iabass8

I got that flyer as well. I still think they are over charging for the reel.

pshh the 6'9mlxf is/was better . Praying mine never brakes. I'm a big fan of cork and a cork foregrip. the new one isn't that bad though.

Lc rc 1.5

I believe its on sale at walmart. I know they have ez mono for like 4$ on an end cap.

Im a big fan of gammy round bends for jerkbaits and topwaters and kvd ss ewg 3x for squarebills and lipless baits

You will be happier with the xtreme 72mm rather than the small cranker. Its a wet noodle of a rod.

Its a very lightweight rod. I use a chronarch 51mg on mine and it feels great. Not very top heavy. I use this rod tip down most of the time so it really isnt a concern. I have used (i believe dwight uses this same rod as a jerkbait rod) for jerkbaits. While it did a great job, i still prefer a 68-610 for jerkbaits. The 72mhm is a VERY versarile crank/trap/jerkbait rod.

I only held the 72MM and did not like the feel for it. It would be great at 1/4 oz baits but it just wasn't for me. The 72MHM is a thing of beauty for 1/4-3/4 squarebills/lipless baits. Comparing the xtreme to the 705glass isn't really a "fair" comparison as one is glass. Even though I have become a big Dobyns fan as of late, the xtreme xf tips and moderate actions are too good to give up. If I didn't already have one, the 72MHM would be bought up quick. Bargain area rods aren't offered in the current rage rod promotion.

It's generally 20$ from st. croix. That's the rate for upgrading/trading in at least. I don't recall the bargain room price but I imagine it's the same.

Firetiger and smallmouth go hand in hand on the river. They also do well in shallow muddy water when the sun is high.

I always have a texas rigged worm ready to go but find myself using a shakey head or jig more often than a worm.

great job. that craw pattern is amazing.

x2. I too fish small stocked creeks for trout in the summer and this color pattern is without a doubt my most productive. add in a silver bladed panther martin as well and that's really all i use. 1/16 and 1/8 are the sizes i use all the time. I also change out some of the trebles (it's a pain, but worth it) as stock trout tend to swipe at the bait a lot. the larger ones just hook themselves.

Cover, fish activity(slow vs fast drop), water depth, water clarity and time of year are all things to take into consideration. It changes all the time.

LC rc 1.5 and kvd 1.5. chart/black, sexy chad, red craw

the sensitivity on the xtreme/elite SCV blanks (the one you have) is top notch. you won't be disappointed. The price of that rod right now is an out right steal of a price. jump on it before it's gone.

Pretty spot on to what I like to do. It seems sometimes you can't rip it hard enough through grass they just attack it. most of my bites come from that or med retrieve/burn and let it drop. seems the bite comes on the drop more often than not.

I don't get down that far too often but the conditions I face are most likely the same as you will face (fort madisons only a couple hours south of me) If you're tournament is in the spring prepare to be fishing high water levels which, personally, are the must fun and productive levels to fish. Lots and lots of shallow cover to pick through. squarebills, lipless cranks, jigs and swim jigs and jerkbaits if you can find some off clear (as clear as the miss can get at least) water. If the water is really muddy the obvious chart/black back squarebill and lipless is good. black blue and white/gold 1/4oz swim jigs /w 5' GY grub. (these seem to be key as they leave a scent trail in muddy water) If it's bright and sunny, a sexy shad pattern or chart/sexy shad is great in shallow rip rap. This list can go on and on as water levels and flow will play a huge role in what to throw and where. More times than not I would be target some sort of chunk rock/rip rap near sand flats and pockets on the main channel dragging football jigs or shakey heads and squarebills and then the backwaters if it's really high for flooded timber/grass/wood/etc pitching jigs or beaver style baits into wood

I love river fishing. Current and fluctuating water levels are, imo, the two most important factors when fishing a river. lots of fish on rivers relate to current breaks, eddys, rock transitions and washout spots on wingdams. constant rising and dropping river levels can have you fishing in a backyard one day and out in the main channel the next.

I have one that i only upgraded the drag in and it performs like a dream. I cannot win another on the auction site for the life of me. don't ever let this reel go.

some braids sound like a buzzsaw coming through recoils. suffix perfomance braid was probably the worst sounding on my xtremes. suffix 832 and pp super 8 had some noise but very minimal. on one of my xtreme spinner rods 10/3 832 and 6/2 832 don't make any noise. 30lb test on another a casting rod of mine does make a little but not very noticeable in 832. all recoils/braid combos will make some noise but some braids are better than others. stick with braid/fluoro leader for your multi purpose rod or straight braid and you will be fine.

Shakey head and power shotting

Ive never used 8# fluoro on, for comparisons sake, a 200 size shimano but i do use it on a 50 size with no issues. Works great for spring jerkbaits.

Welcome to BR.

I just saw these in Dick's for the first time not too long ago. My god that is a massive crankbait.