Pikeman12

I appreciate the response, but I do not purchase new cars. Simply because you cannot work on them. I am looking for something i can modify. Camming, bigger injectors, tune, exhaust, intake. You can't do that to any of this newer stuff so the latest year i will really purchase is 2004. Been looking for roadmaster wagons but none around here.

Thanks for the reply NorcalBassin!I am a truck guy as well but finding a truck that isnt completely beat to **** in my price range is a little rough around here. I'm in chicago, so the winters are either very mild or very bad lol. Now I know I am not looking at the WRX or STI model of these cars, but it seems to me like there is still plenty of aftermarket and modifications available to these engines. I love my Isuzu rodeo, but because isuzu doesn't make trucks here anymore in the US, there is nothing I can do to my motor.

Hey guys, So i have been searching craigslist for used vehicles that I can drive in the snow, carry my fishing equipment in, and has a good amount of aftermarket for me to make a project if i want to. Looking to find something under 5 grand. I was eyeing some of those subaru outbacks, i figured the wagon would be good for holding rods, awd for the snow and mud, but not sure if there is a good amount of aftermarket for those naturally aspirated motors. Anyone have any input on vehicles i could be looking at? Most will suggest trucks, but thought I would check out the cars first.

Thanks for the help guys. Not sure why but I went the opposite way and got a Penn Warfare 20lw baitcaster and a Bass pro Catmaxx spinning reel.

I also have a Pflueger Trion 40 but i thought that might be a little small for catfish, especially sturgeon. It only displays 12 lb as the highest on the reel, so I don't really know how thick of line I could get away with on this reel.

Haha thanks for the response guys. I knew I was gonna get some surprised reactions when I said 25$, truth is my dad and I have been using the same 2 south bend reels for the last 18 years hooking into Wisconsin sturgeon and they haven't given us any problems. Was gonna use them again this time but I'm detecting a small issue with one so I wanted a backup in case it did break. Saw the quantum optix at Walmart on I was just gonna say screw jt and get that. Maybe I should just spend the extra and get the pflueger. They also had a pflueger monarch, but I don't think they had a big enough size to handle 30 lb fluro

The reel I was looking at was the Quantum Optix only for 25$. I have always had good luck with shakespear products too so if anyone knows any others that I should look at, possibly even with baitclickers, please let me know.

Hey guys, I am going on my annual sturgeon fishing trip and I need a cheap catfish reel as a backup. I do not want to spend anymore than 40$. I am looking to see which is the best out of the stuff walmart/dicks has to offer- shakespear? Quantum? Any help is appreciated, I do not mind buying cheap at all, just want to make sure these reels aren't gonna fall apart on the first big fish haha. Thanks guys!

Hey guys, figured I would start a thread for the vehicles we use on our fishing trips or just plain to haul your gear with. Post a pic and tell us something about it! I will start it off. I drive an 02 Isuzu Rodeo 4x4. 140k and still running great! 3.2 v6 but I have never had trouble hauling our 16 ft boat or camper on our week long sturgeon fishing trips in northern wisconsin. She does what I need her to do. Wish I could get another but finding them in low mileage is tough.

Could go with a Pflueger Trion with a Berkley lightning rod. That would put you at around 90$ but you would have a great cheap setup.

I would suggest saving a little and getting a catfish rod and reel. The Okuma Battlecat is very nice and I've been finding them between 70-80$. You can get combos for your price range, but I did that with the Bill Dance Quantum spinning combo and wasn't very happy, but you get what you pay for. As far as reels, those Okuma Trio baitfeeders are very nice. Plus it could also become your sturgeon/downrigger rod as well. The 3oz weights are fine. Honestly, my main rig uses a 3 oz pyramid sinker. My cousin uses 4 oz a lot of times. Believe it or not, those weights sometimes aren't enough on the illinois and wisconsin rivers we fish(or even the menonome michigan side).

I also have a 5'6'' rod that I found. A shimano fightn rod. Before I retired it I was using it as a frogging rod.

Definitely use the warranty on the premier and save the argument for when you want to get something more expensive. Honestly, that's one of the main reasons I buy St. Croix rods. You know it will be what you want without having to spend $$ and hear an earful(might even get laid for saving $).

