webertime

Tom Kirkman's book should #1 on your list... Idealy you will go spend the $15 on it now then make your shopping list. http://www.mudhole.com/Shop-Our-Catalog/Rod-Building-Books/Rod-Building-Guide-Fly-Cast-Spin While you are there request Mudhole's catalog as well... You don't need a electric wrapper/dryer if you aren't building a bunch of rods. You can build your own wrapper out of 1x4's and some felt, just hang out near the rod after you've applied the epoxy and just give it 1/4 turns every 15 minutes for an hour. Kirkman's book has an ingenious set up for beginners that works very well. Also don't spend a bunch of money for your first rod build (save the St. Croix's until you are 100% confident, a crappy build on a nice blank is a waste). Get a closeout e or s glass blank from Mudhole that matches the weights/line you'll be throwing (Gator blanks). Then some basic Halide guides, a reel seat that fits your hand/grip and some EVA grip, thread size, go with A. Be stealth and go black with everything (easier to cover the inevitable f-ups). If it were ME before I bought all the stuff I'd need for a new rod, I'd try and scrounge up a beat old rod and strip it down and rebuild it. It'll save money and helps move you up the learning curve a bit.

It appears that the Smoke has the same ACS that other Quantum reels (Catalyst,Energy,Accurist) have. You will hit the ACS knob and not realize it and backlash. I watched it happen to a few guys this summer, all had the same complaint, when you palm that reel you will at one point or another knock the ACS off where you had it set. The Carbonlite's is smaller and slightly reccesed. It's a PURE reel (BPS, Browning, Pflueger, Abu).

I use this rig with the back Fluke mounted on a lightly weighted swimbait hood. This reduces the twisting a bit and covers a bit more water. I have it ready on the deck when I'm pitching weedbeds in case the Bass start crashing the baitfish above the weeds. Or when fishing Smallies and my partner gets one on, I'll toss it near his fight because of the usual pack of chasers we have up here. Works like a charm. The only issue I have is Northerns biting one off, thus you have to re-rig. I did have an enormous Northern take both and just left me with a bit of line.

Yeah, I fish a ton of grass/veggies. That Ike video (breaking the Verdict) was shot in a bay that I fish all the time.

I've been F&P all summer with 50 lb braid (Citica/Hvy C-stick/Tufline) and I've caught a fair amount of fish but have wondered how many I've missed due to fish either seeing the braid or by just plain yanking it out of their mouth. I know I've done the latter a bunch. For next year I was curious about switching to Fluro or Mono for a bit more stretch and less visibility. In affect helping in both areas that I feel I'm a bit weak. Anyone out there have any recommendations, advice on the subject?

I know I'm in VT (basically straight across from that lake) and cold nights and all the rain have shut the pond/small lake fish down over here.

Here here! Excellent rod for light cranks/jerk baits in rivers too!

That's the Ulnar nerve. This is the same nerve that give you writer's cramp/carpel tunnel, it's also your "funny bone" it's also the nerve that runs up the back of your shoulder into your neck. I have custom wrapped my rods to alliviate any strange pressure points on my hand and ever so slightly change the angle the rod comes out of my hand. I have Carrot Stick casting rods and the grip is tiny and the winding check hits right in the middle of my palm and made my ring and pinkie fingers go numb all the time earlier this year. Since I wrapped it I've been golden. I'll post pix of it when I get home...

ICE ICE ICE. Stretch BOTH arms like this... arms out in front, palms up. Walk up to a wall and palms against the wall. Keep your elbow locked and change the angle (rotation) of your palms on the wall. Hold each angle for 15-30 seconds. Those are muscles that move your wrist from neutral to cocked back (thumb towards elbow, but you knew that). Stretch and ice repeatedly. If it gets bad you could start to get some serious tendinitis and nerve issues (ulnar nerve). I have issues with it due years of Lacrosse (hyper extended elbows), Weight lifting and fishing. When you are out there flinging a 1/2oz bait a few hundred times it is working your muscles a lot, just a small amounts of stress over hundreds of reps., it adds up... You should stretch your arms/shoulders/back just to keep things loose and to prevent this sort of injury. If it gets bad try going lefty (or righty) for a bit. ICE ICE ICE... Wishing you good luck and stay on top of it. I didn't and it turned into bicep tendinitis, the worst pain/discomfort I've ever had.

I've been using a 703 for 4 months. It is a fantastic rod for shakies & d-shots. It's has what I would call a med-fast tip, so keep that in mind for jerkbaits. It has a very comfortable grip, even for my big ole paws.

You nailed it. Go with what you've picked. I'm a citica lover (I do have a pq on my flipping rod).

