Chris186

I just ordered the Curado 150MGL for t rigs, it will be my first Shimano since 2005. Everything else I have is Lews, and while I like them I don’t like all of them. They all kind of seem the same to me, so I figured after 17 years I would give Shimano another go. I have had Daiwa reels and I don’t really care for them.

The Avids were my favorite, particularly the Avid X. I bought a 7’1 MHF Victory, the Grunt. It’s very light, but I feel like there is no sensitivity for bottom contact baits. It’s an excellent Spinnerbait rod but that’s not what I bought it for. I also don’t like the foam instead of exposed blank under the reel. I’m actually going to sell my St Croix rods and go in a different direction.

I am actually looking into getting one of these for throwing 3XDs and 5XDs. For those of you that have them, would you say medium or MH for those cranks?

I held them the other day at Bass Pro, they had all the models. It’s funny that the 3XD and the 5XD rod only have a 2” difference and are rated for the same lure weight. I did like the way they feel, the 3XD did seem to have a little softer tip than the 5XD

Thanks for all the replies. I have heard nothing but good things about the Legend Glass, I’m kinda leaning that way.

So I got some gift cards for Christmas, and I’m looking at getting a new Crankbait rod. I’m trying to decide on if I want to buy the St Croix Legend Glass, or the St Croix Victory power target cranker. I will be mostly throwing 3XDs and 5XDs on this rod. Thoughts? Pros and Cons?

I’ll be there Sunday. Be sure to check out my buddy Brandon’s booth, Krank’d Up Custom Lures. I work with him, he paints some sick custom lures. Tell him I (Chris from EB)sent sent you!

It’s posts like this why I can’t read this thread! Now I’m in an intense battle with the bait monkey!?

So I’ll say this, for what it’s worth. I had purchased a $250 Alpha Angler rod for throwing jigs. Awesome rod, light, sensitive and well balanced. I just recently inherited a $99 Lews TP1 which I began using for spinnerbaits. I decided for the hell of it I would try throwing a jig on it. So I took the reel and jig off the Alpha and put it on the Lews. Honestly, there really wasn’t enough of a difference at all in any category for me to justify the price difference. That’s me though, everyone has different experiences. That being said I’m really not sold on anything over $150 anymore.

I have had my share of Abu Revo’s, and I will never buy another one. I started out with a Revo S first gen, which was ok. Then I bought a 2nd gen STX that what a POS from the start. Made so many noises I wasn’t sure what to think. I sent it in and they actually sent me a brand new one which within 2 weeks started grinding and the worm gear broke. I decided to give them one more shot and bought 2 3rd gen Revo SX reels. They were both so finicky I had to adjust them literally every cast.Every. Single.Cast. A buddy of mine who loves Abu has the same problem. I finally said enough is enough and switched to Lews. I now have 13 Lews reels and never hand an issue with any one of them. They are by far not the same reel with a different badge, switching to Lews did seem to be the answer for me.

I always say it lives up to its name, when you set the hook it Vanishes!

I once bought into the you get what you pay for sensitivity wise. Since then I don’t believe that is true, especially since it’s so subjective. For example, I bought a St Croix Legend X because I love my Avid X and I kept hearing about how much better and more sensitive the legend was. For me, just comparing sensitivity between the Legend and the Avid X, the Avid is much more sensitive. Same thing with moving baits. I had a $120 Duckett Triad 7’MH I used for spinnerbaits which I loved, you could really feel the blades spinning and thumping. Now I’m throwing a Spinnerbait on a Mojo rod, 7’ MHMF which cost a little more and all I feel is dead weight.

I currently use the St Croix Mojo Spinnerbait rod which I do like, my only gripe with it is that I can’t feel the blades spinning. I used to have a Duckett Triad 7’ MH that I loved for spinnerbaits because I could feel the blades turning, it had plenty of tip with solid backbone. That was my favorite all time Spinnerbait rod, but I ended up selling it when I moved away from Duckett to see if the grass was greener.

I used to have a 6’9 MH/F for bladed jigs, it was an excellent rod. I’m not a fan of Winn grips though so I ended up selling it.

Just ordered some myself. Actually these are the only jigs I own.

I have a buddy with a 1986 Mercury 150 who is having an issue with the starter and flywheel jamming when trying to crank it. He had a lower unit seize, replaced it with a used one and all was fine until a couple days ago when he tried to run it with the muffs in the driveway. With the lower unit removed, it cranks over fine. The shaft in the lower spins when not installed. Its only when the lower unit is installed that it gets jammed up when trying to start it. Any ideas? Thanks in advance

Baby Brush Hog hands down. If that wasn’t available it would be a Gambler Ugly Otter.

Topwater for sure. Specifically when they come from 20ft down and blast your spook 3 ft in the air!

I haven't fished tournaments in a while, but when I did, I would always add Sure-Life Please Release Me to the livewells. With hotter water temps the aerators stayed on manual. When I got to the weigh in, I have a bag with the mesh liner so I could leave the water in the bag. I also would always run a battery powered aerator in the with in bag as well. Fish get weighed, go right back in the bag, then back to the lake. I would try to keep them in the water as much as possible in a tournament. Never lost a fish. These days its just catch, picture, release unless it looks to be over 5, then I will weigh it.

I haven't fished that place since I was probably 12-13 years old back when I lived in PA. Around here, there are very few no wake zones. If there is one, its usually near the ramp, and 9 times out of 10 its the jet skis buzzing around right near the ramp. To say I have disdain for 99% of those people would be putting it lightly, but thats another discussion.

I have wasted a bunch of money trying new plastics, only to end up going back to what I always use anyway. These days I don't have that many different styles, just a few certain ones in two or 3 colors each.

Yes and No. I want to be all the time, i'm just not. Unfortunately around here, all the good places are 1-1.5 hour ride, and there are tournaments, every weekend, every where. Now, you may not think this is a big deal, but our biggest lake is 1500 acres, with most between 200-750 acres. 25 boats on a 400 acre lake is no picnic, especially with the small ramps. A lot of them are just single ramps, which really holds things up when Johnny weekender is launching his 25ft cabin cruiser on a 200 acre lake. That, on top of constant boat issues all year, makes me want to go even less.

I am a fan of the 1911, but I am a fan of my hybrid a little more.

Welcome, I’m in Cranston

Thanks for all the info, im really looking forward to attending.