Hogsticker

I had one too some time ago. Thing went forever. Replace the drag washers with some carbons and see if that helps

Since you already justifed a reason, may as well get one. I would wait to see how low those Zillions go (shouldn't be to long now), and search for a Chornarch D while you wait. That's one reel you won't regret the wait and leg work should you find one.

Love thy mailman. Such an awesome feeling coming home from work to see a box or rod tube on your porch

Not sure how this got into a cork or Eva deal, but I would suspect the new Crucial to have split Eva....but would like to see full Eva.

30 lb braid, 12 lb fluoro. I see so many braid thread posts about 50 lb braid and and 17-20 lb leader. I see no need to go so heavy with your applications. I've never had dig issues with twenty or thirty.

Only Duckett knows

I question if the guide frames are 100% titanium. Are there any other 100 dollar rods that have titanium guides? Even a cheaper spinning set of Alps guided run close to 55 bucks. Has anyone noticed if the stripper guide looks small. Is it a 20 or 25?

Yes, the parts are. But I think Powell uses their own graphite pre peg, where I'm sure Duckett is using a typical blank any rod builder can purchase

Are you guys sticking nails in both ends when wacky rigged, or just one?

So when you folks are casting these up stream and letting them drift down, how are you rigging them? Wacky, nose hooked, Texas? My only concern us if there is too much current, the bait will never sink. Slow mild current this sounds awesome. As lame as it sounds, another thing you COULD do is stick it under a bobber. I personally like a tube with an earplug inserted into it with a split shot up the line in these conditions.

Good times

You said two rods? I would spool one with 20 lb Sufix braid (no leader), the other with 8 lb McCoy co poly

Umm k. Powell makes some good sticks. The guides and graphics on the Inferno don't trip my trigger at all. Keith said some new rods are coming soon.

Just get a high quality co poly and call it day

Aren't the fish eagle 50 rods on sale for 60 bucks? These are much lighter and crisp, with a thinner less moderate blank. I was playing with all Cabelas rods last weekend. The guides were all sloppy and crooked, but whatever

The possibilities are endless

First of all, are you talking about just the frame material with a ceramic insert, or the entire guide? If the entire guide is chrome plated stainless steel I would stay away. I've seen several with grooves, from cheapies to recoils. They started putting ceramic inserts in them for a reason. And Ty is correct. They are crazy loud. A handful of Daiwas 2012 rods had these. Now it looks like they are being discontinued and replaced. Its your choice and you got responses, ummmmk

I wouldn't use a true drop shot rod for this personally. A drop shot rod is designed with a tip that is intended to move the bait and not the weight. A simple lift the rod tip and reel down type of deal. I want a rod with a little faster tip and a little more power for hook sets with weightless plastics. Nothing super fast or to powerful, but a step up from a drop shot blank. Between that and a spin jig blank seem to be about right. Medium and some medium light mag bass blanks seem to work well dependant on the manufacturer. I use an RX8+ Senko blank that rocks for weightless Senkos and Flukes.

If you're having problems with 20 lb braid digging in and you HAVE allowed the line proper time to break in, then you haven't made the proper adjustments to use it and should be be using it in the first place. Don't whale on the cast, don't run a super tight drag, and pay attention when freeing a snag. I've been using 20 lb performance braid on over a dozen different casting reels for 9 years now. I spool it tight through a phone book, and then let all of it out behind the boat down to the backing. After a solid 2 to 3 days use its perfectly fine. I agree, the more supple 8 strands work better than original Power Pro. The only braid I've ever had a problem with is Fireline, and its a fused line. Light braid does not dig no matter what. That is false.

Just gut feelings but I think Daiwa will introduce some new spinning reels, and the Zillion rods and reels. Shimano appears to be coming out with a new Crucial series of rods. Megabass will have some new XX models as well. I'm sure we will see several lure companies show us there version of the spybait. Powell is also updating the Max rod line, possibly some new sticks as well...according to Keith Bryan.

I've never had a problem. Give the line some time to break in. It will get better

Indeed

Well I got the XP844 today. Way faster than I was expecting. Gonna exchange it for the SC3 moderate MH.

Why not just sell the rods and buy something with a full cork handle? The blanks and components aren't that special

The only wst it will work is to leave a small gap between the Eva lock nut and cork handle, as on *** black spinning rods. But again, you still have Eva. You could buy a new lock nut, but not certain which will fit. Even then there will still likely be gappage