MrsTomustang

Doug, Many of us have moved away from rods associated with an average weekend summer fisherman, toward the equipment associated with avid sport anglers. With that said, the Ugly Stik is a work horse and not a bad selection for many people. Unless you take a saw to it, it is nearly indestructible and will last for years of fishing. As to your question on sizes, I believe what you may be seeing is the spinning reel size matched with a particular ugly stik rod. Rods are denoted by length, power and action, as well as number of 'pieces'. So depending on the type of fish you'll be looking to catch, you can gauge the rod by looking at the ugly stik combo sizes generally as follow and then figuring out what rod is matched to it.... For small panfish like crappie and blue gill, smaller spinning reels such as an 05- or 10- size For larger species such as largemouth bass, walleye and striped bass (fresh and salt), 20- to 50-size Inshore saltwater fishermen may use 20 - 40-size offshore 50- 80-size range. Tell us your budget and what kinds of lures/bait you will be using and you'll get better advice. The Shimano Sahara is a decent reel. We have had a couple in the past.

Good to hear! Amazing how the physical activity can help. That's how I stayed smoke free for one of my longest 'breaks'. Became addicted to working out instead of smoking. Stay strong and take care.

I'll go granular on this to the 'technology' level as we all benefit from the advancement of metallurgical process and production of mono and polycrystalline silicia as well as Schumacher and Siemens process. The end products we all appreciate and take for granted are because of the advancements in the foundation technologies. Fiber optics is a close 2nd.

True, our geography has us both religated to enjoy our local species. Glad to hear there is at least a precursor acknowledgement of the yellows potential declination. Take care Chris. Jenn

That is exceptional! I will never see one except online and can say I'm a little jealous. You have a true treasure with the SA Yellows...Hopefully their numbers will hold. It's said that the largemouth's runs are lightening fast and majestic to be on the reeling end of the rod. Guess that is why fly fishing for them has been growing. Enjoy the barbus and, again, welcome! P.s. Do you have any pics of some of the yellows?

How goes the battle FishinDaddy? I've quit and relapsed many times. How ya' doin, Sir? Jenn

+1... although I can't comment on the FJs..except I am not favorable to the Okumaesq white..

Then please feel free to ask me for Cliff Notes on the majority of my Hemingway length posts.

Welcome to the site loodkop. I've read that you guys have splendid barbus/carp species in SA. How many of the 13+ types have you caught? Jenn

Yeah guys, I have to say that if the respooling doesn't feel good after this weekend, I'm pulling the Fireline off the Stradic and using the extra spool with PLine and respooling with mono. I'll add that Thanksgiving I was out UL fishing and got 2 Perch (1 nice jumbo male 13"+, about 1.5 lbs) 3 Crappies and a sizable Pickerel on mono. Swapped over to the superline and 3 days skunked..nothin'.. 3 days in a row skunked isn't leaving me warm and fuzzy with the Fireline on top of it being a total PITB.

We'll if it doesn't work you'll have some wonderful smelling craws! But Tom D can tell ya I do well when I have my Maxwell House on hand. At least the Crappies dig it. Have fun roadwarrior! Best wishes, sir, to catching a coffee lunker...

I just sent a comment/question to PLine. We'll see. Looks like they may be setting up new tooling for C21 and expanding their Halo market.

Don't know. But if you head out in the next few days hit up all the Dick's in the area and pick me up some 6 Lb clear fluro. All we have now is 8 and 10 and Stren is just meh....

So, do you think we would live life different if we knew how much time we had? I suspect not. Sadly. But for those of us fortunate enough to have experienced life lessons that teach us the fundamental truth that life is short, we appreciate the small things..... A sunrise or sunset. The value of friendship and love over money and tangible assets. I recall reading this when I was about 14 and have valued this quote to this day as a way to live my life.... "The definition of success--To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one's self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition.; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--this is to have succeeded." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Jig..understood, sir. I've spent most my years modifying SN95 Mustangs and F-body Pontiacs. Regardless even with a double wishbone control 'a' arm, it has a coil on spring or coil and spring component to the vertical mounting plate.

Well then that is I fact the strut rod bushing. The component that assists with suspension..bumps and stuff it is usually a 'y' fork that works along with the shocks and control arms. Unless you have been issued this along with a state vehicle safety inspection you will be okay.

Hi Lee, If they are talking about the Strut bar (aka a sway bar) and end links with bushings, you'll be just fine waiting. Just for kicks and giggles what kind of vehicle? Jenn

"...a tad 'different.." Now I'm fixated on his lisp and hand motions...thanks Jim.

