FishTank

I purchased a MH 6'10'' Crucial Febuary last year and fished for about a month. It was a very nice rod for the money but sad to say it broke at the tip on a hookset. It could have been some operator error involved or just the cold weather but I returned it to BPS and got talked into a G. Loomis MBR 783 GLX. I can't say enough about this rod, simply amazing. I later purchased, with the forum's advice, a MBR 844C IMX and it is an outstanding rod, probably the most versitale rod I own. It is by far a much better rod than the Crucial. It, IMHO, can handle a much heavier load than the crucials. Just on a personal obsrevation, the Crucial seemed to have an extra fast action to it. The way the rod loaded just seemed odd to me.

Dick's will put them 25% off with some exclusions, like the minnow rap or x-raps. If your a reward zone customer they will send out coupons like $10 off a $50 purchase. So if you keep your eyes open you can get some real good deals.

I owned an Ugly Stick years ago and my older brother has it now. Neither one of us care for it but it can catch fish. We each have used it for catfish and bluegill but it is not for bass and especially not for soft plastic. I would pick up a Bass Pro Shop Tourney Special before I would buy an Ugly Stick. Like others suggested it sounds like it's time to take a step up to a better more sensitive rod. There are several out there that might work but as long as it is a fast action and is either a medium or medium heavy rod in the 6'6" to 7' range, it should work. All Star, Shimano, and St. Croix all make rods that should be a big step up from the Ugly Stick without breaking the bank.

You got a great rod at a great price. The MBR 844C is the best all purpose rod I own. Enjoy.

The Dicks I stopped at was in Indianapolis and the sales guy said that they are ringing up that price eventhough they have not marked them as of yet.

I got the All Star bag in the mail a year ago and it is a nice bag. It only took about 6 months to get it and by then I had returned the rod. Thanks for the free bag. I only wish the rod had worked out.

I did a little surfing and found this.... http://www.antiquefishingreels.info/FAQgeneral.htm Check out question #4. Not much of an answer but it's just a little food for thought.

Stopped by Dicks again and asked the sales guy to check the price. And the St. Croix Avids are $75 and so are the Shimano Stradics. ;D I picked up a Stradic 2500 and an Avid AS68MXF. WOW.......what a deal.

Which Dicks Sporting Goods did you purchase them at? The Dicks here in Indy has some marked at $99 and the other at regular price. I don't get it .

My list of shame includes Reel: 2 Pflueger spinning reels from Wal-Mart about 15 years ago. $40 each and they both had so many problems I can't remember them all. They ended up in the trash. Rod: Ugly Stick (Sorry) Combo: Daiwa mini cast. This thing was, I think, a four piece rod and reel kit that came in it's own custom case. It cost me $100 at a time when $100 could get the best there was in fishing. It never worked properly. Lure: Storm Swimbaits Line: Berkley Vanish and Seagur Carbon Pro. The Seagur I tried twice and both times this line failed to be as good as advertised.

The only thing I found on the site was something called the Fat Boy and it has a flapping tail instead of a skirt. At this point, I'll stay with the original. Caught 12 LMB and 1 smallie on it today. Sometimes it just better to stay with the original.

Most Storm baits have yet to catch anything for me, especially their swimbaits. Like this one.......

Wow... This looks like a nipple piercing in the making ;D

I have been experimenting with Flourocarbon for two years now and I have found that, for me at least, it works best for jigs and weightless plastic. This experiment of course is on going, so take it for what you will. The two lines that I have tried so far that have worked well are Gamma and believe or not, Berkley's new Trilene Fluorocarbon. The thing I noticed with these lines is that I get more strikes from bigger fish. The knot strength is excellent with both, the stretch is better with Trilene Fluorocarbon, the Gamma cast better on a baitcaster but not on a spinning reel, and the Trilene Fluorocarbon works OK on spinning reel but I have yet to find a flourocarbon that works as well as Yo-Zuri or P-Line on spinning reels. One thing that Trilene Fluorocarbon excelled in was that it does not kink as bad as some flourocarbons. IMHO, once you get a kink in most flourocarbons, you have the potential for the line to break and fail. Is it worth the money? Maybe, I guess it's just a personal preference.

For that kind of money here are my recommendations......... G. Loomis MBR 843C IMX G. Loomis CBR843C St. Croix TBC70MM These should cover most small to medium cranks 1/4 to 5/8 oz. I have not heard of the company you have mentioned. I'm not trying to knock them but I would go with a proven winner.

I like the Lucky Craft Fat BDS 3's.

Thanks for all the info guys, keep it coming. I'm going to pick up a bag or two of white hula grubs and give them a try.

I like Tru Tungsten Ike Spikes and Weed Wacker the best but they are pricey. My other alternative is Gander Mountains ball head jigs with Gami. hooks (not the value ones, they're terrible).

For me, it's the Lucky Craft Pointer 100SP in American Shad or Shell White.

I have both a Zillion 100SHLA and a Calais 201A. Both are great reels but the Calais is sort like fishing a Rolls Royce. It is supper smooth and a pleasure to fish with. On the other hand the Zillion is a work horse of a reel. It easy to operate, lighter than the Calais and can cast a country mile. The only thing I have had trouble with is casting light weight stuff with the Zillion but what I use it for it's not a big deal. If you service your reel every year the Platnium Service RW spoke of will save you a couple of bucks in the long run.

I tend to fish a lot of dark colors and wanted to know, when is the best time (conditions) to use white or clear soft plastic? I have been wanting to try GYCB DT Hula grubs and Senkos in a couple of different colors (036, 187, 195 or 168) but I bave been having great success with the black and blue flake 021. I just want to mix it up a bit. Thanks again for all your opinions.

Nice fish. What did he catch it on?

I had one of those days that started off awesome. I caught three 4lb+ largemouths. Then I hooked into what I thought was an 8-10lb hog. I thought I had a good hookset. I was reeling her in when all of a sudden she stopped and I pulled the lure right out her mouth about 8 feet infront of me. I was so mad I just about jumped in after her. It was like she looked at me and said here's your lure back.

I'd go for the MBR 843. I have the 844 and I find it too heavy for most soft plastic unless you use a 1/4oz bullet weight or heavier. The 843 might be easier to use if want to fish a weightless Senko or Fat Ika. The MBR 844 is a great rod though. For me, I like to use it for topwater, heavy coverage, and big jerk baits and cranks but for soft plastic I would think the 843 would be a better choice.

I never done well with the X-rap minnow but the X-rap shad is a different story. It might be the way I fish it. I don't know. I have better luck with other jerk baits like LC Pointers and the Rapala Husky Jerks.