rangerjockey

I should take a ride down there and have a look around. It's only 60 miles or so for me.

They are really close sensitivity wise. I believe they are both built at Ark Rod in Harrison Arkansas.

Yes the Cara is the only model left that's made in the US to my knowledge. for now anyway.. I own a bunch of Cara's but only 1 Hammer that's a 7ft 3 X heavy that I picked up down at Toho .. The powers fish a bit light as I can easily fish a 1/2 oz football head on it. They are close in terms of being a more moderate action.. I like the build of the Cara better.

Honestly, If someone can't make Sniper work they probably should stay away from flouro.

What flouro are you buying for $10.59 for 300 plus yards ?

I have the Diablo Spec R and I am impressed as well.. I like the reel seat better than the Zodias and I would give the edge in sensitivity to the Levante. To me, it's about equal to or a little better than the KLX. American Legacy has them in stock.

I've been using the 10lb. In green on one of my jerkbait rods this spring. Good stuff, casts well ,ties a good knot . Hard to measure stretch but it doesn't seem excessive. I'm going to get some in 6 for the ned rig rod.

That's one of the newer IMX'S. They got the face lift with the rings in the cork and red accents about 6 years or so ago. The 844 and MBR's in general are really versatile.. I caught a bunch of spinnerbait fish on the old IMX and GLX versions.

I'd see if you could put them both on the rod you plan on using and see which one feels better. Years ago Lew's had a great tournament rewards program and I bought a bunch of them but I never liked them as much as Shimano or Daiwa. My thumb always rested on the take down pin and I never found them comfortable. I drive by the Headquarters/ tackle shop all the time and they are great guys.The tackle shop and Museum is worth the trip. Everybody talks about the customer service and I'm sure it's good . Also sounds like it gets used a lot, in 30 plus years I've never had a Shimano fail.

The Eakins rod is now the finesse jig rod . I think the Cara version is a bit crisper than the original lowrider. Some people tried to drag 1/2 oz football heads on the thing and complained about the lack of power but it was designed for pitching a 5/16 finesse jig. Jewell no longer uses Eakins name either and simply calls it a finesse jig.

I like mine better than any of the Curado's also going back to the old greenies. I think the real advantage to the reel for me is that it's just more efficient . Underhanded roll casts going down the bank with a spinnerbait or squarebill are effortless. Only you can decide how to spend your money. If your looking to buy a reel in that price range they are worth a look. For me , after 40 years of throwing baitcasters I think they are really good.. I have 2 ..for now.

No problem, If your a Table rock guy your going to be throwing a spook , sexy dawg and the ol' redfin a bunch and would be just about perfect for it. I have a Mega Dawg on mine right now, It will overload the rod some but still works. It's nice to be able to use it for spinnerbaits and buzzbaits too.. Mine wasn't $230, I think $190.

I have the 6ft.10 Surman 50G in the MH. The workmanship in the thing is outstanding . Like was said its a blended blank but I can't think of any moving bait I wouldn't use it for. I think the MH is a little bit too tight for a stickbait like the 110 but it would work. Great spinner bait rod... anything 3/8 and up. Really like the double locking reel seat. As clean as the build is and as good as it fishes it's well worth the asking price. It will toss a spook or vixen a mile and the action is good for walking baits. I can throw a wiggle wart on it as far as on the rods I normally use for them.

I have the Invoker 7ft.3 Mag MH. I use it mostly for a spinnerbait/buzzbait and plopper rod but it would make a nice bigger walking bait rod like a super spook or sexy dawg. Sensitivity wise I would put it on par with a Dobyns champion, It would make a good jig rod also. I really like the reel seat but I think the handle is a touch smaller than most.

Yep, As cold and nasty as you can stand to be out there seems best. I think we are about on the tail end of it around here now.

Probably varies some depending on where you fish. On Table Rock the vision 110 and 110 plus 1 are close to the top. I will say there are days when the Mcstick will do as well if not better. I think it has a bit less roll and there are times they want that. As much as I like the Vision, the Mcstick in Blue bandit or Norman flake will flat catch them.

You've got about 40 yards too much line on it. If you filled like that with mono its no wonder you had issues.

I have the 300 as well. Mine is the 5.8 and I find it just about perfect for the A rig and glidebaits. Great product.

When it comes to Pre Rapala warts there's 2 guys I trust. Tim Hughes (Hughes Custom) baits here on Table Rock and Mike Russell of Bag Five baits in Benton KY.

With the color that's in Bull Shoals now and with rain on the way I would think green pumpkin/orange or coppertreuse.

Bull Shoals is going to be tough for a while as high as the water is. I was up around Buck Creek a couple weeks ago and I would think the stickbait and RK crawler deal will be around a while. As Blue mentioned, scrubbing a Keitech is never a bad idea.

I'm lucky enough to live around some of the best stickbait fisherman on the planet. I would say it's about a dead heat between mono and flouro. A lot of guys go with 8lb. as long as the water is cold and they are sluggish and up to 10 when they get more feisty.

The Falcon weightless worm rod is a great floating worm rod. In addition, it makes one of the best jerkbait rods going.

I really like the Curado DC and own several but it wouldn't be my first choice for a big swimbait or glidebait reel. You may want to look at a Tranx 300 or some other equivalent.

The Denali Lithium 883 would do both depending on how you fish a spinnerbait. If you like a shorter rod for the blade there is a shorter spinnerbait specific rod in the line as well. Also the Witch Doctor Surman 50G is a outstanding spinnerbait and moving bait rod in that price range.