webertime

The 6'8" M XF JM Carbonlite looks like a winner to me. I use an older Extreme with the same specs and it's one of my favorite rods. DS, Senkos, Ika's, and pretty good with Jerk baits as well. The new JM Carbonlite or Extreme Spinning reels look good too.

Lamiglas Excel 703 or 702 would be great for what you are doing. I have the 703 and it says that it's 1/4-1/2 but I have thrown 1/12oz spinners on it with no trouble at all. I DS and shaky with mine on 6 and 8lb YZ Hybrid. At BTD they are $88 shipped right now.

Bass Angler Magazine. Quality, informative and doesn't read like a series of advertisements.

Last year's Crucial...

Ohya still has them at $130.

I believe it's Seaguar.

I have used the snell on a bunch of hooks that aren't welded and haven't has anymore issues than using welded hooks. I've never had one slip and you can leave the tag pretty long since it'll probably be buried in the plastic anyway. No need to double anything over. One note about this set up... Using braid with a non-"Flipping" hook has caused me to open up more than a couple hooks on hooksets. The knot didn't slip, the hook eye didn't shred the line or open; the hook just bends out and to one side. I had to learn to not go nuclear on my hooksets and by the end of the season I was not doing it at all.

Painting Aluminum can be a P.I.T.A... If it were me, I'd bust out the scotchbrite pads and some Mothers or Maguires and polish/buff her up.

I spent the weekend tying my first bunch of jigs, punch hubs, and spinnerbaits. The some spinnerbaits have 80-100 strands of silicone/rubber and seemed to be too much (or I might have just been too critical of myself). But it got me to thinking, can you "Over Skirt" a bait? I know it adds bulk but is there something else that might happen? Meant to have this in the Tacklemaking Forum, D'oh!

I just went today and got an LC Sammy 100, and 2 Pointer SP 100's for $5 and $6. Jackall Plastics there are $2 as well. $2 Husky Jerks as well.

Shimano is for original owner, if a shop or Shimano takes it back without that proof then cool, but the warranty explicitly states original owner, so a 2nd owner should not feel that they have warranty. Shimano Rod - Limited Lifetime Warranty As used herein, “Shimano” will mean “Shimano American Corporation” with respect to United States warranty claims and “Shimano Canada Ltd. / LTÉE” with respect to Canadian warranty claims. Shimano and Shimano Canada Ltd. / LTÉE warrant to the original retail purchaser that this rod will be free from non-conformities in materials and workmanship. Shimano's sole obligation under this Limited Lifetime Warranty is to repair or replace, at Shimano's option, a non-conforming rod at no cost to the original retail purchaser other than the cost of packing, insuring, and shipping the rod to Shimano. This Limited Lifetime Warranty will be considered VOID if the rod is found to have been subjected to repairs not authorized by Shimano, or if it has been modified, neglected, improperly maintained, misused, abused, or the appearance of the product reveals damage by your failure to provide proper maintenance. Kistler makes you register the rod (still a loophole if the original owner didn't so a 2nd owner could) St. Croix charges $50-$75 (not technically a warranty, it's a replacement.) Dobyns and Loomis both state original owner as well. I'm not trying to be snarky but a 2nd hand rod does not have a warranty, some do offer replacement programs (E21, St. Croix, etc.) but that's not a warranty per say.

The guys that will buy a Powell in that price range, are the guys that also would look at buying a used higher end rod, which also has NO WARRANTY... Buying a Diesel would ensure that you knew the history of what you are purchasing (IE it wasn't smacked around, etc). I do agree with those that mention a 30 day Manufacturing Defect period/warranty. For me it would go a LOOOOOOOOOOONG way towards making easing the "what if?" anxiety.

Next big sale period is around President's Day. 15-20% off many oline retailers. BPS Spring classic sale is around the same time if my memory serves.

Sharpie will rub off. I had some I did last spring and the color rubbed off on my fingers this past October. I like the Devcon Idea!

He'd have more fun reading Bass Resource on his phone in a bar in Montreal than Champlain that time of year. It could be (was last year) frozen still. I'd say research a state park in Virginia/Tenn/Kentucky and rent a canoe/kayak

The Saros spool "should" fit just fine. Worst case scenario you will need to use the Saros' drag knob as well with the spool. When my Sahara and Saros went south at the end of the tournament season I took their spools, drag knobs and handles and mated them to a Shimano Sonora. Pretty pimp looking gold and orange $50 reel! I really like the Saros reels a lot.

723 weighs 3.71oz. According to their Rep.

Cut the Tail (just fin, not the meat) off and hook a large circle hook through the back, about 1cm up from the tail. Still tries to swim, sends out all sorts of vibration but won't be able to bury itself in the weeds. Wait a second before setting the hook.

http://burlington.craigslist.org/boa/2792014080.html I have no connection to the seller. $50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a 715. I was only able to use it once so far, so I can't really give you a long-term type review but... A lot of us have fished a St. Croix Avid 7' MH (AVC70MHF), so with that in mind the 715 (7'1" "Heavy") actually feels pretty similar to the St. Croix power wise. The tip on the Recon is softer than the Avid, but the taper ramps up to give it plenty of power for dragging a 1oz C-Rig and Flipping 3/8-1/2oz T-Rigs. The Recon it is noticably more sensitive (to me) than the Avid. The balance point with a 201E7 is right smack in the middle of the "nut" that tightens the reel on to the rod, about 3/4" in front of the front edge (not foot) of the reel. The Recon weighs... 3.65oz the Avid... 4.7oz. The Avid is a fantastic rod, almost Iconic, if you are not looking at the Recon (in that $$$ range) you would be doing a disservice to yourself. I'm thinking a 723 (spinning) is on the horizon.

If you check around this and other sites with lurecraft sections they show how to make them for ~$6-8 each, so that would soften the blow, but I am positive a northern/muskie would destroy one. Big? YEP Obnoxious? YEP, sounds like a pike magnet to me!

Lamiglas 703 or 704, or the Rage stated above.

I suspect you have a BPS fairly close to you, they have the new 2012 model Lightening Rods for $28!!! Take a look at those. FFO has the 2011 models online for $20-$22 as well

Northern Pike, Chain Pickerel and a Hybrid of the two (lots in Lake Champlain).

Dilute some Hydrogen Peroxide into the water (there's a video on this on youtube). Add Ice to the water and get a jar of Rejuvinade to add to the water as well. Doing those things in addition to your big tubs (A big cooler would work better) and air pump should work well for a 20 minute trip. Try to fill the tubs with water from the ponds and not tap/hose water.