mr.kagrise

I lost a $9 Sexy Dawg not too long ago. Not the price of the lure that got me. It was how I lost it....poor goose.

Though I'm a fairly new convert to the jig, soft plastics are my bread and butter. A LOT of creature baits this year! That being said, I gotta agree with the importance of your rod. For me, fishing a jig and trailer can be tough because of the weight. You go from hopping a craw with a 3/16 weight to working a 3/8 jig plus trailer, that added weight can cause a lot of false hook sets. There's nothing wrong with that, misses are free, but a quality rod takes a lot of that away. Once you make your mind up to learn a technique, fish that technique all day. Practice, practice, practice!

In hand, they do feel stiff. But after fishing them a LOT this weekend, I've realized that the action on them "softens" them up, for me at least. The heavy power is broomstick-esque, but after using that backbone for SOLID hook sets, the tip flexed easily while bringing the fish in. Also, and this could just be in my head, it seems like the stiff feel of the rods add to the sensitivity. There is a local sporting goods store in town that carries full Veritas line up and with the exception of the schooling rod, they're always priced at $69.99. Seventy-five bucks out the door can't be beat for these rods!

A week or so ago I asked opinions on using a M Vendetta or MH Jupiter for plastics. I got mixed responses. I ended up moving my MH Veritas into that role and got a H Veritas for Jigs and heavy plastics. I had an Orra SX on the MH originally and thought the rod was too stiff. Turns out the reel wasn't well suited for that application. (the brake system was limited) I put a Quantum Kinetic on the MH microguide Veritas and lemme tell ya, I've worm 'em out this weekend! I LOVE this set up. The Orra is great as a jig reel because of the way the brakes are set up. Thanks for everyone's input on the OP.

That's what I thought...but I sure do like that Vendetta! My total line-up is as follows: Alabama Rig and swimbaits: 7'10" H/XF BPS Extreme / 5500C3 Jigs and large plastics: 7' MH/F Veritas / Orra SX Deep Cranking: 7'8" Rick Clunn Deep Cranking rod (M/M?) / Daiwa Exceler in 4.7:1 Shallow Cranks and lipless: 7' Rick Clunn clearwater squarebill rod (MH/M?) / Quantum Kinetic PT Topwater: 6'6" M/? Daiwa Jupiter / Black Max 2 Spinnerbaits: ProMax2 7' MH Daiwa Jupiter OR 6'6" Vendetta ?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Worms and small plastics: Quantum Kinetic PT 7' MH Daiwa Jupiter OR 6'6" Vendetta ?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I fight the urge often to go into debt to feed my passion! But one day...ONE DAY, money will not play as big a role as it does now and I won't have to figure out what I need to do to optimize what I have. Until then, I appreciate everyone's understanding and input!

The Veritas is just too stiff for lighter plastics IMO. I know I'm overthinking the whole thing. Comes down to the fact I love the Vendetta and rarely throw spinnerbaits. Everything you read says MH for worms. I just don't want to lose fish on account of having an underpowered rod simply because I like how it fishes better. Maybe I should have asked "can I feel confident worm fishing with a 6'6" M rod?" I HAVE already caught a #3 and a #4 on that set up in the last two weeks...guess I just answered my own question!

I recently picked up a 6'6" M/F Vendetta rod and have been using it for Texas rigging 7.5" worms and craws. I have now acquired a 7' MH/F Daiwa Jupiter. Of the two, which would you use for spinnerbaits and which would you use for Texas rigs? I have a 7' MH Veritas I use for larger worms, Carolina rigs, and jigs outside of cover. Just wondered which one you would use for what and possibly a brief explanation why. I love knowledge!

Though a recent switch to both, KVD Sexy Dawg, JR. in white and ZOOM ultravibe craw in watermelon seed.

Good deal. Just wanted confirmation from somebody. Also, I'm "stealing" your tag by Homer Circle. Awesome!

I was in Wallyworld tonight and saw some three pack Storm pre-rigged swimbaits and wondered if I could use these on my Alabama rig. I just got a five arm Yumbrella and am gonna throw it with an Abu 5500c3 (I don't trust low-profiles for this thing!) on a 7'10" BPS Extreme flippin' stick. The yum kits look cheap and I'm not feeling the round jig heads that come with it.

Make a shim for it. Last time I had that problem I cut a small strip from a soda carton. Have stopped using that particular rod, but it worked like a charm while I still used it. I checked the forum and seems like it is a fairly common occurrence with various fixes. Good luck

x2 Only exception for me may be jigs. Then go up to 15#. (Please don't ban me, braid guys! LOL)

I'm sure I could find it on the web, but you guys are more reliable at times and offer much more "color" than stock answers offered by fact sights. Simple question: Have heard nothing but good things about the Kinetic, so I stole one off E-Bay and loved it. Recently picked up another but the picture seems to show a lighter red in contrast to the deep maroon I just got. Is this indicative of one being a newer model than the other or just a difference in cameras? Same hand retrieve, same gear ratio, same model number. What's the deal?