The_Natural

Have you seen the new X-rap size 12? I saw it last night in the new Bass Pro Catalog, and thought about you.

I agree. Balsa baits are more expensive to produce versus an injection molded bait, and I feel the production costs of a Rapala are right up there with the Japanese baits. Lucky Craft produces a balsa Sammy,and it is $22 versus $15 for a regular Sammy, with the only difference being the wood.

Academy is a sporting goods store that is dominant here in the midwest; there really aren't any stores around Oklahoma or Texas that offer variety or selection that competes with Academy (sporting goods, not necessarily fishing tackle). Basically, if Academy has it, you should buy it from them versus Bass Pro or Cabelas. They have great sales and clearance sales as well.

Their brush hog is equivalent to zoom's, and I will be using their beaver style bait as a jig trailer (same claws as a the paca craw). The big bite Senko is like any other knock off, which is not the original. Other than that, their baits are a tremendous value. They also have a trick worm that is identical to Zoom's.

There was a thread very recently about the live pointer; you may look it up. My answer is short, so I don't mind giving it again. I think the regular pointer is simply better, and it is the bait you will see the pros using. The live pointer should be worked with quick, shorter jerks to produce a swimming action.

I've got a variety of heads, and have been experimenting with different styles. One of my favorites has been the Bass Pro finesse football jighead. I have only used it a handful of times, but like the way it is performing.

Vanish has quite a bit less stretch than Ultra Soft, but it is also a little bit stiffer. I would say castability of Vanish is right in-between Ultra Soft and regular Hybrid, but Vanish is also less visible. I grew up using Trilene XT, and while softer lines are a little more forgiving when you cast; I honestly don't mind memory, and enjoy the benefits of stiffer line.

The 100b is smoother under load when compared to the 50mg, and obviously holds more line. I don't think the extra bearing content is the reason for the smoother cranking power of the 100b; I just think all my aluminum framed reels feel more buttery smooth under load versus my magnesium framed reels. As said, the 50mg is as tough as any reel on the market, don't let the 'finesse reel' mentality of the 50mg hold you back from using it for heavier applications. I have 4 of the 50's, and use them for all my jig and worm rods, and even use one paired with an BCR874 for Carolina rigs. They all have 15-20lb line on them, and the drag is more than adequate.

Me too. I love my 844, but as you stated, the 3 power is much more versatile (Loomis's #1 seller), and the reason Tackle Tour uses it as a base for their rod comparisons. The first year of the Kistler LTA, the '04s, were built on Rogue blanks. In '05, they went to Batson, whom makes all their components for them overseas, and then the rods are assembled in Texas. Most Helium users claim the more parabolic action of the Rogue blanks were better, and I think if you were to ask custom rod builders like George Roth if they would rather use a Rogue blank or a Batson; the Rogue would be preferred hands down. Rogue blanks are notoriously great blanks to build custom rods on, and I can't see a reason other than cost as to why Kistler outsourced to Batson. Kistler did start to put flanged guides on the '05s, which is a very basic guide quality that should have been on the '04 Heliums.

If you're fishing with a 60 million modulus rod you're fishing an Extreme. The Bionic Blades are IM8, 45 MM rods. I really can't say you'll see any appreciable difference in the Elite St Croix rods and an Extreme rod. As someone who sells rods and reels and test drives some of them I haven't noticed a great deal of difference in sensitivity once you get above say the 54 and 60 million modulus rods. Once you start buying rods higher than that you're paying for name recognition and a warranty you'll probably use because those thin walled, uber sensitive rods break. They also don't tolerate any kind of abuse and I mean even slight abuse. As for reels, as reel mech says, one you get above 5 or 6 bearings you're not gaining anything but price. There are quite a few reels out there for the $80-100 mark that will serve you well for years. Get into the $150 range and you're at the top of the scale in functionality and reliability, above that mark and you're spending way more money than you need to. I'd much rather spend that extra money fishing rather than having ultra expensive equipment. I respectfully disagree with your opinion on rods. I went from fishing Shimano Compres to Loomis IMX's, and the difference was indescribable. That first day with my new IMX saw me setting the hook on nearly every cast; my hands were receiving feedback from tiny limbs, pebbles, and even bottom medium that they were not accustomed to. The Compres are IM8, yet weren't even close to the IMX. I also purchased a Shimano Crucial (IM9) at the OKC tackle show after I had a few IMX's, thinking they would be similar in sensitivity, and I could save some cash. I sold it after a week. While it was a great rod, and sensitive, it still wasn't comparable to the IMX. The modulous count of a blank isn't the only thing to consider; the strain and bonding resin used are just as important as modulous, and contribute to the overall sensitivity, behavior, and durability of a blank. High strain, high modulous graphite doesn't have to be fragile; the IMX proves that. I do agree that the sensitivity a $100 rod with braid is right there with the $300 rods, but I don't like braid. What is crazy to think about is the fact that Loomis's IMX and GLX blanks are over a decade old in design, and still considered the benchmark for rods released here in 2007. The crossing point between what you need and what is just a luxury probably lies in the middle rod market, and anything above that you are paying for a little less weight, and a little more sensitivity, but you probably aren't missing bites. Oh, and about the thread title...the rod is far and away the most important link between you and the fish.

