epoxy, a guide ring falling out, etc. If it breaks after that is could be more the result of angler error then, than faulty components.

Yeah. What freakin' rules? X2 If there were a rule it should be that there are none. I fish how I want. 8-) But I hear the OP. Some people do constrain themselves with self imposed rules.

For "regular" or "typical" dropshotting for bass, people usually choose a size 20 (2000) or 25 (2500). Those reels are a bit on the overkill side and if they hold that much of 10# test, they will hold even more of the 4-8# test usually used in "regular" drop shotting. I'd go with the 30 if not smaller, unless I was going to drop shot deep all of the time.

By going overhead with casting gear there is a point where the rod is vertical and there is slack line and no weight on the spool thus causing a backlash. Try side arm or rolling the wrist. A cast made with the proper mechanics, ie, the angler allows the weight of the lure to load the rod, regardless of the plane (overhand, sidearm, underhand,etc.), will never lead to a backlash. However, I know and have done what you have described. That type of cast, usually comes initially from people who come from start learning to use casting gear that come from a spinning background. Unfortunately, that same "sloppy" for lack of a better term, mechanics of failing to allow the weight of the lure to load the rod properly has absolutely no consequence with spinning gear. You will also usually hear the rod "whip and whiz" passed the ear with an overhead cast well before the rod's tip gets loaded by the lure. Those newbies who don't realize or figure that out are the ones who get frustrated with casting gear and sometimes give up, and I was nearly one until I figured that out. To the subject, I don't have a casting preference. I will make the needed cast to get to the intended target. All of them feel cool to make.