ChrisAW

Clearance rods and reels are 25% off at my store. But its unlikely the Titanium Combo will be clearanced this year because it was a brand new item. The Titanium rod was clearanced out at my store, originally 139.99 down to 79.97. I picked up the full cork grip version for my girlfriend because its a shorter overall handle for well under half price, and being paired with the older Pflueger Supreme XT makes it very lightweight. I'd check for one of the rods on their own and pair it with a reel you possible already have or something? Using 10lb Trilene Big Game mono, it's VERY sensitive and she has no problems detecting bites with many different types of lures. I'm used to flouro and how clearly I can feel the bites, it was actually nearly as clear with just mono.

Are you sure it wasn't "Save up to 75% - when taking an additional 50% off Clearance price"? My store is running that deal right now. Stores have different deals, but ours is running something similar. People have asked me if its 75% off, and its not, its only an addition 50% off the clearance price. So if you're there again, double check the sign. If its the same one we're having, you may have tricked the new girl at the counter into giving you more off than it actually was.

Got my first Veritas beginning of this year, didn't have many problems when using it except one good snag. I actually had a backlash with I went to throw a jig, and spent about 5 minutes carefully picking it out. When I went to retrieve, the jig was good and stuck. Well I pulled and pulled on that snag. I pulled the boat up to where it was caught, I couldn't touch the lure cause the water was too deep where I was. I eventually just got aggrivated and gave it one good "hook set." I pulled the boat about 2 inches down into the water, my line was screeching from the tention and finally... ! I bent a hook straight. I wouldn't doubt some of these lower priced rods have a higher rate of imperfections that may contribute to a failure, but I'd bet there are a lot more people that are happy with there rods than the ones having problems.

I also tend to pick up a baitcaster more often than not. I just can't stand how many problems I have with line twist, even using all the preventative measures I've read on here. It's just something I tend to hate dealing with, so I find myself using BC's for just about everything. Even went through the torture of learning to skip with a BC. But, I still have three good spinning setups. If nothing else, my girlfriend or friends use them. I generally have one of them tied up with an 1/8oz weight and a baby rage craw ready to pickup though.

You probably won't. Shore fishing is hard enough as it is, but most of the fish they are catching are out a little deeper, not to mention always on the move.

I work with a guy who gets out there pretty often for fun and tournaments, and knows many people who do as well. He said the bite was on like crazy during the most recent tournament out there. 10 teams weighing in a bag of 20+ pounds and hundreds of fish caught, a lot of them above 4 pounds. Where to go to get those fish? I couldn't tell you. I'm trying to get a ride out there with him before it gets too cold this year, here's hoping.

Glad you had a good experience with our Protection Plan I try to suggest it to everyone who buys a rod, they all seem to think we get a commission for selling them, but thats not the case. It really does benefit you more than us. The protection plans go by price of the object. 24.99 and under - 2.99 for PP 25-49.99 - 5.99 for PP. 50-99.99 - 10.99 for PP. And it goes on and on from there. I've never had one complaint from anyone who's used the Protection Plan. They cover any damage done to the item regardless of how it happened. Broken tips included. A few have told me that they called in a claim for a broken tip, they were sent a gift card to cover the cost of the new one and was able to keep the old one, and just put a new tip on it and keep using it. Not only that, but Gander has their 1 Year 100% Guarantee back on the house brand items, not only rods and reels. Anything Gander Brand has atleast a 1 year guarantee. So with that one year warranty, if you by a PP as well on any GM rod, you'll be covered for 25 months!

Rod: 10/10 Reel: 10/10 Line: 5/10 I use XL but I can't say it's the best of what I have. I only wish I could have that rod/reel combo though! My current favorite combo: New Pfleuger Supreme XT 3500 Gander Mountain GSX Elite II 7' MH-F Seaguar InvisX 10lb.

My Citica spools unevenly sometimes as well. What I do to get it to spool straight, is actually hold the line in front of the reel, and follow the level-wind back and forth. Generally, I exaggerate it a little, and go farther outside on each side than I need to, and it will actually fill into each side of the spool better. Only bad thing is, if it spools uneven, it will probably keep doing it even when fishing. I noticed with my Citica that if I'm fishing a spinnerbait or something, holding the rod off to the side, the resistance bends the rod a little and the line rides to one side of the guides and end up spooling unevenly, over and over again so long as I keep holding the rod that way.

I'm not talking HEAVY cover. I'm talking that one tree branch that I didn't know was on the bottom on a flat or something. No matter what, if there happened to be a tree branch or a stump or something between me and where I cast, it would hang on it. My Gami hooks rigged the same way do not hang up nearly as much as these did for me. I'm not saying they wont work, they are very sharp and I wouldn't hesitate to use them if I run out of the Gami's, I'd just be watching where I cast more closely.

I bought some recently to try as well, and I can't say I liked them very much. Seemed like no matter what I did, I couldn't fish cover because they would get hung up. I rig the bait the same as on the Gami's I use, but for some reason these got caught on everything. I don't even rig the gamy's weedless, just hooked with the point coming out of the nose, and I never have a problem with snags.

