islandbass

I would believe that many people including myself use the Palomar Knot. There is a knot that Aaron Martens uses that I would like to try but I can't recall the name of that knot. Hopefully someone can fill us in. As for the hook size, you will get a number of suggestions. For general, open water/ not too much cover areas, I prefer to use size 2 (mostly) owner mosquitos or gammy split shot/drop shot hooks as a first choice, and if no other choice sizes 4 or 1 of the same hook. I will either nose hook or wacky rig the bait. If it is grassy that will lead to grass filled hooks, I will use some sort of mini EWG hook like the owner downshot and T-rig the bait Tex-sposed.

I checked their site earlier today and the XMLs are no longer at the $29 price. :'( Also, only one model of the Magtouches is still $49.99.

???? I can fit several 6'6" to 7' rods in my '91 Infiniti w/ room to spare. For me, it's not an issue of fitting in my car (Corolla) because you are right. They fit easily. The challenge is that while they fit, they will be exposed in full sight and plain view to every would be thief if not hidden in the trunk. I might be anal, but I WILL NEVER ever leave my rods in the car exposed even for a minute. The price of having to going through fixing a broken car window and replacing stolen fishing gear is one I'd rather not pay. Granted, they can be stolen from the trunk, but they will have had to do some serious breaking to get to and loss of those rods is far easier to swallow. The purpose of my two piece rods are to serve me as "trunk" rods that stay in the car to fish on the fly, pardon the pun. It is on the weekends I that would bust out my one-piece rods.

you can always call. Raul points out the encryted thing rod makers do. You can try to figure out their nomenclature or call. the latter is easier. As already stated, a rod's action describes how the rod flexes while under load. The closer the rod's flex point is to the rod's tip, the "faster" it is. The closer the rod's flex point is to the rod's butt, the "slower" the rod is. This description of action does not readily clue you in on a rod's lure weight range or its power. For example, I have an extra-heavy powered salmon rod that is rated for 3/8 - 1 3/4 oz and it possesses a moderate (fast) action. You can probably find an extra-heavy flipping rod from company x that has a similar lure weight range, but that bass flipping rod is probably going to have a fast action.

Let me state first that there is nothing wrong with your desired method to fish. Matter of fact, that is exactly how they fish in my wife's hometown, with line, hook, and hands, no rod. All you need is an empty 16 oz coke bottle (plastic) to hold your extra line and use the drop shot method. Swing the line as you would a lasso and aim toward your target and point the bottle in a position that allows the line to pail out by the momentum of the line being lassoed out. It is actually a blast to fish this way. You will learn quickly that our hands and fingers are more sensitive than other rod out there. As for bait, use whatever you want. Real bait would be a great choice, like worms or fresh shrimp. Any soft plastic could work too.

First, welcome!!!! I can tell you that the Curado can easily handle 1/4 lures, and without issue. I can't speak about the other two choices because I have never casted them. For your needs, the Curado is more than capable. I don't have the E but I have Ds, and even a BSF and they have handled species bigger than bass for me, particularly big salmon. No problems. They ought to handle stripers easily.

If it seems to nearly bird's nest during the cast but corrects itself, that is usually the result (from my own experience) of a certain section of line that is loosely placed on the spool. No matter how hard you throw it, it will almost seem to bird's nest through this section of loose line, but, once the spool gets to the line that is more taut relative to that loose section, the reel seems to correct itself and perform as usual. If this is the case, all you need to do is ensure during your retrieve that the line lays back onto the spool with some tension. Also, lures are not equal in terms of castibility even if the weight the same. It isn't necessarily the weight if they weigh the same but their aerodynamics. A 1/2 oz. popper will be less hassle to cast than say a 1/2 oz. double bladed spinnerbait.

One other thing. Try not to use your rod and reel to free a snag. That is a recipe for potentially breaking your rod. Also, if you have to yank the line, do so at an angle to your left or right. That way, if it flies out of the water, it will never hit you, unless you move into it.

I called my local cabela's and they are already flat out of all their mag touches. However, I asked if I could avoid shipping charges by having it shipped to the store and the guy said yes, so that is what I will have to do. Glad I did. It saves me the 45 minute drive and shipping costs. You might want to call your store to make sure they have your model in stock.

Alright!!!!! The model I was looking at is back at the $49 price!!!!! Thanks, Wees! Looks like your bait monkey sent a PM to mine. ;D

wees, I want a two piece for the convenience of keeping the rod in the trunk. I never leave my one piece rods in the car exposed for thieves to see when my car is unattended. I do not think a 2-piece casting rod is bad at all and I have a few. I am going to check to see the price of the discount. Thanks! The loss in sensitivity for 2-piece vs. 1-piece is there but IMHO insignificant and negligible for my fishing needs. I mean, for me, even an ugly stick is sensitive in my hands. ;D I think your bait monkey is telling you it's time to pick one up.

Is this the one with the graphite handle? If it is I can tell you that they feel good in my hands. The handles feels on the "skinny" side, but that is probably because I have been accustomed to the feel of cork. This thinner feel will suit medium and smaller hands. I feel like a fool for not buying one at $49 when they went on sale back in december. I would have gotten a 2-piece casting rod. They also look great. I think our fellow member ghost could throw in a couple of thoughts about this rod.

