hike4steel

I fish a very weedy lake with a lot of muck on the bottom. I tend to do a lift and drop return a lot. cover water faster and get many hits a couple of seconds after the fall.

I use Maui Jim sports with the HCL bronze with excelent results. Had the grey lens prior and they did not cut throught the water as well. Also have a pair of wWeilyX. they perform well and are more durable the the Maui Jim but don't cut through the water as well. If you can afford the extra $$, costa 580G's are by most accounts better then the rest.

Wondering if someone out there can explain thr relationship between deeper water dencetites and weights for T-rigs and jigs.

I use it ocassionally when in a hurry because it is fast to tie and will hold fine. I tie a double surgons and see no difference or decrease in reliability. The problem with the knot is it is to bulky. An Albright or uni comes through the guides much better.

I have the Skeet topwater rod and IMO the tip is a little soft for a EWG hook. Okay for trebels. Try a MH or a M w/stiffer tip.

Jeremy, understand that usually when the bass hits the frog, it will hit the first time to stun or injure the prey. It will the then swirl away, circle around and actually take it on the sceond strike. Thats when you will feel the weight of the fish on your line. Thats when you put the braid and heavy action rod you just bougt to good use and set that hook hard.

I have just started storing my soft plastics in 3700 boxes making a switch from large freezer bags. I have removed them from their respective pacages to maximize storage space. I am likeing it this way. They are eayier to find then rooting through bags. the only drawback so far is you can't soak a whole bag of worms with garlic or you leave them in the bag. Hardbaits stored in3700 also in similar way as the rest of the organized to semi organized fishermen.

Take what you feel you need to get the job done. I'm kind of gear junkie and carry 8 plus a lagre tackle bag. I dont move around in the 14' Laker. Just stand in the back by the trolling motor to steer. Put a foot switch in line for a little easier controll. When my buddy joins me, he will bring 4 with a small bag and we each take a side for rod storage. Now, this being said, Stix jackets are the best inestment to make this hassel free. They do a great job of protecting rods and prevent tangles. As long as I am careful I will keep the boat rask down to a minimum on the reels. Don't Capsize!

I use 50# suffex on a heavy action 7' Powell. Get along just fine with it.

No Chubby, it doesn't. Unfortunitly it doesn't make your fish look any bigger either!

Prefer Suffex myself, either 832 orperformance braid. I will use 50#. It is a little thiner and has served me well in the slop I do my froggin in. I don't have too much woody structure. I have never broken the 50# and have caught my personal best, 7-13#, with 10# of muck in her face. A lot of people like Power pro. I tried it but like the castability for suffex better.

In relation to yesterdays thread spinning gear for finness presentation, what baitcasters handel light lines better or is just the skill set?

Veritas is a great bang for the buck but I have not fished the verdict or vendetta line.

IMO when the rod manufaturers cease to offer these warrenties/Insurance they will sell a lot fewer rod. In Johns words, " thats why i pay the price of admission." Rod manufacture simply have to cover the cost of the replacment and I would not begrudge them that. What ever our opinions, the rod companies will work it out in order to keep their products moving. Graphite is not an expensive material, you pay for the process and expertice.

Broke a heavy action last year befor the new models came out. I opted to send mine to CA for replacement with no hassels. took some time because they were switching upgrading the line. They did tick me off when they sent back a 7'2" MH instead of a 7'2" H. Be specific what you want. I have been through the fees charged by some to replace over the counter. If you can produce the reciept they should not but it will cost you 20.00 bucks to ship it to CA. Oh well! I like my crucials almost as much as I like my Powells.

I have a couple of reels that I would like to get tuned and some new bearings along with some repairs. Looking for suggestions on who to choose and bang for the buck? Starting with a Vieneto and Cuado B. Thanks in advance for the posts

Check your local Dicks for something on clerance. Might get lucky. With new things coming out soon, last year reels can be a steal.

consider Nanofil. I liked it better then braid, leader or no leader.

IMO, marketing and market share are what these lifetime warrenties are all about. Once they have their rod in your hands they want to keep it that way. I am sure none of the manufactuers that offer repacement programs do so at a loss of profit. Base materials for a fishing rod are not expensive. You pay for their knowledge and expertise in manufactoring and assembly. Also, sorry to say anyone who broke a rod with a lifetime warrenty, their fault or not, and not taken advantage of the companies replacement service, has a questionable value of a dollar. IMO. Or they have more money then god.Shimano is replacing rods at no cost as they did for me over the winter, but I suspect this to change in the not to distant future.

Good to know. Thanks, Much better then trial and error.

Made a quick stop in my local Dicks sporting goods. Found all their old reels on a cleacence table. Picked up last years Stradic 2500 for $60.00. Several other modles at similar savings. FYI

What did you think of the rod? thinking about one for shaky heads.

Spooled some 10# NanoFil for some Shakey head fishing this fall. I think there's more to like than dislike for me. I thought the line trasmitied vibration well. Caster well and helped keep me in good contact with my bait. Felt strong on a long hook set although I did break a couple off at first. I noticed that on a long hook set, the line would have a tendency to dig in, which would usually show on the next cast. Not sure on abrasion resistance. I did not fish it in much wood cover although the little I did it was okay. Most of the time was in deeper water with some weed cover. It seems to fray a bit. Lots of little hairs rasing up. For me and I might question it's durability. What do you think?

Palomar and improved clinch. will use a loop knot for steelheading.

It was great line but was too expensive for me. I found a better value P-line.