jimmyjoe

Given same blank, same size and spacing, I don't believe there's a perceptible difference. Why the interest in SIC? jj

I have the 7' 2-pc ML with a Shimano Stradic CI4+ 2500 on it. I've used quite a few different lines. This is my favorite rod, hands down. Not that it will horse with the big boys. That's not what I mean. I mean it's the all-around best, most fun, fighting-est rod, least trouble rod, most accurate rod that I have. I use it for everything from crappie, to white bass, to flukes for LMB. Yes, there are probably better rods out there, but I need 2-pc rods, and that limits my choices considerably. And I didn't know how I would like the Kigan Z-guides when I first got the rod, but now I love them. One thing: they seem to work better with mono rather than braid. Don't know why. ? jj

I have some questions for the people here who use the Zoom Magnum fluke. 1) Which size hook do you use? 2) Which rig do you use for it? Weighted or not? 3) Do you think it catches you bigger bass than the 5.25" size? 4) Do you ever have a problem setting the hook, or getting the hook to come out of the body? Thnx for the help. jj

Pardon me, but isn't 15 lb. test braid awfully thin for a baitcaster? I'd think you would get the line digging in a lot. And that might cause what you're describing. jj

Politicians are just rattlesnakes with legs. jj

Welcome! JJ

PERFECT DESCRIPTION! ? jj

Correct. I believe the OP's choice will boil down to whether he needs that Magforce-Z system or not. jj

How true, how true. Some people think that in poor visibility water, you MUST have a rattle, or the bass won't find the lure. That's false. Those fish sense different things in ways that we're only beginning to understand. jj

You suffer in summer, we suffer in winter. It's six of one, half-a-dozen of the other. Unless we get a scorcher for a summer, too. Then, everyone suffers. ☹️☹️☹️ jj

I've said that for a long time. They make good rods at every price point. jj

I have a Casitas with 12 lb. InvizX. Are you thinking this SLX will cast further than the Casitas?????? jj

Hey! You fishin' my lake? Just kidding ..... ?? 1) dark colored spinnerbait, single Colorado 2) pink fluke on weighted hook. 3) 5 or 6 inch boot-tail swimbait on weighted hook 4) 4 to 7 foot depth rattling floater-diver, silver and black back 5) Gotta get a spoon in there. Gotta. (It's the law). I'm a spoon fanatic, so I gotta include one in this list. It'd be a 3/4 oz. Dardevle, light colors low and dark colors higher up. Good luck. jj

You're not the only one who finds fishing therapeutic. Welcome! jj

From my experience, this is great advice. I have a MH/F casting rod and had been using 12 lb. Big Game, with decent results. I recently went to 20 lb. braid (Ultra 8 .... 8 lb mono diameter) and my hookups improved A LOT. Needless to say, I swing for the fences, because they're in brushpiles. jj

One thing to watch is the guide inserts if he gets a MH. Sometimes cheap ones pop out. TW carries very, very few 2-pc rods. As MN fisher advised, try FishUSA. Call different mfrs, or e-mail them. Fenwick has an Eagle 2-pc MH at 6'6". but it has stainless inserts. Some people absolutely loath them. And, of course, some people don't. Cheap Daiwa rods are usually okay-to-good. I'd stay away from the off-brands, but that's just me. We still don't know what he's doing with this...... jj Ooops. Timing was a little late on that one, wasn't it? ? jj

If by "decent" you mean built reasonably well, then just about any spinning rod above thirty bucks will be "decent". But if you're asking about some certain characteristics for his best use, then we need to know a lot more about what he's going to do with it, and what he likes and/or dislikes. It's kinda like cars; most cars are "decent". That doesn't mean everyone will like the same one. jj

True. 40 lb. j-braid, 50 lb, 832, 40 lb. performance braid, and a PowerPro that I forgot the poundage. Sooooooo wrong! So, so, so wrong! That is literally 180 degrees from reality. Correct .... up to a point. But make six long casts, and how much tension is there on the line? Then you get a biggie on the line, and ... voila! ... the line digs in like a Case backhoe. And if you think you can put 4-5 lbs. pressure on the retrieve with a lure, I'd like to see that lure! Same with your fingers. I run my line through my fingers on the retrieve, and I'd have to see what would happen if I tried to put 4-5 lb. pressure on the line with my fingers! Bye-bye, flesh! The Dark Side has cookies! ???? jj

OK. Now I understand better. Are you fishing Polk or Marion county? If you fish below the Red Rock dam, you also have niiiiiice walleye. Talk to your local fishermen. They'll steer you right. You have a lot of choices regarding which way you want to go, but they're all good. And yes, you have bass. You just have to learn to be selective in your choice of lures. If all you want to do is catch fish without being selective, you're probably in fish heaven right where you are. ? jj

What are you targeting, the buffalo or largemouth bass? If you're targeting bass and hook into 30 lb. buffalo day after day, then I'd say you're fishing for bass in the wrong spot. On the other hand, if you're actually targeting the buffalo and wipers (which can be tremendous fun!) you should be using gear for buffalo and carp, not bass. The chief differences are in the heavier drag and greater line capacity in the reel, and a heavier power in the rod. If you want to stay with the gear you already have, I'd make sure you lube the drag or change to Carbontex drag material from Smoothdrag. You might want to change whichever lures you're using, too. Most (not all) lures for bass don't really attract buffalo. Wipers are another matter entirely. Whichever you decide to do ..... good luck! jj

I apologize, but I don't understand. How does gear "take a beating"? I fish the Mississippi, and catch wipers and pike in addition to bass, and my gear doesn't "take a beating". It does what it's made to do: catch fish. You have a line of limited capability and a drag of limited capability. Use them within that capability and you'll be fine .... and so will the equipment. jj

I just got back from fishing. I don't think it makes any difference. We'll see, though. jj

Yeah, he'd be the right age. Might explain a lot. jj

He only used white or clear glass. Smooth beads. Iovino's are faceted. It sure didn't look much like an eye to me, but then I'm not a bass, either. I think I'm gonna try it tomorrow with flukes. We'll see ........ jj

Met a guy today who t-rigs lots of stuff. He says he always puts a white or glass bead, big as the base of his nose weight, between the weight and the hook. I said, "Yeah. That's the clicker. Iovino sells them." He said no, it wasn't a clicker. A clicker moves; these are pegged. He says it's an eye. He says bass go for the eye, so he provides them an eye. I never heard of it like that. Have any of you done something like that, especially to provide an "eye" for the bass? jj