Vinny Chase

Cpt. Shane, PM was sent.

Welcome Mitch! Does St. Cloud have a club team in the FLW college series?

Welcome Lewi! Yeah, that was probably me as I fished that lake 4 days a week this summer haha. If I were to give a new angler advice, it would be to just fish Crystal for a full year to try and adapt/find patters that will catch them....Man that lake is frustrating some times! Don't give in yet! I am sure we will have a few nice days left to get after 'em.

VERY intimidating lake, but if you have good electronics and put the time in to learn what works and what doesn't, it can be the best lake in the Metro. There is a reason why the chose Tonka for the classic!

Cap'n Shane, Can you shoot me a PM with some more details? We're going to be in FL from Feb 4th - 9th, but I know there is a specific day that the family wants me to "get it over with" haha. I'll get to you to verify. Thanks, VC

Hey guys, I am visiting my parents who live in Sarasota in Feb. Fishing Okeechobee has always been a dream of mine and this trip it will finally happen, I just want to make sure I pick the right guide service. Who would be your recommendation and why? Also, do they provide all of the equipment? Also, if you have any other lake/service recommendations maybe closer to Sarasota with equal or better fishing, let me know!

Anyone have this rod? I found one for a pretty good price, but I am a little worried about it being too light to get the big girls out from the weedlines. Also want to note that this is not the GLX model that I am referring to, but the drop shot specific rod that is currently being produced. Thanks!

Thank you all for the feedback. I am still leaning towards the Shimano, but I came across a Loomis DSR820S (not the GLX) for a great price. Does anyone have experience with this specific rod? How does it handle larger fish in vegetation? Thanks, VC

That is the one I have been leaning towards, but I really wish there was more lenght options! Why a 7'2" for drop-shotting???

I probably have to cap myself at $250, but I will think about the champion 702.

Hey everyone! I am looking to purchase a drop-shot specific rod that has a lot of sensitivity, is perfect for fishing in/near cover, and gives a good set. Here are the three that I am choosing between: 1) New Shimano Drop-Shot Cumara (wish they had a 6'10") 2) G Loomis DSR822S 3) St. Croix LT 6'10" ML XF Thoughts?

As the originator of the thread, I am hopeful we can keep this thing rolling as we head into the best time to fish of the year! Sorry that I haven't been around, but things have just gotten way too hectic and the other times, well I am fishing... Bass1980, I have bassed fished my whole life and have yet to fish Tonka. Kinda sad, but the lake is very intimidating and I have gotten use to the few lakes that I currently fish....That is one that I NEED to hit up this fall.

Thank you for the discount and information! I am most definitely going to give them a shot as I have always wanted to, but needed to clear some space in the tacklebox. Thanks again and I will make sure to contact you if I have any other questions.

Clear!

Really like that perch fry color, but T W doesn't carry it and I have a gift card!

The ONLY time I caught up on color is if I am getting short strikes and when I am drop shotting, and these baits on T W have a lot of colors to choose from. I am looking to get two colors, one for smallies and one for largies. For the largemouth, I am deciding between the gill and panicked perch. For the smallies, I REALLY like the looks of that spicy goby. Does anyone have experience with these or other colors that have produced well? Thanks, VC

Hey guys, I am looking at getting a gen. 1 cumara reaction rod, but cannot decide between the 7' MH or H for swim jigs/spinnerbaits. The lakes I fish have a lot of veggies in them, so I need a rod that has some backbone to not get a good hookset, but rip through vegetation. I also don't want a flipping stick....Does anyone have experience with these rods? Which one would you recommend? Thanks, Nick

You mean $179, right????

Even though it's not the news I was hoping for, I do appreciate the feedback. DVT, I sent you a PM

So I have a 2500 and 4000 model ci4. I know I am in the minority, but I love the larger handle grip on the 4000 and I would like to switch that one out with my 2500 because that is the reel I use the most. Has anyone switched the grips out before on the 4000? I cannot for the life of me figure out how to remove the grip. I also tried to completely switch out the handle, but the 4000 uses a larger pin.... Any tips/ideas would be helpful! VC

This is a ridiculously awesome color combo. Similar to okeechobee craw, but a tweak in the blue and adding red flake...I would be extremely happy with anothing involving light blue/brown.

I am leaning towards my first Diawa and going with the Lexa! Thanks guys.

Thanks for pointing that out, but no because that is the one I previously owned and was not happy with.

I am looking to spend around $100 on a new spinning reel to pair with my new *** rod. I have always been a shimano guy, but have heard some really great things about the Lexa and I had to throw the supreme in there because of the Pflueger name. What are you thoughts? Has anyone had experience with one or more of these reels? Side note, I did have a symetre about 3 years ago that I ended up selling...The only Shimano reel I have purchased and wasn't satisfied with, but it looks like they did a redesign since then.

Enjoy them. I know Chris was a little behind with the annual Spring Sale, but we will be back to our normal delivery times very soon and hope to build an inventory for quick and easy ordering.