5dollarsplash

This. Heck of a find! Enjoy it!

With the reviews out there already against it I wouldn't waste $40.00.

I bought a ML Fenwick Elite Tech to try this year, it'll be paired with a 1000 symetre. Still waiting on it to show up, but I've used a friends and it performs great on dropshot and weightless plastics. I was using a LTB MLXF casting rod before that, and never really cared for it for that application. It's now my jack of all trades. I hear a lot of good things about the Avid MXF, and having used the same MXF in the Rage line, I wouldn't hesitate to go that direction if you want to stick with St.Croix.

Same rod and line, and currently I use my Lexa 300. We'll see how the season pans out, you always need more reels right? I've got a box full of frogs, but Spro and Live Target get used the most. Bought a couple of the *** frogs, hopefully they work as good as advertised.

I tend to focus on the belly and leg color, I like the Albino, the Kuro, and the Cricket.

Thats a nice price, I'll just have these shipped to the work address...........

I think I've got 5-6 different brands in my frog box. Koppers look good, but lose one and your mad as all get up. Spro is a nice middle ground, and if I fished a tournament this is what I'd probably tie on. Pad Crasher is a great everyday frog, nice soft body thats awfully effective. The ladyfriend got me some of the Cabelas brand for christmas, the hooks don't stand out enough for my liking, but on a day where I lose a nice frog, they will probably see action. I finally picked up a couple of the *** frogs and hope to give them a shot this year, but they sound like a different critter, more for around weedlines than over and through pads. Hope this helps a bit.

Sunline Super Sniper or Yo Zuri Hybrid are my staples. I've really tried to simplify line this year by sticking with these two, too many brands and differences within the same brands between lines. Once you find something you like, I'd recommend sticking with it. Curiousity led this cat to a bunch of half full spools.

I use a St Croix rage: RC78MHM I really like the extra length, 7'8". Something to think about, if I was looking for a 7' rod the AVC70MHM Avid would be my choice at $200.

Agreed. I'd rather shop around longer than be home cussing out my boat because I found some other issue on it, or having to cut other things out of the life budget because I overspent on a boat. You'll find a deal that fits right.

Depends largely on the waters you fish. If you have waves and wind the semi v will handle it better. On flat calm water, a flat john will be more comfortable. I like my 14' semi v for most waters I fish, just wish I could build a better casting deck without getting too unstable.

I'd go with a lightweight swim jig. 1/4oz or so and barely touch that bottom if you can, with a lightweight trailer you might be able to keep it from sinking into the gunk. Gentle/non-violent hops should help keep it cleaner. If your wanting it to sit on the bottom, use a different bait as suggested above.

Drinking water. Makes for a long miserable day if you can't wet your whistle.

Dennis Leary has a song called ArseHOLE, and there are a lot of days/moments where that would fit well. But I only rib a fellow if I know he can handle it. Philosophy by Ben Folds fits almost all the time though. (Go ahead a rip in boys, but read the lyrics first lol)

Yep, worked good on the chatterbait until the pike took the whole lot lol. It's a unique action, but I think it gives them something to key in on when they strike. I still use grubs most of the time for those techniques.

+1 on the power handle, makes winding those big baits in a lot easier as the day wears on. If you can find a calcutta for 150 I'd go that route, and it may be worth going to a 400 size at that point as you gain 6lbs of drag. I really feel that the trade off with the cardiff isn't worth it between the 300 and 400. You gain 3oz of reel for 1lb of drag. Unless your worried about line capacity or a baitclicker for catfishing, the 300 would serve better double duty for bass swimbaits and muskie fishing.

Because pike and muskie get expensive lol. Walleye are really popular up here for eating, but I'm not one to troll with 3 lines out and drive around the lake. Bass fishing is more engaging to me than any other type. Your actively seeking out the fish, and its your skill in casting and presentation that put them on the line(not saying this doesn't apply to other fish). I enjoy the chucking and winding, pausing when you think your close, feeling the strike, and of course the retrieve as you say to your self "Hang on baby, stay stuck" Now if the ice would just melt....

For the price range that your in I'd lean towards the c3. The only factor that would steer me toward the cardiff is the push button. If its comfortable for you then perfect, if get blisters easy not so much. Also, I'd look at a size down from the reels you mentioned if they are only going to be used on occasion for muskie. The 6k abus and 400 shimano's are big honkin reels, and the 5k and 300's just seem a lot more comfortable to me. Look at the line your going to use along with how much you really need on the reel. A 300 shimano will hold about 150 yards of 65lb braid.

The area you live can really mess with what people will value/sell for. NADA lists that boat @ 1700 but in my area of the country the asking price would be around 3000. It stinks, but its something to factor in. Is the boat on craigslist? Or are there others on craigslist that are comparable? If you can find similar, for less than what is being asked for you could use it as ammunition to get the seller to move a bit. All that said, I'd be thinking around 2k, hoping to get under that.

I'll use a snell if i'm tying direct to a hook. I've gotten quick at them so they don't take long to tie on. You'll hear both ways on whether or not it helps hook up percentage, but imo it can't hurt. Otherwise I use the Palomar most often.

They tend to catch a lot of gunk on anything that sits on the bottom. I prefer to tie direct for the lures you mentioned.

Well as the first two responses show its really a personal question. I'd try to handle both, and then ask yourself "am I going to want the Metanium 2 days after I buy the ci4?" A example I found myself with, tatula or tatula type r. I thought I'd regret not spending the extra $ so I went type R. Your experience might differ. But I knew with my twisted brain I'd be up at night going "What if....." I will say with a lot of fishing gear, you hit the point of diminishing return. I'm pretty sure thats what mjseverson24 's talking about.

Awesome. Thank you.

Apologies to the OP for not posting sooner. I looked through the box myself last night and didn't find any sort of rebate.

Careful, those St. Croixs grow on you. You'll love that set up, it should balance quite well.