FishTank

No need to be sorry. I just hear and see it a lot with Heavy rods used for flippin and pitchin. Like I said, it's a challenge to get the proper balance and feel for a big rod. After fishing one all day, it can be tiresome if it doesn't feel just right to you but sometimes you have to make do with what you have and adapt as far as the rod and reel are concerned. To give an example of a tip heavy rod with an odd reel..... I have a St. Croix Premier 7' H Fast which is quite tip heavy. When I first got it, I paired it with an older Metanium MG7 and it wasn't bad but it felt off. So I tried it with a Curado DC which is about 2oz heavier. It improved the overall feel of the rods balance. Again, this is just personal preference but I like to find the sweet spot for my set ups.

Where is this fishing fantasy realm? Those are some beauties.

What reel did you put on it? It has sort of become a cliche with..... "I bought this "Insert Brand" X-fast Heavy Pitching rod and it feels tip heavy." Most pitching rods will feel tip heavy if you put a light weight reel (7oz or less) on them. Most are designed to be sort of stiff to begin with. Then when you add maybe a 3/4oz jig with trailer, it will really feel tip heavy. I guess for me it's just a personal feel that I am use to but getting the right reel on a heavy rod can be a challenge.

For heavy cover 40lb or 50lb Smackdown or Power Pro. 832 is another good choice. Also, for swimjigs make sure to tie a good knot > Palomar.

I read his post. The TI2 was one I liked but it's not available at Cabelas online. I might see if my local store has one. It seemed to be just about right for my needs. The last time I looked they didn't have one on display but they had stock. I think the main difference between the TI2 and the FS is that the FS has screen to screen WiFi. I would only be using one.

So I am looking for a fish finder for my new kayak. I am a novice when it comes to today's electronics. I am familiar with Lowrance so I am looking at the three options they have available> the HDS Live, FS, and Hook Reveal. I can get an HDS 7 for $950 with rebates but it has more than I will use. I like the FS but for the money the HDS is the better deal. I didn't care for the screen on the Hook in the sun but the price and features were good. What do you guys think? An advice would be appreciated.

I think at one time people thought they were soft and braid would cut into them. My guess it was someone using 50+lb braid with the drag locked down and tried to winch out a lure. This would cut into just about any guide or break the rod in the process. I have used braid with them and never had an issue.

I have several rods with them. The first one was my favorite... A G. Loomis 803C GLX JWR. It was the original. I broke it in a car window. I used Loomis's Xpeditor Service and was sent a new updated version without the Recoil Guides. It was sort of a step down. The Recoil Guides made the rod perfect. Not sure how but I could definitely tell the difference between the two. Overall, I like them. I don't understand why people seem to think there is something wrong or bad about them.

I use to use grease but switched to oil years ago. It only took one tear down of a heavily used reel with braid that had grease on the worm gear for me to realize that the potential for junk to build up in the corners of the frame is around 100%. I was then convinced by DVT that this was the way to go. It has worked great for me since.

Blood worms. If you haven't tried them, you're missing out on some fun times....

I have been using it off and on for a while and I like it but prefer acetone or simple green for bearings. Reel Clean works best at getting the gunk and old grease off of a real. It does leave a light residue but it makes the reel frame feel smooth and clean. It's supposed to add a protective barrier > not sure on that claim. Also, a little goes a long way for the internals. I use to use the Ardent Reel Butter Grease and Oil but have since moved on to 321 oil, Shimano Drag Grease, Bantam oil, and Cal's.

Correct. We would fish the same spots no matter what the fish finder told us or the seasonal weather.

Same with the guys I mentioned. They usually catch fish. But its times when fish are transitioning and the guys around us are fishing different baits and are way further out from the bank or are off shore structure fishing and killing it, that causes my blood pressure to rise. Getting blanked instead of establishing or even recognizing a pattern, gets frustrating. But as a co-angler, it's always best to make the most of the cards you're dealt and fish on.

Don't say it..... Took my daughter out to a local pond when she was little with a pink Barbie rod and every "pretty" bait she could find. I took an arsenal of rods. She schooled me. I got skunked. She caught at least 10. It was embarrassing and my wife has never let me forget it.

I fished with a couple of guys like that over the years. One would only fish a Zoom lizard, another a 7in Power Worm in Junebug, and another a jig. And they would do this all year round. No adjustments or changes and fishing as close to the bank as possible was the only place to be. The guy fishing the jig was the worst. He would flip a jig on to the bank. We would be 15-20 feet away from shore all day. I could jump on to the bank sometimes. The part that drove me crazy was he had 7-10 setups he would never touch. Some of his reels were faded on one side. They had never been fished.

Another vote for Sieberts. I have yet to find their equal in price and quality.

The P5 Super Destroyer is sort of a do all rod. I didn't care for it for jigs. The taper is sort mod-fast and not what I like when I want to hook a fish quickly. I have a couple of NRX rods that are my favorites for this technique. If you want a rod specific for jigs from Megabass, the X-Bites is the one everyone was after last year.

I have two Megabass rods, a P5 Super Destroyer and a Levante (haven't fished it yet) and they are well made. In my opinion, they are well worth the money and are priced below comparable rods from other companies. The down side is the warranty. The service and warranty you get from say G. Loomis and St. Croix are far better than Megabass's. The P5 is comparable to a G. Loomis GLX and almost to an NRX in sensitivity. The styling and design of the rod is exceptional. Overall, it is one of the funner rods I own. I use it for just about everything excepts jigs. I am hoping to get the Levante on the water as soon as the ice melts.

Go Bengals.... Unreal. If I could only find a way to keep the mic away from Romo.

I like the following lines... Invizx 6lb or 8lb and Trilene XL 100% FC (has a lot of stretch though) but the best is Tatsu.

Last year, a G. Loomis 783C GLX with a Shimano Antares 12. This year, a Megabass Levante Jerkbait Special and a Lew's BB1.

I really haven't used it yet but for T-Rigged Plastic and Jigs, you should be fine. The benefit of the reels you picked would be to cast somewhat lighter lures and a smaller sized reel.

I think it might be personal preference for me. I have stated a few times that I am not the biggest fan of Lew's based on reels I have worked on for other people. With that said, I did pick up a new BB1 Pro. I worked on one new out of the box. I liked it so well, I bought one. The Curados I have and have seen have been great with no issues. Now that doesn't mean the LFS's reels are bad, I just think the Curado is better. I also have four reels with the MGL spool and so far they all have exceeded my expectations. One note though, each of them sort of got better and smoother with use. Also, I have the same Revo Winch. Great reel.

The Curado based on the ones you have picked.