FryDog62

I like the blank on the Aetos... but before you buy, pick one up and hold one in your hand. I found that my fingers, grip, etc were all on blank and threads. Hard, small, slippery, uncomfortable. Compare that to the Elite series where you're grabbing all cork. If you set the hook on a smallie in current, a largemouth under a dock, or even a snag that doesn't move - you'll know what I mean in the difference in grip between these two rods. I also recommend an extra fast tip in Fenwick for anything finesse... I find the regular fast tip to lack some sensitivity.

Smallmouth 6'-9" Elite Tech Medium Extra Fast may have been the best bass spinning rod ever made IMO. Best handle grip too. Too bad they don't make it any more. Wish I had bought 10 when they were on the way out --

I used the iconic Yamasenkos for years... got tired of $8/bag and so tried every other Senko brand known to mankind. Found better prices but nothing that caught as many fish, or had a similar sink rate, etc. Until I tried Kalin's Wac-O-Worm. Similar sink rate as GYCB, more garlic scent and although very soft, last twice as long. And almost half the price...

The two I would recommend are either Yo-Zuri Hybrid or Trilene XT - 10 or 12 pound test. The two lowest stretch lines besides braid (yes, including fluorocarbon). I use YH for bottom contact lures as well as topwater. No issues, and not a rubber and like fluorocarbon. Closest thing to an all-round line IMO.

So... bottom line - will the new Tatula SV TW skip a weightless plastic as well as the Zillion SV TW does and without backlash?

I spent a week in a gin-clear, very deep Canadian lake where there were no walleye... our guides made shore lunch every day. We were to keep enough smallies for lunch, and only in the 12-13 inch range. They were excellent!! Hard to tell the difference from a walleye. As hard as that is for me to admit because I don't like to see them harvested in general. The guides said to not keep anything over 13 inches and someone did bring one in around 15" and it actually was a little darker meat and noticeably fishy tasting. So I'm still not a fan of eating smallmouth - unless they are the occasional short kind ...

Anyone ever bought Costa's through them? And if prescription do they use Costa lenses or knock offs, etc? Basically, are they legit? - their prices are good. Or, any other good discount Costa retailers that fill prescription lenses anyone can recommend?

Does anyone have Costa prescription lenses - if so, plastic, Trivex or glass? How is the quality of vision, durability, weight, etc?

I called Costa today... after reading numerous posts here and on other sites I thought everyone pretty much had the glass lenses. The person I talked to said that polycarbonate outsells glass by quite a margin - and not just because of price, more due to lighter weight and more shatterproof. She also said in terms of clarity, that prescription Trivex lenses are somewhere in between polycarbonate and glass, and probably much closer to glass. Confirms what I heard at the optical store. This was all a revelation to me... up until yesterday I was set on ordering my prescription lenses in 580g.

I have always heard that Costa glass lenses (580g) are clearer than their polycarbonate lenses (580p). However, today I was at an optical store where they said if you order 580p prescription lenses (which I do need Rx) that the polycarbonate lenses are "Trivex" (something that is not available in the non-prescription polycarbonate lenses). The store clerk said that Trivex is much clearer than polycarbonate lenses and almost on par, if not on par, with the glass lenses that Costa is so well known for (also lighter weight, and more shatter-resistant than glass). Anyone know if this is true?

Personally, I think LTB is one of the better blanks on the market, but in the spinning line I am not a fan of the grip/handle. Pretty much grabbing all blank and/or threads.

Been buying the 150 yard spools for awhile now. Go to the park and tie one end off, walk to the other end and around a bench and back. Not exactly 75 yards but close enough. Find the mid point and snip it. Put cheap mono backing on my reel, Albright knot to the braid and fill to 1/8 from the top. Put the leftover 75 yards back on the original spool and save for the next time.

