The_Natural

I'm not going to open up all my boxes, but here is my stuff. The first pic is of my two bags and the other 3700's I have in rotation. I just select boxes condusive to the trip I will be going on, and I usually just take one bag. My closet contains my back. The boxes are 3741's, which are 4" deep 3700's with no dividers. You can kindof see inside the first row of boxes. You can squeeze about 40 bags of plastics in each one. Here are my Loomis rods (and two Avid Spinning rods) Here are my three Steez rods that are new this year... Here are my reels... My Alphas after Ize' lightweight spools w/ tuned rotors and Ceramic bearings...

Real Magic is simply pure silicone spray. WD-40 has silicone in it, but it actually has a few other lubricants in it that leave residue. This makes WD-40 a better lubricant for door hinges and the like, but not line. I realized immediately after I purchased and used Real Magic exactly what it was...it behaved exactly like the Clearco High Perforamance silicone spray we used on our meat slicers when I worked in a kitchen my freshman year of college. Silicone spray is a superior lubricant, UV protectant, and plastic restorer. The cleaner and dryer a silicone applies, the higher quality it is. I went on line last year and visited Clearco's site, and you can order directly from them, but you have to buy a case at a time. The folks at Blakemore are making a killing selling 4oz of high performance silicone spray for $6. You can buy a case of 16oz cans from Clearco for around $50. The 'High Performance Silicone Spray' or 'Ultra Dry Silicone Spray' are the ones you would want. Maybe we should go in on a group buy... http://www.clearcoproducts.com/food_grade_aerosols.html

Reel Magic is indeed silicone, but you have to be careful with the grade of silicone you buy. Walmart carries CRC silicone spray, and it is a good silicone that is food grade approved, but it does leave a little more residue, or 'greasier' feel versus reel magic. Ideally, you want a high-grade dry silicone, and there are a couple of brands that can be purchased online. Clearco is probably the best commercial brand you can buy, and they supply industrial food manufacturers for use as a mold release. Clearco sells to the public, but you have to buy a case at a time. I plan on doing so here soon, because I also love reel magic, but don't like paying their ridiculous price for it.

I like a medium-heavy rod with a fast action. I utilize two mbr843 Loomis glx's as my spinnerbait specials, and I couldn't have a custom rod built that would work better...I think they are absolutely ideal. I don't feel that you need the glx series for adequate spinnetrbait fishing; it is the rods action and power that are key. An mbr843 in GL2 through GLX would work fine, but I would recommend the IMX for great all-around light weight and sensitivity that could be utilized for other techniques.

I have 2 rod racks that I purchased from bass pro I use. There is one of them in the pic below. They were oak, but I painted them black to match the decor in our house.

You ought to try Cabelas No-Vis, a.ka. Seaguar Carbon Pro, or Cabelas new No-Vis Extra, a.k.a. Seaguar Inviz-X. I love the No-Vis, the the No-Vis X-tra or Inviz-X stretches waaay too much. Bass Pro's XPS is very good as well, and available in bulk spools. I do like Vanish as well, and think it has an undeserved bad rap.

...and Daiichis (on the Slender Pointers). I use the Daiichi 4x trebles, and have found that the 4x trebles hold a point longer due to their thicker gauge wire. I purchase them in 100pks, and this saves me a ton of money versus spending 5 or $6 on an 8pk.

+1 I'll just change it up a hair. He is right on for crankbait fishing; you want a moderate action rod, while letting bait weight determine rod power. For drop shot fishing, you generally want a softer rod to utilize a 'lift' hookset technique...similar to crappie fishing with jigs. C-rigging generally requires a long, 7ft+ heavy power rod to accomodate the sweep hookset that is needed to take up the proper amount of line you will have out on those long casts. For jigs, your rod should be powerful enough to handle heavy line, pierce a heavy gauge jig hook through the roof of a bass's mouth, and horse a large bass through or over cover.

