DaveT63

I have a 735 Black Widow. Nice sensitive blank, but I couldn't stand the carbon fiber handle so I had a local rod builder put a cork split grip on it. Had an SV103 on it and balance was crap. Swapped to a Shimano Scorpion 1000XT and it's like a completely different rod. Like others said, customer service is crap. After I placed my order, I never got a single response to any of half a dozen emails. I won't buy from them again for that reason.

I had the Avid 70ULF, but it was way too whippy for me. When I broke it (my fault), I replaced it with an Avid 60ULF. I get great casting distance with it, and have caught several bass over 5 lbs on it. Love it and highly recommend it.

Dick's is having a flash sale, today only. Humminbird Solix 10 SI Mega Chirp GPS on sale for $1699. Wish I had the cash!

It all depends on what you are fishing for. I know lots of people using older Penn's, Shimanos, and Daiwas here fishing for stripers and other fish here in the Chesapeake.

I've always received great CS from St Croix. I can't recommend one way or the other on your problem, as I don't know what a local rod repair guy might charge. But I can promise you if you do opt to send it in, you will be satisfied. Why not give them a call and talk with them about it? Everyone I've ever talked to there is very knowledgeable.

I bought a used Creek Chub Knuckle Head jointed popper in a pawn shop yesterday. The feathered treble hook needs replaced. Anyone use this link for Bass? If so, is it worth the expense of a new feathered treble?

My local Walmart clearanced all their Strike King tungsten weights last year and never got any more in. I was lucky enough to get there as the dude was pricing them all at $1.00 per pack. I patiently waited for him to price all 25+ packs and took them all. Our local Ollie's had a small selection of Lucky Craft cranks for about $6 each, and Rapalas for $4.

I had the same problem last summer. Turned out my bail was closing on n its own mid-cast and the momentum of the trap snapped the line. I lost about 4 baits before I figured it out. Make sure when you open your bail it's not too close to the spot where it gets tripped closed.

PX68L Pixy for me

I recently bought that same model. It's a nice rod, from the little I've been able to fish it so far.

For some reason lately I've developed a bit of a desire for a TD-Z 103ML. I know they have a following and a reputation as great reels. So I'm wondering how the old TD-Z reels stack up to the newer reels I already have. I currently have: Daiwa: Steez 103L with a Zillion SV spool PX-68L Pixzilla Zillion SV TWS SV 103 HL SV 105L Alphas Ito 103L with Alphas 105 SV spool Alphas 103L Shimano: 51E Curado and Chronarch, and Scorpion 1001 Scorpion 71 Curado 201E Curado DC Do these cover all the bases, or is there something the TD-Z will do better than these? Thanks, Dave

I agree with iabass8 on the pixy. You can now find used ones on ebay for under $150 pretty regularly, and they are a fantastic reel for that money.

I always have either a Schrade or Buck pocket knife, needle nose pliers, hemostats, and a small pair of scissors handy while fishing. I also keep a tool box with pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, duct tape, electrical tape, and other stuff in a plastic bin in one of the storage compartments on my boat.

I've got several 2-piece St Croix rods I use when I travel, from their Triumph love up to the Legend Elites. I've never been able to tell the difference between them and my 1-piece rods. If you like the rod with another reel, keep it. It may come in handy someday.

I got the Defiant series. I like it for t-rigs so far, but haven't had a lot of chance to use it yet.

Thanks for all the input! I'm not gonna lie, all the technical talk has me lost! I'm just gonna spend some time practicing with this thing and see if that helps. If not, I will try to find a decent Curado 301E. I know how to set up one of those!

It's kind of both. I start trying to get more distance, and when I reduce the braking and/or cast control, it starts to backlash badly.

I'm using a Dobyns 795 swimbait rod and P-Line CXX 20lb test to throw 1-4 oz baits. I didn't think it would be too hard either, but I am having more problems than I thought I would.

I bought a Tatula 200HD to use as a swimbait reel. I'm having some trouble getting it dialed in just right. Does anyone know if there is an SV spool that will fit the 200HD while maintaining the line capacity of the original spool? Thanks, Dave

I got 6'9" MHF casting rid. I haven't done a close-up inspection yet, but what I have checked out looks good.

I bought one yesterday. Feels good, light, seems to balance well with my Alphas, but haven't fished it yet. Can anyone give me some thoughts on them? Now finding much in the archives.

At our local Ollie's Bargain Outlet, they have Berkley 6' MH Lightning Rod casting rods for $9.99. I picked a couple up for kayak fishing.

I have a casting rod, so I can't really tell you how the spinning rod would feel.

I use a Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth 6'10" MHMF rod, and love it. it is dedicated to ploppers now.

I typically fish higher end rods like GLX's and Legend Elites/Xtremes. But I also believe you don't have to have a high end rod for some moving baits. I like to fish traps on a spinning setup for some reason. But I wasn't liking the BPS Extreme MH I was using. I went to Wally World looking for a 7'MH Lightning Shock, but they were out. So I took a shot on the basic Lightning Rod. I tried it this morning and was impressed! This thing is light, balances VERY well with my Stradic 2500 FJ, and feels good in the hand. It will launch a 5/8 trap on light braid a country mile. I can feel vibration almost immediately upon starting to reel, and when I feel grass, it has plenty of backbone to rip it free, something my BPS Extreme lacked. Overall, even though I've only fished it a few casts, and haven't caught anything on it, I'm very happy with it, and recommend it as a budget rod for moving baits like traps and spinnerbaits.