The Yankee Fist

I own my own business thank you and buy American because I WANT TO not because of some dictum written by an idiot politician. What do you think of how those people are treated while they make your cheap stuff? Cut a finger off and back to work when it's patched, yep. I have a friend who owns factories in China and he runs a tight ship and has seen MANY unpleasant things in other factories there. Did you think of that or just your precious wallet and screw the 8 year old that got whipped for screwing a screw in wrong on your POS reel? My buck my butt. Move to China, maybe Zimbabwe, somewhere nice like that. Ignorance and myopic views are hardly sustainable today. Look at the big picture not just YOU.

Good for you supporting your country. I applaud you for not just realizing it's a "global store". If all of us did that maybe demand would increase domestically and manufacturing would flourish again. If you take the time there are MANY American products you can still buy inexpensively that we all need...socks, t shirts, jeans, boots...all kinds of stuff that everyone can use and guess what? Yeah, they last LONGER than the other crap. Examples this year for me: Red Wing boots...my aunt retired from there in 1981...I still buy them and may only go through 5 pairs in a lifetime. Lucky Brand and Levi's US jeans...the material is SO much better and so is the fit. Underarmour socks> 20.00 for 4 pairs, probably last you YEARS. I bought Loomis rods....the GLX has guides made in my state no less than 20 minutes away. Right now, I am wearing a made in the USA T shirt I bought for 8.00 that says "American to the core." Eagle claw hooks, USA for the most part. Lures made in the USA. Guns...Colt, why, in my state. Nice new M4 and M1911 WWI repro. I could go on but the point is, even the most financially strapped family or individual can still get the necessities American made....fruit and veggies from your local farmer maybe? Get off the cells while you shop and pay attention. I'm really partial to Shimano reels because my now deceased stepdad took me to my first fishing show and bought me a Shimano in the very early 80's and it's still going and well, Japan has been pretty fair in their trade dealings with us for the most part and let's face it, Shimano's reels are damned good and just fantastic if they are Japanese made. The reasons I don't care for the Chinese products is their government's unfair trade/labor practices and the bulk of the crap is junk and being rammed down our throats cheaply while US made products are made WAY more expensive for the Chinese to purchase. I hate this we all have to get used to being "global" ****. I won't. My wife just lost her job of 18 years to India thanks to corporate greed. I'll pick and choose carefully when buying thank you.

I hope so, the GLX warranty replacement arrived today..which surprised me because my order was not slated for shipment until I think next week....they confused the IMX with the GLX and some wonderful human made sure they shipped mine out this week. I am now going to freeze it in Carbonite, don't try to stop me. ;D ;D ;D ;D

I got to shake alot of rods at Cabela's last night and those were the 2 brands I looked at most...just my impressions here: St Croix has very nice build quality and nice tapers. I did like the Avids better than the Legend Tment and the LE for some reason. They felt good and seemed well thought out as far as a simple, conservative high quality rod goes. Tickss on the GL2 and is pretty damned close to an IMX....a little less stiff and tapers among comparable models had the IMX being a little quicker feeling and a little more rigid and the IMX *may* have a touch more sensitivity. St Croix's handles are very nice too. The whole rod was very nice and I can clearly see why people like them so much. Shimano makes really nice stuff, the Crucial is a REALLY NICE feeling rod...Cumara is too...I think overpriced on both ends..why? okay, they feel JUST like the other expensive Chinese rods such as the top end Cabela's and the other offshore sources so you can get close to the Shimano for less cash. Still though they have a nice feel, well built and look nice but lack a little something next to the Avid but I can totally see why people like them and I wouldn't hesitate to buy one at all. Both mfrs produce good stuff but I still liked the Avids best overall for that price point. Just my 2 cents.

I've never used those before but throw them anyway...I'd like to hear how they do for you. I'm always on the hunt for new baits.

Well said. Split up the time, you'll enjoy the memories later on.

Not RW here BUT.... ;D It works great for me in rocky rivers and lakes. If anything, you'll end up retrieving alot of lures with bent hooks and sliced hands before abrasion will get to that stuff. I love that line. My fav "new" gear by far and I must thank RW for that advice. BTW, the 8/12/15 variants are good too. Just a great line.

Or, go for the gusto after saving up and get a premium roundy round like a Calcutta TE?

CT, Very few people have ever posted bad Loomis cust. service experiences... what specifically happened to you? Flechero, I'll pm you when I get home tonight so I don't derail the thread's original intention. I shouldn't have posted that at all here...I'm a tad ummm....."frustrated" ;D

Shimano reel guy. Always have been..Japan made models only. Was on my way to being a "Loomis guy" too but I am finding out the hard way that rumors of their customer service sorely lacking to be true. So for rods, I gotta go BPS. Have 5, aged 15-26 years, none have ever failed.

