Lucky Craft Man

I received the bag, one decal, and a pack of 7/0 Flipping Hook. This freaking thing is huge! I will give them a good try. I purchased the TroKar Drop Shop hooks before and after about 5 or 6 smallmouth, the tip was either bent or dull, because I couldn't puncture a paper bag with it. Same thing happened to the next TroKar drop shot hook. I didn't like that fact that I spent so much money per hook to only last me 4 or 5 fish. I am hoping this 7/0 monster will stay sharp a lot longer.

As I mentioned before, I would not be doing this work. I will retain the services of a professional. Also, as per the Rech Mechanics post, by cutting the butt section, the rod will become more moderate in action and decrease the power rating, which are both of the things I want to achieve. I do think the 855 is a great rod, but I have yet to find a rod that meets what I want in a jerkbait rod and by doing this modification, I may get exactly what I am looking for. Now I just have to find a professional who might be willing to take on this project... Thanks again for all the comments! I greatly appreciate it.

Well, you guys all gave great advice. After reading your posts I realized this is something I will not be trying to do myself. A professional will have to be retained. Here are the specifics of the project I am considering. I have a G Loomis GLX CBR855. It is a very nice rod as is, but I want to convert it to my ideal jerkbait rod. First, the 7'1" length is a little too long for how I like to fish jerkbaits, so I wanted to cut it down about 4" (for an overall length of 6'9"). Also, the action of the rod is Mod.-Fast, which I like, but if is was slightly more moderate than it was fast, that would be ideal (which I was hoping would happen if I cut it down slightly, because the flexpoint vs. the overall length of the rod would change). The 855 is Med-Heavy in Power and I was hoping that cutting it down would also make it slightly lighter in power. Though, it sounds as if no matter what I do to the rod, the action and power will not change, which would make this whole project mute, unless all I cared about was achieveing a shorter length.

Say you had a store bought Medium Power, Fast Action Rod that measured 7' in length and you removed the handle and the reel seat, cut about 3 inches off the butt section of the blank and reassemble the reel seat and cork handle (maintaining the same rear handle length as before). What would that do overall to the action and power of the rod? I assume it would tend to make it a Mod.-Fast Action rod now, but would it do much to the power?

I enjoy seeing everyone's responce. As Raul said, there is no "perfect," just peoples opinon of perfect. I myself have over 100 combos (only about 50% are for bass) and I sold countless more and I can't say I have found a perfect one yet for a specific technique. I was hoping some of these new NRX rods I purchased would fill the "perfect" niche for me in a few areas, which they are extremely nice, but being a little tip heavy takes it out of my "perfect" catergory. I would say the G Loomis GLX BCFR863 with a Shimano Core 100MgFV is close to perfect for pitching weighted plastics (this would be the one combo that I would list as perfect). Everything else I have, I can think of minor improvements that might make it perfect, but as they are now, they are not my ideal. Many are extremely close to "perfect", which in reality is probably good enough (though, like I said, I am extremely picky). Again, thanks again for the responses.

I am on an endless search for the "perfect" rod and reel combo for each technique I fish (kind of a side hoddy, I guess). I was just wondering if any of you have found that "perfect" combo for a particular technique that you would never change out even if money and resources were not an issue. If so, what is that combo and what technique do you think it is "perfect" for?

6' Bass Pro Comp II (with pistol grip) & Daiwa Magforce 1500F.

You know, ever since they moved the Bassmater Classic from the Summer to February, I find myself less interested. I can understand why they moved it to February in order for a better shot at big bag limits full of female bass loaded with eggs, but I think by trying to increase the bag weights, they really lost a lot. First, they alienated the whole Northern part of the country. I can't imagine a Bassmaster Classic being held on the ice of Lake Erie (though, that would be interesting). Second, they are making the assumption that all bass fisherman want to see are big fish. By doing so, I think they truncated all the possible winning techniques. Every year it seems either a weighted plastic / jig of some sort or shallow crankbait / jerkbait wins it. In the summer, you seemed to have an endless way of catching the fish and I always found it interesting if the deep crankbaits would prevail or a frog over slop or someone punching mats or a big swimbait or a spinnerbiat around docks, etc. I for one like to see the techniques used (particularly seeing if there is anything new to learn) instead of just fat fish. I loved when the Classic was in Pittsburgh and I took off work to make it everyday. I didn't care that extremely small fish were caught. I found it more interesting in all the ways people were (or were not) catching fish. The winning technique that year in Pittsburgh...a jerkbait (which was a lure I only used in the spring and not in the summer. I learned something new that year)

Day 1 of the Pittsburgh Classic was louder than today's final weigh in (I was lucky enough to goto that Classic all 3 days and it is a shame it will never be back in Pittsburgh since they moved it from July to February). Those people really didn't seem into it.