I use an Okuma Celilos light(feels more like a medium light honestly) and I have used it a lot for bass. 6-8 lb mono using 3/8 lures as well as plenty of ultralite tackle. I matched it with a Pflueger trion spinning reel and I have to say it is a great cheap versatile setup.

Hey guys, So my cousin bought one of these rods http://whiskerseeker.com/catfish-ice-rod-wst-whisker-stick/ . He bought it to hang it off the canoe and honestly it has worked real well considering casting room can be rough with 3 people on a canoe. I ordered one in casting as well. I am curious, without getting to expensive, what reel would you put on one of these if you were using it for the same purpose we are?

I agree, definitely the Pflueger Trion combo. I still have mine on the boat with me.

The Abu Garcia Revo Beast is $400, but honestly seems a little expensive for the reel. Anyone else use these?

I use only spinning setups, But right now i am a big fan of Suffix pro mix. I have been getting it in in 10 lb mono and have had 0 problems. I used to use the berkley trilene big game which is real good as well. Stay away from vanish and spiderwire in my opinion. As far as flouro goes, I have only used it on my cat rod and in P-line 30 lb. My buddy uses P line in 10 lb i believe and he also loves it. I used braid once and didn't like it so I have always mainly stuck to mono.

The water where I am fishing is 4 feet deep max. We had a lot of rain lately which caused all the rivers to flood, so I am trying to take advantage of the hightened water level, but if the pike are in a different location it won't matter. Thanks for the tip on the Johnson Silver minow. Completely forgot about those. I will try moving south down the river since that seems to be when it gets deeper and wider. Time to invest in a canoe. Thanks again guys, as always this forum is great!

Thanks for the reply man. Actually my only luck has been further south towards you on live bait (bluegill). I know the des plaines opens up more, but over here by Lyons it's a little rough. That would make sense though because I have been hearing they migrate to deep water. Last year I started having more luck in august than early summer. Thanks again for the help!

Hey guys, Pike fishing has been real slow for me this year. Haven't been able to get one at all this month and it is getting frustrating, but that's fishing. Anyways, I am fishing the Des Plaines River in Illinois. It is usually no more than 5 feet deep max, with an average of 4 feet, and can be tough with how much debris can be in this river. I have targeted spots with lots of fallen trees/logs, and have not come up with anything. I am using a bps tournament series 7' MHF with 10 lb suffix pro mix mono and a 12'' steel leader.The primary lures I am throwing are blue fox spoons and rooster tails, jawbreaker weedless spoon, as well as meps. I am making sure the spoons are wobbling rather than spinning, as well as pausing on my retrieve and letting it sink. Does anyone have any suggestions on me? Do I possibly need new tackle? I have been wary of trying cranks and big swim banks in this shallow river, but spoons have usually always worked for me. Thanks for any help guys!

You will be fine with your texas and carolina rigs. As said up above, heavier weights is where it might be tougher in which case you can move up. I used to use 6 lb a lot, had no problem throwing senkos. The heavier line will help if you want to throw it into cover. Now I am at 10 lb mono just so I can cast bigger baits and I find it to be perfect. Some good cheaper lures for that are the blue fox inline spinners. You can get a kit of them between 5-10$ at walmart and they work great for bass and crappie. 8 lb would be better, but if you are set on 6 it should work fine too, just remember to have your drag set correctly in case you hook a hog!

I actually was looking for a cheaper rod myself in a 7 foot medium heavy 2 days ago and I ended up going with a bass pro tournament series for 50$. Used it a few times and its a great cheap rod. The Berkeley Lightning Rod is one of the best you can get in that price range as well. As far as cheap baitcasters go, my buddy got an abu garcia black maxx reel for like 40$ at walmart and he loves it and still uses it for other setups now. I would also check out the pfluegers.

I went to bass pro yesterday and they barely had any in stock. One of the employees told me they are discontinuing the HMG line. 1 more thing, anybody have any experience with Okuma rods? I have been trying to find some in the 100$ range and it seems like they aren't out there. I currently have a 30$ okuma celios MF and it is a great rod.

How would you guys compare these against the Gloomis GL2?