Darren.

Um. I was checking what appears to be the actual BPS Black Friday flyer... Carbonlites (black) are going to be going for $69.97. If true, I'll be buying... Here's the link, assuming legit. http://www.theblackfriday.com/ads/BassPro.com/black-friday/BassPro.com-black-friday-ad.php?pn=33

When I go out yak-fishin' in the cold I'll wear sweats under jeans, fishing gloves, and put those hand-warmer bags in my feet, in the arch area. Hours of warmth and toastiness. Then again, I'm not wading, and I'm not getting wet except for water drippings from the hawgs I catch!

Love mine. 6'6" model. Perfect paired with a Chronarch 50e. Have to get my hands on the new ones, they look like they'll pair well color-wise, but I really like the carbon colored models.

If you have some swimbaits, striper like those. Live bait, eel! When we pier fish here (brackish), it will be with squid, shrimp, blood worms. Also, any of the Gulp baits: http://www.basspro.com/Brand-Berkley-Gulp/Fishing-Baits-Lures-Saltwater-Lures/Type-Saltwater-Soft-Baits/_/N-1z0ukoqZ1z0uxajZ1z0v4dm Especially this one - at least from what guys tell me: http://www.basspro.com/Berkley-Gulp!-Swimming-Mullet/product/58013/

I'm so glad I don't live up there anymore. Always lived south of Rochester, in Lima, and in Caledonia. We tended to miss a lot of the lake-effect snow... So much prefer the weather down here in VA! Except for hurricanes... And...GO BILLS!

I will be!! I've got a float on my cheap Econoscale now, and I might even tether the Boga to my yak or PFD.

Wondering same thing. Scrubbing their site and they have all the normal Carbonlites, but all are designated as Carbonlite CL, while the new white models are just "Carbonlite". And online they only have the spinning version of the new white rods. Unless they just renamed the material, it is now "RT 4 Graphite"... Hopefully they are as light as the CL models.

4 ABEC 7 bearings from Hawgtech for my 2 Chronarch 50e reels 15lb Boga Grip (which, when it arrives, I'll hand over to my wife and say, "here, I bought this for my Christmas present so nobody has to shop for me now" I'll have a dumb dog look on my face.) Hopefully this strategy of waiting to use it till Xmas will mean I'm not in trouble.

Hi Jake, and welcome aboard!

Worms - Yamamoto Senko, BPS Stik-O are my fav for stick baits Zoom Finesse and Trick worms for thinner profiles. Texas rigging works great for all of them.

Denver is worrisome. Before they got blasted by the Pats almost as bad as the Seahawks beat them in the SB, I had them as a sure bet. The Pats, if they stay healthy, look like the team to beat in the AFC, heck, the NFL.

Brown/GP/Orange PB&J Don't think I have ever caught on a black & blue jig.

Congrats! I remember my first jig fish: a 3.5 pound largie! Very exciting that first jig fish. I've actually been keeping a jig tied on one of the 3-4 rods I take with me on the yak lately.

Sure, design can be effective, and it can be gimmicky. It all depends. One person swears by a bait, another swears AT the bait. I have a mess of soft plastics, some catch, some don't. I'll be honest, I think color matters. There are days I can't buy a bite and suddenly I change Senko or Stik-O to a different color - but same size - throw to same spot and BANG, fish on. Just my experience.

The Bills? Nope. I always hold out hope, but I just don't see them making it to the playoffs. I did before the Dolphins game, though. Not that they don't have the talent to make it, just with the Pats and 'Fins in the division, the numbers have to be right, have to win every game from here on and hope Miami struggles.

That was a "bad" link (404). Here's the one for Tungsten Jigs... http://siebertoutdoors.com/Tungsten-Jigs-and-Punch-Rigs_c2.htm

Now that's a great idea! I've got a bunch from my Dad, as well, some identical to those in the pix.

Sunflower seeds

Never owned a Curado, but bought 2 Chronarch 50e reels in the past couple years. Love 'em. I throw weightless Zoom Finesse worms all the way up to 1/2 oz traps. Have thrown heavier stuff with no problems (like carolina rigs - but that's a rarity for me). Awesome reels, man.

Welcome, Rob!

Welcome aboard, John!

Like to see the responses, as well. The EX is so new, not sure many have had a chance to fish one. Both read like excellent reels, hard to see you go wrong with either one.

I wish I bought some. Never had the cash when they were available!! But I've been just fine with the Carbonlites these days. Specifically, my elbows have been happiest!

I haven't been dropshotting much of late, but I have a MF spinning and a ML-F casting Carbonlite rods. Both have been fantastic in light line applications, the ML, a tad better paired with a Chronarch 50e. I wouldn't hesitate to drop with either. I split/shot with both, among other soft plastics applications. I've dropped with my previous-gen Compres and they do fine, but honestly, for the same $$, I've found the Carbonlites to be more sensitive, and when on sale (like during Spring Classic for like $70), impossible to beat. Before Shimano changed their lineup, I would drool over the Crucial drop shot rods. Man were/are they sweet.

I was a Compre fan - specifically the previous models with cork handles. But if I were looking at Shimano rods for drop shot, it'd be Crucial. All that said, and I may draw fire for this, I'm probably not going to buy another Shimano rod. Honestly, I went in because they offered a lifetime warranty, and this year all that went out the door, and no rods were grandfathered in. Don't want to bash the brand, because I love their reels. Just that I'm happier with other rods at this stage. Specifically, BPS Carbonlites. Comparing the new Compres to the current Carbonlites, the latter beats the former on lightness (in my hands) hands-down. Compres are lined up next to the Crucials at Bass Pro here, so I have compared them a lot. The new Compres are a lot more tip-heavy to me, something I do not like. To see what I mean, take the same length and action Carbonlite, even Crucial and compare. Both are lighter tip-top than the Compres. That's something I personally prefer. You may not care, so just stating my thoughts on your Q.