RichF

MidwayUSA has the new Simms ProDry jacket (one color) for 45% off right now. That's $330!

Honestly, I think a 6 speed reel is the sweet spot for bladed jigs. The Curado K is hard to beat in the under $200 range. Smooth, tough, and can hold a good amount of line (I run 17lb fluoro).

I'm with @Bluebasser86. The Legend Glass is absolutely incredible. I have never used a better crankbait rod. It's got great parabolic flex without being a floppy whip but also has some solid backbone (I'm using the 7'4 MH). It transmits vibration better than any glass rod I've thrown. I was also pleasantly surprised at how light it feels in hand. I've only thrown a DT-6 and DT-10 on it so far but I know it'll handle up to a 6XD just fine. I may even ditch my Dobyns Champ 736 glass for another 7'4 Legend to throw bladed jigs.

Don't think it was fully articulated on here but Academy has 20% off rods and reels until sunday. Shimano and Daiwa included!

Does the USDM version have a 90mm handle?

I think, till Sunday.

Nope, not a drag issue. My old Curado Es had the handle backplay as well. It was a prominent thing with Shimano casters that I thought got "fixed". @FishTank, my 2 Ks don't have the issue at all. I do notice a smoothness difference between my 8.5:1 and 6.2:1 though (I clean and lube the reels exactly the same way). Honestly, it doesn't affect the performance really at all, just an annoying thing. Maybe I'll replace the AR bearing and see what happens.

I know the handle back-play topic has been discussed on here in the past but it seemed like that "issue" had been taken care of with the newer Shimanos (post G series Curados, etc). The Scorpion MGL I just got has the backplay, big time. I was wondering if any other owners out there are experiencing it as well.

Another vote for the Scorpion MGL. I wasn't sure the color would look good on my levante, but it looks awesome.

I know a lot of people fish for them under the Rte 12E bridge at Chaumont. I've seen giants cruising around the bay while fishing for bass.

Mice destroyed the seats in my tracker and got into my motor again. Chewed up the foam inside the cowl and almost go through some wires. No clue how to stop them.

Im up near Alex Bay and the most of the big water is open. The smaller lakes around here still have ice but it's going away fast. Once we get these next few days of rain, they should be clear.

For what it's worth, I used SC's excellerator program to get a new Legend Glass back in Jan. They told me it wouldn't be in stock until the end of March. I got it well before their estimate.

Alex Bay is a zoo my friend. I've lived 25 mins away from there for most of my years and never launched or fished around the bay. Clayton is busy too but not nearly as bad. French Creek marina is always a decent choice. You can go further north too. Chippewa Bay has a good state ramp with no fees, it's just shallow and a bit treacherous getting out to the main river. Morristown has a good ramp too that I believe is also free. All the state parks have ramps, you just have to pay to enter. Grass Point, Kring Point, and Keewaydin come to mind.

Is any line sensitive on slack? Hmmmmm

There are only a few anglers that have really lucrative deals with companies that legit get paid to fish (like, really get paid). It's like <10% off pro anglers...and I bet you can figure out who the majority of them are. The rest are either 1) independently wealthy 2) cut enough checks to cover costs 3) have spouses that actually pay the bills or 4) are in debt up to their eyes. Randy Blaukat talks about this stuff a lot on his youtube channel. He's been in the game a long time and dishes some pretty good info.

17% off at Kittery Trading Post with code LUCKY! Pretty sure they have the Perfect Pitches in stock. FWIW, in my experience, extra fast tips can be a little volatile. I've snapped a few (all different brands). I picked up a new Braillist and it looks and feels great. I have faith that the new Levantes will be great.

KTP has a code for 17% off right now (Megabass included...and yes they have Levantes in stock). Of course, after the $13 shipping charge they are only like $20 off. It's something though! code: LUCKY

Not necessarily an downsizing thing or match the hatch thing for me. I like them during prespawn when fish are shallow and I need a lipless bait light enough to be effective in the depth of water I'm in.

Any Tatula with an SV spool. I skip docks a ton and these have been the best at thwarting backlashes. Should be able to find the older ones for less than $199. They're a much better buy IMO because they're not "technique specific". While I haven't used this new Lews (or any for that matter), I'm always hesitant to dish out $$ for something with a "singular" use. All this said, the best thing you can do is practice. A well trained thumb can keep you from spending unnecessarily!

SK2 reel seat...?

This 100% hahaha

We appreciate your service sir! My dad is 20 yr Army retired. Hope things work out for you and you get as much enjoyment out of tournament fishing as I do.

I would focus more on finding fish and catching them. Refine your techniques. Become the best caster, learn how read the bottom by feel, really get in tune to how your baits work in the water. Once you do that, you likely won't even need all the fancy gizmos to compete, you'll just beat guys with pure skill. I've never used a TM with spotlock. Heck, I only just started using side imaging a couple years ago but I'm almost always in the running for checks. I don't want to come across like I'm bragging, I just hate to see so many anglers out there hesitate to get into competitive fishing because they don't have the biggest boat, newest gadgets, and best electronics. Most of the anglers I've fished with AND against have had bigger/better boats than me but only a few were actually GREAT fishermen.

I wouldn't worry too much about your gear. My dad and I started fishing local team events out of a 14ft Starcraft with a 25HP on it. Our next upgrade was a Tracker Pro Team 170 with a 50HP that we used for several years (I bought it from by dad a couple years ago and fished ABAs out of it...and won...a lot). As far as your other concerns...you'll never know until you try. I've been fishing tournaments since '07 and am completely obsessed. They're always a little stressful and sometimes can be downright depressing but they're also incredibly exciting at the same time. Just wait till you jack a 5 pounder 10 mins before you have to weigh in and get yourself a 'W'. No other feeling like it. I will say, if the cost associated with the tournaments will be a significant hit to you (if you don't cash a check), you might wanna hold off a bit. It will only give you that unwanted, non-fishing related stress and make it less than enjoyable. If it's just a competitive thing, you have to understand that it takes the vast majority of anglers a long time to get their tournament legs under them. You have to accept that you'll likely get your butt kicked the first few times out (or the first few years out). Don't ever feel shame for not catching them. It happens to everybody. Biggest thing is to just try and stay relaxed and have fun. Good Luck man!