War Eagle 44

Oh no, you've done it now! Umbrella rig fishing is super addictive, I had so much fun throwing one this spring I can't wait for a few more weeks to go by so the fish will begin schooling in the shad again and I can get back to hammering them on the rig. Congrats on your first u rig fish, I know it won't be your last.

100% truth. Also I'll add that it is critical that you have slack in your line while walking a frog, the slack is the whole key to getting the desired action, second only to needing braided line. Not that it can't be done with mono, it can, the braid just makes it a lot easier. I also think a heavier action rod is called for, I use a frog specific rod, and I feel it's much easier to get the walking action using it than say a 7' MH rod.

You got it fast!! So, what's your initial impressions? Looks good with the CH 200E aboard. I've used 50 and 65# braid with that rod with great results, just depends on your personal preference I guess. Well that is if you aren't fishing super heavy grass or mats, if that's the case then I'd say 65 all the way. I actually prefer the 65, it just "fishes" better to me. I can cast a little farther with 50, not much, but I just like the feel of 65. I'm not sure why because I've never broken 50 so it isn't due to that. Sorry for rambling, hope you get a big one your first trip out and let us know what you think.

I agree with you, I can't remember the last time I lost a fish on a KVD 1.5 using his #2 Mustads. That bait with those hooks are fantastic together.

I agree 100%, get the 6 ratio. With Shimano's HEG gearing it's a breeze to fish either bait you asked about. I "burn", as in wake, 3/4 oz spinnerbaits all the time with my Citica E's and never feel even the least bit like it's tiring to do for extended periods. Swim jigs are even easier to fish IMO, even with bigger swimbait style trailers like the Swing Impact Fat.

Well my take on it is their main advantage is the fact that you can move up one size with the short shank hooks without effecting the baits overall action. Therefore you actually end up with more hook gap because you went up a size. I've been very happy with the hooking and landing percentage when using these hooks, mostly the KVD Mustads so far. I have a few of the Gamakatsu EWG's on some baits and so far I'm not sure if they hold fish as well as the KVD hook. That's obviously still to be decided and even then it'll still be only my opinion. Also it seems to me that my square bill's come through wood a little better with the short shank hooks, by that I mean I don't get snagged as much. Still happens, just not as frequently.

I'm using a Cumara A umbrella rig rod and love it, I know it's outside of your spending limit but the only reason I brought it up is because Shimano also makes an umbrella rig rod with the exact same specs in their Crucial line and they are very close to your upper limit at $169.99. I'm sure you could find one for $150 if you looked hard enough. These rods are spot on for the a rig in my opinion (I guess they should be seeing as that's what they were designed to fish) and really handle them well, casting and when a fish bites. I'm not sure if you would want to put the time and effort into looking for one of these at your price point or not but I just thought I'd throw it out since they hadn't been mentioned yet. Good luck.

To me it's worth the wait because it's my favorite rod, for you though I can't say. I've never fished either a Phenix or Dobyns so I can't comment at all about either of them, all I have to go on is the very positive feedback I've read about both companies on the web. I'm not sure exactly how Powell's warranty works as I've never had a Powell break but I think I remember it being very similar to how Dobyns does theirs. There are plenty of other online shops that carry Powell rods, surely there has to be a few who still have a 735 in stock. Which ever direction you go I wish you the best of luck and hope you're very happy with the rod you ultimately decide on.

I use a Powell Max 735C rod for both the techniques you mentioned. It's a fantastic rod to me, so much so that I haven't even considered a different frog rod since I purchased it some 6 or 7 years ago. Powell lists a few techniques on their rod blanks as to what the rod is intended for or best at and the 735C has frogs, flipping, swimbaits, and wakebaits listed on it's blank. Like I said to me it's a great rod and absolutely perfect for frogs. This was my first ever Powell rod and I liked it so much I bought 4 more Max series rods. I know Dobyns gets a ton of talk on the forums and the Powell isn't mentioned by many but it is a really good stick for it's intended techniques.

I'm pretty sure I've caught the most on Poison as well. Dirty White is second I believe.

I've not had any of mine take on water any faster than my Spro Bronzeye's so I don't really have a complaint there. I will agree this frog isn't great in heavy weeds, but I've been experimenting with it on top of mats and as long as you hold your rod tip at about 1 to 2 o'clock it works fine. I think these are twice the frogs that Kopper's makes, just MHO though. I've also not had any trouble with the bait flipping over, I think it actually does a much better job of landing and staying right side up than the Bronzeye. I have been disappointed in the 55 size though, it doesn't seem to be weighted exactly right and doesn't walk the dog nearly as well or as easily as the 70. I've caught a few fish on them none the less, biggest about 2-1/2. It does still have a great popping action that seems to get bit fairly well.

I agree that Owner makes fantastic trebles but as was already mentioned they aren't EWG. I recently picked up a pack of Gamakatsu EWG short shank magic eye 2X trebles and they are very very nice. I would highly recommend at least taking a look at these before making your final choice. Mustad's KVD trebles are good as well, I just think the Gamakatsu's might be a slightly better hook.

