Rob G.

I use bulk spools on my Berkley spooling station without any problems at all.

The Strike King 3X are on sale at our local Gander Mtn. for 99 cents. They work great for wacky rigging. I do not like them rigged straight.

I use this rig and it works very well. In current you really do not have to impart any action, just barely keep the bait moving so it does not hang up. You will get bit on the fall sometimes. To achieve this, do nothing. Just cast it out and let it fall on a SLACK line. You will catch them. The flick shake worm is a good one, I have used others with decent success too.

Anybody know anything about these rods? I have a line on getting them at a discount. Bought one already, seems like a great stick, but before I buy more, I am looking for input. Thanks gang! -- Rob

That Falcon rod is a good one, but it has a slower tip that allows it to load up easier for the cast. If you are going to be throwing weightless Senko, Ika, trick worm, it will be the bomb. If you are going to be throwing texas rigged and weighted baits, you may be happier with a rod with a faster tip (action). The Compre look and feel nice, but I have not fished them so I cannot help you there.

Many times RW has touted Yo-Zuri Ultra Soft. Well, I have tried it and it is now my go to 6lb for Shakey heads and drop shotting. Thanks RW. I tried a few brands of fluorocarbon for this, and all brands had their issues. Our local Gander Mtn, had Yo-Zuri Ultra Soft for $3.97/275 yards so I bought what they had and am not looking back.

Co-polymer line usually has less stretch that mono, but more than braid or fluorocarbon lines. Some brands have bad issues with memory, some are pretty supple. I use Silverthread Excalibre, and love it. Each year I buy a bulk spool of it in fact. It is the line that I use more than any other. I do use fluorocarbon and braid for some techniques. Co-poly basically means that two different compounds are fused together to create this line. Most are a combination of nylon and fluorocarbon. Co-poly typically has a smaller line diameter and better abrasion resistance than mono.

I used to try to keep my line as taught as possible. Now I prefer slack and get more bites with it in my line. I think the slack gives you a bit more time because the fishy fishy does not feel resistence as quickly. If the slack is really driving you nuts, you can always increase the weight of your bait.

Beware, there are dangers to superglue. I used to use it but quit. I had just repaired a bait and glued it back on the hook, thinking that an efficient use of time would be to "do something else" while giving the glue a minute or two to cure. Well I urinated. I have now learned to type one handed, fish one handed, basically function one handed, etc.. This has changed my life though. I have had to learn to shoot one handed too, tired of people poking "fun" at my chronic problem now. Clothes now cost more expensive during the cold months, during the warm months I can deal with the draft. Several times I have been arrested for indecent exposure, all have been dropped after I dropped my bungie cord heldx up pants in the court room. Anyways, I just want everyone to be very careful when using superglue, it is dangerous stuff. ;D

My posting is somewhat hippocritical, but I cannot believe a post like this carried over to two pages after the first post answered it fine. LOL. Not even Winter for most of us anymore.

Spinnerbaits are timeless. Lots of good baits around though.

JT, Actually drinking beer had nothing to do with my line/knot breaking probs. I think I finally figured out what was going on. Each year I buy a filler spool of my favorite line. Last year I spooled up with a spool that was a few years old and had gone bad. After I respooled with new line, life was good.

Scott, sounds good, who are you fishing with?

If you listen to the disclaimer at the end it states that it must be fished on the Rocket Rod. ;D

Thanks Sir Burley.

Pic please.

Hi all, hopefully some of you can relate to this. Most years during the Winter I clean, lube, and maintain my reels. Last year I skimped and only lubed the reels. So, reels are extra dirty. Anyways, as I do most/some years I purchased some new equipment. Slowly replacing all bc's with Revo STX, got a couple new Falcons and Fenwicks, etc. Anyways, last year I was satisfied with my equipment, a mixed hodge podge of Falcon, Shimano, St. Croix, and Fenwick rods. Mixed reels of Shimano, ABU, one flooger, and a couple BPS. So anyways, cleaning and lubing each reel takes at least 30 mins, a couple minutes per rod. Now I look at all this equipment, and I was a bit overwhelmed. Which rod and reel for which technique? Well, after much time I have 12 rigs ready to roll. Only after I had decided what rod/reel for each technique did I spool them up. Some I use co-poly, some flouro, some braid. I am gonna finally get out on the Mississippi tomorrow, and fully expect to catch some nice fat, early Spring LMB and SMB. Now it dawns on me, I have not yet touched my tackle, and it is going to take some time to organize it into what stays in the boat, and what I store in the garage. LOL. More work and a rush to get some done. Thank goodness we are taking a buddy's boat tomorrow, as we need to work on the break in procedure for his new motor. We have a tourney in LAX WI, pool 8 coming up quickly. At least my boat is ready to go, except for organizing the tackle. Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. It will be worth it. It has become apparent to me how much less free time I have anymore. I gotta remember to pull rod socks over my reels to keep them as clean as possible when not using them. I guess the moral of this rant is that a little preventative maintenance goes and long way. And, there comes a point when maybe a guy has enough stuff........or not?

Several years ago I bought an FLW brand casting rod at Walmart. It was a nice, light, sensitive stick. I came upon it the other day, sometime or other I over tightened the reel seat and twist broke the cork on the upper handle. It has electrical tape on it, I am going to rig it for friends to use when fishing with me.

Muddy on how to make lemonade out of lemons.

This is nothing more than capitalism, and we should be glad we have it. If we did not, our bait selections would be limited. I have a few "soft swimbaits", basstrix to be exact. I have not jumped on the bandwagon, in fact they were given to me. I will fish them, if I like them and the technique, I will obtain more. I for one do not really give a rats what the slang term "swim bait" covers or does not cover. Each year, marketing creates these bandwagons and most hop right on without a thought. We are all guilty of that. Heck they are slowely running out of fresh ideas and bringing back some old ideas that did not fly in prior attempts. Good example is that goofy Yum Dancin Eel thing. Might even work, who knows? Calling lots of different baits "swim baits" is like the "bass fisherman" that targets stripers. We all criticize him, but who's fish is really in the bass family?

Hi all, I know this topic has been on here before, but I cannot remember how to clean the cork handles on my rods. Any/all advise is appreciated. Gracias.-- Rob

Beware the monkey!

hey redliner , they are picking on you again Not picking on anyone intentionally. Just seems they are very proud of their products, and ask a lot for them. Then if there is a problem, it costs money to have them replaced. The only rod that I have broken too recently was a Fenwick, replaced free and no questions asked. It was a few years old too.

JT, a mansion no, a camper/trailer is in the works though. Rich, definately not. It will be a fun place to run away to for a day or two now and again. Hope you can come up. Not a sure thing yet. Just think JT, it will be like Milan away from Milan. LOL.

Well, I have learned not to EVER buy a Powell or Dobyns. Just starting to think these are trumped up expensive rods for rich guys that only fish one week per year. LOL.