Rickety Skillet

Hello and welcome! I am originally from NE PA, near Wilkes Barre =) Best of luck on your trip.

So after tons of research and holding various rods in my local shop, I decided to upgrade my casting rig. UPS just arrived today and I figured I would share my initial experience. I went with : - G.Loomis NRX 803C - Diawa Steez CT SV 700XH I ended up getting both on sale and saved a good bit ? Im sure tons of folks here have a copious amount of experience using these products, but they are new to me and I'm pretty jazzed about it. I have it spooled up with 30# Power Pro braid with a 15# FC leader with the intent to fish small jigs, smaller Texas rigs and other various soft plastics. Initial Impression: (having very little to compare it to ... so take it for what it is xD) - Rod is light as a feather and fit and finish are well done. Came with a sticker on the cork handle I took off that left some sticky residue behind. I used 400 grit sandpaper to get rid of it and it is like it was never there now. - Reel feels smooth and everything that adjusts or clicks is very positive and sure sounding - I have never used a reel like this, and just from clicking my release and letting my 1/16th oz weight with a 2/0 hook on the end of the line spool out and hit my carpet, it almost caused a backlash ... makes me scared to cast it a bit. I adjusted the breaks to the higher side for when I actually get out to cast it. - I have the braid married to the leader via an Albright knot and am hoping it will not cause a hang-up as it passes through the eyelets upon casting. I'll update this after I get out to use it and have actual time behind the rod. Happy fishing everyone

Hello everyone! I have been fishing for about 3 months total so far. Got "hooked" by a friend of mine wanting to go fishing and I basically did the shoulder shrugging "sure, whatever" ... ended up catching a small little 8oz (if that) largemouth on a topwater popper and have gotten more and more into it ever since. If you had asked me at any point over my 28 years of existence if I would enjoy fishing, I would have said no ... how wrong I would have been =P I have been using BassResource and all of the knowledgeable folks here as a valuable resource to learn and self teach and try and see what gear I should be using etc. etc. ..... and for that, THANK YOU ALL! I live in Northern Colorado, started out using a Lews bait-casting combo (just decided to upgrade from that actually) and really just wanted to be part of the community here. Much love, I will see you all in the forums! - Joe