Its sensitive enough that I've felt the bite on completely curled/slack line laying on the water. It was VERY light, and I may have only felt it because I seen the line twitch, but I did feel the tap. Flouro is very dense, and transmits a bite like an electrical signal in a wire. I feel like I'm cheating. Not to say braid isn't sensitive, but I've never felt a bite on slack line. I've only caught bites on slack braid when line watching.

I hate to bring this back up. I never had anything to say about it before, but I happened to mention this to a couple co-workers who take part in BASS Federation tournaments and have known Nate as well as his father. One knowing him well before he fished these tournaments. From the sounds of both of my co-workers character references, Mr. Wellman is not a very deserving person. They both told me that they have a dislike for him, not because of anything he has done to them personally, but just his all around attitude and for way's he's acted in the past. They both mentioned they wouldn't think twice to believe he would have done this. Neither had time to get into detail, and I'm not sure I need to spread around any rumors, but if what they told me was true, there will be justice for Nate.

I'll be taking my girlfriend out fishing in the morning, and its the first time since temps have started to fall that I'll have been able to get out fishing. I'm curious what everyones water temps have been and if they'll be up shallow, or if they are still a little in summer mode. I have no electronics to read from on my little boat, so I won't know what temps are. The lake we'll be fishing is pretty much 10' and shallower everywhere, besides a couple 15' flat's and a couple real quick drop deep holes. I'm betting I'll still find bites all over the place like I was during the summer, but I'm curious if anyone noticed the bite picking up because of the cool down. She isn't very familiar with anything fishing yet, I took her out once on a small private lake that is usually always hot, and I ofcourse I couldn't buy a bite that day. So I just want to try and give her the best chance I can to catch something.

Alberto here as well. I used to use the Albright and sometimes still tie it without thinking, both always worked equally well for me.

Getting the Curado at 119.99? That is definitely the way to go. That should leave you with plenty to play with for a nice rod, new or used.

I agree with Crestliner! I use Gami's drop shot hooks, and about 80% of the fish I've caught with that hook, it is stuck in the top lip and will not come out without using pliers. Mainly cause its hard to grab

If it were me, I would step down a bit on the reel and go for a Citica or Revo S, or other comparable reels, and then spend a little more on the rod. I have Two SX's, two S', a Citica' and a Curado, and I personally don't see a need to step up from the S or Citica for your budget. They all work equally well for me. As for rods, I do have both Vendetta's and Veritas and both have been great rods for me. But going with a less expensive reel will open up a few more options for rods.

I've just been using some shakey heads for small beaver baits, or if I need it to be more slick through weeds, T-rigged with a small bullet weight and a 1/0 offset round bend worm hook.

I'm really interested in trying the new Zoom paddle tail Flukes, they have to be more durable than the Swim Senkos. But that being said, I do use the Swim Senkos right now, and although their durability is horrible, I am still on the same bag that I start with earlier this year. I've been repairing the crap out of them with Mend It, and it's saved me a lot of money. I'd say I've been able to get atleast 20 fish on each of them before they are too far gone for repair, and I've got about 4 left (Guess I need to buy another bag ) The Havoc paddle tail looks pretty good, and I have't had a problem with the Pit Boss' durability which makes me want to try those too.

I use the Gami's, I have had the problem with the barb but it isn't a real big problem for me. A dab of superglue and I can put the barb where I want it (I feel like its too high up anyways), and I'm back to fishing. They are very sharp and I have yet to lose a fish after sticking them with this hook. I mostly use the 3/0, but do carry 4/0's and 5/0's. Just haven't seen a need for the thicker/larger hooks yet, but I'm not catching anything much bigger than 5 pounds up here in Michigan so far this year.

Yup! This is the knot I use for mono. I always thought it was the improved clinch knot, but that is tied once through the eye. Then I thought it was the Trilene, but they don't pass through the last loop like the improved. So I've been tying it the way you're describing for years now, and its a great knot, that is quick and easy to tie. I only have one application with mono on it anymore, and its my topwater/spinnerbait rod with 15# Big Game. Instead of 5 wraps with 15#, I only do 4. I found 5 were hard to get cinched down all the way, and the little tests I've done showed no strength lost. 12# and lower, I do 5 wraps. If you're using flourocarbon, this knot tends to break well below strength rating. So I'd say try something different. The knot Shaw Grigsby uses has served me well since I learned it, but I can't remember the name.

Yeah, they will collect water, but as long as it still sits at the surface, its fine. It will just cause more disturbance in the water with the back end hanging down. I will grab mine after a little while and hold it so that the hole where the hook comes out of is at the bottom, and then squeeze it a couple times to spit the water out. I'm sure it will produce for you, I know it has for me.

The Pro-Senko is molded with a thicker head and a more tapered tail, as if to be used for shakey headin' or the Neko rig, or what-have-you. The regular senko is just tapered on both ends, almost symmetrically. Not a real big difference.

Which style is the one that gave you problems?