MarkH024

X2. My first bc rod was a St. Croix Triumph 6'6" med/f. Still alive and doing well. I'd go to 7' for your first.

You can join Facebook for free hand outs. I fill out form, after form on a weekly basis from dozens of different companies. If you're looking for contests and free stuff, go through social media. If you want to learn invaluable information and interact with great anglers, start reading these forums.

I have one. The plan was to get it on a TBS610MLXF. I'm considering other options now, maybe an Avid or the Rage 610MLXF. The reel feels smooth as butter and for anyone saying the frames will bend are crazy. No bass on this earth is going to bend that reel before the rod or tip snaps.

Seaguar Red Label or Vicious Pro Elite. I've used them both and they both have worked out pretty well. Not a lot of love here for Vicious lines but I have had good experience with it, no complaints.

Wow. I guess all are not treated equally. Glad to hear your experience was better than mine.

Mine was in a nice durable tube but it was just wrapped in paper and thrown in there. The way UPS handles packages im surprised it was broken in only one spot. Everything else about BTD is great, they just need a little better care with shipping. Either way, it was just disappointing. At least its winter and i won't be out there fishing for a while yet so i guess the wait wont kill me.

X2 Less than thrilled with the handling.

Ordered a rod from BTD last week. It finally came in and I open it up to find the rod wrapped in butcher paper and the tip is busted off. These guys ship 1000's of rods a year I'm assuming and they package it in paper?? Really?! A lot of you guys buy rods online and have them shipped but after this I think I'm going back to ordering to the store or off the shelves. Granted they're taking care of it, but now I have to wait on a call tag..send it back to California via ground, then they send me the replacement. That's 10-15 business days right there I bet. Their customer service was great..it's just the fact of how it was packaged that erks me.

Blackhawks! Awesome. Nuff said

200E5 for cranks

Stock drags on a chronarch will handle any black bass on earth. Its a great reel and a phenomenal deal on TW. You will love it. I picked up a 50e. I also have a 200e5

Apparently Chris is fairing okay today. Basstrack has him at 17lbs with 5 fish. Not a bad sack for 10am.

Chris got his win...so I think Bobby has every right to keep his secrets if he chooses. Bottom line, for these guys it's business. They're out to earn a paycheck so why would Bobby give up his chance to possibly win $500,000? I understand where the family thing comes in. I have 2 brothers, one of which is my fishing partner. If we were fishing against each other for big bucks...you're d**n right I'd keep it to myself especially if he's the defending champion. Maybe i'm just a cold s.o.b. I'm sure they share enough with each other and I'm sure they scout/discuss lakes together prior to tournaments. But in the actual tournament days, they'd be foolish to give up their winnings. That's life changing money they're fishing for.

$50.00 off a brand new 50E.......yes sir. Couldn't resist

I am convinced that Dwight does not catch anything that is considered small. Please prove me wrong.. Awesome fish!

I'm not too familiar with those areas. Most of my fishing is North of Madison.

Pike will eat your shoe sole if you throw it there. They are very aggressive so anything on the faster side of bass fishing works well. Cranks, spinners, spoons, topwater. One other big producer for me is hollow body swimbaits or hard swimbaits. There are so many up here it gets annoying.

http://www.basspro.com/Eppinger-Original-Dardevle-Spoons/product/2918/?cm_ven=bazaarvoice&cm_cat=RLP&cm_pla=2918&cm_ite=productname_link Where about in WI are you fishing? I'm normally in the Green Lake vicinity.

I've donated dozens of $10 Koppers frogs to the pike family while bass fishing.

I musky and pike fish often. I will tell you this, a MH/F (bass) rod of your preferred brand will handle a 40"+ fish. I have a 7'6" St Croix Premier (Musky) with Curado 300DSV that is more than enough ooomf to bring those fish in as one of my musky set ups. Most of my big fish I've caught were on bass set up's in the M or MH range fishing for bass. I wouldn't go way out of your way to build some heavy duty set up for pike fishing unless you go up to Northern Canada and catch 40+ after 40+ non stop. This fish was caught on a Medium/Fast St. Croix Triumph Bass rod. Throwing a small, Mepps bucktail. Figure 8 at the boat and I let it run around in circles a bit.

Nice fish. What was the length on that one?

I clean my rods and guides with pledge. Makes them nice and sleek. As for the KVD conditioner.....just like that Hot Sauce commercial..."I put that s@#% on everything".

Managing Partner to a custom apparel / promotional products company. I'm also a graphic designer full time.

I was. Thank you for the referal.

From what I see, Cabelas is the only place that carries this stuff. Does anyone know of another retailer that sells it? Google only showed Cabelas and Ebay. I'll check the local Cabelas the next time i'm there. Just so happens that whenever I "need" something, they never have it. So I end up buying $50 worth of lures instead.