I only have a few in the gold shad, and none in the natural shad. Backwaters has the Flashes on sale currently; you might check them out.

Looks good...All my rods are Loomis except for my two spinning rods, which are Avids. I just couldn't replace them; they have caught hundreds of bass and I don't feel they lack anything.

The 843 is on the lighter side of a medium action rod, and I have found the 845 to be a lot more versatile. I'd rather have to throw 1/4oz baits with the 845 than try and throw a 1/2 or 5/8oz crankbait with the 843.

I don't think I've ever seen that color...looks pretty good. I also use the original Bill Lewis traps, but the LV is just my go-to deeper water trap.

Catt- you should check out Lucky Crafts LV500max, which is a 3/4oz bait that is the size of a 1/2oz bait. It runs deeper, and would prevent you from kneeling and reeling. I use the 500max in prespawn on main lake points and ledges, and go with the standard LVR's when hitting pockets. Mad Craw (red craw) and Chartreuse Shad are my go-to LVR colors in the stained water I fish.

If I could only drop $100 on a reel, it would be the Daiwa Advantage.

As said, the 782 will work fine for crankbaits, although a casting setup would be better.

I like heavy line for buzzbaits and walking baits, and go with 15lb CXX. For poppers and chug bugs, I think heavy line can impede the action, and go with 10lb CXX. I read an article by Hank Parker a while back, and he said he got smoked one time, because he was using 12lb line to throw is buzzbait, and his partner was using 20lb. He surmised that the heavy line allowed the buzzbait to come up faster, and ride higher on the surface. A nice little trick is to coat a couple of feet of line in front of your bait with chapstick, which will make your line float high and prevent your bait from digging.

Looking at your current setups, I would also suggest you go with the 844. Your next rod thereafter should definitely be a Loomis CBR- an 845 is what I would recommend if I could only have one.

Sweet! It is definitely peace of mind knowing you are fishing with the best. Is this your first high-end setup? With an elite combo, even on slow days it is just a pleasure to fish with. I remember when I purchased my first Loomis/Chronarch combo, not only did the weight and feel of the combo blow me away, but I would grin every time I looked down at what was in my hand.

I saw those recently as well, and I'm sure they will be effective. I have a few of the DD Pointers in each size, and also stock the Staysee, but I mostly fish stained water, and the suspended fish aren't quite as deep, which leaves me throwing the standard depth jerkbaits 95% of the time. I'm sure the guys that fish the clear water lakes will be buying a few- I know the Staysee is a staple in the Ozarks on lakes like Table Rock, Bull Shoals, and Beaver.

I'm not a huge VMC fan, although I know Lucky Craft outsources most of their hooks through VMC, with the exception being the Slender Pointers which Lucky Craft went with Daiichi (hence the higher price I imagine). The standard Lucky Craft hooks appear to be a 4x hook, and VMC doesn't offer a 2x or 4x treble hook that I know of. The closest thing I have found to standard L/C hooks are the Daiichi 4x, followed by the Gamakatsu 2x and 4x. Just FYI, 2x trebles are twice as strong by utilizing a heavier weld and heavier gauge wire, followed by 4x, which is about quadruple the strength and gauge of a standard treble. The heavier gauge of the 4x hooks hold their point significantly longer than a standard treble. As 5-bass stated, the Sure Sets are more prone to snag, but should be fine for open water. I use the red Daiichi 4x trebles on all my baits, and they are available in 100pks for $23.99, which is a substantial savings over paying $5 for one of the 8 or 9 hook filler packs.

You might try your X-rap again in the spring after a cold front, or when the fish are shunning other things. I have found the X-rap to have a much more erratic, wider darting action than Pointers, more like a slender pointer. Have you tried the Slender Pointers?

Another option is to just wear a trash bag, and buy a bunch of Lucky Crafts with those gift cards

I don't stock colors like that in soft platics, but when you think about it, bass readily eat chartreuse and other bright crankbaits, so I guess it shouldn't surprise me that soft plastics would be any different.