flechero

Ronnie, Next time it will be a different story, we'll have a working boat available if you can't bring yours- I promise!! If it comes down to it, you got my boat. You were an absolute class act and a heck of a lot of fun to hang with. I can't wait for next year!! -keith

Muddy, For me it would be 7' hvy, fast or ex-fast. You may like that or may like a MH... unfortunately it's another preference thing. keith

The weight difference in the reels alone is about the weight of another Loomis..... I like the MG. Until I see or hear of a problem with the MG frame that's not related to saltwater usage, I won't worry, I'm currently using 4 MG's. You spent the $$$ for a light and sensitive Loomis, I'd want to keep the reel light and maximize the light weight advantages.

I like a 7' heavy, fast (sometimes extra fast). A good barometer for you is to look at what you use for a c-rig rod.... may sound strange but almost everyone I fish with uses a similar or the same rod for those two things. In fact, if you are strapped for cash, you might just use the c-rig rod for frogs. At minimum I would try frogs on a 7' hvy or med-hvy before you buy a dedicated set up. Either borrow one or use something you have to make the comparison. I'd say if you fish heavy weeds, pads, timber, etc. go heavy and if it's not too gunked up, a MH will likely be ok.

To me that says 4 power. But I base this kind of stuff on geography, style and size of fish caught. I use the 844 for all kinds of stuff. The newer ones have a delicate enough tip for even light lures. I wouldn't hesitate to use it for 1/4 oz stuff and with a decent reel, you can go lighter. The 843 seems light for throwing 1/2 oz baits on 17# line... I know it's rated (barely) for it but the 844 fishes that set up comfortably. edit to add: I don't know how the SBR compare to MBR series.... so I can't help there.

I have to somewhat disagree. I'll run up to 12 lb test on a 3500 size reel. This is what I just ran at Fork on the rod Flechero built me. Look at the Daiwa tienna. Very impressed with this reel so far. That 3500 size Daiwa is just as big as the 4000 Shimano (actually I think the spool dia. is larger) which I said will work, but you have to be diligent. He listed 12# as the smallest he's going to use. So I think it can work but he's pushing the 'trouble free' envelope, unless he really on top of things. Your good fortune had to be the rod! ...lol

I never use one unless I get short struck. I also pitch them a lot under docks and into/around brush so a trailer can be detrimental at times. I don't "burn" spinnerbaits either so I don't get short struck very often and rarely need a trailer hook.

The bass pro and cabela's socks stop just past the butt guide on 7' rods so you can still use your normal hook keeper. On the mesh socks that flush up to the reel, you'll have to use some part of the reel. Some people use them for transport only and some use them in the rod boxes.

If you must stay under $100 I think I'd buy St. Croix SCIII or depending on my mood, I might consider Batson's RX7. But if you are willing to go a little over- say in the $125 range, you can get into CTS T series and finally for $140 or so, into IMX. I consider the T-rig rod to be my most important, so if I were you, I'd save a few more weeks and go with IMX or CTS. (I recently finished an MBR844 IMX and a MBR784 IMX for myself.... oh so sweet!!!!) (and my CTS blanks are still on backorder. Yup, that's 6 full months now. :'( I'm about ready to cancel.) As always, the "best" for me may not be the "best" for you! Let us know what you end up with.

I've used suffix (elite and seige) on several occasions and have nothing but high praise for it.

If you are using MH to H rods and 12-16# line, I think you are in for a world of frustration in a spinning reel... unless you go with something at least in a shimano 4000 size or larger and are diligent in twist management. And even then (mono) line will be less than cooperative in that weight class. If you are talking braid then disregard my post. Roadwarrior is right on with the #6 yo-zuri... if you need more than that, you should really consider casting equipment. If you fish with any regularity, it would be worth your effort to learn how to use a baitcasting reel... they really aren't hard to use or learn. I don't think many of the quickfire type triggers have held up well and also you give up infinite anti-reverse to get that feature.

Mike Long made a comment on Hank Parker's show about a particular 12" swimbait, he said: "it's really too heavy to toss, you'd probably just want to long line this one." Guessing by context it would be trolling it out or letting it go down current? I'm just curious, what is "long-lining"? thanks

Solid advice for those who need to save for the trip. For those of us that do use cash most of the time, it (change) adds up very fast. I already started my coffee can off with the (left over) money still in the wallet upon the return from fork... I'm $150 ahead of the game with 11 months to go!! ...lol (had $220 but busted my transducer at fork and bought a replacement on the way home) Saving only takes a little dicipline in the beginning to get into the habit... the best change jars ar not see through and require some work to get anything out.

