Darren.

Awful story.

Even better!

I use a Carbonlite 6'6" now with my Stradic 1000. Balances great. Would balance with the 2500 perfectly, too. Balanced perfectly with my Lexa 2000, which is a tad heavier than the 2500. Other rods I've used: previous-gen Shimano Compres, both MXF, 5'9" and 6'3" respectively. Love the cork grips. If I had the money, I would have strongly considered a Shimano Crucial. Very tip light, but that's what I like. The Carbonlites are extremely light, which is one of the things I love about them. My elbows are grateful. I still use the Compres, one has my other Stradic 1000 on it, the other has the Lexa.

Congrats!! My guess would be in the 8lb range. Have to find a weight calculator for a better est.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Black coffee only for me. I'll drink Starbucks lattes on occasion, but I love their expresso shots, doppio, triples, quads.

I'm friends with the fishing manager at our local BPS, he's a big St. Croix guy, but was very positive on the Carbonlites, not seeing a lot of returns, older models had some issues, though. FWIW. Like Memphis said, "Never know till you try it for yourself."

I just picked up two Carbonlites, a spinning model a bait casting model. Fished with them several times now. Absolutely love them. So light and balanced. I have a Chronarch 50e on one, and started with my Lexa 2000 (spinning) on the other, but changed it out for one of my Stradics which took a couple more ounces off the weight. So the two are by far my lightest combos which will mean longer fishing for me. My .02.

Welcome aboard, Jeff!

I think there are other factors that mix in with *just* the solunar table. I've been out on 5 star days smack in the best times and couldn't buy a bite for the cost of my kayak, lures, and fishing gear. I've been out on days that were 1 star and absolutely had a blast catching bass. So for me, I pay attention to these things, but have not found them to be true all the time. More of a suggestion than "dude, you're missing ALL THE FISH if you don't go out when we tell you!"

Nice, and thanks for the shout-out! As a FWIW, I have also been running the cost-benefit of buying pre-rigged weedless wacky. I will buy them on sale now, but I've also experimented making my own. I've had to settle on 1/0 and 2/0 Wide Gap finesse hooks for this purpose (I'd go smaller if I had a fly tying vise and tools). I use 20lb Malin coated wire (bought at BPS), cut a section fold it in half, then bend the fold down so as to place that along the hook shank. Then, and here's the experiment, I've used braid and super glue to wrap the tie; and I've used a straight, very thin marine shrink wrap (with the glue inside) as the securing mechanism. The 20lb Malin bends best, and provides enough feedback when coming thru cover to avoid hanging most of the time. What I've not liked is either method to secure the weedless wire to the shank. I've caught fish, none of them have come apart yet, but they're a bit bulkier than I was shooting for. Again, I'm probably trying to pound a nail with a kiddie hammer here. Right tools would make the job and result easier/better.

I don't use O rings, others do and like them a lot. Rather than O rings, I'll use shrink wrap in small sections that slide over a worm snugly (so various sizes). Most of the time I just hook straight thru the worm w/o anything.

Just be careful. The first time (today) I installed my phone into the jacket, then tried to get it out, it peeled the case apart. I need to stretch the case out gently. Probably will get easier the more I use it.

I do. Love it. I just bought the bright orange LifeJacket for it today. That way, if it drops, it'll float!

Hi Dave, welcome to the forums! Very active VA contingent here.

Yes, like them a lot. Almost bought a pair of their flip flops with the toe protection...

Very cool.

And vote for the merger of Sprint and T-Mobile for even more deals down the road. Softbank CEO (owner of Sprint) is promising big price wars with AT&T and Verizon if the two combine. We all benefit from that. Maybe we can finally get better deals like they offer in S. Korea, and Europe. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/12/us-softbank-son-tmobile-idUSBREA2A1TB20140312

Welcome to the forums! I fish wacky rigs from a small size 4 Gamakatsu Wide-Gap Finesse hook, up to a 2/0. I've used a #4 on a 4" Senko, and caught nice bass. It can be done. By and large, on average, I probably use size 1 and 1/0 the most. I use these with 5" Senkos with no problem whatever on hookups. Caught my PB in thick slop (7.5 lbs) on a size 1 hook with a 10lb leader on 10lb Fireline. Just my experience. Oh, and I second BigMoneyGrip's post above that VMC's weedless hooks are awful. The wire guard is unbelievably stiff. Gave up on them after two missed hits. Never had that problem with Gammy's weedless variety. And I'll also second WRB's suggestion of wacky jigs. I'll add the Buckeye brand to the list. They use Gamakatsu hooks, and a football head jig. Love these probably the most of all the weedless varieties I've used. Again, all my .02.

A surprise x10, I'd say. Spoke with fisheries biologist today, a park ranger, both were very shocked, but very stoked. Sent in pictures, getting some printed to post at the reservoir.

Thanks Dwight. Yeah, pretty crazy, eh? I never thought I'd catch a fish longer than my bump board. We've estimated the length at 32" to 32 1/4". I'm still in a happy fog after that exceedingly unexpected catch.

Thought I'd give an update. I spoke with a Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VGDIF) biologist today about the catch. He was quite surprised but surmised that it might have passed through as a fingerling at some point from another reservoir, although he admitted it was speculation. He would loved it if I had kept it so he could determine its age via ear bones (like tree rings). So I'll have to go after it again, LOL. Tried today, nothing but one hit on a blue-bird sky day. Anyhow, I was pretty stoked at all the info he gave me, including this little tidbit for you folks who fish Harwood's Mill and Waller Mill reservoirs. In a few years, get ready for some walleye!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard, Josh!