webertime

Daiwa rods are pretty "true" a medium is definitely a medium. I might suggest you look at Kittery Trading Post, they have the Tierra for $40-47 then a 17% discount on top of that. The Tierra and the T are the same rod, just cork vs. split EVA. Oh and free shipping. I have a 6'6" M Tierra I use for Jerks/TW and like it a lot.

I assume you aren't talking Hollow Belly/Shadalicious types I started with: Weedless 6" Hudds both ROF 5 and 12 Blackdog Lunker Punkers and Shell Crackers Mattlures Perch and Ultimate Bluegill. I ended up LOVING the Hudds and Shell Cracker, the Punker was pretty cool to fish but the Pike were always first on the scene when I used them. The Mattlures baits were nice, not something I'd replace if I lost them though. I did get a floating Mattlures Pumpkinseed, now THAT thing is SICK!

Not putting the top on all the way of a jar of Smelly Jelly and laying it on it's side in the same Plano box as your hooks on a hot day DOES keep them from rusting though. Not what I wanted to do but it has kept them from getting any worse for over a year now.

Shimano Solstace or Sienna are $30-$40 each. Great reels for just starting.

I used 20lb CXX for my swimbaits (similar list to Deep's) and it's a great line for that purpose.

I have a bunch (look in the right spot and you can find 50 count boxes for $7). They work great and have a somewhat deeper bend/gap than say a Gammy EWG. The only thing I saw that bums me out is that salty baits cause them to rust rather quickly. I don't leave my baits on the hooks for storage but leaving a Senko on one for a day of fishing will give you some rust.

My point is that a lot of these reviews are "I got it yesterday and fished it for 27 minutes! It's the BEST!---5 Stars!" or "I have 3 of the older models and love them, 5 Stars". And from my own personal knowledge and experience don't discount the fact that employees of other companies or their own, will put up reviews on products to drive the scores up or down. It happens more than you know on most all consumer products. So to me... if I see a reel that has 4 reviews that are relevant (IE current model, from an experience angler, and for a reasonable length of time in various conditions) and a 4.2 score, it means worlds more than a reel that has 300 reviews from "I bought it a week ago and fished it last night and backlashed a lot but it was great, 5 stars" and a score of 4.7. I'm not trying to be difficult, this sort of thing is what I do for a living (data analysis/investigative work). Pool size only matters IF all members of the pool represent a particular group. With BPS/Cabelas reviews you have too much of a variance in the "types" within the pool to give that sort of importance to the total # of the pool (I hope that made sense). From a data point of view the # of reviews means nothing unless it's all the same type of anglers doing the review, in this case they aren't. Seriously though. Citica E for $80 at GM. Sale BPS Pro Qualifier (nice if you are a lefty or need specific ratios) $80 Citica G's for $90 with rebate. If you can find one near by, the Quantum PT Tours that is being cleared out by DSG are ~$100 now. Curado G's for $130 with rebate. Revo's for $130 anywhere with the rebate.

With Shimano and Abu's current rebates a Curado or Revo SX would be ~$130 (go for either of those or the Gander Citica E if you are a rightie). Number of reviews make no difference since it is only an example of how long a product has been on the market.

I have a few. 5/0 1/8oz monsters are perfect. I fish them rigged in-line. They're kind of like a fluke and a spoon hybrid. Fish hit them hard! Pike LOVE them .

I have one of the older model Blackmoons and my buddy has the BPS XPS one. The Shimano's build quality is WAY better and is more practical in size in my opinion. That Blackmoon will carry 4 3600's (Cranks, Terminal, Jigs, and some trailers), the side pockets fit 2 3500's (Jerkbaits and Topwaters), the upper section can hold your senkos/flukes/tubes/RAGE/etc. in their bags/ziplocks and a few spinnerbaits in a wallet or small FTO spinnerbait box. There are side loops and pouches for all your pliers/tools/scents so the are right where you need them. That's plenty big enough for a shore-pounder or co-angler. Check ebay for deals on the Blackmoon's I got mine for significantly less than retail.

The 4 3600(3650,is the same size) fit in the bottom part. Look at a pic and you'll see an arch around the section that has Shimano on it, that is also empty storage. The side pockets fit 3500 sized boxes (1ea). They hold waaaaaay more than the description states.

