Steveo-1969

Dang it!!!! I downgraded my DirecTV package in April and no longer get the Outdoor Channel. I've been watching reruns on the Discovery Channel and on MOTV, guess I'll have to wait to see these new ones...

Hola DBC32 and welcome to Bass Resource! My favorite fluorocarbon? Vanilla Bean followed closely by Butter Pecan... (Seriously though, as you've already seen you will get a variety of answers. Just like you would if you asked for everyone's favorite ice cream flavor!) I use 10# fluorocarbon on a baitcaster and have tried a bunch of different ones and none have been perfect, but none have been horrible either. I'm currently using Seaguar Red Label because for $11/200yd spool at Walmart it's really pretty good! Only thing I don't like is it's not very abrasion resistant. I found Invizx to be stretchier than Red Label and didn't like it as well. Abrazx was more abrasion resistant but didn't handle as well as Red Label. Sunline Sniper gave me odd random break-offs (bad spool?). Gander Mountain brand was too thick in 10# and didn't handle as well. So for now it's Red Label. I only use about 100 yards a month so it's very cost effective. But I'm VERY curious to try Tatsu, just haven't been able to click the "Place Order" button yet........

I enjoy these threads every time they come up and I must say this has been the most civil one I've seen on here. Normally by page 2 a Mod is shutting it down because of crazy name-calling. I've been in both camps. In 2010 I saw a $100 Carrot Stix in a tackle shop and told my fiance "There is NO WAY I would pay $100 for a fishing rod! My Ugly Stik works just fine!!". And it did. Then I fished with a higher end rod and discovered how much more pleasurable it was FOR ME to use a higher end rod. Now I own a GLX spinning rod, 2 NRX casting rods, and I'm discussing a custom jig rod with @Delaware Valley Tackle. Life is good....

This is the GX2 model which is a combination of graphite and fiberglass. I think when you read "Medium Action" on an Ugly Stik (or other low cost rod) it really means "Medium Power". My fiance has a cheap Quantum IM6 graphite spinning rod that also says "Medium Action" on the label.

On the Ugly Stik website the rod POWER for this model is listed as "Medium". Interesting that the website correctly identifies Medium as the rod's power, but on the rod label itself says Medium action. I'm going to guess this is because most fisherman incorrectly call a rod's power the action instead. I've heard it even from pros and tv show hosts, and I did it myself until I learned there was a difference between "power" and "action".

The OP asked for our personal favorite "lure", then named three...??? OK, I'll give you my three then. 1) Jig 2) Jig 3) Jig

I see what you did there...

I've decided I'm going to discuss having a custom rod built with Mike at DVT. I'm sure I would be perfectly happy with a GLX or NRX 852c JWR, but getting a customized rod sounds pretty special.

Well played sir. Well played.

But... you just gave us your opinion....... HA!!!!

Thanks. I like the 89" length of my 893 and the 2 power of my 842 and thought I had found the perfect jig rod when I saw the 892c. But I've had 4 different people say basically "I liked the 892c but preferred the 852c." Good luck on your rod search as well. If you decide to buy a Loomis I don't think you can go wrong with GLX or NRX. But if you can swing the extra cash get the NRX...

That's a great question @fishwizzard. The only reason I was looking at a GLX is because there is no 892c JWR in the NRX line. If I rule that rod out and start looking at the 852c JWR instead, then I will definitely consider an NRX as it's only $80 more retail. I own 2 NRX rods (893c JWR and 842c MBR) and love them! But I also own a GLX spinning rod (NOT 2016 model) and the sensitivity is no joke. I'm sure I would be completely happy with a GLX JWR rod. Or I could just keep using my MBR for jigs. Decisions decisions......

Thank you @NHBull. That's consistent with other feedback I'm getting as well. I may have to reconsider the 852c JWR. Because I already have the NRX 842c MBR, in my mind the 892c is "different enough" I can justify buying the rod (XF action and 5" longer!!). With the 852c I need to decide if the XF action alone is worth buying another rod specifically for light jigs and t-rigs. Or if I just keep using the 842 MBR.

I have not been able to find any reviews or feedback about the G. Loomis 2016 GLX 892c JWR. I'm looking for an XF action rod to mainly fish 3/16 ounce jigs. I'm currently using an NRX MBR 842c which is a pleasure to fish with, and the power is just right, but I would prefer an XF action for jig fishing. Does anyone own this rod? What do you think?