Nah.. you're not alone. Trilene XL red box is still in our tackle kit. I use it...in a pinch. Mostly 4 Lb during beginning of trout season when the stockies are not too discriminate yet. I do have a Curado full of PLine CX which is a flurocarbon copolymer. Best of both worlds with standard mono plus low vis of fluro, but doesn't get to be a slinkey as fast as full fluro. Whatever works for you and is your comfort gear. No reason to fix what's not broke! Jenn

While I appreciate to some degree the pioneering ways and commentary, I guess I was raised a little different. My father, and mentor, raised me to be the very best I could be at whatever I chose to do and if I was not accepted, let my dignity, grace and exceptional skills speak for themselves. I was the first female moderator on one of the premier Ford Mustang forums. I earned that by being dignified and tactful in all my interactions and eventually the gentlemen who at one time felt women did not deserve to be in the garage, but instead in the kitchen.....became my biggest proponents. Those ladies who have broken the proverbial glass ceiling did through dignified, exceptional work and ethics. Not by flashing on a Go-Daddy promo or acting masculine. It is the stealth workings that effectuate real change. The generation of lady anglers (and their male counterparts) involved in collegiate bass fishing association are in the best position to work in collaboration with their male team mates and counterparts to change minds, opinions and the environment to accept female anglers in the sport. Just one low-key lady anglers opinion, but history shows the map to success, it's up to the future lady anglers to find and follow it.

I'm 100% shore angler I have 3 primary set-ups that are general purpose enough to get the job done. 6'6 MH Moderate action w/Power Pro. No backing - no slipping - on Curado 200E7. 7' M Fast action using 12lb. PLine (I miss Gamma ) on Curado 200E7. 6' UL Fast action with Stradic 1000FI spooled with 6lb. Fireline with mono backing and so far I can't get this one tuned right. It's just giving me a hardtime and so far I'm not feeling it. I have had the PP bite in a couple times, but nothing that a quick unspool/rewind didn't fix. The Fireline Crystal (aka the very expensive dental floss) has a line profile that is making it very prone to biting into the residual spool material and the difference in backing mono size and the Fireline is contributing to the material biting in. I'm going to tape over the backing next, but this is getting to be a little much for a weekend warrior. So, based on experience braid - great - no real issues with slip or bite on casting reel. The superline...the verdict is still out. Good luck... Jenn

@new2BC4bass - Thank you, Sir. It's all Tom's fault.

I'm an Avid gal. We have a LE and while a beautiful rod, it's awaiting warranty replacement thanks to a hefty line wrap that snapped the top. Didn't expect that... Really depends on a couple things for me.. Application, length, action & power combo availability. PRO to LTB on the combo availability. For me - unnecessary. Couple different general purpose action/powers and one W&J. Handle material & design - If you like split grip then. PRO to LTB / CON if you don't. Reel seat design - reel seat flex irritates me if I'm using a spinning reel. Casting reel I don't notice it because of how I side palm the reel. So, I'm not sure how the new split seat design on the LTB is. No Opinion-Neutral. The LTBs have the new blank materials for 2012, but most of us average anglers don't usually notice the difference in the blank materials between the Legend and Avid series. Duly noted from say the Premier to Avid. I, personally, dislike the Rage, Mojo and Triumph series. The Rage series has me very confused. I understand the reasoning behind the modern materials, but it just feels sloppy. It's not what I'm used to or expect from St. Croix.

We use the 3" Baby Craws in Amber/Green, Watermelon and Bama colors Texas and Carolina rigged on 3/0 or 4/0 and as jig trailer always with good success. As for the coffee, I know I take a bag of grounds with me when I Crappie fish and it's like crack for them. I put my small jig tube in the coffee and shake it good every 3-4 casts and can easiy bring in dozens within a 30 minute feeding run. Without coffee..not even close. The hubby noted the increase in catch rates as I was hitting 5:1 his rate with the coffee, in the same school and run spot. So, he tried the Rage coffee line of lures. The end. Strike King gets credit for his increased catch rates and my Maxwell House still comes along in a zip lock...just in case.. Enjoy the Rage and a cup of coffee! Jenn

Crankster- I thought the same thing! scbassin..nice deal, indeed!!! Mfg boxes are overrated. I love my Curado 200E7s!! Ordered my husband a Curado 51E for $94 Shipped from TW. I got a Stradic 1000FI (not liking the FJs) for $119 price matched at Cabella's to pair with my new St Croix Avid 6' UL. Various soft plastics, crank baits, mono and Fireline, some jigs and trailers. We don't wait for Christmas, anniversary or birthdays. Every day is special day when life is short.