The_Natural

Yeah...not quite to that extreme...but I do have my merits .

It may be borderline OCD for me (I've actually been diagnosed with that before). I honestly can't buy just one of a given rod or reel. I have to buy two. I have to have at least two matching combos. So all my reels an rods are in multiples of two...6 TDZ's, 2 Pixy's, 2 Alphas, etc. I just bought two Revo Premiers, but could have bought one last month. Could have bought ONE...that is key. I had to wait until I could purchase two . With crankbaits...3 is the magic number. Even if I have never fished a crank, if I decide I'm going to buy it...I must buy three. When I fish a tournament, I also have to totally strip down and shine my entire arsenal in-between tournament days (during two-day tournaments). I have to feel fresh, clean, polished, and ready to go. Pretty weird. Do you all have any quirks?!

I use fluoro for jigs and worms...basically all my Loomis BCR's. I use the Trilene Pro-Grade. Everything else gets copolymer...including my spinnerbait, crankbait, and other moving bait rigs. Pline CXX to be exact. So I'd say I'm running about a half and half mono to fluoro ratio. I change my fluoro as often as my mono. Fluoro is impervious to UV rays and heat, but not to abrasion. In many instances it isn't as abrasion resistant as a good copolymer. Therefore fluoro gets knicks and cuts that could lead to line failure. I fish about twice a week and change my line once a month. Twice a month if I'm fishing rough areas.

We need to quit hearing about this 'third person'. Anybody who spends money on equipment like that should be posting on the forum with the rest of us tackle junkies. Guide him this way...

That plus 12 and 15lb when the time arises. CXX is the Jack Daniels 'Straight Up' of the line world, if that makes any sense

It really is hard to tell, or 'judge' how far you are casting. As long as you feel you are getting a good cast you should be good. Too long of a cast can result in botched hooksets as anyway.

I'll add...those that routinely use Zoom Flukes...you should give the old original 6" Slug-go a try. I guarantee you will catch larger fish...

6" Slug-go in Watermelon Shad. The Slug-go still kills for me...I don't leave home without them. This is a bait I don't mention much, but is one of my go-to's.

No... but sometimes it just happens to be a coincidence . I use Pline CXX for copolymer (not the most expensive), and Berkley Pro-Grade for fluorocarbon (one of the most expensive). You generally get what you pay for...that old saying generally rings true.

For cheap cranks, I like Bandits, Berkley Frenzy medium and shallow divers (haven't tried the flicker shad), and Bill Normans. I have to say, the Berkley Frenzy divers have a 'searching' wiggle that produces great results in cool prespawn water. I have one tied on right next to my more expensive cranks. It's all about the action...not the price.

7'6" Heavy Power, Fast Action (flippin'/pitchin) 7' Heavy Power, Fast Action (pitchin'/plastics) 7' Medium Heavy Power, Fast Action (spinnerbaits/chatterbaits/all-purpose) 7' Medium Heavy Power, Moderate Action (Crankbaits) 6'6" Medium power, fast action (jerkbaits/topwaters)

Being a crankbait rod, as long as it is a moderate action rod you can't go wrong. Buy one that you like the feel of. That being said, the Loomis CBR's are the lightest crankbait rods out there, and the most sensitive (as far as dedicated crankbait rods go). Neither of the afforementioned qualities are essential for crankin', but I enjoy the attributes.

I laughed so hard when he started throwing out buoys ;D 8-) "Gotta mark my spot!"

This stuff is the best fluoro to hit the market IMHO. Super soft with amazing abrasion resistance. You'll swear you bought Trilene XL by mistake... I ponied up for two 2,000yd spools (12 and 15lb), so I am set for a while. Try it...you won't be disappointed.

I think so, but obviously not in everyone's budget. I am referring only to the IMX and GLX line, as I feel their are better options in the lower priced Loomis products. I feel lucky to be in a hobby that for $300 I can buy the best rod fishing companies have to offer (IMHO of course). My brother is in to photography, and you'd have to pay 8-10k for a top-of-the-line camera and the accompanying lenses. When I think about that...my combos just don't seem that expensive.

I hear so much about this line it is ridiculous...everybody that uses it loves it to death. They claim is has no memory, is strong, and abrasion resistant. Somebody on here just needs to buy it and give a review.

Seems like this fella might know something about it... I didn't know Muddy was involved in Casting Kids! Way to go Muddy! ;D

See, I am one that changes my fluoro as often as mono. Fluoro is impervious to UV rays, but not to nicks in the line and abrasion from structure. I generally change my line every few outings (say every 4 trips)...I base it on the way my line feels by running my fingers down it. I buy bulk spools of fluoro and mono, and most of my reels don't hold very much line, so it isn't costing me that much to enjoy that feeling of fresh line. Am I the only one that loves that feeling of fresh line? Good stuff!

I don't own one, but they feel as light as an IMX if you compare power. Loomis Stated the graphite was in-between IMX and GL3, which is kind of a turnoff, but the rods do feel good in the hand.

Jig + a GY Flappin' Hog is a close #2.

I haven't tried 8lb CXX on my spinning gear...but I routinely use it on my casting gear. I have (2) 6'8" Croix LT's that get paired with Team Daiwa Z's with 8lb CXX, and I also alternate it with fluoro on my bcr852/pixy combo. I'll say on my 852 combo...it doesn't matter what fluoro I use...they are no match for the CXX. CXX is the Jack Daniels 'straight up' of fishing lines. It is a no-nonsense line...

Spoons...I should have known. I was too lazy to google all those unfamiliar baits. Shame on me for assuming they were inline spinners! Spoons are sooo much better! As big gay Al on South Park would say..."Spoons are super-fantastic!"

Raul is the most loved Mexican in my vocabulary second only to Taco Bueno! ;D

First off...this wasn't necessarily a 'catch', but I caught a 2.5lb spot in a tournament in '05, and he spit up a Gene Larew craw in the livewell that had swollen up waaay beyond its normal size. I don't think it was a hawg craw to begin with...the plastic was very gelatin like and you could tell it had absorbed a lot of water and was old. I'm not sure how long the plastic was in the water or how long the bass tried to digest it. Here is a pic..... Here is a frog that pounded a lizard..... I could have caught this snapping turtle several times...he was near the bank and chased my jig every time I retrieved it. Look at the claws on this guy! My cat doesn't have claws that big. I wish the bass were as interested in my bait as he was...

8lbs pretty much even. My biggest last year was 7.4lbs...