Darren.

Wow! Very nice fish!

Apparently Cabela's may go private and stay "Cabela's" http://seekingalpha.com/article/3688956-cabelas-is-turning-the-corner-may-go-private

ML for the St. Croix M is fine for a Carbonlite - I have one white and one black spinning and one white, a black for casting. The black casting is ML. My new Croix rod is a 6'3" MLXF LT and it is fantastic action for everything I throw, while I'd pick M for the same stuff on the Carbonlites.

How about Barramundi? Saw a show with Hank Parker where he fished for Barra. Thought it was in FL...

Dang! Big beasts. Are they considered "invasive"?

x3, and Hawgtech sells bearings as well.

Very cool cue. Lifetime warranty on it?

Welcome aboard!

I prefer the nickel/black. I've used red hooks, never impressed with them and as they scratch, they lose the red coloring.

Plenty of opinions for this question. In my experience, Gamakatsu. That's just my opinion....

Beautiful smallie! Congrats!

I took the rod out today, and only the new rod. Tested it holding my usual 3 in front, and a couple times I tried 4 in front. The three worked best, plus it's what I'm used to. It did feel tip heavy at times, but I was learning the rod and can adjust accordingly. The thing is ridiculously sensitive. I think I'm in love...LOL

Too funny. Our cat likes to grab the worm in her mouth and trot off in a "look what I caught" mode. I bury the hook in the worm, but when she does that I have to go into cautious mode.

Wow, congrats!

Hi Tom, welcome aboard!

Hmmm. Interesting information. I suppose he'd have some knowledge of that given he builds lakes (if I recall correctly). Often wondered about that, should I ever be fortunate enough to have my own pond/lake.

My new baby arrived today, earlier than expected, which is quite welcome. 6'3" MLXF LTWS I put my new Stradic 1000FJ on it and the balance is right at the hook keeper. A little higher than I was expecting, but by no means bad. Given the way I hold a spinning reel, it is comfortable and balances well. Here's the thing. I tied an identical hook/worm on to test the sensitivity against my Carbonlites. Wow. This rod is CRISP. That's the word that hits me. Dragging the Zoom finesse worm across the rocks on my driveway and it is sooooo crisp. Every bump felt distinctly transmitted to my fingers on the blank. I feel *most* bumps with the Carbonlite and a 1000 FI, but it's a more muted feel. Very interesting to feel the difference between a high-end rod and a mid range rod. I can't wait to get it out on the water soon. With no reels mounted, and balancing each rod on the first (big) guide, the LT feels lighter, but is heavier at the tip. I LOVE the shorter handle, which is probably why the balance is a little higher than on the CL when a reel is attached. So far I'm quite happy, quite stoked to fish it. I'm liking the ML action in initial casting. Good stuff. Need some weight from a scaled hog on the other end. Only weight I got was our cat attacking the worm while I was reeling it in.

Here's to a very successful surgery and speedy recovery.

Was it moving? Almost looks like a horse from an amusement park or something...

I'm already in bed with the chills, and you were out in temps in the low 20s!! You're a beast, A-Jay. And I feel colder. And congrats on the PB Pike. Quite the fight.

Thanks, indeed to all the veterans out there!

Welcome aboard! Length is a starting point, girth is the finish. She's definitely got some weight. I'll also go in the 4 lb range give or take.

Very sad to hear, condolences to his family. Was posted earlier today, as well. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/165059-rip-eric/

I do 3 in front as well, sometimes all 4 if I want to touch more of the blank, but with the Legend, there's so much blank to touch I don't think that'll be a problem.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed it'll live up to the hype Only worry is whether it'll be tip-heavy with a 1000. The guy at SC thought it would, that I'd need a 1500 or heavier to give it better balance.