ArcticCat500

Not being a Shimano guy but love my PowerPro and Loomis rods, you've been helpfull and educational, you have also provided us valuable information and resources. I feel the Shimano forum should remain under good will and a price tag should'nt be applied to such info. This should be more of a give and take instead of a "what can you do for me" situation. I do hope you stick around and perhaps come back under another user ID. If not, Good Luck in the future Dan and wish you very best. I will follow up on the other sites. Godspeed Dan Godspeed. Thank You

As a matter of fact I think Steezy does, actuallt I was hoping to grab some of his gear after X-Mas but things arent looking to good, but I sure like that Core

I was considering one of the reels mention to do just this, weightless. But like Raul said, to have one reel for one application with a limited amount of reels, what other alternatives are there? Sorry if Im jacking!

I'm sure there's some truth in there somewhere. Batson carries 100's of blanks, the RX+ being one of their best, if some one's looking for a mid priced rod on a decent blank they've got you covered there also, while the RX7's & 8's may be made in China, like I mentioned before, so aren't better then 50% the rods you fondle on the racks at you LTS I know first hand my customs ARE NOT the "greatest thing ever" but I do know they are an excellent blank and have compared to the many of rods I fished. I do own Kistler, Loomis, St Croix, I also feel the RX8+ is every bit the rod some of those are, I WILL NOT say the RX8+ is the best rod of the bunch, but for what I use it, it certinally outperforms some of my others. This debate can go on and on and unless one has actually fished one then one cant compare it to anything in one's collection.

nice, it sits right along side better then 50% of the rods sold in America. good reading from Bob Batson http://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/showthread.php?t=412316

Show me.

I fish with the 8+'s, I have a few now and as others have mentioned they've been very pleased. These are not to be compared to the flagship rods from Loomis like the GLX, but in a comprable market they are every bit the rod Batson claims them to be. Thats a great USA made blank and you'll satisfied. All you need to do is find yourself a good builder that wont charge you an arm and a leg . I no longer push my rod builder but alot guys in here know who builds for me. PM me if your interested. Heres an 8+ spinning.

Know who makes the RX8 blanks for Batson Ent.?? Primus, Thanks for the kind words on the reel service, when you send the others we will be ready... Been doing a lot of upgrades lately.... Tight Lines!!! Tell me who you think makes the blanks for them. Agreed. A custom rod is far to expensive to select a blank based on hear say, or suspicions. I'm more inclined to have a rod built on a Loomis, St Croix, Rogue, or Lamiglass blank because I have heard of them and fished with them. Rainshadow/batson......NO I haven't. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks this. On the contrary to what some may believe, Batson Enterprises is one of the largest OEM blank suppliers know to date, the blanks they build are often used in the rods you buy, and it wont display the Batson name.

Tin, whatever you do, DO NOT send him a bottle of Autocrat, we'll have a southern envasion on our hands.

Know who makes the RX8 blanks for Batson Ent.?? Primus, Thanks for the kind words on the reel service, when you send the others we will be ready... Been doing a lot of upgrades lately.... Tight Lines!!! Tell me who you think makes the blanks for them.

I for one really like the Rainshadow blanks offered by Batson, I've a few rods built of the RX8+ blank, I find them to be everything my Loomis Mossyback(not GLX)and St Croix Avid is and in some case a little more.

Most of the time when I receive rods through USPS I end up with a card in the mail stating that the package was to large to deliver and I need to pick it up. I kind of like that seeing my wife never really knows when a new rod is slipped into the mix ;D

I received a rod in the cheapest cardboard tube, it was 3 poster tubes taped together, and when it arrived at my doorstep all 3 tubes bent like as though they were on hinges. I slowly opened one end and slid out the rod, surprisingly the rod was in 1 piece. I was amazed, cant explain how, but that Okuma rod made the trip. I ship in PVC only.

Parkers Ranger was smooooth.....

Thanks for the pointers here, I asked Santa for a few in my stocking. What I did notice that the daiwa cover at TW seems to sitting on a Revo ;D

at the risk of spending money on someone who's never seen a fishing rod upclose, I dont think I go over $50. If he likes it he can upgrade later. If you do decide to drop $100 plus in hopes he wont like it and you'll get the new set-up later, but then decides he likes it, screwed again. Just grab him a run of the mill combo, this will work just fine.Rod,reel,line and pliers http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20287&id=0042213121573a&navCount=7&podId=0042213&parentId=cat20287&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=QZ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

a good lawyer will keep the WC adjusters and the insurance companies at bay, I think Steezy can help you with those gear choices

why not a laptop? I was stuck on the desktops til the wife bought a new Dell Studio and I like it. Dells run pretty, my daughters is 9yrs old now and she has no issues, I had an HP n it fried in less then 2years. I'd say Dell, but if you have the extra $$$ go with an Apple, jmo

I can agree with Tin, also being a RI'er and ex-hunter this state is over run. I have pix my wife took of 3 fawns on our front lawn last spring nibbling the shrooms. I have a mere 5 acres, I allow my daughter and her dog to venture out into the woods but come hunting season she and Gunther are limited to the back yard. It's often scarey to hear the gunshots echoing through the back lot.

A smile on my 8 yr old daughters face X-Mas morning, thats enough for me.

booze is always a safe bet, I think we need a booze thread to run along with the beer tread

I read that earlier on a kayak fishing site I goto, while I cant wait to get my new Kayak in the water early spring, I highly doubt I'll be paddleing my way offshore to chase Tuna. Im targeting it towards the LMB n SMB's

not a fan of designer beers, my everyday work in the yard stuff is Coors Light, cheap, light, and goes down good. But my settle in beer is an Amstel Light, Sam Adams, Tuckermans, Heiny Light or perhaps a Corona.

22, dang hot dogs, water down the drain, and that Campbell label. shouda known that, it was the theme in my ex-wife's kitchen, those darn lil kid figurines all over the place >

funny how we look all look at it differently, better then 2/3rds the old hot rod Fords, well they're running Chevy mills. Go figure ;D