Carrot Stix hand crampers... I have a solution that works wonders. Go to a local bike shop and buy a role of cork handlebar tape (or see if they have random scraps, you only need ~2'). The stuff will add a VERY marginal amount of weight to your rod and actually I found it improved the balance of the rod. 1. Cut a piece 1-1.5" long and another the same length of the rod grip. 2. This depends on what hand you hold the rod with, I hold it with my right. Let's say the centerline of the reel seat (Butt to Tip) is 12 o'clock, put the left edge of the tape (if you are a righty do the right side) on that centerline about 1/4-1/2" down from the plastic part of the reel seat, on the grip. 3. Lay the grip length strip over the smaller one. You can use a wrap of electrical tap to secure it at the end to prevent any slipping. 4. WRAP! It is VERY important that if you are holding rod in your right hand that you start at the butt end of the grip and go over the top and wrap CLOCKWISE up the grip until the end. If you are holding it in your left hand then go counter clockwise. This is important because as the grip rotates in your hand it will not cause the tape to stretch/unwrap with use, it actually tightens it. 5. Trim the top edge with a razor and add a wrap or 2 of Electrical tape. The little hump you created with the small pieces supports the muscles and nerves in the palm of your hand that are left unsupported with the stock grip and a reel mounted. Give it a shot! It leaves NO Residue if you decide to take it off and sell the rod.

http://www.springcreekprams.com/?page_id=59 I had one of these for a while, I fished it at some pretty stupid times on Lake Champlain and I never felt that I was going to die. Super stable, conduit that allows you to run the TM cable to the rear seat (flips up and that's where you put the battery). Not cheap but pretty sweet AND fits in Tacoma with the gate down. Easy to launch with a single person too.

I believe that person was selling other bearing (and those) on another forum. I believe a bunch of folks bought them and I haven't seen any threads about them being terrible/rip offs.

For the c-rig, Mojo Rockhopper sinkers work wonders. "Was that a bite?"-- That just takes some experience. SWEEP the rod on the hookset. Other baits for your waters: Fat Ikas, Flukes, Shaky Heads with a Craw and Senkos are a good start.

Braid and some Sharpie streaks for that type of water.

Chris Lane

Thanks man, nice smallie in your pic.

Was Foxborough reasonably stocked or was it pretty picked over already? I have a 3 hr drive...

You did not see that thing, it doesn't exist and fish hate it...

I aim to be as little of a nuisance as possible as a co-angler. Consider a Bac Rac rod rack. Ask the boater if they are ok with using it too. It keeps the hooks away from their seats (that alone makes them happy) and keeps your rods from getting tangled. When it's time to go just drop the rod on the rack and secure the 2 bungees and you are off! I like an inflatable life jacket and just keep it on at all times, it makes the "Ok let's get going" so much faster and easier. Boaters in my club will give you one compartment out back and as long as you don't get in their way with it they don't care what you bring for tackle so long as it fits and is quick to stow. That being said one thing that had me frusterated was that I was bringing too many options with me and got myself confused and wasting MY time deciding on what to carry. The second half of the season I brought far fewer items and my success went through the roof. I brought what I was confident I could use and just stuck with them. This year I have a bag that will fit 2 3500 sized boxes (jerks/TW), 4 3600 boxes for plastics/jigs/terminal and 2 pockets for a Lindy Leader Roll (Drop Shots and C-Rigs pre-tied and ready to be attached) and my tools. This thing is pretty compact and allows quick access and storage. RW's recommendations on rods are spot on, I also like a longer Heavy rod. I keep pliars, clippers, and a hook file clipped to me so they're always on me and I don't fumble around looking for them and then have my angler call "Fish!" and create a cluster... (Not gear related but good tips) Never lean on a PowerPole/Talon without them saying it's ok. Saw that end badly. Get used to fishing around them. Don't go nuts when you lose a fish or get into it with other people while you are in another person's boat (saw a co-angler go nuts on a Kayaker that was being an instigator). This is probably common sense but I have been into tournaments for 1.5 seasons and have seen it happen a lot.

With the Classic sale you could get a Citica (with reel trade and their rebate) for $74.99... That would be the same price as the Caenan with a trade in (they don't offer a rebate for that model).

It was during the 20% off sale during the past weekend. Hi's Tacklebox has them for $99.95 shipped. If you live in the Northeast you are more than welcome to check mine out. PM me if you want to know where EliteTech Smallmouth and Abu Garcia Villians are DIRT cheap right now.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshimanocaenan.html Get a PQ, Carbonlite,or Citica for similar $ during the sale.

Hag's Undertaker and Smokin' Rooster.