S Hovanec

Probably the same guy that thinks there's Helium in the Kistlers!

Favorite is the ECS. I built a rod for myself thinking I'd like the ACS....HATE IT! after a while, my hand starts to hurt. I think it's too small (16mm), where the ECS seats are 17mm. Hate the Minimas too for the same reason. they give an even smaller profile than the ACS. I have a friend that all he wants me to put on his rods are ACS, but he has smaller hands.

Try the tubes or dropshottin' some 4" worms or Tiny Flukes......maybe even Cross Tail Shads......Great Lakes smallies can't resist those.

I figured you'd recognize that spot Dwight. John, the smallest fish we got was 15", and only got one of those. All others were between 3# and 5#. Lost one on the next cast after releasing the 6#er that looked even bigger when it jumped.

3.5" BPS tube. Dark Melon/Copper flake. Haven't thrown a tube all year. The DS bite slowed down, so I tossed that out and WHAM!

Landed my new PB smallie on Erie on Saturday. Weighed 6#11oz. Didn't get a length cause I wanted to get it back in the water quick.

You can never have too many dropshot rods. I have 3 rigged up every time I'm out...and I'm building myself a 4th.

Siphon it out and run it in your truck.

http://fishfinders.factoryoutletstore.com/cat/3350/Fishin-Buddy.html

No, they just added a couple new sizes.

I have about 12' on my DS rods.

The 201B knobs are removable, but I think once I strip the original rubber knob off of the bushing, the center cap won't snap back in place. It relies on the rubber of the knob to hold it in place. You would be left with a knob with a hole in the end, exposing the mounting screw. I don't know anything about Abu reels. I only have access to some friends Daiwas and whatever Shimanos I have.

I'll check my 201BSF this weekend to see if they are removable.

If they're not removable, then I can't turn knobs for them. If you have to drill the old knob off, then there is no way to re-attach the new one. I need to use the old knob to remove the bushing and press in the new one. This requires the destroying of the original knob. I have a 201BSF, but haven't popped the end caps off to see what's under.

u mean like this? Natural cork Composite cork Stabilized dyed box elder No....nobody does anything like that!

Order direct from St. Croix. St Croix sets the prices for their retailers, so everyone charges the same. Only exception is discontinued models.

Then micros aren't the proper guide for your application. Guides need to be sized to pass your connections without impeding the line flow. That is the reason that mass produced rods shouldn't use them. They have no control over what type of line or connecting knots will be used. They just jumped on the micro bandwagon because they were creating such a stir in the custom arena for so long. I have #4 guides on all of the rods I currently use. They pass a uni-uni just fine with 10# powerpro and 15' of 6# or 8# fluoro leaders.

It's not mine....the handle is on the wrong side. I made those for a friend.

This Steez got cork handles

I belong to Western PA Bass. It has 2 "sides". One fishes tournaments just for the fun of it and the other fishes BASS Federation tournaments. No one is ever turned away. We meet at West Mifflin Fire Hall on the first Monday of each month from September til May. If you're interested, shoot me a PM and I'll put you in contact with the club secretary.

5S69MLXF 4C69MLXF Gary is just a "normal guy". We had dinner with him at the rod show in High Point in February.

I haven't noticed it to be any more or less sensitive than any of my Croix's.

That is correct, the power is less than the St Croix 69mlxf. Action seems the same to me. It would be a great inland rod and that's what I plan to use it for.

I finished the NFC a while ago and have had a chance to field test it on some Erie smallies in June. My initial impression was correct. This rod is lighter in power than rods I typically dropshot with, but it did not lack the power to boat some 4# and 5# smallies. Overall finished weight of the rod is 2.94 oz. Couple that with the 7oz CI-4 and the combo comes in under 10oz....a touch over 10 oz with the composite cork reel handle and line. Blank: NFC DS 6107-1(IM) Guides: Fuji TYSG 25, 16, 8, TLSG 4 & MCAT4.5-4.5 Hook Keep: Pac Bay Ti/Ch hooklatch Reel Seat: Fuji 17mm Skeleton (Cobra finish) Grips: CG-1 Natural & light & burnt burl composite Thread: Gudebrod nylon Charcoal with Pewter metallic inlays and red metallic trim Finish: Threadmaster Light and Threadmaster Hi Decal: Decal Connection peel & stick

Not all PA limited lakes were raised to 20 hp either. I can think of 3 on my end of the state that remain 9.9. 1 county park, 1 Army Corps lake and 1 power plant cooling water supply. I would have preferred to see it go to 25, but I sold my 25 and bought a 20 to comply. I'm still hosed on the 9.9 lakes though.