FlipnLimits

To fish before May!!! The ice is making it tough Getting on fish within a week of ice-out. The last couple of years I struggled very early in the year. I'd like to be on fish by the end of my second outing. The early season is pretty tough around here. FL

Emo bass.

Oh, Ok. If the weather is fair, I'll try Braidwood on Friday. I'd much rather try Kentucky! Again. Good luck this weekend.

You should be excited, you got a nice deal FL

Nice fish! Did you fish Braidwood? FL

LOL Not at all what I thought your sentence will say. Very funny!

It's not you, it's the setting on the reel. 30lb PP is good stuff. You'll break any braid under these conditions though. Just think, braid, Spectra, was made to stop Bullets! So it is a strong material. Try the fix I mentioned before you swap line or reels, it might be a free "fix". Good luck.

There is yet another skirt that may be the slowest falling of them all. I'm not saying Guess it and I'll share. A clue....it's the most expensive to buy and found in a different fishing discipline. Jigs are so fun FL

Flyingmonkie My partner had the exact same problem as you with 30lb PP. He figured out that it was the settings on his reel. What's happening is the spool is spinning faster than the bait is moving away and an overspin occurs and it happens so fast you will not notice it. While the spool is wound up, some slack forms and the biat then "whips" the line and it snaps. Think of a buggy whip and the snap it makes, even when you don't swing fast. The solution is to click your spool tensioner up just slightly. Or use an extra weight in your centrifugal weight system and back off on the tensioner. FL

TiNuts Haven't exorcised an *** before but the Avid is a fine rod, if you can give it a chance and get used to it. Best of luck at the lake with it. FL

Jolly Green, that's pretty neat. WIGuide is a Croix fan (as am I) and he probably wouldn't mind having this as a collectable. I know I would and haven't seen one before. Macmichael, the two I have are also very old, and I believe first runs. It's funny how people give you things because they know you are a fisherman and they think you like everything related to fishing I don't mind, it's kind of them. Thought maybe you had yours in a camper from some years ago. FL

I can only add the T-rig craws I used there. When I did well there, it was on the baits you mentioned (exactly the same) with Colorado blades on spinnerbait and the t-rigged craws, black. Then the next few years, stunk! I may be going this coming weekend to try my new plastique reels out.

This weather is really something, isn't it?! Glad I took the day off work

All great replies, thanks for your input! Above all, it's a win, win with more tools in the box and a bit of marketing mixed in. If Croix is making strong rods with ART technology, excellent, we benefit. As a user of some of their product, I like them, but also see the marketing side of things when Alconite rings are placed into titanium to make them lighter but the line rides across Alconite, can't change that fact. I have broken numerous rods throughout the years, not one has been from a hookset with a rod that wasn't already slightly damaged or another influence that wouldn't cause a failure. Every broken rod has always been 100% my fault, one way or another. Top companies make top products......personal preference is what it comes down to, as stated above. Without weights and measures in rod blank construction, there are no industry standards and each company can name them what they want and sell whatever they can market. Tools are what they are and getting fishermen thinking and talking was the goal here. The marketing tricks is what get me because we pay the price. From $150 to $500 rods, they all seem to have similar strengths and components. Tools, tools, tools. FL

They both use Alconite guides. The reel seats are configured differently, no upgrades of any kind otherwise. The graphite used to make the rod may be better, it's slightly different. I've been using medium and medium heavy St. Croix for over 20 years, I already like them.

Too busy making TS rods. Lol, couldn't resist. FL

It's definitely up to the consumer to know what they want, great point. Please reread, I did not say Avids and Legends are of lesser quality. I said LTB are not any better because they are TS and thus should not cost more. Also, I'll just repeat often, these are my observations and opinions. And I have to agree with you, the Mojo flippin stick has an action leaving something to be desired.

You hit the proverbial nail on the head, I think, with the bullet points. Maybe not downgraded per se, certainly not upgraded though. Everyone has a stickler, I guess mine would be the names on the rods Do you fish the LTB line? Any long term usage you can share some insight on? I know they shortened the butt section of some of the rods in the lineup and it made them feel heavier (comparing Avid). I stayed away from them, partially due to this.

I agree, it's a win, win, for us to have more options. But not if the product is not as good and it costs more. It's clear to me that the companies and product lines I mentioned are not at par with what they were intended to replace. Granted the LTB is a different line than Avid but Crucial is still the same name. Look at this video. http://www.bassmaster.com/blog/drop-shotting-power# Now give Ike any rod from any manufacturer that says "dropshot". See my point? Who can say what rod will be used for what? Punching and dropshot have been fairly specific from their start, so only a name was added to a rod. Without technique names on the rods, all these rods would sell for much less. If QC and attention to detail decreased (agreeing with you).......maybe, just maybe, they should go back to what was better? These are just opinions and observations, I'm just speaking my mind. Take away what you will. What works for someone is what they should use. Edit: LTB and Crucial are quality rods, especially LTB, I just don't think they are upgrades. Shimano is the letdown with the fancy foam, but I'll give it a go and try to remember to rate it later.

A bargain price Shaking my head in disbelief that it's still sold. Wake up America!!! lol Those sectional rods are much better than this, and they have a carrying case. Not to offend Ron, it's just an opinion.

Seriously, still sold? Must be next to the Multichron Watch. Macmichael, is this a recent purchase? Or from the camping days?

Certainly, I recognize it. I have 2 in the box, mint. A Ronco, Ron Popeil, Pocket Fisherman. I collect a few things here and there. Mostly militaria. FL

Good advise, using mono for cranks! I may have met him at the Chicago BPS Grand opening, I have a nice picture with a younger KVD though. He was the cream rising to the top at the time. One day I'll find those pics and post them.

Grantman, I think it was your post about the spinnerbait rod. It was the perfect response, imo. I would not go as far as RC to say one rod covers all either, but within 6" and an action, you can cover most fishing situations. I wonder if RC changed his stance based on the times.....conform or be left behind type thing? I'm all for technology! I love it, I swapped my old cloth diapers and gave the kids plastic ones that fill the earth with garbage! Think green. No, seriously, I'm for technology, I just don't see TS as technology, just added actions, etc. Catt, you got it, partner! Just don't name them "betsy" because it'll show age.

I'm new to the forum so it's not my place to say anything but I thought this was a serious place to discuss the finer art of angling, lol. I'm glad to see that the boys can blow-off some steam and act foolish It's good for the spirit at times! FL Apologies, Catt, but I'm sure you had to laugh at some point here.