Lucky Craft Man

If I had $500 to spend, it wouldn't be on a spinning set-up, but if I were to sepnd it on a spinning set-up, I guess I would get a G Loomis IMX SJR843S ($245.00) and a Shimano Sustain 2500FD ($199.99). That would leave you with close to $30 (after taxes) to spend on some line and soft plastics.

Speaking of Craig B., those old transcripts should be placed in some sort of BassResource Hall of Fame (or Shame, depending how you look at it). I'm sure his name will be used for years to come and all of the newer members won't have a clue who is being spoken of (Plus I think it would be funny to read those old threads again).

I have a brand new G Loomis IMX MRB844C ($152 off of eBay) waiting for a new Shimano Curado. Maybe we should have these two meet.

The one combo has the BPS Extreme rod (which has a 70 million modulus) and the cheaper combo comes with a BPS Extreme Performance rod (which is an IM8 or 45 million modulus rod). I am not a fan of the newer BPS Extreme Performance rods (I do like the older models). I would suggest getting the $119 combo, because the rod is much nicer.

Your Aunt gave you $130? I never had an Aunt like that growing up.

I would highly recommend the Cabelas XML (not the XML Ti) spinning rod. One of the best spinning rods I have ever seen.

You can find these XPS performance rods on ebay all the time. I look all the time and I can only find the newer models (which I thouugt were just like the older ones until I purchased one and found out the are different in every way, especially in power and action). If you have an older one to sell, I would be interested.

Me like... 8-) RW, I have a Curado 100D with 12lb. Yo-Zuri Hybrid Line on it as well...

Exchanging the rod may not be a problem, but the rod you recieve as a replacement maybe. Bass Pro "redesigned" the XPS Extreme Performance rod this year and the new rod is not as good as the one you broke. The new XPS Performance only has 7 guides now as opposed to the 8 the old ones had. Also, the new rods don't have the screw off end for the BPS rod weighting system like the older model had. I have two XPS Performance rods for jerkbaits and topwater and I am trying to find "back-up" rods for these two just in case one breaks, because these rods are the best rods I have found to date for those two applications (that includes looking at St. Croix, G Loomis and other high end rods).

This is what I would call the greatest senko rod ever manufactured. http://products.gloomis.com/gl/products/alltackle/detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441768917&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302032712&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181201&bmUID=1188182067558 I only throw senkos on this rod, but it could obviously be used for other plastics. IMHO if you want the best senko rod, get the GLX version of this rod.

I'm not quite sure who makes Cabelas Rods, but I really like the Cableas XML series (not so much the XML Ti). There are only two rods I mainly use. Cabelas XML (I have 8 of them) and G Loomis. I have found that these two companies not only have very sentive, lightweight rods that are nice to fish with, they also have great warranty policies. You can just take you XML rod to Cabelas and exchange it for another one for any reason. You don't even need a receipt. I can't say more about these rods (except that I plan on getting two more this fall when there are sales).

Heres a pretty good combo. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_90882_100003001_100000000_100003000_100-3-1

I have been using them for at least the last 4 years up a Erie on a drop shot rig for Smallmouth. Before you had to directly order them from their website, but I think Cabelas and Gander Mtn. crrries them. They have increaded in popularity and do work quite well.

I purchased an IMX MRB844C brand new on eBay for $152 total. My Crucial cost me $139.99 + tax = $148.39. So for another $3.61 I had a new IMX. If you look around you can find deals on G Loomis Rods.

