Darren.

It was a gorgeous 3 lb bass. I was frustrated by a couple, um, jerks who had no idea of courtesy and fished right by me in my kayak. Long story short, I threw my jig out into the water just to cast. Didn't aim for a spot, just threw it out there. Bang! Hauled it in right in front of the guys. LOL. Now this jig was one I found while fishing one day. Was snagged on a dock. I decided to try it but never had success on it until that day (to the best of my knowledge). Still don't ghosh jigs much. Still have that one, too..

You could probably stain the cork first. I believe it is silicone-based, but haven't looked at the ingredients. It's just a coating that sinks in a little ways to provide the seal.

Well, I've only done maybe 6 rods, and I've got practically a full little bottle. Should do plenty. I lightly sand the handle, if dirty, and use a toothbrush to apply. I let it dry, and it's good-to-go.

Guitar is my instrument of choice. Yamaha, Taylor...

What method are you looking for light wire hook info? Texas, Wacky, Carolina, Drop Shotting? All the above?

Probably Gamakatsu for wacky, TX/Jika, mojo rigs.

Get some U-40 Cork Sealer. Works great.

Welcome aboard, Richard!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

No doubt, Wayne. I was just relaying my personal experience. Not myth or superstition on my part. But I have read similar things and saying from others (which may be mythic or superstitious!!).

Only handled in local BPS. Really like the weight and feel of the rods. Daiwa's putting out some very nice stuff in the $99 range these days. Would consider one strongly in future purchases what with a 5 year warranty and all that. I'd like to see manufacturers return to sub 6'6" rods in their lineups (yes, I know some already do, but Shimano and others have stopped in certain lines)....

Great story, Andrew - in that your life was saved by a PFD. Sorry you had to go through all that, though. My wife was just telling me today of a horror story she overheard at a soccer game of a guy lost overboard earlier today in North Carolina. People on the sidelines were saying the man's shoes were found, but no sign of him yet. Was alone, fishing in a sound. Very sad. Do not know the outcome of the fisherman at this point. Sure hope with all hope I can muster, that he made it to shore alive. No idea if he wore a PFD or not. Anyhow, I was telling my wife that I *always* wear a PFD in my kayak. Always. I can think of no reason to NOT wear one, even when it gets so hot I can't stand it. I always think of what awaits me at home. I don't want to leave my boys fatherless, or my wife w/o a husband. PFDs are 100% all-the-time for me. When I see people (usually recreational types) out on the water in yaks w/o PFDs I cringe. If i owned a bass boat, I'd probably have an inflatable PFD on my body at all times, too.

I picked one of these up at Dick's http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3986137&cp=4406646.4413993.4414792.4414811 A very good scale so far. Weighs accurately, and I've used it to compare with a spring/grip scale I use, which is also quite accurate. My goal is to buy a Boga Grip, but for now, this works very well when I have it with me.

Thanks, Tom. I've heard this as well. There's some sort of distress signal released (some say, but I don't really know) when one's caught and released. With no livewell, I cannot but release a fish back after catch. Numerous times I've experienced a shutdown -- sometimes I'll catch a couple, but more often a shutdown after one.

Welcome aboard, Lewi!

I'm foremost an NFL fan...Bills, Payton Manning, Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald, etc. Second, I love soccer, but I also love the NBA. I grew up watching Dr. J play, even got to see him when I was a wee lad in NJ and the Sixers crushed the Nets. He was the man. I love(d) Jordan, and a slew of other superstars throughout the years (Chris Mullin gave me permission to have a buzz cut in the early 90s when it wasn't cool for white boys)... Anyhow, I'm a HUGE fan of Kobe. I loved it when Dirk got his ring, have been supremely disappointed in Dwight, but excited for OKC, LA Clips, Pacers. Though I long for the day/month (December?) when Kobe returns. I just don't know if he's got another ring in him. The Lakers have too many calcified arthritic bones on the roster. And as for Chicago? D Rose can ball. That's all I have to say. Oh and why haven't I mentioned the Heat? Hmm.

Braid is, IMHO, by far the best line I've ever used on spinning gear. It simply manages better through and through. I always tie on a leader, here's why: 1) Saves cutting braid mainline for retying lures (I cut and retie until I need a new leader, so that's quite a few times before cutting a portion of the braid). 2) See number 1 3) It can help with certain lure presentations if you need some shock/stretchiness/abrasion resistance from mono/copoly/fluoro 4) See 1-3 I don't mean to be snarky, I just think using braid has immensely helped my spinning setups. Problems, as stated before, there can be wind knots, and other inexplicable knots that defy logic, physics, and all science. But for me, the pros far outweigh the cons. Now as to how heavy you need to go: ALL my spinning gear has 10 pound Power Pro which is 2 pound diameter equiv of mono. 10 pound braid is VERY strong. I caught my PB of 7.5 lbs in thick salad on 10 lb braid + a 10 lb copoly leader (though baitcast). The 6.6 lber in my avatar was on a spinning setup with 10lb PP + 10lb leader in sunken stumps and bushes. Braid + leader can be super-versatile and cost saving. Just my humble .02.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard, Phil!

I agree with fly, but also agree that fish can and do create these "V" forms. Especially when the wind is blowing a constant speed from X direction, but the "V" zigs and zags. Yes it could be a bug, but it could also be a fish. Probably not a lunker, but an opportunistic fish chasing a meal.

C'mon, nobody's gonna stand up for Ugly Stik!? Ok, I will...not. No really, I actually have a couple Lite models, but they're for guests, kids, etc. I used to love them for all manner of fishing, but those days are gone. If feel isn't an issue, they're actually pretty decent rods. They're great for live bait and certain fresh/saltwater situations. And I can only offer my opinion on what I've used. I've used St. Croix Avid, Premiere, Shimano Compre (cork), a Field & Stream IM7 casting rod, among others. Strangely enough, the rod I most enjoy using is the F&S IM7. It is plenty sensitive, and allows me to cast very light plastics with my Lexa or Chronarch quite far. Perhaps it is the use of braid mainline and either pure FC or copoly leader that helps with the sensitivity. But it's plenty sensitive, and I've caught my largest bass with it. I love the lightness of the Avid, but love the thinner profile of cork on my Compres. It is such a personal thing, rods and reels and feel. I can honestly say I'm not 100% certain the Avid is that much more sensitive than the Compres, even the IM7 F&S. It probably is. And since the tip has broken, I will be using the warranty to either get a replacement in a M rather than ML, or cross-grade to an Avid casting rod. Abu Veritas, etc., intrigue me, as do the Daiwa Lexa rod series. Both brands are quite light and feel great in the hand. Interesting discussion, this....

Very interesting "study" Goose. Appreciate the info you've gathered. Always liked the PQ, but never pulled the trigger. How do they do with light baits - like weightless 4" senkos, etc.? I can throw weightless Zoom Finesse worms wacky rigged with my Chronarch 50e and Lexa 100. Curious if the PQ could throw the same. And yeah, rod helps, my fave is a 6' MF casting rod for the light stuff.

Not looking for a fight here, just pointing out they don't cover "all" budgets.

Just checked Dobyns site and TW ... not so sure they've got "rods for all different types of budgets" as you describe if the bottom is $159 MSRP, unless I'm missing rods in the sub-$100 range?