Alpster

AMEN!!!

I build custom rods and ship them all over the country. Never use the Post Office. Best bet is UPS. Also you must get the length under 8' and the diameter of the tube 3" or less to avoid rediculous oversize charges. It cost me $60 to ship a rod to fourbizz in CA from NJ because the rod was over 8'. The rod I shipped to SFC AL was only $26. It was only 7' and I got it into a 2" tube. Shipping a rod is expensive, If a rod is not worth a lot of money, you can't afford to ship them. Tip, get a local rod builder to repair your rod, it might cost less than shipping. Ronnie

X2

In multi-piece flyrods you can buy matching tip sections that have faster or slower actions. Power or line size is not affected by changing tips. Ronnie

When only the best will do........I have the GLX DSR820 spinning version of this rod. It's one of only two factory rods I fish with. http://www.gloomis.com/publish/content/gloomis_2010/us/en/conventional/rods/bass_rods/drop_shot.html Ronnie

If only the best will do....I have this rod, I should say I have a custom I built on this IMX blank. Light as a feather and strong as a boat oar. JMHO http://www.gloomis.com/publish/content/gloomis_2010/us/en/conventional/rods/classic_bass_rods/classic_flipping_stick.html Ronnie

I am now down to only two lines on all my reels. Yo-Zuri Ultra Soft on most everything and Power Pro braid on my Flippin Stick and one spinning reel. No leaders on anything that isn't a flyrod. I bought one pound spools of 6, 10 & 12 Ultra Soft and 15 and 50lb PP. Never think about line until it's time to re-spool. JMHO Ronnie

All of my casting rods are spiral wrapped. The only way to fly. IMHO Ronnie

How does a 23 year old know that expression? Last time I heard that was from my mother & I'm 62 yrs old. Did you hear from your grandparents? Yeah, I haven't heard that expression since about forever. I always assumed it had something to do with the Carter administration-though it never made sense in that context. Just now looked it up and, assuming my source is correct, the expression originated from a Mr. Samuel Carter of Erie, PA who sold a laxative whose slogan claimed the pills would "wake up your liver bile." I have a buddy who fishes less than a tenth of what I do and yet he still has 3 times more tackle than me. Go figure. Here's the story on "Carter's pills" http://www.eatingintranslation.com/2010/05/carters-little-liver-pills.html Ronnie

I like these equally... 1. Morning. Gurgling a jitterbug or buzzbait along a weed line an hour before sunup dead calm & 80+ degrees. 2. Heat of the day. Dropshot or shakey head jig with a finesse worm in deep open water slowly. 3. Evening. Pitchin a jig&trailer or casting a T-rigged Culprit ribbon tail worm in the thickest blowdowns or lillypads I can find. Ronnie

My boat doesn't have a rod locker and I'm so bad about stepping on them, I will only carry 4 or five of the 2 dozen or so that I have. I choose them based on fishing conditions that I expect. Ronnie

WOW! What a shock.....very sad news indeed. I always enjoyed his posts and will certainly miss him. Praying for God's blessing for his family. wow. Ronnie

I have a lot of high end rods, but I also have a couple of Premiers that I just can't let go. You stole it for #40. Good job!! I use mine for bank fishing soft plastics. Ronnie

Another good reason to toss it.....

I haven't fished any of the rods on your list, but if you can afford a Loomis DSR for dropshotting, you won't be disappointed. I enjoy fishing this rod a lot. Ronnie

Easier for you to see and harder for fish to see (not that I think the fish cares). You will like it. Power pro line performs, period. Enjoy! Ronnie

If I had to throw away a single spool of line to keep my boat from sinking, it would be the florocarbon. I have used Vanish for leader material, but I'm getting away from leaders all together (except on the fly rods). Floro lines are more trouble than they're worth. There are just too many superior mono and co-polymer lines out there to bother with floro. JMHO Ronnie

Yo Zuri Ultra Soft. nuff said.... Ronnie

If you can get the cork off without damaging the blank, it is doable, but it will take some knowhow to get it back together properly. The blank is tapered and you will have to use a larger reel seat and shim it to fit properly when you glue it back up. You can post your questions on .... www.rodbuilders.org and get some help there. If you were close to me, I would help you. Ronnie

You just can't buy a better rod than a Loomis GLX. Unless of course you go custom made. Ronnie

I agree, I have some with rattles and I use them, but I would never turn down a killer jig because it didn't have a rattle. I don't see how you can go wrong offering them as an option for an added cost. Ronnie

I only use leaders on a fly rod, and only because it makes a fly or bug behave. I am a non-believer that bass are line shy. I have caught too many fish with braid to think they care. Some braided lines come in bright red and yellow colors. Someone is catching fish with those also. JMHO Ronnie

I have caught fish on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, chatterbaits, swimbaits and live baits, but 90% of my fishing is with a plastic worm or a jig & pig. And my top 5 PB bass were all caught on a jig. I Like em! Ronnie

I am by no means a pro, but I will try to answer your question from my perspective. Yes, yes, yes and yes. I also like to bounce a spinner bait along the rocks. My lake has a ton of rip rap and spinner baits are very productive. Just be prepared to sacrifice a bait or two that will inevitably get stuck in the rocks. Ronnie

I use rattling jigs for a very slow presentation. The rattle shouldn't sound like a morroco with a lot of noise. The sound you are after is a crawfish tapping his legs/pinchers on a hard surface. It is very subtle, more of a slight tick than a rattle. I think they have their place. JMHO Ronnie