Thanks Ajay, looks like I could check baggage for the rod but would be an extra $50 round trip. Not being cheap, but makes me think I could buy a modest rod at BPS for that amount and leave it there for next time. I guess the other option is to put each piece of the rod down each of my pant legs and just walk onto the plane... might be hard to sit down though

I have a two piece 6 foot 8 spinning rod I would like to take on a trip with me (Sun Country airlines). So it breaks down into approximately two 3.5 pieces. Any way to get this on a plane or through baggage without extra fee?

I have considered the Oakley shallow water prism lenses - can you really see into the water as well as they say? (I currently have black iridium lenses). I also hear the shallow water lenses are not good for driving. So do I have to wear one pair when driving to the lake and then another pair once I get there and start fishing?

The point where I decided to spend more was when I went into prescription glasses. It then really became important to me to maximize the vision with the best quality optics despite the higher cost... I use to lose/break my cheaper glasses frequently but haven't once I switched to prescription. Funny how spending more can make you more careful. The fact that Maui and Costa (and maybe some others) replace damaged lenses make it more compelling to spend the additional money IMO.

If you can wait until March as I am, the new Daiwa Tatula will have the SV TWS and is rumored to retail around $200

Due to a torn ligament in my right wrist (surgery couldn't fix) I really can't finesse fish with a spinning rod in my right hand anymore. I'd switch to my left but honestly its my weaker hand and I think I have better grip with a casting set up than spinning. So left handed I am now ... However a "right handed" Baitcaster is something I predominantly hold with my left hand and crank with my right, so I've been shopping. I have baitcasters but nothing small/finesse style. For Xmas I got a BPS Carbonlite 6'-6" Medium Light Fast casting rod, and have been researching to find the best reel to pair with it. Found this thread of interest. Am am leaning towards an SV Daiwa reel, but at $300-500 they're more than I want to spend. Have been thinking about the Zillion SV TWS at $300 until I heard that a new Tatula is coming out with SV TWS. If they can get that down to $200, I might buy two... waiting for release date --

Is there a really good hook cutter for getting gut hooked removed from a smallmouth... not going in thru the gills, I do that too, but when it's really down partially into the stomach and the gill approach doesn't work. I've used some other hook cutters before but sometimes a smallies jaw is small enough you can't get in there far enough to grab the hook. Thanks --

I'm a believer you need to re-tie a leader knot each day because it bashes through the guides all day long and can weaken. I find if I start with a 6-7 foot leader (stops just in front of the reel) have rarely ever not had enough leftover by the end of the day. And we fish in pike infested waters in Minnesota. For crankbaits and spinnerbaits I do use the micro pike leader from Bob's Tackle which saves line and lures very well.

I used to buy Yamasenkos for $8/bag plus the cost and hassle of putting O rings on. Now I switched to Kalin Wac O Worms for $4.49/bag and stronger scent/taste, slightly heavier, great weightless sink rate - and tons of fish. The fish in my Avatar were pre-spawn smallmouth last Spring on a heavily pressured metro area river and caught as many or more than I typically did in years past on the Yamasenkos - which I still like but think I've found a better and more cost effective solution. Kalins are not only half the price of Yamasenkos but last twice as long too. No need for an O ring IMO.

I use a 6'-8" Medium XFast St. Croix Avid X baitcasting rod, Lews 7.1:1 and 10 lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid line. Extra Fast is excellent at feeling the "ticks" you get sometimes when fish are more curious than hungry, just enough stretch in the YH line to "give" when using treble hooks. Plus I use Shadow Rap a lot and they have the stickiest hooks I've ever used. Can't recall missing a strike or ever coming unbutonned.

Fantails in crystal color would be a purchase for me too...

The classic spinnerbait rod length is 6'- 10".... medium for lighter baits and MH for heavier. I have a Shimano Zodias Medium Moderate/Fast for lighter spinnerbaits and a Lews Speed Stick MH Fast for heavier. Both 6'-10" just long enough for longer casts when you need them, and short enough to roll cast well in tighter spaces...

Thanks,do you have a link to purchase?