rubba bubba

I would go for the Zillion. I cast weightless Senkos and 1/4 oz drop shot on my Zillions with no problems. The Zillion is one overbuilt reel - it will outlive you.

So H2 - how did your trip turn out?

Is the Albright knot you are using the same as RW's Alberto knot - I have yet to break off at that knot since I switched to it over a year ago. Also, are you tying it so that the braid is the line that is wrapping around the fluoro (for the Albright)? 2 things: - try a different brand of fluoro (same weight rating/line diameter) just to see if it does the same; if so, you know it's not your knot tying skills. Make sure it's a good fluoro (i.e. no Vanish) - try the Alberto knot (if you are using the Albright and not the Alberto)

Most excellent.

Thanks; I used Photoshop.

Seaguar Red Label is very inexpensive and works well. Bpro XPS, when on sale, is also very inexpensive and works well.

It looks waaaay better, particularly with the better guides. What was the original rod?

White matte waterproof vinyl is what dick is referring to and is what I used. I tested clear and it worked but only if it were to be used on a light colored blank (i.e. white). Or if you painted the blank a light color right where you will put the clear decal.

What determines sensitivity is thin-ness of the blank wall and what makes up the material in the wall. Less sensitive blanks will be heavier due to thicker walls and heavier non-graphite blended into the blanks. Pay attention to the light/hollow feeling of the rod - compare a high end to a low end rod and you'll get an idea of what's going on. This assumes you are comparing rods with similar actions/speed.

Not too helpful to the OP looking to make a purchase without having to borrow someone's time machine, dontcha think?

Yes, but can he get the 09 STX anywhere for sub $100 right now?

Thanks for the kind words everyone. Jigfishn - I haven't done a fishnet wrap but do a search out there on what's needed. Decorative wraps are actually pretty easy to do, you just have to find how to start the pattern.

2 MHX's and a St. Croix. The MHX decals I created myself (as the ones from Mudhole are uber-lame) and thanks go to dick for pointing me to some good decal paper that actually worked. The rods are all for me, hence why the handles are all the same.:

Hot glue. The tip top is the guide most likely to break - either the ring failure or for other reasons. You want to be able to slide it off instead of cut it off if you can.

Please leave the spooning action shots out this time...

Casting or Spinning?

Did this one actually get to live?

Was out there 2 weekends ago - (4/3). Cold front and big rain the prior night killed us. The lake was nothing but chocolate milk and we had to be the only 2 on it going for bass. Everyone else was smarter and going for crappie.

Was down there this past weekend. - water temps in the mid-50's to mid-60's - water is dirty - lake level is low; all of the break-walls are out of the water - fishing was very slow this past weekend; we struggled. Tried everything: jerkbaits, wiggle-warts, enough plastics to open our own store, spinnerbaits Caught a couple on JB's, WW's, and associated dinks on tubes and jigs. Nothing of size was in shallow water (behind the docs or up against the beds). That should change dramatically with the temps in the 80's this week and more of the same next week.

Get one of each at those prices and see which one you prefer. If you don't want to keep 1 of them, you'll be able to unload either for pretty much what you paid for them.

He wants to improve the Revo S, not downgrade it.

The build looks excellent, well done. I have built 2 843's: 1 on the MB843 and 1 on SJ843, but made both casting rods. I cannot tell the difference between the 2, even though the MB843 is rated MH, but the SJ843 is M (and different lure/line ratings). I'd say they are both a little faster/heavier than a MF SCIV (LTB) blank.

Work it like you work a plastic worm or a shake head. Slowly lift/drag. Pause/shake. Lather, rinse, repeat. Use the same rod angles that get you success with a plastic worm.

:) :o Buy all of them and sell them in the Flea Market.

Where would he store the Megastrike.....