cottny27

The gold ones have the same frame as the Pro Qualifier I believe. I hear they are the best of the Carbonlites.

Depends on how anal you want to be with it. What ww2farmer said will do fine if you are just a weekend fun fisherman. Maybe wipe the old grease/oil off with some alcohol on a q-tip and regrease/oil. I use Quantum hot sauce and like it. Clean the spool shaft real good and put a drop of oil on that. And I know jack about spinning reels..too afraid to open one up.

Kickstand, have you been out anymore with the new Carbonlite and can review more? Any issues? I am looking at getting one during reel trade-in and maybe a 6'8" Duckett Ghost. I do have a Veritas at home..nice rods.

With this line you get what you pay for. I used it for one outing and stripped it right off. Its awful imo.

The fulcrum point for me is at the reel seat so the weight of the reel makes no difference. I balance my rods by themselves and add the reel later. If change reels at any point, it still remains in balance.

Yeah, I'm talking about balance at the reel seat with split grip rods. That is pretty darn close rippin-lips I would not even have to tinker with that one.

Lucky, I agree 100%. Fishing bottom contact lures you are dragging the lure only and not the weight of the rod with it. Bite detection is sooo much better. Fatigue is way less...casting is much easier.

I should have specified more. I'm talking about split grip rods in general. Tywithay, what brand of rods are you using that balance?

DVT, what kind of overall weight can you get on a custom built rod? Are we talking under the 3oz mark? I am talking about balancing at the reel seat and not on custom builds mainly Abu's & Quantums right off the shelf.

I just did a Quantum Smoke 6'9" MH/F rod that only weighs 3.4oz. It took 2ozs in the butt to balance.

Tywithay, I don't know of a single baitcast rod that will balance with a 1/2oz at the reel seat. A neutral balance..unless the rod mfg has weights already added.

When you say "a few" you really mean 6-8? I'm noticing on 6'6" to 6'9" split grip M/MH rods usually around 2oz will do the job.

How many of you have used a rod that is balanced? Its addicting. I got this cheaper rod to beat up at the strip pits this year. I drilled out a 7/8" hole in the butt and dropped in 2 ounces of weight then capped it off the best I could. I believe the weights were from a BPS kit. I cannot fish with a rod anymore that is not balanced. A heavy tip drives me crazy. Any of you have this same o.c.d problem??

I have good luck with suspending cranks in clearer water. Rapala Xrap shad even when part of the lake is freezing over.

Thats a toss up can't go wrong with either. The Ghost has a longer and thicker handle I can tell you that much. I have the Veritas micro and love it. I have picked up the Ghost on a few occasions and it's very nice for the $. Sorry, no help here.

Just came back from BPS and bought my Twist locks, ball bearing swivels, and XPS Indiana blades. Plan on trying this with a super fluke Sunday. We shall see. Works really well on a senko.

Or slip a senko or fluke on this: http://www.***.com/Sworming_Hornet_Fish_Head_Spin/descpage-SHFHS.html could be deadly.

If you like senkos its a NEED. I had a 1/16th jig head with an exposed hook and a larger willow blade on mine. The norm is a smaller Colorado and weightless Texas rigged hook, but I only can see that running at the very top of the water column.

Tried this senko with blade rig this past weekend and destroyed bass until I lost the screw lock/spinner. It wasn't planned so I didn't bring extra. Has anyone tried this setup with a Zoom Fluke? Should be deadly.

These look too nice: http://www.***.com/Berkley_E-Motion_Performance_Series_Casting_Rods/descpage-EMC.html

Grew up using Berkley rods and had no issues with them. Had a Cherrywood in the 6'6" model more recently. They are the best $30 rods imo you can buy. I'm going to buy the Berkley E-Motion rods when i can find them in store somewhere. Not sure when that is.

I'd buy a BPS reel in that price range. More bang for the buck.

I bought some Red Label in 10# this past Spring for cranking. I have no complaints.

Yes, you will be bathing in the stuff before you know it Good stuff I saturate my line before and after. I have heard the Reel Magic leaves an oily residue on the surface of the water. Is that true?

I used this stuff (CX) for a season a couple yrs back but had knot issues. Loved the flo purple tint it has to it for senko fishing. I use polamer & improved clinch knot with no success. Then went to Seaguar Senshi last year which is even better imo..had same issues. Maybe it's me. I've had no breakage issues with InvizX or AbrazX this year just don't like forking out the money.