I have fished with both the Shimano Crucial and the G Loomis IMX. I had the Crucial first before I purchased the IMX and thought that there couldn't have been a better rod then the Crucial. I was also sold on the warranty of the Shimano (which I was told was a lifetime "over the counter" warranty). Well, while fishing I stepped on the tip of my Crucial and broke it off. I thought no big deal since I can just take it back and get a new one next time I was at Cabelas. I took it to Cabelas and asked for an exchange and they asked me for my receipt for proof of purchase. Stupid me threw the receipt out thinking that there wouldn't be an issue if I ever needed to exchange for a new one. So they looked up in the computer as to when I may have purchased it. I told them the month I thought I purchased it and it couldn't be found on my record. Through this all, I got into a discussion with the customer service agent and I asked him that I was told Shimano had an "over the counter" lifetime warranty. He said that a lot of people think that for some reason, but the true warranty is over the counter replacement for any reason for the first year after purchase (and make sure you have a proof of purchase, i.e., receipt) and any time after that the rod has to be sent to Shimano directly. Then Shimano will look at the rod and if they determine the break occurred because of a manufacturers defect then they will replace it. If they determine that it was fisherman's error (ex. stepping on it) you will have to pay to get it replaced or fixed. I have heard Shimano is relatively liberal about this, but it still seems like a hassle. The end my story, after a long time at the customer service counter they finally allowed me to exchange the rod (Cabelas has to have the best customer service of any company out there), but I was afraid I was going to have to take a lie detector test before they did. With the G Loomis warranty, they will replace your rod for free if there is a manufacturers defect (same as Shimano's Warrant), but also if you break it you can have a new rod within a few days just for $50 bucks with the Expidetor service with no questions asked (I know $50 may sound like a lot, but in some cases these rods are over $400, so it's relatively cheap). I now have 6 G Loomis rods and sold the one Crucial rod I had. Also, these G Loomis rods are a joy to fish with. Be careful though, after you buy one you will have strong impulses to buy more.

I'm in the minority here, but I like Cabela's RipCord Si Plus and on the rods I use braid, I tie directly to the lure.

I like Yo-Zuri Hybrid as well and I also like Bass Pro XPS Flourocarbon. The Bass Pro flouro. works very well for me and it isn't extremely expensive (plus it faired pretty well in tackletour.com's flouro. report). The only mono I use is on my topwater rod (which I use the cajun red) and every thing else is the two lines I previously mentioned (plus Cabelas Ripcord Si Plus braid, but you are already set on your braid).

I had bad luck with the surgeons knot when connecting a braid to a flouro. What I found to be the best is a double uni knot, but fold over the braid (to make it twice as thick) before tying it. I hope that doesn't sound confusing.

I agree. Your best bet is to save some money and buy a nice all around baitcasting combo (you can get one for under $100) and keep the Ugly Stick for carp and catfishing.

Your right all these baits are good and I have caught fish with the Minus and jerk baits that way. All im trying to say is it gives them something different to look at. Its different then any subsurface as far as profile and action. When it comes to fluorocarbon I don't see why it is a bad choice. The line has very low stretch, it is unseen under water, and if you have ever thrown segar then you would know the line is stronger than most mono. Also I have never heard or seen this Bagleys Bang O Lure. Is this lure common in most tackle stores? If you can place a picture of one I would appreciate it. That's a myth.

Thanks for the responses. I was thinking of using it for Carolina Rigs and heavier cover plastics. I have an IMX MBR843C, which I use for more open water plastics, but I was thinking the MBR844C might be good for heavier cover situations. I'm glad to see others are using the rod for the same applications I was hoping to use it for. Thanks again.

I just won on eBay a brand new G Loomis IMX MBR844C for $152.50. I really am not in need of a rod, but I couldn't pass up the price. Therefore, I was wondering what application for those who have this rod find it most suitible for?

I might be a little different in my preferences. I used to use a medium power rod for crankbaits and jerkbaits and I would land a large amount of fish hooked on this rod. But for me the trouble was in hooking the fish (especially on long casts). I do not have a powerful hook set (from years of being a Crappie fisherman, I have a bad habit of setting the hook to softly on Bass), therefore, I wasn't hooking a large percentage. I switched to a medium heavy power rod and my hook rate percentage went up. I do lose slightly more (not many more though) fish on the medium heavy power rod, but since I am hooking more, I am coming out ahead. Though, in the end it is a personal preference. I have tried at least 7 different rods out until I found the one rod I am comfortible with using for jerkbaits and crankbaits.

Has anyone ever used one of these? More specifically the Gary Klein 8'0" Flippin' Stick? I was looking at this rod and it is one of the only rods manufactured by a large company that is a spiral wrapped rod (or revolving guides as they call it). I'm just curious how this rod is.

Where in Erie were they hitting HPBB? I may go up there this Saturday (if I don't have to work and it doesn't rain too bad).