ghost

Got the Symetre 2500 w/ a Cabelas Prodigy spinning rod combo a couple months ago. It was on sale for $160 for both...not a bad deal! I've used the Symetre a few times & it's very smooth, very similar to the Saros I have. Only thing I don't care for from this years Symetre from last years is it cost $20 more & it does not come w/ a spare spool.

I color my braided line w/ a black Sharpie, I use the wide Sharpie & I put a slit in the middle. I was also bothered that the smell of the Sharpie would keep the bass away, but it's not the case. After a few casts, the smell eventually wears off. If there is any residue, the bass don't seem to mind. I still get lots of hits w/ re-colored braid. Check out this thread I wrote, look at the pic & the line on the spool. That's red colored braid from Power Pro, I colored I guess the first 10' of line w/ a black sharpie. I caught that bass on a SK Anaconda, so as I said the bass don't seem to mind it, I caught 2 bass that day. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1241559841 I color the braided lines on my b/c & spinning reels. I sometimes do this also after I color braided line; I'll use a 1/2 oz practice plug & cast out on my yard when the grass is wet or when it's moist. I'll make numerous casts & run the line in the grass, this helps get the strong smell off the braid. Most times I'll just head to the lake & start fishing, starting w/ cranks or a lure that I can reel in quick. Doing this will also get most of the marker smell. Then I'll go to a slower presentation like a worm & jig, see if I get bites....& I do.

I bought a couple myself, just waiting for the water to warm up a bit more. I've already caught a few bass on poppers & spooks. Just waiting for the weeds to pop up on the water surface to use the Bronzeye popper.

Big Rick Rolled, check your IM

Finally had a chance to try out the Strike King Anaconda & it delivered! I caught only 2 bass this morning & this was the better of the 2. I didn't have a scale on me but I'm guessing this bass is around 2 1/2-3 lbs. Thought I hit a rock but realized on the second thump it was a bass. I set the hook & the bass headed for the surface & did a real nice jump for me to see how big it was. It pulled some line too! I also finally had a chance to try out my new Daiwa Zillion rod I bought in December w/ a 7.1:1 Zillion b/c reel(bought that last year). Had the Zillion reel needed the 6'9" MH Zillion rod to compliment it. The Zillion setup w/ 30 lb PP braid & flouro leader worked like a charm. The Zillion 6'9" MH rod is more of a stiff than a MH. That's okay cuz this will be my jig/worm rod w/ occasional 5" hard jointed swimbaits. Back to the SK Anaconda, I was intrigued w/ this worm when it first came out. It does have alot of action, but not sure if paying $6 for a pack compatred to Culprits is worth it. Sure do like to try new things & see how they work though!

I may be getting this reel tomorrow, I'm thinking of getting the size 20. It's rated for 160 yd/6 lbs, you think I can put 8 lb line on this & have no problems w/ casting lures? I want the smaller size than the size 30, that thing feels big & much heavier too. Any of you guys own the 2009 Catalyst spinning reel? What are your thoughts about this? I'm not looking at other mfg's I have those already. I don't own a Quantum spinning reel though. I do have the 2009 Catalyst b/c reel & that's a pretty good reel for the price.

That's interesting, the lure weight range on the 6'10" MH is 3/8-3/4 oz. To me that more like in the heavy jig/frog type of weight range. You know the Boyd Duckett 6'9" MH I have is also a MH & it feels softer in the tip, not as stiff as I expected. I gotta see what techs will be good w/ this rod besides being a worm rod.

I won a Gold 6'10" MH last week. I received the rod & well the shipper, a company shipped it very micky mousey. It was boxed in 3 Fed Ex triangle tubes, all taped. Well it arrived in not so good condition. First the first 3-5" of the tip was sticking out of the tube & the paint was chipped & the first guide the epoxy was chipped. I totally complained to the ebay seller of their crap shipping method & how the rod arrived. Even the UPS driver that picked up the damaged rod mentioned the driver at their end should not have accepted the condition it was shipped. Got word just a bit ago that a new Gold Carrot Stix 6'10" MH is shipping today & packed in a PVC tube. So I should be getting this new rod next week & will have a chance to try it out. I'm going to hold off naming this ebay seller cuz it seems that they have done the right thing...but if the rod is not perfect or damaged I'll mention who they are. So on a side note, how are the new Gold Carrrot Stix anyways??? Any of you have the 6'10" MH baitcast rod if so how is it for jig/worms, crankbait, topwater, swimbaits? Is this a good all around rod or more a particular tech rod? I noticed the first one I had that for it being MH, it didn't feel all that MH to me; so I'm thinking that it should be a good all around rod. This would make the 5th Carrot Stix in the lineup. I guess I like em...

I'll agree w/ the Citica E or Revo S...but the Citca E is $10 less than the Revo S...I bought the Revo S when it first came out a 3 years ago for $100 new, not they are $130 & the body style or anything else about the reel is still the same. I'd like to also throw in the 2009 BPS Pro Qualifier(PQ). I have both speeds in left hand & believe it or not, it's a very good reel. It has dual braking, so I see this as something easy for a beginner baitcaster to set & not get as many backlashes as a b/c reel w/ centrifugal braking or magnetic braking. The PQ has both those braking. The centrifugal braking for the initial cast & the mag braking for the end of the cast. It weighs as much as a Revo S & feels quite compact, not wide like the Citica E. Another reel to look at from BPS is the 2009 Rick Clunn model, it too has dual braking but weighs in about an ounce more. It has a blue non-slip paint job on it. Also these BPS model reels are on sale now & much less than the Citica E or Revo S. Another thing I like about either these 2 reels is it has a swept handle. I really like the Citica 201E I have but the only complaint I have is it feels wide, almost feels as wide as the Daiwa Advantage I have. This isn't really a problem but it does not feel as compact to me. The BPS PQ or Rick Clunn feel more compact side wise, but are just a bit tall like a Revo S.

