Iowa Matt

Caught hundreds (likely thousands since they're my favorite fish!) of whites on the following: St. Croix Avid 7' UL Shimano Stradic 1000 6lb fireline or 5lb powerpro Love the whites! Matt

X2 KVD = Jimmy Johnson..........complete domination because of relentless planning, correct decision making, and total execution.

Just my $0.02, but I was kinda put off by the volume (audio, not physical........) of the new guy. I watched most of the weigh in on ESPN.com and was amazed at how loud that guy can yell! I understand its a tense and exciting moment, but darn he was deafening when I had the sound up high enough to hear the fisherman. I had to turn it down for him and up for the contestants......which got a little annoying. I think he did a fine enough job as a host, just needs to tone down the screaming a little.....you can be intense without shouting all the time. Matt

Man don't I know about how expensive the winters get! Thanks for the pic of all the Steez rods! I have really really been thinking hard about a Steez Megatop for the PX68R.........I think that rod would really be awesome with that reel on top. Matt

Literally, the day after ice out on the bay where this was caught. Main lake still had some ice. Caught two like this in the same spot and both were fairly aggressive. March 27th of 2010. Matt

Some nicer weather this week has me really hoping that open water is only a month away........so I took a couple pics last night while I was playing around with my tackle in the basement. Casting reels PX68R Core 50Mg7 Calcutta TE 200DC Citica E Curado 200 E7 Zillion 6.3 Pluton 200SH Black Max (always thought they looked sweet!) 2 x Revo SX Calcutta 50B Spinning Reels Stradic CI4 1000 Stella FD 1000 Stradic MgFB 1000 Stradic FI 1000 Stradic FG 1000 Sustain 2500 FE Sustain 2500 FD Rods Some St Croix, couple Loomis, couple Shimano, couple I made, and a Carrot for flavor....... Matt

Bought this one in December and can't wait to try it out when the ice melts! I have used Sustains for several years and been very pleased with them. I am certain that this one will be no different. I really prefer the look of the D model to that of the new E model and got this for $380 on closeout. Seems like I am about the only bass fisherman that likes the 1000 size more than the 2000, 2500, 3000 sizes and many times that means that I can find some good deals. Matt

I use an SWBR903C for the majority of my swimbaits and am extremely happy with it. I would absolutely go with the 3 power instead of the 5 power if you intend on throwing lots of baits under 3oz. I use mine primarily for Spro BBZ Jrs and 5"-6" soft shads. It isn't enough rod for regular sized BBZs or River 2 Sea Kong sized baits. It also makes a fantastic rod for general pike fishing and for large topwaters. Matt

I always wanted one of these (the D model is the best looking IMHO) so I was a bad boy and got myself one that came in a couple days before Christmas. Got my wife something equally nice to match so I didn't feel too guilty...... Now only 3 or 4 more months of ice fishing before I can put this one to use...... Matt

Thats a Spro BBZ Jr in Sexy Shad pattern. Pike have been my favorite fish my whole life and if I could ahve just one lure this one would be it. The fast sinking one is more versatile than the slow sinking most of the time. Matt

I find medium to large swimbaits like the Spro BBZ, BBZ Jr, and River 2 Sea Kong are very effective nearly any time during the open-water season. Matt

I have several of each (Avids and Cumaras) and think they are both excellent. I like the fact that the Avids are made in America instead of China, but the Cumaras fish sooooo nice that its easy to overlook it. I think the choice for me (if I had to choose one of the other) would come down to whether I preferred a traditional cork grip or a split foam grip. Its not trivial, most folks come to prefer one or the other. Also, I seem to be the only person that really likes the Cumara hook holder. I am a huge fan of the Avid, but IMHO the CI4 is a little light to really balance them well, but feels amazing on a Cumara (I have one on a 6' 8" ML Cumara). I really like the regular Stradics and Sustains on Avids. Matt p.s. the best part is you can't go wrong with either!

I bought a G. Loomis SWBR904C for medium swimbaits this year and really like it. Its 7'6" so a little shorter than the Okuma. I know its not "technically" a swimbait rod, but I used a 7'2" Shimano Cumara MH for a year to fish 6" soft swimmers and Spro BBZ Jrs before I got the Loomis and it worked pretty well. Matt

Here is the most recent pic I have of my most used bass rods. The lineup has been added to slightly in the six months since I took the pic. The Calcutta 50 is now on a 7' M Cumara for small cranks and the 7' Loomis now has a RevoSX for spinnerbaits. My favorite new addition for this year is also not in the pic........will try to add it later. Its a Loomis SWBR904 with a Calcutta 200TEDC that I use for throwing mostly Spro BBZ1 Jrs. GL2/Calcutta 50 (small cranks/spinnerbaits), E21/CiticaE (larger cranks), St. Croix LTB Dropshot/Core50 (minnowbaits/topwaters/shakeyheads), Cumara/CuradoE (football jigs), Cumara/Stradic CI4 (dropshot), St. Croix Legend Elite/SustainFE (soft swimbaits), St. Croix LTB Dropshot/StradicFI (Shakeyheads), St. Croix LTW/StradicMgFB (small jigs) Matt

On my favorite lake! Looks like the main point on the west side of the north pit. Thats a good spot......there is a very large, shallow shelf there that fish in a feeding mood often use. Try a 5" hollow body swimbait there sometime.......... This one was caught a few yards from where you are on a Roboworm. Nice to see someone else on this board that fishes in the same places. Matt p.s. Go 'Clones! (B.S. 2003, M.S. 2007 from ISU)