Chris at Tech

jig

Price range? The St Croix M and ML powers are usually good candidates and available at different price ranges.

As I mentioned in another thread I started, I'm really trying to scale down the amount of plastics I carry with me so I wanted to ask some opinions. If you were forced to select only 8 styles of baits to carry with you to be as versatile as you can be, which would you select? For the purposes of this exercise, let's assume you're packing for a trip but you don't know what lake you're going to, the geography, the weather, the water conditions, etc. Let's not worry about colors here, just styles. And let's also say that two different sizes of the same bait will count as 2 styles (so if you want to carry 5 inch and 7 inch senkos, that would count as 2 styles). Let's hear 'em!

I think this is a really underrated reel. Very smooth, casts EXTREMELY well, etc. I think the downfall is the footprint. It's a noticeable larger reel when compared to Zillions, Revos, Curados, etc. and this makes it a bit less comfortable to fish for me. In my opinion, if Daiwa shrunk the profile of this reel and kept it in the same price range, they'd have a HUGE winner on their hands.

I just got the 735C last week myself in an effort to try to force myself to learn how to flip/pitch heavy grass, and for bigger 5.5 - 6.5 in paddletails in thick grass Let's see now...at last count, I now have a 683C, 703C, 704C, 705CB, 735C and DX 703 SF. Like you said, these things are just plain comfortable to fish with. I can't say that the rod performance is that much above and beyond other rods in the same price range, but the way they feel in hand seals the deal for me.

For reels -- Revo STX ($200) or Daiwa Advantage HSTA ($170). I'm a big fan of the Dobyns rods as well, and a 3-power Champion ($220) would suit your needs as long as you don't go much above 1/2 oz spinnerbaits. Alternatively, I also really like St Croix Avid. For your uses, I'd recommend either the 6'8" MXF or the 7' MH models.

I've decided this year that I need to seriously scale down the amount of plastics I carry. With that said, how do people feel about lizards vs brush hogs? Do they fill the same purpose in your arsenal, or are they different enough to you that you carry both?

That's freakin' cool. Did you save any pics you could share?

I'm out of the loop on this one... I've heard about applying the shrink wrap to the hook shank to act as a barb to keep the plastic in place, but I don't recall hearing about applying it directly to the bait. What's the concept on that one?

Oh, the travesty of a battle between millionaires and billionaires... I just wish the fans would truly make a lockout hurt the NFL so these jokers would get the point. The country continues to struggle financially, millions out of work, and NFL players are trying to start funds for those "poor" players who only make the league minimum of $300k per year. Oh my, what will these poor guys do if there is a lockout? They can't possibly make only $300k last.

If you've never had a spinning rig, I'd say go spinning here.

One light color, one dark color

P-line CX Premium in 12lb test. I freakin' love this stuff for jerkbaits and topwaters.

Are those truck boxes insulated?

Make no mistake...I'll be out on that lake till they drag me off. Torrential rain just makes it a bit more difficult to take pictures of the hawgs

The gods must be angry with me this spring, as I've just had issue after issue pop up preventing me from being able to get out and fish. A buddy and I are headed to Dream Lake to fish tomorrow. Awesome, right? Look at the forecast. Sonofa... http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Livingston&state=AL&site=BMX&textField1=32.5988&textField2=-88.1871

P-Line CX is my absolute favorite.

Go with the STX.

I can never seem to get the Basstrix to swim right, so I prefer the Shadalicious.

I love my 2010 Premiers. Light, comfortable to fish and perform great for me.

Personally, I love the way my Zillion reel fits on my Zillion rod. My other Zillion feels at home on my Dobyns 704c, but doesn't feel quite as good to me as my Zillion/Zillion combo.

My Dobyns/Premier and Dobyns/Zillion combos are both extremely comfortable to fish with. ...But they don't compare to my Zillion rod/Zillion reel combo. For those of you who haven't handled a combo like this, try to get your hands on one. It feels NICE

I ordered a new Revo S spool to fit into my older Winch. The original Winch spool has the old 6 pins, the new Revo S spool has the new pitch brakes

I just purchased an additional spool for one of my Revo's, and this spool has the new "pitch" brakes as opposed to the older 6-pin. Since 3 are "pitch" brakes and 3 appear to just be normal brakes, I'm not sure how the heck to set them. I can't necessarily adjust them in pairs like the old system by virtue of this the layout. Anyone have any tips?

Shimano doesn't like lefties. Look to Abu and Daiwa.