6'6" Bass Pro ML Micro Lite and Pro Qualifier PQ20F reel I bought as a combo for like 70.00 15 years ago. It ain't ever broke, heck, I never broke a rod before in my life and was there when 650.00 worth of Loomis rods broke Monday and left me with that. I thought about giving that rod and reel to a friend who needs a rig like that but not now. No way. I wasn't embarrassed about that old ML, I was embarrassed for the Loomis rods and absolutely thrilled to throw another 65 bucks at them so I can get one for this weekend. Hey, I did the research, knew the warranty, no surprises and love the hell out of them I just didn't expect to have them both break in one day. I am though seriously reconsidering my next purchase...I may go less expensive so I can just go to Cabela's and get a new one. I was ready to dish out GLX/Calcutta TE 200GT dough...well, I still have to get the reel I think. But the rod? Hmmm.....not sure. My bud had no problems with his Ugly Stick though and could have went to freaking Wal Mart and got a new one in between fishing spots if he broke it. :

Ya know, I checked out a couple of sh type rods at Cabela's recently and there was a pretty good deal on a model......I think it was an TI XM something or other and it was like 90 to 120 on sale....it was a really really nice rod for the money. I don't really have any technique specific stuff because I'm mainly being a goat to get to the fish and versatility is what I have to do but those rods were really nice..Don't know what you wanted to spend but figured I'd pass this on.

I'm sure that will work great. The important thing is learning control with a baitcaster and the less crap on the reel the more control you have to apply(thumb use, cast control and brake settings). Select line carefully(match it to your combo) and cheaply(backlashes/birdnests are common at first) at first too. Sounds like a great combo but maybe check basspro and cabelas as they may have a same money better rig deal at one of their "MEGATHON" sales. All I know is that reel is LIGHT years ahead of what I started with....an old ABU roundy and I still prefer round reels to this day. Have fun!

Love them GL fish.....I go to my buddy's cabin up above the Georgian Bay area and man, the smallmouth are huge, angry and teeming.

Wow! Nice fish! :)

;D There are snakes up there for sure...everywhere actually....bait ;D ;D ;D

It's on it's way!

That's a largemouth for sure. :) Didja eat it?

Given budget was no limit would you choose the Carrot Stix over all other? If so, you have the VERY BEST rod you will ever need or want and that's what really matters.

SQUAWK: " Flight E21, you are cleared for landing on the Gold deck. Over." SQUAWK: " Roger that control, following orange markers." I am SO sorry guys, I had to..... :-/ :-/ ;D

Hmmmm....let me say this from a complete newbie's point of view. There is no offense meant. There are cheap rods and they all feel the same within their price point. There are slightly more expensive rods and they all feel the same within their respective price point. There are step up rods slightly more expensive and they all feel the same within their respective price point. As we get to the middle upper end they still all feel the same within their marketing ploy. I must have checked out hundreds of rods this year and most felt the same..some a little different but basically like they came out of the same factory with the same thick finish and different hardware. When I finally got a hold of the top end...IMX, other brand equivalents and above I started to realize what the hoopla is all about. It's the quality, the feel, craftsmanship and then when you fish them you really know. I guess my point is, it doesn't really matter what make, if it's in your budget and works well then it's the perfect rod for you, hell it was for me for many many years. Only, and only when you get to the cream of the crop do you really "feel" a difference amongst the brands and the separation from the others is quite apparent....even to a newbie. No sense fighting over what basically all comes out of the same factories in those price points.

Hey man, no sweat. I know how it is. Too many choices and options within those choices today even within the same maker and ranges.

like i said, ive fished them a ton......in the store..........lol. let me ask you, what brought you to buy a Carrot Stix or any other rod/reel? the feedback on this forum is probably 100% responsible for me not buying some gear and 60% responsible for the current gear i have. i dont have to use them on the water, some boys i respect a ton did that for me. thanks guys!!!! What the hey is probably???? It's internet for "probably" or maybe a drawl in print. Now get with it will you? ;D ;D ;D

;D ;D ;D So true. At least I have that going for me. ;D ;D ;D

Okay, northern shallow lake. That's pretty much what I fish in for largemouth where I am and that timber/weed structure is what we have too. Heavy pads and weeds too. I'm thinking a mh Loomis will not do it for me. I think a 4 power would though and that's where I'm leaning for having one rod mostly from the help of RW and others since I'm new to today's rod specifics. Loomispeak: From only my own limited experience: I think 2 power to 3 power bass rods are close enough for me to overlap 2-4 powers than to have a 2, 3 and 4. This is the rationale I've kind of come to keeping 3 main rods. It would be a GLX like my Bronzeback spin rod only casting. Casting reels and rods have nads and that's what I need in those lakes. I do wish I could try that 5 out though...just for fun.