No kidding!! So far there is no cure....

Muddy, Look at the IPT or IPC (inches per turn/crank) listed with each reel... the actual gear ratio doesn't help with a brand to brand comparison. And sometimes isn't accurate from 2 different syle reels in the same brand. If you use the IPT there is no question what you are getting, regardless of brand or style. -Keith

Leon, Here is almost the same question that was asked recently: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1170467828/1#1

If you stick with the major suppliers you will be fine. If you visit www.rodbuilding.org and use their sponsor list on the left, you can be sure all of them are good shops. I limit most of my buying to Mud Hole, FishStick4U, Bingham, Custom Tackle and Neal's. You should visit the tacklemaking section here and read the rodbuilding for newbie's thread. That will help you get started in a way that you don't have to wonder if your rods will fish as well as a rack rod. You can get as much out of this as you put into it... By the way, Welcome to the forum! Your screen name is my old home town...

Your boat is fine for Fork or almost any other place... my old boat was a little 15' modified V aluminum with a 9 hp and a trolling motor. You just have to plan to trailer to places of less wind. (and be quick with a tie rope or anchor) We trailered monday and tuesday due to the winds... even in a 19' glass boat, I had no desire to run across the lake in 30+ MPH winds. I just don't want you to think you are handicapped with that boat- there are lots of places you can go in it that I can't. You stayed less than 5 minutes drive from where we all were... why didn't you come down at least once for dinner and to meet people?

I'm glad you posted that... no one said it was a secret! (or at least I didn't get the message!)

What a week! You know that you're in good company when you go to Fork for 5 days and consider the fishing secondary! To everyone who "almost" went or couldn't go, you missed out on something incredible... What a crew, everyone of them, awesome people!! I was more than pleasantly surprised by everyone who attended! I've already cleared the 08' trip with the wife!! Time to start saving, I'll make the 1st coffee can donation on 4/1 payday!! ...lol RW and I caught a number of 3-6 lb fish, and found a buzzbait bite on days 1 & 2. L_B_H has those pics for the video. Here was one Little Caney resident that came out to say hello and wish the BassResource.com members good fishing...

That's a shocking response, even for a fan. So what if he was only at .093, he WAS OUT OF CONTROL or he wouldn't have been asleep in the car at a stop light. I define wasted as out of control. If you were drunk and arrested in the same manner, I'd also say you were out of control. Legally drunk and drunk are not the same, he may have been "drunk" at much less than .093 since everyone is different, the .08 is only a prosecutorial standard. He could have just as easily "dosed off" at 80 mph... what then? I've also done some stupid things in my life, but there is a difference in pointing out that he could have killed someone perfectly innocent, than there is stoning the guy.... I'm willing to bet if the circumstances involved him running over one of your family members, you would have a different response. Having been personally affected by a drunk driver, I probably have a different take on this than a Cardinal's fan. no offense intended.

I've heard MANY, MANY people rave (and never a single complaint) about that particular rod so I bet you'll like it. (maybe for tubes, maybe for something else) Ex-fast means that the rods bends, to load, more in the tip section of the rod.... oversimply translated- you get a longer backbone area and a lighter tip. You might also look at the SJR series from Loomis, depending on your likes- 782/3 or 842/3. I don't think you can go wrong with any of these rods... all are great rods. My $0.02 recommendations- If IMX or GLX is in your budget, I would buy Loomis over St.Croix for this specific rod, if the choice is GL2 or 3 I would go with the St. Croix for sure.

I have to agree... and it would match my TD-Z BBS just perfectly! I may have to copy your thread colors for a new rod for the BBS...

Whatever the length is of a 2 pc fly rod tube (for a 9' rod) is the longest I've seen carried on a plane. St. Croix makes som good 2 pc. rods. Also, if you look at cabela's or bass pro, they carry a handful of rods. I got a Penn 3 pc. that I use for bonefish on the flats. Never saw it in a catalog, just saw it in BPS one day. If you look around, you'll find some options.

St. Croix also makes some 2 pc. models.