jbsoonerfan

H20 Express Ultimate Jerk Shad is where I would look if I were looking for a cheap option, then Rapala, then Spro, then 6th Sense, then after you have tried $80 worth or more of other brands, you can get a 110. LOL In all seriousness, I was like you a few years ago and didn't really use a jb because I had never had much luck. I broke down and bought a 110 and now I will throw one at least 9 months out of the year.

I'm confused....You say fluoro felt like a rubberband but you want to switch to stretchy mono for shock absorbing??? I thought mono had more stretch than fluoro, no? I guess I don't follow the goal here.

Well, I feel better hearing that. The lake I fish the most is full of stumps and I try my best to avoid them but there are instances where I am in a creek and the water is muddy and I simply cannot see some of them. I am hoping that since the Ultrex is semi-cable driven it will help the head rotate when it impacts a stump or something. I appreciate all the responses, I knew I probably wouldn't be happy with the Fortrex, but for the money I could save I didn't know if it would matter much.

I have found a pretty solid deal on an Ultrex from a local guy, just need to sell my Terrova first if I go that route. I would rather sell and have the money as opposed to have 2 TM's and have to hear my wife tell me how much my hobby costs. LOL

Well I have already broke 2 shafts in my Terrova - so I was hoping the Ultrex might be better for shallow water. Maybe not I guess.

I'm not 100% sure, but off the top of my head, I think it is the top 5 in points from the Open divisions. Someone will come along with the correct information.

Okay, hear me out on this one. I purchased my boat last December and it came with a Minn Kota Terrova with the spot-lock feature. I thought this was the coolest thing ever at the time and loved it. I hated how it deployed and stowed but I figured I would get used to it. I used the spot-lock feature a LOT and assumed this would serve me well. I noticed that most of my fishing was done in shallow water so after some time I bought a set of power poles. After buying my poles I noticed I used them over my spot-lock probably 20 to 1. Most of the time I use my SL is re-tying or landing a fish. I "occasionally" use it for the heading feature, but not often. Well after some time with it and realizing I absolutely hated the way it stowed and deployed, I am ready for a change. I have 2 options at the moment. Sell my Terrova nd replace with an Ultrex or just buy a Fortrex and sell my Terrova if I end up not liking the Fortrex. I know most will suggest to just go with the Ultrex but at almost twice the cost of the Fortrex I am just not sure I use the features enough. I know it's best to have it and not need it as opposed to need it and not have it. I also realize there are thousands of boats out there without spot-lock and they are doing just fine. I respect you guys opinions and I don't really have any friends that fish to lean on so I am asking what you guys would do. Thanks in advance.

Easy with the facts and science....

Well, the possibilities are endless and I will use just a couple examples. I could use a 6'6 M for jerkbaits, a 6'9 M for lipless, a 6'10 M for squarebills and a 7' M for shallow cranks or I could throw them all on the same rod. I could have a 1/8 oz, 3/16 oz, 1/4 oz, 3/8 oz and 1/2 oz texas rig set ups ready at the go, or I could just use a 3/16 oz and call it good. That is just 9 rod and reels right there and we haven't even got into deep cranks, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, top water, frogs, jigs, swimbaits, etc, etc, etc.

I wake up every day and think to myself, there is nothing I could possibly read today on the internet that will blow me away and low and behold if I don't run across this gem.

I'm in!

Softball season ended last week and I was blessed with at least one good day to fish before the Arctic front moves in. Went straight to the back of the creek and started there. I was able to put quiet a few in the boat but only managed these two over 3lbs. A 3lb 4oz and a 3lb 2 oz. Bass Forecast said a POOR day with a 2.3 rating, good thing I don't go or not depending on what that thing says.

Glad to hear from you ON, enjoy your trip and best of luck to you. About the dentist, yea, I don't care going myself.

I just saw this thread or I would have replied sooner. I throw a spinnerbait a lot and I use a clip. I was searching for a closed loop and came across the Greenfish Tackle Ballistic Blade HD and it is one of the best spinnerbaits I have ever used. I probably have upwards of 60-70 of them. You cannot hardly beat the Sun Gill pattern in this area in the Spring.

I have a Terrova that has spot-lock. The spot-lock works great, I just don't like the way you have to stow and deploy it.

Not what I would buy, but since you said you are a Daiwa fan, you should get a Daiwa Steez Strikeforce or Steez 19 Racing 701MH with a 20 Steez Air TW

Any way, as long as I can back reel them in.

Very sorry for your loss

I have 2, one on a 7' M Shimano Crucial with 20lb Sufix 832 that I use for ned rigs and the other on a 6'8 ML Shimano Zodias with 15lb Sufix 832 that I use for dropshots.

I just like it better for the technique I use it for. I always keep my hand on the knob when dropshotting or fishing a ned rig on a spinning setup and I feel like I have a little bit more control (maybe leverage) with more knob to work with. Then again, it could just be in my head.

I also went with the 3000 just for the T-handle. But that is just a personal preference. If I were using it for chunk and wind techniques, I may have just went with the 2500 with regular paddle style knob.

Oh for sure! LOL I've tried explaining to him how a drag works in a reel to help keep your line from breaking. Apparently speaking to a 38 year old man as if he is 4 years old makes them mad.

I have a pretty scientific method. I loosen my drag up and grab my line by the spool and pull. If it pulls easy, I tighten my drag and repeat. I do this until I find the "sweet spot". I have no idea what pound it is. I have been doing this for many, many years and I don't know that I have ever been broke off due to my drag not working properly. That being said, I would say that I do err on the side of caution when using fluoro, mono or a braid to fluoro leader. I have a buddy that cranks the drag down on every reel he uses and he can't figure out why he breaks off.

Well, I am a baitcaster guy so my opinion might differ from what you had in mind. I would go with a 6'8 - 7'0 M for treble hook baits. I prefer a shorter rod for jerkbaits and I throw them a lot so I would lean toward the shorter end of that spectrum. The next one I would add would be a 7' - 7'2 H rod for frogs and jigs. I don't like fishing a 7'6 or bigger rod when I am sharing the boat with someone. That is a lot of rod to not only be casting around but also just to have laying around and maneuvering in the boat.

It was a great rod! My favorite by far. No good story really. I have never caught a 20lb bass but that doesn't prevent me from setting the hook as if each fish I catch is a 20 pounder. Felt the tap, tap and swung away and the rod just blew up. Never seen anything like it in 25 years of fishing. I sent it back to Shimano but I have yet to hear from them which really worries me.