I've got a 703 spinning rod and I love it. Handle/grip fit my big hands well. I have it mounted with a Pflueger Supreme XT using 6lb Yo-Zuri and the spare spool with 15lb power pro. The Excel handles both lines really well, this thing really nice... I've used it for spinnerbaits, shaky heads, senkos, 1/8-1/4oz Texas Rigs, drop shots and small cranks. I've landed a 4lb LM out of some pretty tough weeds and pulled in a 4+lb SM from 20FOW and never felt the could use any more power, nor was it like shooting a canary with an elephant gun. 703 is pretty sick my friend.

If you want to catch those Bass, use a 4" Bluegill colored Sebile Magic Swimmer soft with all of the tungsten weights pushed as far forward as you can get them. Money... I love Road Runners with tubes/tiny ika's for sunnies/perch.

I just ordered an Excel 734C, be here tomorrow to match up with a Citica E. I already have a 703 Spinning rod and it is sweet.

They're going for $100 @ cabelas now. I have a regular carrot spinning rod (6'9" mh) with a 2500/3000 Sahara. I have. Drop shotted, ika'd,fluked, jerk baited, and tossed spinnerbaits. I love the thing, Golds seem to have had fewer issues. I'd do it. I have one spool with 30lb Tufline xp braid and another with 8lb big game. No issues...

My Bass set up is a 25 year old 8 ft 6 wt. Orvis Green Mountain (IM6), it was an entry level rig even back then. It has 7wt. Cortland weight forward line. I really don't think you need to go much heavier than that. If you are fishing heavier cover there probably isn't all that much room to get a good cast anyway so you are better off with standard gear. I like a shorter rod for that reason. More unsolicited tips: If you are trying to cast like you see in A River Runs Through It... please stop... Fish have eyes on the top of their head for a reason, most of their predators come in from above. So if they see some ballet-dancer having some sort of seizure above them they'll be a bit spooked. When casting a fly rod try to keep the rod tip moving forward and backward in a horizontal line. You don't want the tip to move in an arc. Practice your casting without a fly, concentrate on landing the line softly. If it lands gently, your fly will too. If your line slaps the water, who cares what your fly does because you just scared the poop out of the fish. Keep your elbow at your side. Don't let it flare up/out. Get the Orvis Guide to Flyfishing by Tom Rosenbauer, it's cheap and worth it's weight in gold.

If you Flyfish for Smallmouths do yourself a favor and get some "Barr's Meat Whistle" flies. They are the best/durable/consitant fly I have ever used. Besides it has the best name of any fly/lure, ever. Here's one of my brother's clients. 4.5lbs on a Meat Whistle.

Carolina rig the outside edges of weed beds with green pumpkin/red baits. Smallies herd the Perch balls up against the weeds.

http://www.rei.com/product/709063 http://www.petzl.com/en/outdoor/tactikka-series/tactikka-plus Petzl headlamps are awesome. This one has a red filter you put over the lens, no cycling. $40-$45

It's somewhat technical BUT... you can make your own maps. gpsfiledepot.com covers how to do it pretty thoroughly for land topo maps. The process will be the same for water data, though the data sources may be different. Doing it your way I'd say within 30yards is possible which is a lot larger than it sounds. It'll get you in the area then you have to take the time to hone in on what you are looking for and mark the way point on your GPS.

$150ish for the combo? From ***: Rods 6'9"Medium Carrot Stick, 6'8" Medium Daiwa Iaconelli, 703/704 Lamiglas Excel. ($80-$100) Reels Shimano Sonora or Sedona (2500size), Pflueger President or Trion (25-30 size) $40-$60 and a free t-shirt

If you ever plan on using braid get the Saros at least if you look at a Shimano. I have a Sahara and the only difference between the 2 is that on the Sahara on the right side of the reel where the reel handle goes through there is a plastic bushing. On the Saros it's another bearing. Bearings (good ones) support loads a lot better than bushings. My Sahara went south after about 3 months and it was the bushing that got a little out of wack that sent the alignment of everything of a bit. I threw a bearing in there and it is much better, but I think the damage has been done. :'( It feels and sounds like an old Mitchell 300 now. With no stretch braid really puts a lot of strain on a spinning reel. Pflueger President (or a Sale Supreme if you can find one) are great reels. I have a Supreme XT and it's pretty nice got it on clearance for $70 or so...

You a righty or lefty? There are some AMAZING prices on some lefthanded reels right now.

I've been using Gamy EWG 6/0 with the small ones. Lots of smashes but very few hook-ups. Anyone else noticing how they nose down pretty severely as opposed to the nose up of the Spook? Anyone pop the eyes out or rig it backwards to get the nose up some more?

Oh for sure VT's agricultural run off is an issue. There are tons of Lawn Fertilizer, and Crop Fertilizer along the rivers, and a lot of payment on/near the lake and streams(raising the runoff's temperature) that are encouraging blooms. But there are a lot of people dealing with that now... It seems to be the current cause dejour for the Volvo driver socially responsible soccer moms. You want junk water in VT... Harriman Res. you can't even eat a Rock Bass b/c of the Mercury, but it has huge Smallmouths in it.