rangerjockey

The Virtus equivalent of the head turner is the stunner. The rod you have was originally the Eakins rod when falcon made them in the lowrider series if it is the 6ft 10 MH, it was meant to pitch 5/16 ball heads around docks here on Table rock and Bull shoals. Over the years falcon has tightened up the action and now calls it the finesse jig as does Virtus. In my hands the Virtus feels a bit lighter and quicker than the Falcon which I personally like. But, it is not a football jig rod by any means but it's a great topwater rod with mono. As you may know Virtus is made in the old ark rod facility in Arkansas that made Falcon and some other brands before Falcon moved production to china. Probably using the same mandrels I would guess. I have seen some of the new models of the Virtus which are labeled Virtus/Phenix since the acquisition.

If your intent is to shake 'em with FFS I've found the shorter rod to be easier. If you fish clear water and need to make longer casts then obviously the longer rod is the way to go.

I don't fish a grass lake so I couldn't say about that deal. I will say that for me , they seem to get behind the bait and push it . I can see where the idea to slow down swinging on them too soon may work although I personally use graphite.

That's a big spread and I personally would never throw anything over 3/8. Any ML-M spinning rod in a length that suits you will be fine. Mine are from a 6ft 6 witch doctor shaman to a 7ft 6 ALX Mcsmalls. I use 10lb braid to a 6lb. leader.

I use braid to a flouro leader without any twist. Straight flouro or mono will twist more than braid.

With the exchange rate I'm tempted.

The point was that regardless of brand a good player is a good player.. Golf clubs are a lot more complex than fishing rods. If 10 guys have a GLX 844 in their boat they are all the same. If 10 tour players have say Taylor mades in the bag they will be different. lie,loft.shaft. grip size ect.

The witch doctor surman 50g comes to mind. I have a couple in the casting models and they are outstanding.

There is a discount and some incentives. I'm sure some are getting them free but its really not that big of a deal compared to boat and fuel costs and lodging and so on. Certainly not enough to make anyone fish what they thought would put them at a disadvantage. If there was any brand or model they felt would be an advantage they all would have them. Bottom line is they can find fish and catch them. Tiger Woods has played 4 different brands of clubs that I can think of off of the top of my head. He's done ok with them all.

You have a answer for everything so why ask ? Everyone knows you can't catch em without that glassy feel.

Well. The idea is to get them to bite it. Ever see bass chasing bait ? trust me, they don't think about 2 of them being a inch behind or in front the others. Once you bend the wires the center one will be longer than the teasers. At least on the ones I use.

Don't worry about it. They bite the center wire most every time.

One of my stick bait rods is a MH. That is the old Falcon weightless worm rod but the tip is as soft as any medium. The others are mediums. The AA Slasher and Virtus jerkbait rod . You can buy any stickbait rod and still not be a stickbait fisherman. It's a craft that's honed in nasty miserable weather.

I have tried most of them. I think the Yum/Scottsboro deal is really good. The only thing I change is to use a bigger bait on the center hook. I would agree the Hog farmer is probably the best quality but they hurt a little more when they get hung up.

Again so what. What possible advantage is there to a spool that gives you another what ? 10 feet or 20 feet. ? In the real world of fishing just step on the trolling motor.

Who Cares. What does that prove, If you want to be first in line for a DC Daiwa be my guest. I think you may be waiting a while.

You must have learned that on you tube.

100%..If someone can't cast the SV TW they should probably stick to a spinning reel.

I grew up fishing the Lunkerstiks and Speed sticks. I would guess those with the ol' 5000c must have weighed 14 oz at least. Some how we managed to catch em dragging the jig and eel, lizard ect. I fish a mixture of both but , for me the AA rebound is as good as any I've ever owned. Just my opinion but I think glass lets Baits like the wiggle wart and RK Crawler hunt better.

Casting.

I seldom throw traps but that Legend glass is a great rod. I can't imagine it not being a good choice, As to the Fritts rod I would use it and see what happens. "The whole "reputation for breaking" thing sounds like internet BS , and even it does, so what ? I personally like glass and have been using the Alpha Angler rebound . That Legend isn't going to be worth much less if you cut the tags off and fish it. Sounds like it might make a good chatterbait rod too.

You could pick up a used one from ALF. Talk to Brian and see what he has or check the used section on the web site.

I can tell you that you will ask yourself the same questions with a NRX, Steeze ect.

Unless your are actually opening up the hook on a fish I wouldn't worry about it. I personally use a thin wire hook on a 1/8 oz ball head so I can straighten the hook if the thing gets hung up. 25ib. flouro ,wrap it around the boat cleat and hit the trollin' motor ,something will give,

I think it's whatever your comfortable with and really for fun fishing I don't think it matters all that much. I like 7:1 for most everything except crankbaits especially in the winter. People always used to say that you can't crank it fast enough to take it away from them, but in the winter, I believe you can crank it fast enough that they won't bother with it. Another thing is guys that fish for money don't want to drag anything unless they have to. It's a moving bait game now and they aren't going down the bank casting around aimlessly. They are throwing to a spot the size of a bowling ball or into a school. Once the bait is past that spot they want it back for the next toss, I can see the higher speed stuff then.