Welcome to Bass Resource @Olbrownfish! I don't fish inline spinners and don't have a clue how to make them, sorry. Just wanted to say welcome from a fellow West Virginian!!

Ah, no. You and my 10-year old grandson have a lot in common though.... (I used to play a lot about 15 years ago when my son was younger. He had a PS2 and I got completely addicted to Max Payne and Max Payne 2. Oooh, and Tiger Woods Golf? Don't get me started!!!!)

My uncle did the same thing, he would have a live minnow on a bobber swimming around the hole. He would occasionally move the decoy through the water to try and attract a sturgeon's attention. And he put white objects (like paper plates) on the bottom so if a sturgeon swam through you could see it more easily. He never speared one while I was in the shack and I never saw a sturgeon in the hole, but lots of other fish. What a cool experience it was.

I grew up near Lake Winnebago in WI where there is an annual sturgeon spearing season. I never had a tag myself but went with my uncle a couple times. When the water was clear it was amazing how well you could see everything while sitting in a dark shack.

Bank. Or preferably wading.

Agreed. That's why I only went with friends who already owned all that stuff!! I'd pay for the beer and away we went.

There's really no right or wrong answers here, just everyone's opinion based on what works for them. You'll form your own opinion too. 1. Is it worth spending more on a premium line if you only intend it as leader material? The general belief seems to be that higher end fluorocarbons handle better than cheap ones but does it matter for leader? My opinion is "No". I only fish braid on a spinning rod but always tie on a leader. I tried actual fluorocarbon leader material first and it worked great. It's harder and stiffer and more abrasion resistant than mainline, but not enough for me to keep spending $8-$10 for a 25 yard spool. So I started using filler spools of fluorocarbon mainline for leaders. Now I use whatever is left over after filling baitcasting rods. It was 10# fluoro, right now I'm experimenting with 10# mono. 2. Does fluoro really have any benefit over mono in short <3’ lengths? People extoll the slack line sensitivity and reduced stretch of fluoro but I don’t see these things mattering in short lengths. Most fluorocarbon stretches as much or more than mono. I don't see any advantage in using a fluorocarbon leader over a mono leader. In limited testing this fall I did find I prefer fluoro mainline over mono mainline for bottom contact sensitivity though... 3. I’m not sold on fluorocarbon being significantly less visible than mono. I’ve never had issues getting bites on monofilament line in crystal clear water. In many cases I’ve had fish in clear water strike lures on straight braid with no inhibition. I'm not concerned about line visibility either. I use a fluorocarbon (or mono) leader for some abrasion resistance, easier to break off a snag, and conserve braided line. 4. How long of a top shot do you normally tie on? From my experience tying a long one on negates the benefits you get from spooling braid. I'm assuming by "top shot" you mean "leader"? Personally I start with a leader about 3' long. When it gets to less than a foot I'll tie a new one on.

When I lived in the ice belt the only time I went ice fishing was if I went with someone who had an ice shanty. And a heater. And a cooler of beer. Come to think of it I don't remember ever catching a fish!

He said "ice drinking". Heh heh heh heh heh heh...

This won't necessarily help you, but would hate to see you fall into the same trap I did. About 5 years ago I hired Kick'n Bass Guide Service for a guided bass trip on KY Lake. At the time the (then) owner had a Ranger that he used for bass only, but also had a pontoon boat guided by another gentleman for larger groups and mainly crappie and white/yellow bass. I called him to book a trip and explained I had three fisherman and we wanted to fish for bass. I was told he only took 2 customers max in the Ranger but he could book us on the pontoon. I reminded him we wanted to fish for bass and he said "Oh yeah, he'll be able to put you guys on bass". Fast forward to the trip. As we are idling out of the marina the pontoon guide says "I don't normally fish for bass. The owner gave me a couple waypoints to try but if we don't catch any bass we may need to fish for white/yellow bass instead". Sure enough, after an unsuccessful hour we switched to white/yellow bass for the rest of the trip. It was fun but not what we paid for or expected. I'm pretty sure there are a couple KY Lake guides that only guide for bass, I would suggest hiring one of them.

The simplest way I know of to save $$ on fishing line is to buy less expensive line than you are currently using.