Hooligan

Bar none, the best "Bass" rods on the market are the Sage Bass series. The Largemouth rod is the perfect rod for chuckin' hair bugs and splatting big flies around. They're spendy, but worth every penny. I really don't like a 9' rod for most of the bass fishing I do, the exception is smallies on rivers. The 7'11" Sage is much more powerful than the average #8 and far more accurate than a 9' rod. If you're casting for distance, it's a different story altogether.

I really like the rooster. Peg it with a 3/0 EWG and you're gold.

The CUCX72MH is a super rod. I've got two rigged almost all the time. Super Jig rod, great for C-rigs, too. The rod just under that the CUC72MH is a superb Ika/senko rod. I also fish Light T-rigs and 1/4 oz jigs. Love the series.

AFAIK the Cabela's Rad Swimmer has to be fished pretty fast to get anything out of it. I know a couple of guys that bought them and tossed 'em.

I fish a lot of 1/8th oz Xraps on a couple setups.

Metal.

I've got 13 Citicas; I've done nothing to them; I've never had a problem with them. I will continue to buy them as well as Curados. They're one of the most durable reels you can get, and easily the best reel at that price-point.

Sure, a MH can work, but given most of the jerkbaits I fish are 1/2oz and under, I'd really rather have the Med. I've yet to have an issue when it comes to fighting fish on the rods, either.

I'm finding that out.

I got turned on to a product called Renaissance Wax from some of the woodworkers I know. I'm very familiar with the product in that world, but hadn't thought of it on cork. I've used it for a couple years now and like it a lot because it doesn't change the way the grips feel.

http://www.***.com/Seaguar_Tatsu_Fluorocarbon_Line/descpage-STFL.html I got mine locally, BPS has it as well.

Pitzen (16-20) with any fluoro.

All fluoro is a resin; if it's 100% it's a resin. AbrazX- Has a different resin make up that uses a hardener to increase the abrasion resistance. InvizX- softer fluoro, not as abrasion resistant as Abrazx Red Label- lower quality than both the above lines, in terms of Abrasion resistance and level lay. It's also more prone to pretty hefty memory. Carbon Pro-Discontinued. You also run into things like tensile strength and stretch between them. I believe the catalog gives more in depth info on them. Tatsu is awesome, for what it's worth.

LOL Thing is a BEAST. It's a custom pour from a guy up here. What's odd, though, is that I still get 14" fish on the thing. I originally bought them for a Texas trip, but have so much fun fishing them around here that I've hung on to them.

Trick Worm SK 3x Finesse 4 and 7 Smokin' Rooster Eeliminator (This bait has me reeling, really like it on a C-rig) Space Monkey Toad Lizard 14" Worm Ring Fry Lots and lots of baits that I C-Rig.

Thanks a ton for the heads up fellas, and the offer Fish. I hope it works that I can take you up on it.

I like the Rooster a lot. Been pitching it around here quite a bit. While we are by no means on fire, it's starting to heat up.

Thanks for the heads up. If my truck doesn't get here, it means that I'm flying down and my gear stays home. I'm really hoping that my truck gets here in the next couple days. I've been authorized from the "head shed" to tow my boat with a company vehicle as of 30 minutes ago. I'm dying'.

About as much as I want to throw on the CUC70M is a DT10, or Mini MR. It handles those types of baits very well, without feeling like you're in too deep for the rod. It will also fish Shad Raps and Fat Raps very well. I've thrown a few lipless baits on it, but wouldn't want to get in the grass with it.

I'd say Tbird is on the money. You might see locally higher or lower, but that's a pretty good average.

Broke two Trokar's tonight. First time I'd used the EWG's. Two hooksets, two broken hooks. That said, I caught 5 fish on a standard offset Trokar. Dunno what to think now.

What little I've been reading (didn't know where I was going until just today) that seems like a really cool non-typical East Texas lake. Sounds like a winner in my book. Would you happen to know of any boat rentals in the area? I'm reasonably sure mine won't be coming with me.

No, but other damages can occur...

Headed down there for a three week stint. Was supposed to leave today, but have been delayed. Anything in the area worth a shot?

Depends on what we're talking about; big pike or just pike. Here in NE, I like to fish Showgirls and 4" and 7" Suick Thrillers. I also catch a huge number of inline bucktails slightly larger than a #5 Mepps. Big pike? I fish them almost the exact same as I fish muskies. Throwing big gliders and bucktails, big safety-pin spinnerbaits, and 8-10" minnowbaits.