Big Bait Fishing

Batson's blanks used to all be made in china (most still are ) but some of the newer ones are made over here . people ought to remember that they produce a lot of blanks for major rod companies , which ones they can't divulge but it's a lot ...

i think Sunline got it right , line does not fuzz , super thin but very strong ! i'm using SX1 in 10 lb. and it's working great . i just spooled some 20 lb. 832 on my baitcaster last week , seriously thinking of changing it out for 30 lb. SX1 ..... really not interested in trying the new TX & BX lines , as i don't like coatings on the line that stick , like 832 seems to do .

you want bigger worms ? try some Upton's worms !! he makes 13'', 16'' , & 20'' worms plus a 17'' paddle tail worm ... http://www.uptonscustoms.com/products.htm

check out the Phenix X9 blank , rated for lures ( 1/8 -7/8 oz. ) blank only weighs 1.8 oz. !!! probably your best bet for a spinning crank bait rod ... if your wanting a beefier rod check into the X10 & X12 blanks

you'd be stealing them ....

he is most likely talking about the Patriarch XT which does retail for $249 ....

try some 8 lb. Izorline XXX in smoke color , blends well in clear water , very strong , very managable with hardly any memory .

braid - Sunline SX1 Flouro - Toray Super Hard Strong , Sunline Sniper , Sunline Shooter Metan Green Co-poly - Gamma ( only use co-poly on my swimbait rod ) mono - never used it .... Izorline XXX copoly is your best bet for a strong managable line

it will not disappoint ....

i like the concept of his shakey heads ( enraged shakey head ) wish they came in lighter weights ( 1/16th & 1/8 ) i would replace the spring with an Owner CPS spring ...

you really ought to try out some different brands of braid !!! power pro was the best 10 years ago , now there are many braids that have left it behind . power pro gets fuzzy and picks up silt , debris , and a good amount of water on the line ! i know your hand gets soaked when you palm your reel !!! try some 832 , SX1 or SX2 or even some Smackdown , get with it Wayne

been using Gamma torque braid , very soft like samuri and also been using 832 , but just spooled up some Sunline SX1 and i love it !! doesn't get fuzzy like power pro or get somewhat sticky like the 832 . think i'm gonna get a few more spools as this braid has all the attributes i've been looking for , if you haven't tried it yet , you might want to give it a try

i must say that the bottom hoppers are very good , durable , tail floats great and they are cheap !! pretty impressed , gonna buy a few more packs

i also do not like foregrips as they serve no purpose to my style of fishing , i don't have one on any of my rods including my swimbait rod , i use a low profile baitcaster for my swimbait rod ( St. Croix Legend Tournament Big Nasty 9' Heavy/Fast ) and can palm it ( Revo Toro 51 )

i use the braid to flouro for my spinning set up . i use a 15 ft. leader of 6 lb. Sunline Sniper tied with a double uni to 10 lb. Sunline SX1 , i use the Sniper for the benefit of that it sinks and takes the bow out of my line even though the SX1 is VERY thin it still will cause a bow , i like a long leader for this reason . I stick with the double uni cause if cinched tight , it gets nice and compact which i need to pass thru my micro guides .

the have a new name called Super Sticker , they are sold as handle kits only , pretty hard to come by , Anglers Workshop used to carry them , maybe give them a call..

the first gen stx has a straight handle

the Lews handles are swept ones which won't work with a gen 1 STX unless you change out the drag star to a swept one . Mikes reel repair sells a nice carbon fiber handle that will work ,,

for those of you who have never fished one , they are absolutely fantastic reels !! they are super light , very smooth drag , and reel ultra smooth . i fish a 9525 ( 1000 size ) it weighs 5.6 oz.!! and i love this reel , i really am considering buying one as a backup . .

i was using that blank as an example , blanks range anywhere from $15 - $400 or more , for a jig rod where sensitivity and good backbone matters , i would choose a good blank over a cheap one , maybe look at some RodGeeks blanks ...

Phenix Recon 2 7'4'' MHF blank - $100 guides, reel seat , handle material (full cork) , & hook keeper- $ 50 - $65 build cost - $100-125 total cost around $ 250 -$ 295 you'll get a rod that will be tailor made to your specifics and you'll absolutely love to fish it ...... once you start with a custom rod , you'll never buy an off the shelf rod !! i never will .......

the guides they use on those rods are not that small as you should not have a problem passing a line connection knot . if they had true micro guides ( 2,3 , or 4 mm ) you would have to use a main line or a slim knot , even a uni-to-uni knot should pass fine with the microwave guides ..

why don't you have a custom rod built with the exact grip material you exactly want

get it from TW

i have them on my casting rods with micro guides and will always continue to do them for future rods . i even have my big swimbait rod spiral wrapped with micros . i only use American Tackle Artus Heavy Duty Micro Guides on my casting rods as they are very stout in the leg area and are a little higher of the blank compared to a lot of other micro guides , as for a spiral wrap i like a small stripper guide ( size 5 BLCAG Fuji double footed low rider guide ) followed by by 3 transition guides , casting rods get size 3 guides , my swimbait rod has size 4's. i find no problems with spiral wraps and to me they make working a bait and landing a fish easier , i just couldn't see using a spiral wrap without micro guides . yeah , i love micro guides !! even have them on my spinning rods ..