JGBassinAL

A lot of people say that the reason they like glass for chatterbaits because it lets the fish inhale the bait more. This is true, but if they are really eating it then it tends not to matter. I choose to use glass because when you set the hook, it doesn't rip a big hole in the mouth like it can sometimes with a stouter rod. When there isn't a big hole then it is harder for the fish to throw the bait. Also, the glass creates a different action on the chatterbait when it is being ripped from grass. I can't remember where I saw it, but this is the main reason Brett Hite likes to throw a chatterbait on a glass rod, not for the fact that the fish can get the chatterbait in its mouth better.

Yes Batson is the parent company. Batson offers Rainshadow and North Fork Composite blanks. I have 24 builds on Rainshadow blanks. Most are on the RX7 which is no longer offered (but there are some builders who can still get a couple models of the blanks). I have 4 built on the Revelation blank, 3 built on the Immortal blank, and one built on the Eternity2 blank. Also have some glass rods. You do not have to have one custom built to get a Rainshadow blank. Anthony Gagliardi has a new line of rods out called Level Rods which are built on Rainshadow Revelation blanks. Keith Combs also has a signature line of rods made by Power Tackle that are also built on Rainshadow blanks, I believe they are Revelation blanks as well (not 100% sure though). I have used almost every brand imaginable out there and if you are looking in the $200 range you can not beat a Rainshadow blank with anything you get off the shelf IMO.

Who do you think is going to win The Voice this season? I think either Emily or Barret from Blake's team or Jefferey Austin from Gwen's team. At first I thought Jordan from Adam's team would win but I kind of feel like all the craziness surrounding him has kind of dwindled down. I always want Blake's team to win and I'm a big fan of Emily and Barret but Jeffery Austin can flat out sing dude! Edit: Amy Vachal is my favorite to look at though by far...

Some people don't like the new break system on the I series, that's why people pay more for the Curado E than they had to before the I came out.

X 1,000,000 I started using this knot about a year ago and "knock on wood", I have never broke off with it. Super strong knot and I use it with fluoro, braid, mono, and copoly.

JapanLureShop ran these for $120 a few months ago. Sold out pretty quick. Added it to my cart a few times but never pulled the trigger...still kicking myself over that. I have owned a 1500-7 XT and 1000XT in the past and loved both of them. I sold most of them plus my Curado E's for I's but now I have added 3 Curado E7's and 1 Curado E5 back into my lineup. I wanted the newest, and while I do like the I very much, I can't seem to get away from the Curado E. Such a proven winner that you can't go wrong. Also, I have a Curado G7 and while I know a lot of people don't like them, I actually do. It is not as good of a reel as the E and I, but for heavier baits like hollow body swimbaits and big spoons it does the job extremely well.

I am the opposite from you but different things work for different people. The thing that would make it tough for you IMO is the reel. Much harder to skip a bait with centrifugal breaks than magnetic breaks from my personal experience.

I have 9 Curado I's and have only experienced this in one of them so far after pretty heavy use. All I did was oil the break drum and it hasn't happened since.

I don't know about the Pro XS but my buddy had a HPDI and he had to let it warm up for a couple minutes before blasting off. He blew the power head and the Yamaha tech told him it blew because he didn't let the motor warm up. I had a Pro XS on my last boat and never had to let it warm up. I have a Yamaha SHO now and I don't think I would ever have another motor. It is an absolute joy to use! Plus I save a buttload of money on oil each year

Not exactly sure what it is called but my aluminum crappie boat has one. It is not a choke lever though I know that for sure. On my aluminum you have to raise that lever and hold up the choke when you first crank it in the morning to get it to start.

Tigerodz! Custom rods at a GREAT price. Built on Rainshadow blanks (Sponsor). Everybody should try AT LEAST one.

If you are breaking off with fluoro on hooksets then either you aren't using a good fluorocarbon, not tying good knots, or not checking your line for frays. Just try a different brand fluoro, and if that doesn't cure it then it's user error by not tying knots correctly or not checking for frays. Try Sunline Sniper, it's the best moderately priced fluorocarbon that I have used BY FAR.

Thanks! It's in the low 60s right now but the rig is the primary option up until mid-late February here. There were 30+ lb bags brought in two weekends in a row last year on the winter trail I fish when water temps were in the 40s. Both caught on the rig.

On Pickwick Lake and Wilson Lake if you aren't throwing an Alabama Rig you don't have a chance to win any tournament period. I have 6 rods in my boat. 4 have Alabama Rigs on them with different colored/sizes blades/swimbaits and two with a paddle tail swimbait. One has a Basstrix on it and the other has a Keitech on it. These two came off the rig in a tournament this past Saturday:

I came in 2nd in the Gray's tournament that weighed in at Riverfront at 1 pm with 20 lbs 5 oz and would have won the Big Brother Big Sister tournament...

X 3

Yeah that's a tough price but for people who don't like the tws and new zillion platform, it's probably worth it. I know you can get the new Zillion for much cheaper but I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who paid $300 for it as well. I'm a Shimano guy so I don't have to worry about it anyways haha Edit: I paid $300 for a Met so I can't really say that I wouldn't pay $300 for an SV103 haha

American Legacy Fishing has the Daiwa SV 103 in stock which is built on the same platform as the OG Zillion. This is the only place I have noticed to have it and while this might be old news, I just wanted to let you all know... Here's the link: http://www.americanlegacyfishing.com/daiwa-sv-low-profile-casting-reel.html

12 lb Sniper. I find a rod with a little lighter tip like a medium power rod helps cast the small swimbaits further and keep fish hooked better with a little bit more parabolic bend. I have also thrown them on a Dobyns 684 CB and it worked good, but I think the 685 or 705 would be awesome for throwing them.

My buddy has a 21 TRX and my FX 20 handles rough water better IMO but to each their own. And yes they are all good lol you really can't go wrong no matter what you buy. If I had the money I would trade mine in for a FX 21 LE but I don't have 68K lol

Had a Triton now in a Skeeter. Can't beat a Skeeter IMO!

I have never used the rod mentioned but are you limiting your options to just Falcons? A custom build on a Rainshadow Revelation 72M would be a great rod for what you are wanting to do.

I have two football jig rods, a flippin rod, and a finesse jig rod. I use a Met XG and Chronarch HG on my football jig rods, a Curado HG on my flippin rod, and a Chronarch on my finesse jig rod. A Curado HG pics up plenty of line IMO, but if you have the budget to get the Met XG then you should get it. It is a pure pleasure to fish.

What size heads are you gonna be throwing on your a-rig? I know a lot of people like bigger reels and some like round reels, but if you are throwing 1/8 or 1/4 oz heads then a 200 size reel is sufficient as long as it holds enough line. I throw mine with a Curado E7 and Curado G7 and I have never had a problem. I use 25 lb. P-Line CXX and I have never spooled the reel. Been using these setups for a couple years and no problems yet.

These are by far my favorite when temps get down below the 30's: http://www.simmsfishing.com/shop/socks-gloves/exstream-foldover-mitt.html Anything above the 30's and I use these: http://www.lowes.com/pd_425006-68591-VEN6045R_1z0w5ts__?productId=50218409&pl=1&Ntt=gloves You would be amazed at how warm these keep your hands.