.ghoti.

St Croix LT rods are excellent. So are the Avids. I have some of each, and frankly don't see that the LT's are $50-60 better, across the line. You won't go wrong buying an LTB, but take a good look at the Avid series before you make your choice. Having said that, my favorite combo is a 6'9" ML-XF LT rod paired with an Alphas 103F. This combo is so light in the hand, and will cast the lightest of baits, that it is just a blast to fish with.

Which series Falcon boxes are you using? The 700 series is in between the 3600 and 3700 size Plano boxes. If you're using this size, don't get a bag designed for 3600 boxes. Your Falcon 700 boxes will not fit. The Falcon 700 and 800 series boxes will fit in a bag designed for 3700 size Plano boxes. Lots of choices in that size. Why don't you wait a few days. See if anybody has a bag on sale after the first of the year. Betcha you'll find one, and save a few bucks.

In no particular order Zoom Super fluke GYCB cut-tail worm 6.5" & 10" 3X worm on Ikey jighead. And, for the best of the year, a custom color, hand-poured "blutto" bait on a JF chain rig

What do you mean "sorta"?

I finished yesterday. 6 courses. 6 written finals plus 3 practicals. I started at 8:00am with a stack of paper 18 1/2" high. Had all graded, and final grades entered at 7:00pm. I'm done until Jan 18.

GET AWAY FROM ME YOU GREEDY LITTLE BUGGER. You already got all the money from me yer gettin this year. But, now that I think about it, I'm low on tubes, flukes, space monkeys, thumpers, ikas and hula grubs. And those Megabugs are just too cool. And I just got a new swimbait rod, so I need to start looking at swimbaits. Aw $%#, who am I kidding? I'm with the monkey. We are legion. WE WILL ASSIMILATE YOU.

The hook you're looking for is the Owner Rig-N hook. A 3/0 Rig-N hook has the same gap as a 3/0 EWG, but is shorter. Also, unlike an EWG, the point of the Rig-N hook is not inline with the line tie. It sits higher, giving a much better hooking percentage.

Hang in there BL. I know you're too danged tough to be down for long.

just be sure not to sissify them. lol happening all to often nowadays. ...... tell him when he turns 7 the shelter goes in the trash. b Thus spake a Texican. :D

Thanks, mon. Don't leave your swimbait boxes laying around where I can get at "em. ;D ;D ;D

Speedbead, my only experience with swimbaits is soem time I spent part of 2009, and a little of 2010 throwng the paddletail plastics. You got any bait recommendations for me, other than the paddletails? Velvick seemed really impressed with the inline type. I don't have a clue.

That rod went home with me from Bass U. Kent won it in a raffle. And, since it didn't say GLoomis on it, he wanted nothing to do with it, and sold it to me. Made us both happy. I obviously haven't fished it yet, so I can't say much about it. I did a quick comparison to the only rod in my arsenal that is at least somewhat similar; a Dobyns 7'6" H-F rod. Dobyns is heavy power, Duckett is Extra-heavy Both are 7'6" Duckett rod is noticeably lighter in weight. Dobyns rod has a little faster action when flexed. Duckett rod has a LOT more power when flexed. I know how the Dobyns rod fishes. It's great. My opinion on the Duckett will have to wait. One peculiar thing is the lack of line weight and lure weight ratings on the rod. It simply says Extra Heavy, and that's it. No indication of action. No weight ratings at all. TW does not list line/lure weight ratings for this rod, and neither does the Duckett website. What's up with that? This is data most of us use when making rod purchasing decisions. So, we gonna throw some big stuff in Kentucky this year or what? ;D Big Stuff? You betcha. I'll throw you in the water, and you can throw me in the water. ;D ;D ;D

Casting - St Croix Avid 6'8" M-XF. The most versatile casting rod I own. Spinning - Airrus Tradition 7'2" MH-F. The most versatile rod I own.

That rod went home with me from Bass U. Kent won it in a raffle. And, since it didn't say GLoomis on it, he wanted nothing to do with it, and sold it to me. Made us both happy. I obviously haven't fished it yet, so I can't say much about it. I did a quick comparison to the only rod in my arsenal that is at least somewhat similar; a Dobyns 7'6" H-F rod. Dobyns is heavy power, Duckett is Extra-heavy Both are 7'6" Duckett rod is noticeably lighter in weight. Dobyns rod has a little faster action when flexed. Duckett rod has a LOT more power when flexed. I know how the Dobyns rod fishes. It's great. My opinion on the Duckett will have to wait. One peculiar thing is the lack of line weight and lure weight ratings on the rod. It simply says Extra Heavy, and that's it. No indication of action. No weight ratings at all. TW does not list line/lure weight ratings for this rod, and neither does the Duckett website. What's up with that? This is data most of us use when making rod purchasing decisions.

Another point of confusion is the difference between fast and extra-fast action. I've heard many people say an XF rod is more powerful than a fast rod. A med-heavy power rod is a med-heavy power rod, regardless of action. With and XF action you simply get into the backbone, thus the power, of the rod quicker.

I prefer a MH-F or even XF for this application, as long as the tip section is soft enough to allow better casting performance. Doesn't matter if you're fishing shallow or deep. If the rod will not load with the weight of the bait you're using, casting will be problematic. For me there's nothing worse than the broomstick with guides that many people recommend. I wouldn't use a moderate action rod for this application. I want a soft, castable tip that quickly turns into backbone. That implies a fast or extra fast action.

I'd say we let in anyone close to 60, who admits to being an Old Fart.

I'd say we let in anyone close to 60, who admits to being an Old Fart.

I'd say we let in anyone close to 60, who admits to being an Old Fart.

I'm 58, but I'm a professor, and some of the youngsters I have to deal with on a daily basis have aged me beyond my years. Let's get some tee shirts, eh?

I'm 58, but I'm a professor, and some of the youngsters I have to deal with on a daily basis have aged me beyond my years. Let's get some tee shirts, eh?

I'm 58, but I'm a professor, and some of the youngsters I have to deal with on a daily basis have aged me beyond my years. Let's get some tee shirts, eh?

That's a thought that would have never entered my mind. Thanks for the visual. :'( :'( :'(

I could have sworn you made the jump to Team Massengill ;D Now that's funny, right there.

Where did you get the idea that us Old Farts don't have opinions? We have opinions to spare. We're simply able to pass them of to you youngsters as "wisdom". ;D ;D ;D ;D