Big Bait Fishing

that why i only fish with custom rods , i couldn't find a rod with a handle i like , especially in swimbait rods , all their handles were too short ! that why i love St.Croix , Phenix , Batson/Rainshadow , etc .. who offer blanks to build on so you get a rod that is just what YOU want ...

i know they are not, just think there are blanks just as good if not better than the blanks that Shimloomis NRX rods are built on ...

get a needle oiler

it's up to you to decide what's best . i used to run braid on everything but my swimbait rods till recently , just switched over to Sunline Sniper on my baitcasters and spinning reel , still use co-poly on my swimbait rods (Izorline XXX in golden green )

what size micro guides are you talking about ?? i have 3.5's(Fuji BMKOG) on my spinning rod and even the albright knot will get hung up ..

if everybody likes Gloomis , why doesn't people buy NFC blanks and get the their dream rod made exactly how they want it ??? are the NFC blanks just as good as the Shimloomis NRX's ???

i really don't care for cork and deffinitely don't care for full grips , i have all my rods built with minimal EVA rear grip and an EVA tapered butt cap . three of my rods from left to right - Phenix m1 7'8'' spinning rod - 16'' rear handle Rainshadow 7'10'' XMB 944.5 - 16'' rear handle St.Croix 9' Big Nasty - 18'' rear handle

i'd have Huddleston make a 10'' & 12'' ( wedge tail , not the old boot tail) deluxe in rainbow trout !!!

what's going on with the cracked cork ??? forgot all about it till just now , i went to a tackle shop the other day and was looking at the NRX's and noticed the cork on one of the rods was split , i might go there tomorrow and i'll take a picture of it , still blows me away that the Gloomis brand loyals would still buy these rods ...

we do !!! i'm gonna go fish

don't laugh , but i still have a 7' XH original Carrot Stix sitting in the corner of my room ,it's been retired for about 7 years

i bought a 40 size reel and finally got around to fishing it on a 7'8'' Phenix M1 ( MX-S78M-B ) custom with micro guides , i must say this reel is perfect , anyone else using one (the reel ) even in different sizes /

a Carrot Stix or a NRX ??

you have to remember that '' Dottie was obviously sick before she died ,and she was dead longer than a day , she turned gray , that doesn't happen in a day ... that fish did weigh 25 lbs. , that's a fact ...

sponsors pay big money for their pros to use their specific product , it's advertising ...

good point , i would assume fishing for smallmouth in deep water , the go to rig would be the drop shot for suspended smallmouth

ive always had great success with the improved clinch , it's the only knot i use besides a palomar knot for a drop shot hook and using a uni-to-uni knot to join two lines .

return it , there is no excuse for that , if it were my company , i'd be awfully embarassed ...

just to clarify my comment (to everyone's humor ) i've read a lot about the NRX problems , from all the breakage and lack of quality control , it is exactly like the carrot stixs years back . the Carrot Stix were super light and sensitive but then a lot of them started breaking . i totally understand brand loyalty , but come on, if this were another brand name , for all the problems and super high cost , the company would be flammed to a crisp !!! people can make all the excuses they want but the cosmetic flaws , reel seat failure , and rod breakage for $ 500 - $650 is incomprehensible . brand loyalty is sometimes blinding .....

try the Owner wacky hook (green ones ) in size 1 or 1/0 , depending on bait size

yup, super light and break often...

video on Mend - It - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VfaoCiR98Q

best bet is to go up a size with the Sniper , 16 or 20 lb. for laydowns should do you well , 12lb. is a little light for fishing structure .

call up Abu Garcia's service center and ask for Sonny , he will be able to hook you up with the gear ratio that you want if compatible for your reel . Abu Garcia has outstanding customer service ...