Spankey

I hear that. I have a bit of a haul to get to a decent shop also. So I'm not running to the tackle shop all that often. Almost never in season. But you mention Cabelas, if you were to have them order in a couple or few rods that you were certain one or so would be that right fit, than just take what will work for you. All will work out. I have my heart set on getting the Abu Garcia "Winch" for X-mas. Than I'll make it a winter project to find the right rod. There is a "Winch" rod but i don't want to buy it sight unseen. I've touched the Reel and I like it.

Great post. Is there any way you can get to a decent shop that carries a good selection of Rods? Maybe a shop that is set up for bass guys? My thought on that is you can touch a bunch of them and make a true comparison. Yes the marking on the rod mean something but all that goes out the window when you have 4 or 5 decent Rods in front of you and your are deciding which one has just that right feel. Just a thought. I know about the loyalty thing with st. Croix Rods. They are my rod of choice also. But as of lately I have picked up a few Abu Garcia Rods that I like everything about them. Im not telling you to buy an Abu Garcia rod. But my last couple of Rods I went in with one expectation and came out with something different. Glad of my choice decision. Hope you can get to a shop with a good selection.

You are right my friend. Great pattern.

They are good lures don’t get me wrong. They do have a nice profile. I love the Shad Raps and they are one of my favorite crankbaits. They (RR’s) don’t have anything on a Shad Rap. Same color patterns exist with Shad Raps. Probably more. Might say Ireland on Finland on the lip but Bass can’t read. I don’t think. If you can buy one or some at regular price or out of a clearence bin I’d say go for it. But to pay someone three or four time what they are worth for a used lure or new one so claimed on eBay I think is foolish.

I'm gonna make like i have no idea in heck what you're talking about.

Sounds good. I won’t bet my life on it but there should be a good sale at TW. Get you Santa list ready. Most likely Susquehanna will also but I’m not sure if I can use that name. Sorry if I made a mistake in advance.

Weekend at Bernie’s.

I bring my rods in as soon as I pull the plug. That was Sunday. I don’t leave any tackle in my boat over the winter. Don’t leave electronics on ever. Long winter and plenty of time to go over my rods and reel maintenance. I believe it works, I do not encounter very many issues. Release the drags if you can remember, good advise from volz. All my stuff eventually makes its was indoors for some amount of time. As I go over all my soft bait storage, crankbaits and terminal tackle it pretty much is indoors. I never leave new bulk line outdoors.

I gave away years back a Pinnacle Rod that was a great smallmouth rod, at least for me it caught a lot of river smallies. A guy I know, aquaintence, what ever you want to call it was sort of down on his luck and wanted to turn to some fishing while getting his **** together. They put out a decent product. I don’t miss the rod. He loved it. May have been a Sports Authority special if I remember correctly.

I’ve been kicking around the idea of coming down. I’m not real far north but will break up winter slightly. I’ll dig up some info on the net from the spectators side.

Maybe all Wally’s are going to get on board with price. Believe my the Wally near me sucks. Fishing area ****s. Really was there for those big brown paper leaf bags and ran across them. A few color patterns caught my eye. I generally throw smaller than 5 1/2”. GY’s are a lot more pricy but I try to order them thru TW. I’m more of a GY cut tail. I hope yours gets down to that. Even at $2.50 they are worth trying. I think they were selling for $2.96 even that cheap. Might throw them on Sunday. I think I’m wrapping it up Sunday. Rain has been terrible here. Hear a northeaster is I store for Tuesday? I’m disgusted with the water quality this year. Hope your is better.

I’ve been a St. Croix guy for many years through and through. And still am. Over the last couple I’ve pick up a few Garcia Rods that I’ve been very very satisfied with. I have a ML Vendetta that love. Fish light soft plastics drop shot and split shot. If someone want to go out, I give them this rod. I have a IKE ML that has a bit softer tip and is good all around for plastics and 1/4-5/16 oz. shad rap types. I give them this rod. Garcia puts out a good product. I can’t say anything about customer service because I had not used it. But BPS is easy. If something or anything you don’t like I’m sure they have you covered.

I believe all that carbon lite 2.0 stuff is on sale right now. Saw it somewhere real recently. Those rods are Garcia Rods?????? I don’t know that just asking.

Stream fish for trout soon up until the last day February. Pick up for awhile in March. I’ll see Mr. Bronzeback or Mr. Greenjeans in April.

Great post! When I saw that I thought for sure that was a 26-27” smallie. One nice fish.

Chompers Garlic. Might not work, sure doesn’t hurt.

Just an FYI. Not sure if all Wally Worlds are created equal but picked up some SK Sticks for $1.36 a bag. They are 5 1/2”. Longer than what I normally would throw in a Senko style bait but seemed like a cheap alternative to try. Picked up the majority of color selection. My plan is weightless rig, 4/0 or 5/0 X-wide gap worm hooked. I know some of you guys have decent Wally Worlds, mine is very poor in fishing section. Passing it on in case you happen to be in there.

Yeah I hear that. I've seen Mother Nature mess up my home fishing grounds on the river over the last few seasons. I'm gonna remain optimistic that Mother Nature will make things rebound one day. I've switched over to a lake as a new home waters, have really had a good time with it and the largemouths there. The lake has held up real well to some of the storms we've had. I can't set and fret over the weather we have been dealt. Have just tried to make the best of it.

Yes it’s been slow since moving out of the 70’s and 80’s. Temps here in Penna. are to radical of a change. Was out past Friday ahead of incoming storm on the river. Truly was fishing the calm before the storm. I did have my expectations set way way high. Did the Smallie & Muskie thing, just bought myself a net to handle these muskies and thought for sure I was gonna have one on. Managed two smallies on a slider set up. And a few white perch on the slider and small storm swimbaits. Air temp. was 38 deg. at start, 47 deg. when I finished up. Water temps. stayed pretty even at 48-49 deg. We just had severe weather Friday night into Saturday. Raining today into tomorrow. Again on Friday. Might be light. Sunday will be on the lake. I hope to get out again after that. If it’s like the Dead Sea maybe not. Weather and water conditions here in Penna. have been a fight for me.

I fish two St. Croix Premiere Series Crankbait Rods. Love them. You have to find that feel you’re looking for. I like it. You may not. Can only suggest you give it a look. And for the most part don’t break the bank. Have them set up with shimono’s.

I have a 19 ft. Tracker. 90 HP. Welded hull with no cracking issue. Holds up just fine on the Big “D”, Susky, on and around the Cheasy. I’m not a deep v but that would not be an issue for sure. I would/will buy another Tracker in a few years. No hesitation. Actually may go to a deeper v. Have thought about it.

Great Post.

As long as it doesn't cause a REAL problem on the home front don't sweat it. Probably a phase that will slow down some.

I love the color of your smallie. Real nice. Out here where I am as the season progresses and late on at the end of September and October they come out of the thick river grass black as tar like that. Great fish.

Amen, lets keep it real. I've caught (smallies and greenies) on a few occasions that I thought for sure were going 5 or a little over. Only to fall short or quite a bit short of 5lbs. River fish with some nice length. They just don't carry the weight. Maybe from dealing with current. Around my parts when we discuss some of our catches we mostly refer to length. The on line weight estimators are way off. That chart is mostly to make your head grow. Especially is you don't have good dimensions or lacking any dimension and guessing. A nice digital scale does not cost much.