SeanW

Im not saying its not on him, it most definitely is. If he is fishing light line and setting like that it can be a problem. If he is breaking 20lb Big Game on a hook set, he better change his hook set if he is gonna fish with the big boys. I sometimes get frustrated at how difficult it is to break it when I hang up. Then again, since I fish tournaments in the same area, and will also be moving up, tell him to keep at it.

Too new, I dont have anything good anyway. ;D ;D

I prefer fluoro most of the time in the Cal Delta. The fish there and many of the places I fish get line shy. For jigs though I can get away with fishing heavier line no problem. 25lb 100% or 15lb 100% fluoro. If Im fishing deeper, like down beyond 35 ft Ill use 10-15lb Big Game in green. We are talking jigs here. If IM drop shotting its always fluorocaron, somewhere between 6lb and 25lb depending on what Im doing and where. Once Im over 15 I go right to 25lb. I do use 20lb big game too.

I prefer fluoro most of the time in the Cal Delta. The fish there and many of the places I fish get line shy. For jigs though I can get away with fishing heavier line no problem. 25lb 100% or 15lb 100% fluoro. If Im fishing deeper, like down beyond 35 ft Ill use 10-15lb Big Game in green. We are talking jigs here. If IM drop shotting its always fluorocaron, somewhere between 6lb and 25lb depending on what Im doing and where. Once Im over 15 I go right to 25lb. I do use 20lb big game too.

I prefer fluoro most of the time in the Cal Delta. The fish there and many of the places I fish get line shy. For jigs though I can get away with fishing heavier line no problem. 25lb 100% or 15lb 100% fluoro. If Im fishing deeper, like down beyond 35 ft Ill use 10-15lb Big Game in green. We are talking jigs here. If IM drop shotting its always fluorocaron, somewhere between 6lb and 25lb depending on what Im doing and where. Once Im over 15 I go right to 25lb. I do use 20lb big game too.

Well I can add a few things to this. I broke off 2 fish this year, one was on a bad spool of brand new line(maxima). The second was on 65lb braid. My hookset is enough to move the boat and startle the other person on the boat. His hookset is not the problem. There are several things can cause this to happen. Bad line guides is the first thing to come to mind. Second is weights, Ive seen bad ones where the hole is not smoothe. The last would be line. I buy all my line in bulk. Ive bought spools that are just flat bad. If it keeps happening with different brands you can rule that out. I have found several lines that can handle the hookset very well, not all can. Berkley Big Game is perhaps the best. Yo-Zuri hybrid is also up there, but not quite as shock resistant as Big Game. P Line was always a favorite, but I got a bad spool of it. I later discovered that if I change it often(I fish alot) it is fine. Of course braid, however I dont believe in using it for alot of techniquues. The rod is also important, but not so much as line. I use MH flipping rods, usually closer to 8ft then not. All my rods are a tad longer. Its helps move line, but also absorbs shock. I dont really use many rods beyong a 5 power, its plenty stuff enough. A hookset is usually only travelling from 7 oclock to 11 oclock in most cases, and thats the extreme. Its not that much. As the rod loads the power and speed of the hook set should be tailing off. Ive shattered flippin stiks on hook sets, and the line holds up fine.

Well I can add a few things to this. I broke off 2 fish this year, one was on a bad spool of brand new line(maxima). The second was on 65lb braid. My hookset is enough to move the boat and startle the other person on the boat. His hookset is not the problem. There are several things can cause this to happen. Bad line guides is the first thing to come to mind. Second is weights, Ive seen bad ones where the hole is not smoothe. The last would be line. I buy all my line in bulk. Ive bought spools that are just flat bad. If it keeps happening with different brands you can rule that out. I have found several lines that can handle the hookset very well, not all can. Berkley Big Game is perhaps the best. Yo-Zuri hybrid is also up there, but not quite as shock resistant as Big Game. P Line was always a favorite, but I got a bad spool of it. I later discovered that if I change it often(I fish alot) it is fine. Of course braid, however I dont believe in using it for alot of techniquues. The rod is also important, but not so much as line. I use MH flipping rods, usually closer to 8ft then not. All my rods are a tad longer. Its helps move line, but also absorbs shock. I dont really use many rods beyong a 5 power, its plenty stuff enough. A hookset is usually only travelling from 7 oclock to 11 oclock in most cases, and thats the extreme. Its not that much. As the rod loads the power and speed of the hook set should be tailing off. Ive shattered flippin stiks on hook sets, and the line holds up fine.

Well I can add a few things to this. I broke off 2 fish this year, one was on a bad spool of brand new line(maxima). The second was on 65lb braid. My hookset is enough to move the boat and startle the other person on the boat. His hookset is not the problem. There are several things can cause this to happen. Bad line guides is the first thing to come to mind. Second is weights, Ive seen bad ones where the hole is not smoothe. The last would be line. I buy all my line in bulk. Ive bought spools that are just flat bad. If it keeps happening with different brands you can rule that out. I have found several lines that can handle the hookset very well, not all can. Berkley Big Game is perhaps the best. Yo-Zuri hybrid is also up there, but not quite as shock resistant as Big Game. P Line was always a favorite, but I got a bad spool of it. I later discovered that if I change it often(I fish alot) it is fine. Of course braid, however I dont believe in using it for alot of techniquues. The rod is also important, but not so much as line. I use MH flipping rods, usually closer to 8ft then not. All my rods are a tad longer. Its helps move line, but also absorbs shock. I dont really use many rods beyong a 5 power, its plenty stuff enough. A hookset is usually only travelling from 7 oclock to 11 oclock in most cases, and thats the extreme. Its not that much. As the rod loads the power and speed of the hook set should be tailing off. Ive shattered flippin stiks on hook sets, and the line holds up fine.