I have fished a lot of G Loomis Rods and here is my humble opinion on which rods I would purchase if I were trying to cover the techniques you described (I am not going to comment on the reels, because I think all your choices are good). "G. Loomis CBR864 DF Crankbait Rod - Lipless and shallow to medium diving crankbaits" I have never fished this rod, but I have the G Loomis CBR896DF and I love it. Even though the CBR896DF is designed for deep diving crankbaits, I have used it for shallow and medium diving crankbaits, which it wasn't too heavy for. I really like the DF series over the regular crankbait series and I think this rod will really serve you well. "G. Loomis BCR853 Jig & Worm Rod - 3/8 to 1/2 oz jigs (mostly 3/8 oz), weighted plastics, frogs; light to medium cover" Another perfect choice in my opinion for 3/8 oz. jigs and weighted plastics and could work for toad lures, but I am not sure if this will give you enough juice for frogs (I define "frogs" as Hollow Bodied lures and "toads" as solid plastics that is in the shape of a frog that you can T-Rig). "G. Loomis BSR802 Jig & Worm Rod - Unweighted to lightly weighted plastics; light to medium cover" I think I would go with the BSR852 here. That added length gives you a little more versitility. I have used my BSR852 for the lures you mentioned, but also for Shakyheads and Drop Shot when I was limited in room on the boat. This is by far my number one spinning rod and I really think it is a must have. "G. Loomis SBR812C Spinnerbait Rod - 3/8 oz spinnerbaits; light cover" I have fished the SBR812 and the SBR813, which are both very good rods, but I have found the GLX MBR783 to actually be the best spinnerbait rod of the bunch. The MBR 783 can also handle a much broader range of spinnerbait weights (the SBR812 really caps out at 1/2 oz. and the SBR813 really doesn't load properly when casting anything under 1/2 oz.). Plus, the MBR 783 can really be a goto rod for techniques where you may not have a rod to idealy cover (like topwater or jerkbaits). Though, I will say that if you are planning on getting MBR 783 for spinnerbaits, get the GLX. I don't know what it is, but the IMX version just doesn't seem to load quite right when casting like the GLX does. I would also consider adding a heavier rod to the line-up to cast frogs or paddletail type lures or heavier jigs/Carolina Rigs. Though, if you never use these type of lures, then there is no need to spend the money.

If the Super Bowl were the Cowboys vs. the Titans, then maybe a country act at halftime would be warranted, but I don't think you have may country fans in New York or Boston. Also, a Madonna is going to be a lot more popular globally than a Travis Tritt (I assume there are some international viewers).

I have a 1 piece GLX MBR 783C and a 2 piece GLX MBR 783C and I really can't notice the difference in performance or sensitivity. As others have mentioned, it is a matter of storage and convenience.

Rick Clunn takes this even further. He said on one of the older episodes of "The Bass Pro's" is that he uses a 7' Heavy Baitcasting rod for everything, which if you are truly trying to elimnate any "adjustment" period, this is the only way you can do it. All my rods are made by G Loomis, but going from a G Loomis GLX 7'11" Heavy flipping stick to a G Loomis GLX 6'8" Medium Worm rod takes a little adjusting, even though they are all made by G Loomis.

I just watched the Zona show. Does anyone know what rods they were using? For the large bass Zona caught, they said it was a G Loomis protoype 956 cranking rod. Also, at the beginning of the show, the guest was using a G Loomis Split Grip that was green in color (so the GL2's are out) and it looked like a heavy rod (almost like a flipping stick). Could it be a prototype NRX flipping rod? That would be nice!

Wow...I find that surprising. Those are some incredibile numbers. I feel lucky to be in the 5% who has caught 5 pound+ bass. The next 5 pounder I catch (assuming I catch another one), I will be sure to really appreiciate it, now knowing the rarity of catching one.

I once heard that there are four stages in a fisherman's life. They goes as follows (there are actually many variations of this, but this is what I remember): 1. You want to just catch a fish 2. You want to catch as many fish as possible 3. You want to only catch big or challenging fish 4. You want to just catch a fish I am probably in stage 3 right now, but as my time on the water becomes drastically limited due to life's responsibilities, I tend to teeter into stage 4.

Great write up and advice RW. That is why I have more equipment I know what to do with, because I need to maximize my chances. As a side note: It has to be higher than 5%. My 10 year old nephew caught a 5 lb. LM this past summer by accident and I would venture to guess there are a lot of fisherman who have done the same. Now, it might be 5% who have caught at least 5 bass over 5 pounds (which would eliminate all those who just happened upon one).

Did they confirm that the perch was hooked in the mouth?

I used to use the Mann's Rat over pads and slop. Was a great lure until I lost it on a lilly pad stalk. I just received the Koppers Filed Mouse in the mail yesterday and it looks very promising. Nice soft body and really sharp hooks. Can't wait to give it a try.

I really don't think you could lose with either. I personally like the G Loomis IMX and being that is what you bought, I think you will be happy.

Baitcasting: G Loomis GLX BCR853 - Shimano Core 50mg Reel - 12 lb. Fluorocarbon line Spinning: G Loomis GLX BCR852S - Pflueger Supreme 8035 - 10 lb. Fluorocarbon line These two are a mainstay wherever I go. I just ordered both in NRX, so I will be curious to see if there is a discernible upgrade in performance and sensitivity.

I agree with Dwight, a 7 lb. Smallmouth would be an equivalent to a 10 lb. Largemouth. With that being said, if you were able to choose any place and any time, I would have to say that a 10 lb. Largemouth would be easier to catch. I have fished Erie at the absolute prime time (many many times) and still have yet to break the 7 lb. Smallmouth mark. I would have to think that if I spent that same amount of time on El Salto during the prime trophy season, I would have caught a 10 lb. Largemouth by now.

Definitely the jig, but don't abandon the drop shot. Here is what I would do if I were you. Go out fishing with two rods, one with a jig and the other with a drop shot, and fish that way for a few months. To learn the drop shot, that was the only rod I took with me for a good 2 months. I've learned to fish the drop shot in almost any situation that exists. I even learned how to fish a drop shot in shallow heavy weeds. Now when I fish, that drop shot is always rigged up and ready to go and if really produces fish for me. By the way, be sure to enjoy the learning process. This is the time where real satisfaction can be achieved. Good Luck!

I once caught a smallmouth just under 6 pounds drop shotting a 4" Brush Hog. You can drop shot almost anything.

I have the same goals every year (and have yet to achieve them). 1. 7 lb. Smallmough Bass 2. 50+ inch Musky