Bassohol

Nothing smaller than 1/2 oz. I'll use it to throw 1/2 oz around chunk rock and bluff walls in current and 3/4 to 1 oz around deep cover or ledges depending on depth and current. Although I haven't used it for flipping yet, I feel like it has adequate power to flip jigs in heavy cover as well. I'm not a huge fan of one-dimensional flipping sticks that only get used a few weeks out of the year, so the H is perfect for me. I have a couple of the 7' MH rods coming that I'll use for lighter jigs (3/16 and up), Texas rigs, and whatever else I feel the need to use. It should be a fantastic all-around rod. In fact, when I called the dealer whom I ordered from, he recommended that I get at least one of the 7' MH in both casting and spinning before I even gave him my list of models. He personally recommended those as some of the best rods he's ever used.

I'll tell you this. I bought a Cashion rod just to test out. I got a 7' H to throw big football jigs on the Tennessee River. After fishing it a little while, I ordered 10 more yesterday. I'm replacing all my rods with Cashions. That includes a couple Dobyns rods, a Loomis GLX, a Loomis spinnerbait rod, a Kistler, a couple Cara T7 Falcons, and a custom rod with a St. Croix blank. Obviously, the perception (at least given the price) is that the GLX is the "best" rod I own, and it is pretty nice. But, at half the price, the Cashion is just as good, if not better, in my hands from a weight, sensitivity, and overall performance standpoint. I'd recommend a Cashion to anyone.

I just got the deep cranking model the other day. Used it for the first time this weekend. Really nice rod. That price is simply unreal! I'm thinking about picking up another one while they're still there.

My fishing partner just switched from Smokes to Tourney Pros. I mean, a BIG switch. He was an all Quantum guy until he used a Lew's for a day. He dumped all of his Quantums and ordered 14 Tourney Pros. I got to try them out this weekend, and I don't think there is a comparison. The Lew's is a better palming, better casting, smoother reel in my opinion. Now, take that for whatever you think it's worth, because I've never liked Quantum reels. However, I did like the Smoke alright. It's the best caster Quantum has ever made, I think. Yet, the Lew's just blew the Smoke out of the water.

I actually did look at Do-It molds. If I am really impressed with my stuff after just tying up premade things, I may consider pouring and painting my own jigheads. Jig Man, thanks for turning me onto fishingskirts.com. That site had exactly what I was looking for to get started. They had jigheads and all the skirts I could dream of. I just went ahead and bought some painted jigheads and skirts from them and I plan to hand tie them with nylon finished off with some copper fly tying wire. Even buying the pre-painted stuff, it will turn out to save me nearly $1 per jig off what I use now.

I want to start tying my own jigs, and I would like some recommendations from you with experience. I don't have the resources or the will to mold my own jig heads, so my first question is what jig heads would you recommend using? I'm really looking for 3/16 oz. with a weedguard, but haven't been able to find many in my searches so far. Also, what brand of skirt do you all recommend? Most of my jigs will be green pumpkin. I will mix up the colors a bit and add some sort of flash in, but my main concern is finding a good green pumpkin colored skirt. I've been using Booyah Pro Boo Bug jigs in the 3D green pumpkin color, and I really like it. It matches most of my trailers well, so if there are any skirts out there that can come close to that, I'd like to give them a look. If you have any more advice you'd like to give, I welcome that also. Thanks in advance for any information. Rhett

You must have gotten a hold of a bad spool. I've been using it on a couple setups for quite some time now and have never had that problem. I couldn't break that stuff if I wanted to. I've gotten hung up with it and had to wrap it around the cleat on the boat and ended up pulling a huge limb from the bottom of the lake. So, I've had no problems with its strength. It's also the smoothest braid I've ever used. Compared to other braid, it is extra quiet. The only problem I have with it is the stiffness. It seems to be quite a bit stiffer than any other braid I've used.

I'm currently running Power Pro braid on one setup and Sufix 832 on another. I have to say, I really like the 832. It sinks, it is quieter, and it is smoother than the Power Pro. However, it is also stiffer than the power pro and a bit thicker. I like the 832, but I also like the Power Pro for different reasons. The Power Pro has been great line for me so far and the stuff is just crazy limp compared to the 832. I don't think you can go wrong with the Power Pro. In my opinion, you'll like the PP MUCH more than the Spiderwire. My experience with it has been much like yours in that I've had nothing but problems with it. Get the Power Pro. You won't be disappointed.

That is an awesome feeling. I love getting something that I feel is a little below what I normally use, but I'm only getting it to fill a small niche need, and then it turns out to be amazing. The same thing happened to me when I got my HSTA. I bought a used one mainly because I wanted to put the handle on my Fuego ;D but also because I needed a reel to use sparingly with shallow cranks. That reel performed better than I ever dreamed it would! I knew it was supposed to be a pretty good reel, especially for the price, but I never dreamed I would like it as much (possibly more) than my higher end reels like my TD-Z.

If you'll take a Code over the Revo, then that Revo S must be really bad. I had a Code not too long ago that was mostly used as a loaner, but I used it myself occasionally as well as my "other" setup that I would put whatever crazy bait I thought I wanted to try on it. After about 3 or 4 straight outings of having nothing but trouble out of it, I just got so mad at it that I didn't want it near me anymore and sold it. I think I let it go for like 30 bucks. If the Revo S is that bad, then no wonder Dick's sold them for $50 with a rod included!

I've got to second the Ardent. I don't have a lot of experience as I've only owned an XS600, but it was worth nowhere near the $200 price tag. In my experience, the reel was smooth enough and casted pretty well, but it really felt cheap. It was also HUGE. It sat up way too high on the seat as well. Not comfortable to fish. It was just a bad experience overall. Luckily, I got a really good price on a new one, used it a few times, and sold it for about a $5 profit!

Yep, it is St. Croix. I have a custom rod built on a factory second Avid blank. Just a couple little rubs on the blank. I got it all put together for a great price and ended up with a great rod.

I've already installed the carbontex drag and cleaned, oiled, and greased it. I just didn't notice that was missing until I actually pulled it out later and noticed the screw was moving with the dial. That's when I pulled the plate back off and disassembled the knob and Magforce system to see what might be causing the problem. I then put it all back together using the schematic and noticed that little washer was missing.

I do it. I hate keeping them in the bag. I've never noticed any difference in the bait from keeping it in a box rather than the bag. Like J. Francho said, though, some brands are exceptions like Gulp. Those things will dry up in a hurry. There shouldn't ever be a problem unless you mix colors or types of plastic. Colors will bleed, especially from a darker bait to a lighter bait, and some different materials will react with each other. I just keep my most used plastics for weightless rigs and Texas rigs in one Plano box, and my jigs and jig trailers in another. I keep them like that all the time.

Yeah, I just stuck a little cardboard in to fill the space and see if that would alleviate the problem and it did, indeed. I just recently acquired the reel and it was missing so the guy I got it from is sending me a new washer.