ChrisD46

*Westcoast : Corrected - I meant to say: 3) Medium Power / Fast action

*Tom - check out the BPS Carbonlite 2.0 rod specifications listings (as an example) ... I see more rods listed as : "MH / Moderate" or MH / Moderate Fast" as examples versus : "MH / F" or "MH XF" (which most everyone is familiar with) . When I am in a store I put a rod upright with the butt on the floor braced against my foot in the proper orientation for the rod guides - then slowly bend the rod tip down with one hand while holding the rod down lower on the butt near the handle with my other hand to check the rod bend . I would say the "Moderate" action rods would correspond to a parabolic bend as you shared . * reason : Your post exposed a mistake I made - I meant to say : 1.) 7' Medium Power / Moderate action 2.) 7' Medium Heavy Power / Moderate action 3.) 7' Medium Power / Fast action .

*Valid Points ...

The three all graphite rod options for shallow 1.5 crankbaits and 1/2 oz. lipless crankbaits are : 1.) 7' Medium Power / Moderate action 2.) 7' Medium Heavy Power / Moderate action 3.) 7' Medium Power / Medium action . For sake of argument , I chose the 7' rod length for comparison ... First of all , the Medium power / Moderate action seems to be popular with the those mostly throwing a shallow 1.5 crankbait and the 1/2 oz. lipless crankbaits in mostly little to no grass areas while in grassy areas the 1/2 oz. lipless crankbait guys move up to the Medium Heavy / Moderate action al graphite rod . The 3rd option is the Medium Power / Medium action all graphite rod which may work for both shallow 1.5 crankbaits AND 1/2 oz. lipless crankbaits (by switching to #30 lb. braid from #12 lb. FC line and vice versa) . Long story short , I'm trying to eliminate #2 choice above (can only afford one rod now) and choose between #1 and #3 rods above again for shallow 1.5 crankbaits and 1/2 oz. lipless crankbaits by alternating between a reel with #30 lb. braid and a reel with #12 lb. FC line on the same rod to cover my crankbait and 1/2 oz. lipless crankbait (grass cover / no cover) options . Also , which between #1 and #3 rods above would be the most versatile for secondary techniques such as weightless senkos , spooks , poppers , etc. also by alternating between braid and FC line ? ...Thanks in advance for replies !

First the peddlers outside the tackle stores (A-Jay , Bluebasser86) get you hooked with a "Gateway" reel (such as a spinning reel) - first you buy one , then two then four all the while looking for the "high" you felt when you bought that first spinning reel ... Then you find the spinning reel high has lost it's luster so you move up to baitcasting outfits where you definitely now are out of control ! ... It doesn't stop until you have gone totally hard core and move up to mainlining the heavy flipping and punching baitcasting rigs - Oh , the horror of it all ... It's too late for me (I don't want to be saved) but there is still time for you to turn back !

With colder water coming I realized I need a good rod for long casts dragging football jigs along sparse pea gravel bottoms with random rocks on points and long flats ... What do you look for in a rod for a football head jig with a typical creature / craw trailer on #15 FC or co-poly line ? ...What is your favorite rod (length , power , action) for throwing & dragging football head jigs ? ... Thanks in advance !

*Not a fan of FC line - would you go with a co-poly (brand ?) in #12 lb. to #15 lb. for say dragging football jigs on long casts with bare gravel / rock bottoms ?

*Your main applications for FC line then ?

Good replies - if you can do what you want with no voids with 3 ~ 4 rods that's great - some people may even need a 6th rod !

What are your top 5 must baitcasting rods in your boat (length & action) which you can't be without or you feel there is a huge void ? *I'll start : 1) 7-foot, 6-inch H power (extra-fast action) Main purpose: Flipping, pitching, punching, frog rod and swimbaits 2) 6-foot, 9-inch M power (extra-fast action) Main purpose: topwaters and jerkbaits 3) 7-foot M power (moderate action) Main purpose: crankbaits 4) 7-foot MH power (mod-fast to fast action) Main purpose: texas-rigs and jigs 5) 7-foot MH power (moderate action) Main purpose: spinnerbaits, vibrating and swimming jigs

*I was in my local Academy Sports today : I saw no strange signs of impdending doom for H2O cranks , top water , jerks , etc. There were a few that had clearance signs on them - but so did a number of other lure companies have clearance signs up . I saw nothing specific to H2O lures in the store that would cause a shift or change of any sort - it's just happening on the Academy web site at this time .

BPS Carbonlite 2.0 series 7'3" MH F

*Use the palomar knot on a small VMC snap for crankbaits - then attach to your crankbait .

Just today I looked on their site for the Gunfish and Sammy looking topwater baits - gone !

*Drop Shot Robo Worm : Wacky Rigged or hooked from the head ?

*How would you rate the action / flex on the 2.0 rods ? Are they true to the listing , softer than stated or more stout ? *Also I believe they make a moderate action 2.0 casting - anyone tried for cranking ?

The 6'6" M , MH ; 7' MH , 7'3" MH & 7'6" H would all have a application - not sure if their is a cranking rod in the Carbonlite 2.0 series ?

A prime application for braid + leader is adding a 14" leader for walking baits to keep the braid out of the treble hooks (#15 lb. Big Game) .

*A cheap experiment would be trying to loosen your drag to give slightly when setting the hook OR just do what Bluebasser86 does.

Today I saw a new display of Carbonlite 2.0 Bait casting rods at Cabela's today ... I have not seen them first hand before and was very impressed with the feel and stated actions of the rods . The quality was quite good as well as every single rod was perfectly straight with guides that were perfectly lined up to match . For a $119 regular price - pretty nice and certainly would make me want to spend $19 more than on a Abu Garcia Veritas (or similar) . For those who have the Carbonlite 2.0 rods - what length and actions do you have and what are your thoughts and experiences with them ?

Mostly Spots where I live ...

*Megabass colors are other worldly (in a good way) !

*Great perspective Tom - I'm absolutely with you on the moving aspect of the swing head jig platform which is probably why it is more popular in the warmer months but could still be popular in colder water (at slower speed) with a less "flaying appendage" trailer like a beaver ... You also made me think about trailers a little different for the late Fall / Winter jig bite ... I need to look for trailers which float up a bit OR are at least neutral buoyancy . *Thanks Catt ... A skirted option for the wobble / swivel head jig !

As the title states , are there any Cush - It brand rod foam rod butt pad users ... I see them now being used by FLW , Elite , MLF Pros , looks like a foam bulb on the rod butt and comes in Red , Yellow , Blue and Silver (at TW) . Looks like it could be useful to protect ribs on the hook set or while fighting a fish ... Your thoughts or experiences ?

For those who use the swing head jig like a : "bottom bouncing crankbait" - how many of you have success using the Biffle Hard Head & Biffle Bug (or similar) on a swing head jig during the Fall & Winter time frames OR is it really just a late Spring and Summer deal ? ... Thanks in advance for replies !