I feel Loomis is the best rod manufacturer. Not only did Gary Loomis create the high-end rod market with the Loomis IM-6 over a quarter century ago, but they continue to offer the widest selection of technique-specific bass rods on the market. The Loomis GLX graphite is still the benchmark of bass rod graphite, and it was introduced over a decade ago. I will say the Steez rods by Daiwa are lighter and balance as well as my GLX's, but they do not surpass the BCR in sensitivity, and the Steez lineup is abbreviated. When you consider the aforementioned attributes, it's pretty amazing the GLX is still at the top.

I'd drop a hundsky minimum. The Daiwa Excelor is a value-packed reel for $59.99. It utilizes the hardbodyz frame and digigear technology found on their more expensive reels. Pair that with a Shimano Clarus for a pretty decent combo for $120.

Pointer 100 in Chartreuse Shad...

I have 3 of these I ordered a year ago during his Christmas special. They are ok, but not in the same league as Brian's Bee's or the WEC/Zoom custom cranks.

Fluoro that is softened for main line use stretches just as much as any other line. The last test I saw had Pline CXX, Yozuri Hybrid, Trilene Sensation, and Stren Original stretching less than Seaguar or Pline fluorocarbon. Fluoro is still a more sensitive line due to its density, and I also pitch with it because of that and it's light refraction properties.

Well, it's a Pline product, so you know it will be quality 8-). It will take quite a bit to make me change from my CXX though...

I know the link by heart ... www.stores.ebay.com/fatfishfarmer

Yes. I'll throw it in the Summertime when I am also throwing B2's, and BDS 2's.

I use a BCR 893 for pitching plastics, and a BCR 803 for casting and swimming plastics. I pair both rods with Mg50's and 12-15 fluorocarbon.

Excel lasts the least amount of time of any mono's, but it's so cheap you can afford to respool often. Fluoro lasts longer, but not as long as some people claim, like a full season. I've tried every fluoro under the sun, including FC Sniper, Gamma, and all the lower end lines. I will still change my line in no more than a month. Fluoro is more impervious to UV rays and water, but nicks and abrasions happen, and the moment I sense any I respool. I still use and love fluorocarbon, and the fact I prefer shallower spooled baitcasters makes it a little less costly on me when it's time to respool.

As said in the post right above mine, I've held the Cabelas XML's and they feel amazingly light and balanced for the price. The Fish Eagle II is on par with the Extreme, and may be a little lighter.

I have a 6ft spinning rod, and have a 6ft casting rod on my wish list. I'm looking hard at the Steez 6 footer. A 6ft baitcasting rod is ideal for walking-the-dog and working hard jerkbaits. I use my 6ft Avid spinning rod for hard jerkbaits most of the time with 8lb fluoro. Also, I like a short rod for swimming paddle tail worms and jigs.

A lot of people use them, but don't mention them . There aren't a lot of 2" baits that can legitimately get down to 10ft, and suspend.

This is the first I have heard of them. Are they similar to the Jackal 'Mask' series in that they have a soft body over a frame?

It is one of my best baits in the prespawn, with water temps in the 50's. They are durable, have decent paint jobs, and glass eyes all for a bargain price. I just change out the hooks and I'm good to go. I stock the Texas Shad, Tennessee shad, Fire Tiger, Craw, and blue/chartreuse. I feel it is one of the better, least talked about baits.

I can't believe you did it! I obviously don't know you real well, but I know your persona on the board, and you are a smart and skeptical shopper. What happened to you also recently happened to me with the Steez rod. You have been overcome by an intoxicating condition called technological superiorty complex. Symptoms start when an angler simply asks to hold a reel or rod, and becomes drunk with its superior technology and refinement. High-end Daiwas are like Ferraris...and you just bought the F50 8-)

Loomis MBR 844c IMX...$180 from fat fish ($260 retail) http://cgi.ebay.com/G-Loomis-Mag-Bass-Rod-MBR844C-IMX-New_W0QQitemZ230083548575QQihZ013QQcategoryZ36149QQcmdZViewItem