Dan:

$15? That's a little unbelievable for me.

The Cumulus does not have to be 3x as sensitive to cost 3x as much. People pay high dollar for premium products all the time, and not just in the fishing industry. The relationship between overall quality and price is not linear. The Vendetta might be a better value but no one is debating that. The point is that the rod is not as good as a rod at the premium price point (whether it be a Shimano or a Loomis)

I've never had problems with leaking. Every once in a while I will squeeze the frog but it certainly isn't often enough to be a nuisance. I never really had a need to make any modifications.

The Upper Potomac fishes VERY differently than the Tidal Potomac.

You guys who are using the TT test as proof that the Vendetta is equal to the GLX need to read what that test actually measures. As fathom pointed out the RoD Wrack test measures the deflection of the rod. That tells you the properties of the power and action. I suspect the main difference in those rods will be fit and finish and most importantly SENSITIVITY. All that RoD deflection test shows is that they bend the same way.

Heck, they are allready doing this. Mexico city is the kidnap capital of the world. Phoenix, Arizona is a close second. yes, and without drug money it will likely become their "primary source of income"

and then when they move onto kidnapping and human trafficking as their primary source of income?

Launch by yourself by tying a long rope to the boat. Hold the other end of the rope or tie it to the dock. Drop the boat in, park the truck, come back and pull your boat to you with the rope. The best way to learn about boats is to ride with a boater (one who has already learned from his mistakes).

We all have baits that haven't convinced us of their value. Heck some members don't even fish whole categories of baits (ie: spinnerbaits/buzzbaits/poppers/etc...) Anywho, that's a pretty good trick there. I once caught a bass on a moving piece of bread while carp fishing. How can such a stupid animal so completely outsmart us sometimes?

...only to begin a new problem of increased heroin and cocaine usage...

Wait, why would you pop a steady retrieve bait if it made the hooks tangle?

It's a decent spot. My favorite was by the Rt. 42 bridge when the weeds were grown in.

I believe it was near the launch but I don't know if it was above or below

Hunting Run, Lake Brittle, Occoquan Reservoir at Fountainhead, Pohick Bay, Riverbend Park...I'm sure there are more that I am forgetting. Not all of them rent out trolling motors. The smart thing to do is buy your own trolling motor and battery and take it with you when you rent a jon. 2 or 3 jon+motor rentals will have already paid for a trolling motor. If you take your own motor it is MUCH cheaper to rent.

Rage-tastic!

I personally would not get a Zillion for treble hooks. I'd get something with a softer tip, but that's not everyone's preference.

What baits are you going to throw with the rod? Zillions tend to be stiff at the tip which I prefer for almost all single-hooked baits. I have the 6'9" MH that I use for spinnerbaits and tight quarters plastics/jigs. I really like it. It is very crisp and the details are fantastic. It also has a very sensitive and lightweight blank.

That's funny that you posted this today, Rowland. I just plinked a rat at my birdfeeder this afternoon. After turning him over it seems I got him in the earhole. If I had done it on purpose I'd say it was a pretty good shot! His buddy came out this evening but I missed him. I'll try again tomorrow.

That's a good one.

This is another spot in addition to the Rt. 42 bridge. Put the coordinates into google maps and you will see where it is. It's at the one end of the golf course.

I know someone who has caught a 19" smallmouth out of GC. They are there but it can be tough to find them.

yep. There is also a small VDOT area HERE: 38.369355,-78.969032 where I used to fish sometimes as well.

You should also be aware that there are many of us that are not members of "Team RageTail" that use RT baits with great success. It definitely is NOT about "our bait vs. your bait" or anything of that nature.

I don't know about camping but if you just want to fish at night you can park and fish for free, you just have to use the VDGIF entrance/parking area and ramp if you are launching.

If the weeds have grown in, throw a buzz frog or spro frog over those mats. I've also caught smallmouth just downstream from there behind the Par 3 golf course