Amistad, Lake Fork, or Guntersville. Me, Ill be on the Delta. ;D

Amistad, Lake Fork, or Guntersville. Me, Ill be on the Delta. ;D

Amistad, Lake Fork, or Guntersville. Me, Ill be on the Delta. ;D

I have never been a Diawa guy, however I know they are a quality company. Id suggest contacting your local dealer for warranty instructions. Im sure its not a big deal, stuff happens with every brand at some time or another. Sometimes they are slightly damaged in shipping, or we get em caught in a rod locker mishap. Once in a while there is even some sort of defects in a run of rods(happened to me years ago with another brand). I certainly would expect a prompt warranty. I only buy rods that I can get a 1 day turn around on, or over the counter warranty with no fee. Yes there are many like this, not sure where Diawa is in that.

The Revo is the only reel I use for flippin, pitchin, punchin and frogs. Plenty of drag power in the Revo.

The guts of the reel are the same as a Soron Premier. The reel is much lighter. Otherwise it is pretty close to the same.

Ive been looking forward to the handle to. Sure gives ya more options with the same rod. I agree that Abu has been doing a great job with the rods and price points. The good news is they are not done. We will see some more some time later in 2011, like this time next year.

The SX is the one Revo I have never owned. I am using STX's and the Premier. Both feel fine to me on the Veritas. Although I only tried it on one rod, it was the 7ft3 heavy model. My shortest bait caster in 7ft so I wont be trying any of the shorter rods. I did order 4 of the 6'9 in ML spinning rods though.

I dont know how they would have gotten any of them as the first order is on the ship heading to Abu Garcia now. Unless they sold all of their show stock, and I doubt that. Are you sure it had the adjustable butt?

Im not familiar with Diawa's ratings. I use 2 rods for all those techniques and both are 702 spinning rods. One is a Dobyns, the other is a Powell. The new rod I ordered and Im waiting on is the Abu Garcia Veritas in the 6'9ML. But its very close to the other 2 rods action wise. I always throw my senko's on bait casting rods in a MH rating.

For all you fans of the Vendetta and the Veritas, the new Verdict is on the way. You should see them in shops in the next 4-6 weeks. This is the rod with the adjustable handle. I believe they are in the $129 to $139 range.

I wouldnt mind owning either one. Id remove the wrap instantly. Its not that it was his boat, more that Bass Cat makes great boats. Im sure they are well reduced in price. They are most likely in tip top shape as well. Windshields dont cost much, and Ike probably gets extras when he picks up his boat. Its probably been gone through at Bass Cat. My partner bought a boat from Skeet Reese several years ago. The boat had never even been started. Some of these guys get more then one boat, and they dont always use the second one. Then after the sale Skeet assisted in taking care of any issues.

Since you mentioned wanting to flip and pitch with it also Id agree with Davids choice. A 7'3 of 7'4 rod is gonna be a better all around choice. I just didnt realize that people flip with a rod under 7ft.

Rod length and high speed reel are most important because you often need to take up line quick Fish often take a jig and move to deeper water. If your in a boat that usually means they are coming at you. I know Im a minority about the braid on a jig, but thats just life. 8-) Here in Nor Cal very few throw jigs on braid. Braid and rocks dont mix well. I can count rocks with regular mono so I dont see a need.

A little better explanation on a jig rod, in my opinion. It seems pretty common on this forum that a MH is the rod of choice. I think you'll find that to be true all over the country, including elite pros. Assuming we are talking about jig fishing and not flipping. Im a ji a holic, and Ive played with em all. One thing I can say for me, is I am dead set on the MH rod. Where I will vary is in rod length. Here in California I fish a jig from the bank, to 60ft deep. I select my rod based on the depth Ill be fishing, not the weight of the jig(unless its lighter then 3/8, then I consider it finesse). I will use the same rod for 3/8 up to 1oz jigs. If Im fishing shallower then say 25ft a 7ft or 7'3 rod is perfect for me. If Im gonna work that jig deeper, then I will want more rod to move more line on a hook set and Im all over the 8ft rod. The action is plenty to wrestle 12+ lb bass out of brush and grass. All but the slop, and even then I use a MH flippin stik. You dont need a broom stick, matter or fact I avoid them.A rod too stiff will not allow the fish to enhale the bait on tight line.Its most important to be able to count the pebbles as the jig moves across them. You want to be able to feel any change in the bait. If the rod is to stiff you will miss bites because they can let go faster then they eat it. Lastly, you do not need braid, you will get more bites with out it. If you have to use it go for it. But Ive taught many anti jig guys to fish a jig, and they become believers real quick once they get the feel. It doesnt take long, but it helps to catch em while your learning. I rarely fish anything other then 15lb fluorocarbon on my jigs now through pre-spawn. Ill go up to 25lb then, that has more to do with where I fish then anything.

Thats a beautiful rod.

I prefer a 7 to 7ft3 MH rod for jig fishing. I also have a Powell 804 which is a 8ft MH for fishing one tons much deeper. I prefer a bit longer rod, but 6'6 is fine also.