Original Lightning rod & the Shock are 2 different rods. The Shock have oxide guides while the original has chrome guides. Also the Shock has a softer tip to accomodate braided lines, which it was meant for but you can use mono also. The rod blank has line ratings for both braid & mono. I had the 6'6" M b/c rod, didn't like the trigger on the rod, it felt it curved too much for my liking...but that's me. I do have the 7'6" ML spinning rod which I really like. I can whip out lures w/ this rod using braid...haven't tried using mono w/ it.

I bought the 6'3" M spinning rod. This rod to me feels more like a MH & that's good. The other 6'3" rods I've tried out weren't exactly what I was wanting in action, more of a M. I want to use this rod for dock skipping so a MH action rod is perfect for this length. I did have the 6'10" MH baitcast rod, I liked it but it did feel heavy & tip heavy. I switched it out w/ an XMLTi & it's just a bit lighter but more sensitive. Overall I think the XML are very good rods & well worth it when on sale...which doesn't happen too often during the year, same goes w/ the XMLTi.

BigJohnny, check your PM

Yup, Dick's Sporting Goods carries the Amp Rods. I got the 6'6" & 7' M baitcasters. They are quite sensitive & I like the price! I agree about they are good crankbait rods, also I will say baitcast drop shot rod too. If you have a reel w/ braid the action of the rod would be good for weightless worms. I wish the Dick's Sporting Goods store carried the 7' M spinning in 1 piece, not 2 piece...I'd be all over that rod!

I know the TT & Spro & similar jointed swimbaits in the 4" or so size have wake/slow/ fast sinking models while the Sebile Magic Swimmer is a slow sink. What I am curious about these jointed swimbaits are, are these all technically wake baits??? Even though they sink, even the fast sink ones; they come to the surface quickly or eventually. I know that you can also use them as a jerkbait. So that's the main purpose is of these swimbaits are to be a wake lure? Does that hold true for the soft paddle tail swimbaits like the Yum Money Minnow & the likes?

Finally a straight answer from ***.com forum: 2009 Kistler Helium LTA Question -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've heard/read that the 2009 LTA's have a made in China sticker on the butt end of the rod, can someone confirm this? If this is the case, then these are made in China, not in the U.S.? Why then does the rod sport an American flag if it's not made in the U.S.? Or what does this mean w/ the made in China sticker on the rod, does it mean that some parts of the rod are from China & built in the U.S. or what? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Their is a American flag located at the base of the blank, just above the fore grip. The rod components are made in China, the components are then shipped over to the United States where they are then assembled/handcrafted. TW Staff

I got the big buzzjet model in frog color. Now when I've tried this lure out, it doesn't seem to run straight. It sometimes dives to the side or it seems to not have any action. I've tried a slow retrieve & medium & fast, it does what I've said w/ the weird swimming. Is this how the lure's suppose to work? On the video about the lure on ***, it sure doesn't seem to be doing that. What am I doing wrong, or how can I correct this?

Scroll down to the last post, this is the reason I'm asking: http://www.tackletour.net/TTForums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=39125&start=0

I've read on another forum that the 2009 LTA's have a made in China sticker on the butt end of the rod, can someone confirm this? If this is the case, then these are made in China, not in the U.S.? Why then does the rod sport an American flag if it's not made in the U.S.? Or what does this mean w/ the made in China sticker on the rod, does it mean that some parts of the rod are from China & built in the U.S. or what?

What do you guys think??? http://www.***.com/descpage.html?PCODE=SKSSW

No left hand model so Pfluegers loss my business. I would like to add a Summit or the new President, but no left hand model.

SO who makes the XML &/or XMLTi blanks??? I hear Loomis makes them or it's a Crucial blank for the XML...this is starting to sound like an URBAN LEGEND! All I know that they are made in China.

Shortbasser, where can I get another $10 off for anothre XML rod??? I have "room" for one more rod.... :

I bought the 6'3" M spinning rod yesterday. The XML are on sale for $70-90 right now. I'm going to use this for dock skipping...so just wanting to know if you own this rod how do you like it. It seems to be put together nicely w/ very good components, it has Fuji Alconite guides & the one I have has split grips.

Who owns & use this topwater lure? Any good & is it worth $30??? I like the concept that it's 4 or 5 lures in one, depending how you have the mouth on the lure set. http://www.***.com/descpageMEGABHARDMEGABTOP-MXPOD.html# I won the GW Fire on ebay for $16.50 w/ shipping. I can deal w/ that price than $30...I may have to add a feathered treble to this, that should add a little bit more "pizzazz" to this lure.

I would vote for the Crucial also, but....I've read & seen broken tips on Crucial rods. I'm glad it has a very good warranty but it seems to be a problem w/ the Crucials. I own 4 Carrot Stix & have not had any issues of them breaking. I think they are very light in weight & very good sensitivity. I have 3 LTX, 1 b/c parabolic & 2 spinning rods. Also have a 6'9" MH Boyd Duckett b/c rod.