I fished there once around 5 or 6 years ago. The owner (at that time, it's since changed hands) told me that it was due to fish break offs. There are actually two different Dream Lakes on the property, both are absolutely filled with wood cover. He said he initially allowed braid but had to many customers complain about breaking off big fish in the wood cover (like he was somehow responsible for their fishing mistake). He also said the bigger fish, 8 pounds on up, had really sharp rough "teeth" and he had personally had quite a few of them cut his braid while hooked. Now I'm not in a 100% agreement with all that but he was a really really nice older fella and I just can't see him making all that up. While I was there the current lake record was 14 pounds and change, he offered a $1,000 cash prize on the spot if you broke it. He strongly favored P-Line CXX, so much so that he even had one of those knot machines in house and would be happy to test any line you wanted him to against the CXX. He also owned a tackle shop by the way so that's where he said he got the line strength machine. I was already using CXX well before visiting Dream Lake but if I hadn't I would have after seeing all the tests he did for us the first night. I had just picked up some Sufix Siege to try while there so I got him to run it against the CXX in 20 and 25 # tests. It wasn't pretty for the Sufix, way to much stretch when compared to CXX and it wasn't as strong. Also you can't (or couldn't) use any EWG hooks, only offset round bends. Sorry I got way off track there, that's just the explanation he gave me when I visited.

I disagree 100%. I've started to do a little "tuning" on some of my baitcast reels and I can tell a difference over the stock bearings while still using the spool brake. On 90% of my reels (Shimano's) I only use one brake block, I'm able to cast a noticeably farther distance using the one brake block and Boca Lightning 5's as opposed to one brake and the cleaned stock bearings. Nothing outrageous or anything, maybe ten to fifteen more yards if I'm really trying for max distance. The biggest difference I can tell is in the effort it takes to make a "normal" length cast. Using upgraded bearings I'd say it's probably 25% easier to make "real world" casts. I know there are times when max distance is needed but I'm simply referring to majority of the time when max distance isn't the main goal. I've just in the last two weeks started to polish some parts. I've done the spool shaft ends on a couple of reels, and the copper pressure plate that's under the cast control cap on my old Chronarch 101A. I actually think it really helped the 101A. Next time I take it down for maintenance I'm going to polish the inside of the pinion gear as well as the spool shaft. That's about all there is left to do to that reel from a performance upgrade standpoint as I've already installed a Carbontex drag, Orange Seal bearings, and ceramic line guide pawl. All in all it's really fun tinkering with your reels, you should try it.

Frogs are by far my favorite lures. If I was forced to fish only one I'd have to go with a Bronzeye 65, I've tried many different brands of frogs over the years and most I never buy again but the original Bronzeye 65 hasn't left my tackle box since the very first one. My favorite right now is the Spittin' Wa 70 but the good ole Bronzeye 65 is the standard to me. On a bit of a side note I can't wait for the Bronzeye Shad, gonna be a killer bait.

Of course it isn't, all your rods are magic and better than everyone else's.

I don't believe that at all, its widely known recoil guides and braid are really loud.

I disagree. I have a Loomis with recoil guides and fishing braid on that rod makes much more sound than the same reel and line on a different rod. I'm not saying the line guide doesn't make some noise, I just believe that 90% of the sound is the braid running through the rod. The fact that I can move any reel I own to the Loomis with recoil's and it becomes instantly louder than any of my other rods proves my point in my mind.

First off your response isn't about what my post was concerning. I clearly highlighted in red the portion of your post I disagreed with so I'm not sure how you missed the point.

That's 100% BS.

I've had the most bites on Dirty White, but I like the Bream color best. It just looks so good to me in the water. I've also had a few bites on Poison. If I had to rank the colors I've fished so far in order by the number of bites it would be Dirty White, Poison, I Know It, and Bream. I hadn't really noticed or given it much thought until now but the color I like best has gotten the least number of bites, could be something or maybe just a coincidence? So yeah I'd definitely suggest Dirty White and Poison, and as I said the Bream color looks great to me in the water, not so much the fish as of yet. Since you just received Poison I think you're set for a few days anyway but if you just happen to be in position to pick up a couple more Dirty White and Bream would be my top suggestions. Good luck.

100% agree here! I haven't been fishing a single trip since I got these frogs that I haven't been fishing them. The action has me, they're all I want to throw. Doesn't matter if they're getting hit that day or not. I have 4 of the 70 size and 3 of the 55. I don't like the smaller size nearly as well as the "regular" size version, it doesn't have nearly the same walk the dog action for me. I'm sure if I just spent more time only fishing the 55 I could get the retrieve down correctly but I'm looking for a big bite on the frog so I'm sticking to the 70's. Spro also makes great frog baits, just MHO.

I'd pick the new Calcutta hands down. Daiwa makes great tackle, don't get me wrong, I simply like Shimano more. I'd also suggest the 300 size for what you plan to use it for.

I've been slowly converting more and more of my tackle over to braid this year. I started using PPS8S in Jan of this year and I haven't looked back since. I love this line, it's my favorite braid hands down. I don't have anything against regular PP, it's a good line, I just don't see myself buying it again as long as they're making S8S. I've also had great service from Sufix Performance Braid. I recently picked up a spool of 832 (50# Ghost) but I've yet to try it. It feels good just handling it though so I'm expecting I'll like it just fine. It isn't talked about all that much but I also really like P-Line braid, I just can't find it locally anymore. I really like S8S after about 8 to 10 trips with it when it gets good and broken in, it's so limp and just flies off the spool. I know some guys hate when the coating wears off braid and the line loses its "body" but that's when I start to enjoy it most. As you said, with most things in fishing it's all about personal preference.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I've never had to clean the sensor on either of my DC reels, but then again as you said I only use mine in freshwater. I've sent the Calcutta DC in 3 times over the years to Shimano for a good breakdown and cleaning so I know they've performed the necessary maintenance. Good to hear it's a relatively simple fix once you know what the problem is.