You 're talking about POWER not action, two different animals. In layman 's term Power = stiffness ( line and weight capacity ), Action = where the rod bends along it 's length. I mean action. For example if a rod has a lure weight of 3/8 - 2 oz that means the action is probably extra fast. But what is 3/8 - 1 oz? or .5 - 1.5? or 1/4 - 3/4? That is not necessarily true. You can have two rods with the lure weight range of 3/8 - 2 oz and they can have different actions. The rod's lure weight range alone provides no clue to a rod's action.

It's Ron Popeil, baby. Set it and forget it. ;D I am willing to bet that you haven't changed the number of brakes as you have them set. I too had this "pre" concern. After time, I realized, I never changed the brake setting any where near how I initially thought as you do now. Only extreme conditions would dictate me to have to change from 2 on and 4 off.

Buy yourself a PVC tube long and wide enough to accomdate the two piece rod of your choice. Buy some pipe insulation to protect your rod and some foam (or sponges) for both ends of the pipe. You can get endcaps but strong duct or packing tape can seal the ends. Write your name and cell phone number on it. You CAN bring it as a hand carry. Now, when you get on the plane, do not load it in the upper storage until most folks have thrown their bags up there. Then put yours up or ask the flight attendant to help you find a spot. Be nice and they will gladly help you. This is what I did, but I did it with a thick card board tube from a shipped rod. I would have gone the PVC route, but couldn't get to home depot in time. Your rod will be safe. Mine made it with me all the way to Mexico, and international flight. A 7'6" two piece should be alright on a DC-10 sized plane. Mine was an 8'6" two piece. No trouble. Bring your rod with you. Mind you this was Alaska Airlines. It wouldn't hurt to double check with your airline to see if they have certain requirements, but I imagine they would all be the same if not similar because they need your business. Good luck! 8-)

Nice story. Started feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Too bad you can't post pics. Thanks for sharing.

Sweet! Nice release. Perhaps a little jelly with your PB, sir? ;D

Google or any other search engine would be helpful: Best match Rapala: The world's favorite lure...since 1936. www.rapala.com Rapala, the inventor of the balsa fishing lure. Rapala now manufactures 26 lure types, fillet knives, pro-designed tools and accessories. Customer service 800-874-4451 I bet you can get their mailing address be calling the number above.

Man, it that is terrible work, I would gladly take it off of your hands. ;D Paint jobs look mighty fine to me. 8-)

Ours closed too and was replaced by a store called Warehouse Sports or something like that. I would call to see when is their final day. Why? Because a common trait in these going out of business sales is to remark their prices if they were lower than MSRP to the MSRP price and give a discount which percentage would bring the price back down to their original price. It's a slick trick that fool many an angler but you can't fool a amateur mathematician like me who can see the trick a mile away. ;D

Of course you can. If there is anything you ever learn about fishing, it's never ever limit yourself to certain techniques because of where you fish. Don't box yourself in. If I limited drop shotting to only when I fish from a boat, I would never have tried it because I am permanently shorebound. In addition, drop shotting is not relegated for only "deep" water. No way Jose. Here is an excerpt from a piece I wrote about drop shotting. It is my closing paragraph: ..."Review of the (my) 2007 Season The Drop Shot technique has been so effective for me even though it is my first season learning and using it. It has accounted for 100% of the smallmouth bass and about 70% of the largemouth bass I have caught this season, and I caught a lot, the most ever!!! And here is the thing that makes this even sweeter. They were all caught from the shore. No, this is not a testament to my skills, but a testament to the effectiveness of the Drop Shot technique." So there you have it.

It looks like you answered you own question. 2-piece rods definitely make it convenient for travel. The pro is convenience. The con is a two piece isn't a one piece. The only thing that can potentially be irritating is the occassional time the two piece might become misaligned. Other than that there is not really other cons of consequence. As for the loss of sensitivity, it is negligible. You won't miss anything with a well made 2-peice from a reputable company like St. Croix. I fish with my two two-piece rods more than I do with my "true" 1-piece bass rods.

Congrats. You are definitely going to be addicted to them now. Nice smallie too.

Yeah, that is funny to an extent, but I would have intervened after he helped her, perhaps because she is an old lady and I would not have wanted my grandma to get misled like that. The reel and rod are not easily compatible and on those grounds alone I would have stepped in. I would have at least told the lady that so that she could make a better decision. I have jumped in to help if I saw the floor person wasn't versed in that type of fishing (eg, floor people know salmon/steelhead stuff and not bass) and have helped folks. The floor person has always been grateful. How's that for an introvert! ;D

That is most likely the result of those rods being abused by stupid idiots. For its price the cherrywood rod is a great value. I have a 7' spinning rod that has served me very well. Matter of fact, my dad insists on using it when he visits and won't even touch my Lamiglas Certified Pro rod. To each his own. Barring manufacture defect, the cherrywood or any other rod will serve you just right.