SoFlaBassAddict

Welcome! Make sure you check out the Southeast Forum. Bunch of fellow Foridians post around here.

Lol. That's fantastic. Anybody have one of the twins phone number?

Was wondering where you'd been, Catt. Glad to see you back around buddy.

I pretty much fill mine up to the bevel on the spool and call it a day. Never had an issue doing it that way.

Next time our schedules match up; I'll let you take it for a test drive, Mike. I was very surprised with it. I liked my other paddletail rod, but this one blows it off the water, quite literally...

I throw a bunch of different plastic swimbaits. Some hollow, most are solid plastic. Generally I'll fish something with a boot style tail (skinny dipper, big ez, roboworm ez shad, etc) in dirtier water, or thicker grass. I'll use something with a more natural swimming motion (LFT magic shad) in clearer or sparser cover. For the most part a MH or H powered rod and braid are all that I need. If the water is very clear, I'll throw on a fluoro leader in the 17 to 20 pound range. As far as hooks go, I use an Owner Beast keel weighted hook 90% of the time. If I'm in just open water without much to get hung on, then I'll switch over to a traditional swimbait jighead like a big hammer hammer head or something similar. Match the hook size to the bait and toss it out and bring it back.

I've got for more rods and reels than I can ever use on any given day, both freshwater and saltwater. Call me a collector. When bass fishing, if I'm in my small boat, I'll usually have six or seven. If I'm on somebody else's boat, I try to limit myself to five rods.

Same for me. 20 pound has never given me a reason to change. Add a leader where applicable and your good to go.

X2 Great budget spinning reel. Love mine.

So after waiting for several months, the new Dobyns Champion 804C's have arrived. After watching the prototype video on TW, and speaking with Richard and Gary, I was sold. I placed my order around the end of December or early January and just sat and waited. After the container with the rods got into the US, they were then held up by Customs for a while. Then the long holiday weekend held up my shipment another couple days just to torment me. Was totally worth the wait though. Now, the rod is named a Carolina Rig Special, but it is definitely not limited to that. It's a great multi use big rod. Lighter flipping, swimbaits, alabama rigs, big spinnerbaits, etc etc. I bought it primarily to use as a soft swimbait rod in grass. I can honestly say, it may well be the best rod I've ever used for that technique. You can absolutely launch a paddletail into the stratosphere with this thing. I was using an 1/8 ounce Owner Beast and a Gambler Big EZ today just playing around with it, and was blown away at how far you can throw it. The nice long handle on the rod definitely helps out with casting. It has the power of a 745, with the length of an 805. It really doesn't feel like an 8 footer in your hands. Balances right at the winding check atop the reel seat with a Citca 200E. For you guys that like fishing paddletails and other soft swimbaits through heavy grass, you really should take a look at this rod. I really wish I had bought two of them.....

Dobyns DX 744 for footballs Dobyns DX 745 for heavier cover Dobyns Champion 736 for straight up nasty stuff

PANTHERS WON THE DIVISON!!!! Don't care about the rest of the teams. I'm jacked that after all these years, there is going to be a division title banner hanging in the BAC.

100% fluoro is more sensitive. There is no questioning that. It is a much denser line. With that being said, Yo-Zuri is still plenty sensitive enough to use for bottom bouncing techniques. If fluoro was a 10, Hybrid would probably be a very strong 7 or an 8.

I'll put it to you this way, any knot can cut into itself if it's not lubricated, wrapped properly, and cinched slowly. You said you've used fluoro for many years, I'm going to assume you know that heat is the enemy of all things fluoro.

A properly tied Palomar has yet to fail me for most of the fishing I do. I've experimented with other knots, and most of them have worked just fine. Whatever knot you end up using, spend the time and learn to tie it properly instead of worrying about what everybody else says you MUST use for this and that.

I'm single. I get to buy what I want unlike you married suckers!! All joking aside, buy what you want to buy. I never will or have looked down on somebody because they use less expensive gear than me. I've got a handful of 300 dollar plus rods. Do I enjoy using them more than my cheaper rods? Yes and no. I enjoy fishing period. I could be using a Cuban hand line spool and be perfectly happy. That being said, I can certainly tell the difference between my higher end gear and my lower end gear. Use what you want to use and what you can afford. Each person is different. That's why there is such a huge range of choices in equipment to buy. Instead of worrying about the price of something, invest in its quality. To directly answer the question from the thread title, I'll pay whatever I feel comfortable paying for a certain product.

I was getting ready to post this myself. Very sad to hear it. I had the pleasure of meeting him and fishing with him on several different occasions. He's one of the people I respected most in the fishing community. Rest in peace, Jose. Hope you find that giant Tarpon waiting for you up in heaven.....

Dobyns 705CB Glass Shimano Curado 200 DPV or Shimano Citica 200E 12 pound Yo-Zuri Hybrid or 14 pound Flouro

Awesome, Gene. Just awesome. You get a gold star for proper translation.

For the guy on a budget, or just somebody who wants to be a little frugal, both of those products are a fantastic bargain. I used PQs for a long while before upgrading to other reels. I still use XPS fluoro. For the cash you're spending on it, it's darn hard to beat. Keep your eyes out for sale on the XPS fluoro. Frequently you can get it discounted, or a buy two get one free deal.

Exactly correct. Just another invasive species to Southern Florida waters. Fun fish to catch on light tackle. Supposedly not a bad fish to eat either.

Dobyns. Everything I could ask for in options, service, and a great stick. Love them.

I don't even wear Phins jerseys down here in Miami anymore.......

Not much different than I do right now to be honest. It'd be cool, but like my man BIG said, More money, more problems.

Try asking Steezy. He's got, oh, one or two.