runt4561

I love my stradic ci4 except for that knob on the handle. they just came out with the new models that has a different knob so it might not be an issue anymore. as far as rods, I really haven't found anything that I am truly ecstatic about. I currently have an okuma helios medium light because I wanted to fish more 1/4 oz weights. I definatley wouldn't recommend that for what you want to do. maybe a heavier action would be ok. I like the light weight of the helios and the sensitivity seems to be good. im just not blown away by it.

shimano sahara 2500 or 3000. $79. best spinning reel made for that price range. shimanos are faster than most other spinning reels. the daiwa's have just now started producing spinning reels that can match them. my opinion is that shimanos are a cut above other spinning reels.

I ended up purchasing an okuma scott martin matt daddy 711 xh. I found somebody that had one and got to play around with it yesterday. it had the exact action I was looking for. even though the rod has a good parabolic bend through the shaft, the tip was not as soft as I thought it would be. the rod is very light and pitches a 1 1/2 oz weight very well. I ordered one last night along with a 7 ft h. thanks to all that offered your insight.

first, I would find something other than a fury. I have not been impressed with mine other than the fact that it feels amazing in my hand. when I fish with it, it just doesn't feel good. I would lean toward a glass composite. I had a daiwa tatula composite and it was a good action for the bait. the rod itself had a bare lock nut to secure the reel and I did not like that part but overall it was a good rod. it was a 7'2 mh.

I keep a journal of my tournaments. I don't do it for normal fishing because, I fish differently in tournaments than I do if I am practicing or fun fishing. these are the things I keep track of: - air temp and water temp at beginning and end of the day - wind direction and speed - general status of weather... pre front, front moving through, post front, cloudy, clear etc - what I caught and size - what baits produced and what size baits.... 1/2 oz trap, 3/4 oz trap, t-rig with 3/16 or 1/8th oz - location on lake where fish were caught.... this will be general map location as well a specific structure where the fish were caught. this could be outside grass line at joe's point or deep docks in joe's cove. - what I placed in the tournament and what the winners weight was. - how much money I won. it really helps me to match seasonal patterns year after year to bodies of water

if I were to buy one, I would get the Berkley like others have posted but I don't like the fact that you have to take the reel off the rod to use it properly. if I am preparing for a tournament, I may have to respool as many as 10 reels at one time. I made my own about 10 years ago and it is till going strong. I just framed up something that looks like a wooden tool box and put a long threaded rod across the top. the rod is secured with wing nuts like you have left over when you install boat batteries. I can place all of my line on the threaded rod. I know without pics, it may be hard to visualize but it is very practical.

thanks for all of the replies. I think I am definitely leaning toward a dobyns champion. I like st Croix rods but I had an 8 foot LTB when they first came out and it was seriously unbalanced. so much that I sold it a month after I bought it. I have been interested in the okuma matt daddy, but I hear that they have soft actions. I am a big fan of stiff rods for flipping and I was concerned that they would be too soft. my issue with the parabolic actions is the bend that a heavy weight puts in the tip of the rod. it makes it difficult for me to pitch that heavy weight without making a big entry. please if you guys have any more opinions, share them. I like hearing them.

that's what I was figuring. thanks

Deland.... so it sounds like you will be fishing in the St Johns River. Definitely the 7 foot Aetos. the shakey head is hard to beat. the biggest issue in florida with spinning tackle is the vegetation. it makes it hard to fish a lot of the finesse baits. the shakey head is the easiest to fish around vegetation. I have never used the ned rig so I cant comment on that.

IMO opinion the BPS crankin stick is the best crankbait rod available for the money. use fluorocarbon line and sensitivity wont be an issue.

go on youtube and learn how to tie the "FG Knot". I was a die hard double uni fan until I tried this knot. it is stronger than than the uni.

12- 14 lb flouro. I am a fan of seagar red label. good line for not a lot of $$$$. sure there are better lines out there but not at $10/spool. stay away from Berkley vanish. it ages prematurely and starts to break after a few weeks. other than that, its a good line for a day or two. I have never used any of the sunlines but here good things about it.

where are you going to be fishing? I am here in central florida and I can give you good advice. depending on location, a spinning reel can play a big role in florida. won many tournaments with a drop shot and shakey head in central florida. judging by your list of rods I would bring the 7' aetos. all but one of my spinning rods are 7 ft medium actions. cant go wrong with them.

Shimano citica or lews bb1. both have what you are looking for and are priced the same. I use both and have not worn them out yet and have several years on them now.

keep on moving until you find lews. Shimano and lews are the only two reels I will buy now. I had a daiwa tatula and it is a good reel but it did not last like the lews or shimanos I have. Lews BB1 and super duty and Shimano Citica, Curado or Chronarch.

Going to Butler Chain near Orlando, FL this weekend. Never been there before and I have lived all of my life about an hour away. looking for general information for this time of year. what can I expect. it looks like clear water and deep for florida judging by the google earth images. not looking for specific honey holes or anything like that. if there is one lake on the chain better suited for this time of year or a bait that they like, please share. im trying to help my nephew prepare for a tournament. thanks

I need help folks. My boat was broken into this past winter and 10 of my rods/reels were stolen. I still have several setups that were inside the house but several of my key rods were taken. I am looking for a flipping rod. I have owned over 20 flipping rods in my life. a few really stand out over the others. I am going to give you guys my preferences and hopefully I can get some good feedback. My flipping rod that was taken was a bass pro shops johnny morris signature series 7'6" heavy and mostly used for 3/4 oz soft plastics in central florida. I know it is not the popular choice for flipping rods but, it got the job done well and did not break in the 5 years that I owned it. That is the key for me, they have to be durable. I am 7 ft tall and 400 lbs, I wreak havoc on equipment. the only rods I have never broken are bass pro rods and g loomis. I am looking for something that can handle the same task. The BPS Johnny Morris was a little light in action for me. 3/4 oz is the most i felt comfortable flipping. I am not interested in daiwa, shimano, abu Garcia, carrot stiks, irods, g loomis. I have ruled those out for many different reasons. I have a kistler klx 7'3" heavy that I do light pitching with (1/2 oz or less) and I love that rod. probably my favorite rod. I am kinda interested in another but if something out there is better, I would like to try it. I have an extra heavy 7'11" fitzgerald for punching but it weighs too much. I want comfortable, light and balanced. I am intrigued by dobyns although I have a smaller mh fury and I am not impressed. also interested in powells. I bought a lews rod last year and I have been impressed with them as well. would like to know if any of you are using a lews for flipping. kinda on the fence about ducketts. i have a friend that likes his but I haven't heard anymore feedback about them. I have heard that there are some craftsmanship issues with them. I know there will be several dobyns fans and some powell fans as well. basically I might be looking for two flipping rods. keep in mind, I am in florida, so the areas I fish will be similar to the delta. shallow with lots of grass, tules, hydrilla, pads etc. I am looking for a flipping rod that can handle the intermediate stuff from 1/2 oz to 1 oz and a punching rod for weights over an oz. ok folks, lets see what you got. impress me!! lol thanks for your help.