FryDog62

my mistake, when the line snapped I tried to catch the descending icicle... d**n that line !

That's what I thought the culprit was...but sometimes it is 3 to 4 guides which spans 18-20 inches in length. Wait... you don't think I have Bigfoot sleeping in my boat in the garage at night do you? Could also be why all my Jack Links are gone too ~

...besides stepping on them ~ Seriously, I have a couple rods that I notice the guides go flat after awhile. Not usually just one, but 3-4 of them. Is it from casting or snapping heavy lures? God forbid its from catching too big of fish which is not usually a problem

I used my old spool of Vanish last December to hang some Christmas icicles over the center island in our kitchen..

Good suggestions above... I'm going to try feathering the spool with my thumb the whole cast. There's something about releasing the spool and bringing your thumb back down to feather it that I struggle with. Its like lift up your thumb - no, then clamp it down right away that my brain can't quite get me to do very well. Lightening up the spool tension and keeping thumb on while roll casting might work.

Yo-Zuri Hybrid advertises as both UV and water resistant. I've been using it for a season, then reverse it on the spool and get a second year out of it. Seems to hold up just fine and its out in the sun pretty regularly. Braid I do the same, except I go 3 years before reversing so in total I get 6 years out of one piece of line. Can't do this with mono ...

Yo-Zuri Hybrid advertises as both UV and water resistant. I've been using it for a season, then reverse it on the spool and get a second year out of it. Seems to hold up just fine and its out in the sun pretty regularly. Braid I do the same, except I go 3 years before reversing so in total I get 6 years out of one piece of line.

Well, I ended up ordering a Shimano Zodias 6'-10" Medium Fast from TW. Back ordered but anxious to try it out hopefully before end of the month. Will report back my findings then. -Fry

All good questions... Thx -- Right now I have a 7-3 White Ice MH that I use for long open water casts - crankbaits and spinnerbaits. What I need is something for casting to shore, in rivers, around structure, etc. I would say mid range and a few longer casts. So something most likely sub 7 feet in length. The tip would be important to cast well but not something so whippy that it folds when dragging the resistance of the Spinnerbait back to the boat. Not throwing big heavy weights with this pole, more medium in size as a general rule. Thanks too to Senkoguru for his response. Duckett is in the mix, Falcon Bucoo, Kistler Carbon Steel, and anyone familiar with the Shimano Zodias? All these rods are medium to medium heavy approx 6-9 or 6-10 in length. 6-6 seems a bit short but maybe I should consider those as well... You're right it's a matter of personal taste, but hard to just order off the internet since the stores in the Minneapolis area don't have these Rods in stock to pick up, feel, etc...

Anyone familiar with the Shimano Zodias 6'-10" Medium? Rated to 3/4 oz... but doesn't state taper..

I have looked at that rod online as well...but there aren't any in the stores around me. So would the MH or the Heavy equate to the right power for a medium sized Spinnerbait? And what length?

How is the "moderate fast" godd/better for spinnerbaits?

What do you think of the 6'-10" MH Bucoo?

The challenge you will have with fluorocarbon line is two-fold in my opinion: 1) Its lack of manageability...lots of memory can lead to rats nests. And 2) it will stretch more than the braid and even the mono you are used to using. I can't help give you much advice about #1 above in that you have to be careful with all FC lines to avoid tangles. However I did a line stretch test recently and of all the fluorocarbon lines tested, Sunline Sniper stretched the least of the fluorocarbon lines, including Tatsu, Berkley, etc.

Any thoughts on the Duckett Ghost? The 6'-10" Medium seems like an interesting length as I go back and forth between 6-6 and 7-0. But they don't list their specs either so I would think that might be a good spinnerbait rod... anyone have one?

Braid + fluorocarbon leader = LESS STRETCH

Good suggestions. How about Dobyn's Savvy, Falcon Bucoo, Ducket Micro or Ghost.... ?? Just a few I've heard of but not fished.

What is your recommended baitcasting rod for SpinnerBaits? Brand, length, power, etc. Approx $100-150 range.

I do what papa joe does, a lot cheaper just to change out the casting length. However I have also switched over almost exclusively to Yo-Zuri Hybrid - its UV and water resistant so I can usually get 2 years with it as a main line. I just reverse it after a year and use the other end in year 2. Has worked great and is very cost effective.

It all about the balance, every rod/reel combo is different. Mostly I'm a "2 and 2" guy, but will sometimes go to 3 and 1, or 1 and 3 depending on balance point. Most people finesse fish with spinning gear so getting that perfect balance to feel bites and set the hook is key.

Could be the worm not rigged straight but yes it could be the line. I've had this happen a few times with fluorocarbon (before I switched to co-polymer) and the best thing that worked for me was to spray the line with conditioner, then tie the line to a tree, back up 40 yards and pull the line tight for 2 minutes, reel back up, apply another round of line conditioner. Repeat if needed.

Ole Man, interesting thread. I've been through the transformation to both spinning and baitcasting reels myself. After a couple wrist surgeries I had to switch from holding a spinning reel in my right hand, to a baitcaster I hold in my left. Now I freely switch back and forth... Two things mentioned above are spot on. First, don't put your index finger on the trigger (unless you are actually casting). The rod will feel top heavy and tip heavy and very awkward when feeling bites, setting the hook, and reeling in a fish. Learn to "palm" the reel. You may even want to place your index finger just under the front of the reel to really be able to set the hook well (Check out video or the TV Show "Facts of Fishing" - host Dave Mercer holds his baitcaster this way almost exclusively). Experiment with the feel. Palming/gripping the reel this way will create not only a better grip but much better balance in terms of center of gravity, tip weight, etc. Second, practice.... time on the water is key. After my injury and surgery I had to switch not only exclusively to a baitcaster for awhile, but to use my left hand for the mouse on my computer, left handed to brush my teeth, etc. It was out of necessity but forced me to change. Yes, it took time - about 60 days of every day use on my mouse alone! But it can be done. Force yourself to become a more versatile fisherman and it will pay off.

Yo-Zuri Hybrid is an excellent all around - LOW STRETCH - and extremely strong co-polymer line. It stretches less than any fluorocarbon line (I've tested many) and it is stronger, and better knot strength than flouro. Reviews on this line are consistently very high, however, the Ultra-Soft has not been received quite as well...

I've seen it happen more than a couple times. You never know always when braid will show up to line-shy fish. After seeing it happen too often I no longer fish braid without a leader... period.

Yep I've become a weenie... 3 wrist surgeries and a couple of partially torn rotator cuffs have done it. I can still cast a whole day but I take a lot less Advil with lighter equipment.. Adapt, or quit - I prefer the former...