Nine Miler

It is the same power. The action is different.

Yep, with a lifetime warranty, unless you prefer a cool paint job and split grips- http://www.***.com/Shimano_Compre_Casting_Rods_IM8_Graphite/descpage-SCCR.html

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1267387189/0 http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1267826113/6#6

Bring your life jackets. It will be stirred up pretty fierce- tons of wakes out there. http://www.greatlakesbassfishing.com/

For the last two weeks or so, every time I have gone to ***.com, I have had to take a look at this rod they have had on sale. Well, yesterday I placed an order. I have never used an All-Star rod before, but for <$70 I had to give 'em a try. Is this series discontinued or something? What can I expect from this rod? Fuji Sensa-Touch seat, Alconite guides, stainless hook keeper, premium cork, I read somewhere it is IM-10... http://www.***.com/All_Star_Platinum_Series_Casting_Rods/descpage-ASPSCR.html

I think it came straight from Shaw Grigsby- Usually preceeded by an OH MY GOD!

Agreed.

Me too. I can't even brush my teeth left handed. Every time I try, I end up shaking my head and holding the brush still!

Sheesh. I better have some durned good data that says this method is at least 50 times better to go through all that! Maybe Tred Barta needs to know this to get a sail released on 2#, but I think I can make out alright without this skill. :

I have a pair of polarized Ray-Bans that I just wear around. I am afraid to wear them fishing. They are great glasses though. I have a plastic framed pair that I fish in. They don't slide around as easy. They also hold that neoprene band much better. Here are some other options from Ray-Ban... http://www.ray-ban.com/usa/store/sunglasses?filter%5Badv_polarized%5D=0&filter%5Badv_lens_technology%5D=&filter%5Badv_lens_color%5D=&filter%5Badv_frame_color%5D=&filter%5Badv_frame_material%5D=&filter%5Badv_family%5D=aviator&filter%5Bsort_by%5D=&filter%5Bform%5D=search_advanced To see all of their polarized options, go here- there are seven pages, this is page one. http://www.ray-ban.com/usa/store/sunglasses?filter%5Badv_polarized%5D=0&filter%5Badv_lens_technology%5D=&filter%5Badv_lens_color%5D=&filter%5Badv_frame_color%5D=&filter%5Badv_frame_material%5D=&filter%5Badv_family%5D=&filter%5Bsort_by%5D=&filter%5Bform%5D=search_advanced

I actually find one brake on is a little easier to manage than having them all off. I think I subconsciously over-thumb it a bit when they're off, so I actually get better distance with one brake on.

That would be much better.

C'mon, you know you want one.

That sounds like a crankbait rod to me. Will it work? Yes. Will you want something with a faster action? Almost certainly. Edit: RW beat me to it. I don't type that fast on my phone.

If you are a proficient caster and are still having problems, I might take a look at the rod and see if it was well suited to this application. Check the lure and line ratings. Downsize your line a bit or try a braid. Last resort might be a softer tipped rod.

Grease and Oil are Lubes. A grease is really just oil with a detergent (soap) added to help it stay in place. It is much thicker than oil. Here is all the info you need about grease... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_(lubricant) An oil is just grease without the soap. Here is a bunch of reading about lubes- this link directs to synthetic lubes as they are the most relevant for this application. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lubricants#Synthetic_oils

I think the idea of people using their jig rods for frogs has more to do with the cover in which they intend to fish the frog than the frog's weight.

Yep. If you are new to it, turn on 4 or 6, tighten the spool tension until the lure will barely fall from the rod tip, and practice. As you get better, you can back off the brakes and tension knob. Pretty soon, you will want most or all of the brakes off, and the spool almost free.

It is easy to get overwhelmed when looking at jigs. There are several different kinds. This is a standard type, all around jig. It can be flipped, pitched, hopped, dragged, stroked, swam, etc. The more streamlined or pointy the jig head, the better it will come through the vegetation. Finesse jigs are best when a smaller profile, and lighter bait are desired. Football head jigs look just like they sound and are less prone to hang up in rocks, but will not do as well in heavy vegetation. There are also swimmin' jigs that have heads designed to give them some lift. Most people prefer sizes between 3/8 oz. and 3/4 or even 1 oz. depending on the desired rate of fall and profile, cover, (heaver will go through thick stuff better) and depth. Most all of them will come with a large plastic weed guard made of several fibers. Depending on how the cover is, how your hookups have been and what you like, the weed guard can be trimmed and thinned out. Most people cut the guard about even with the hook point, and fan it out a bit. Some people may remove some of the fibers. There are a few color groups you should focus on. Blacks, Greens, and Browns. Find out what works best, then get several variations with different colors mixed in. Jigs are easy to lose, because they are made to be fished in heavy cover, rocks, and brush, etc. If you don't lose some you are being too conservative. There are two categories of trailers- pork and plastic. Some die-hards prefer pork, with the argument that the action is superior, it gives a slower fall, the fish hold longer, etc. Most would agree that pork excels in cold water and finicky situations. It is hard to manage pork, in the jar, out of the jar, back in the jar, etc. Plastics are getting very good and there are a billion choices. Choose what you think looks good. Larger more flappy things, like hogs and kreatures, etc. give a larger profile and slower fall as the appendages are flapping around. There are also chunks that are intended to look like crawfish claws. Personally, I think the more buoyant the claws are, the better, as they will resemble a defensive crawfish. Some jigs come with rattles, and if not you can add them. I always try to remember whenever I am fishing that there are no rules. Common sense based on knowledge about the the fish, the forage, the weather, the season should guide your decisions when choosing a technique, but after all, someone had to invent all these methods. If the fish are biting, you are doing it right.

Try bubblegum and pearl colored flukes, rigged weightless on a 4/0 or 5/0 EWG. They are fun to fish. They should be ripped and twitched, like a hard jerk bait.

What is the F-Stop?

Yes, they were. Last summer, I believe. Maybe someone can verify that.

That looks like one of those things that Larry Dahlberg and his buddy Cesar catch in Suriname.

The Bomber Suspending Pro Long A is a pretty good bait for a good price. Right in between the X-Rap and the LC Pointer is the XCalibur Xt3, another good bait.

Maybe its getting to be that time of year for you; my C&R season doesn't even open for another month. I like poppers and frogs.