alanmikkelsen

10 lb. CXX breaks at 17 pounds. I use 10 pound CXX for steelhead fishing, where the average fish is 12-18 pounds and fights twice as hard as any bass.

I have a roof rack on a cap (topper, shell). I have a 6" pvc tube strapped down to the rack. Long enough to handle 8' rods. I have several 7' one piece rods, but the 8' also lets me haul flourescent bulbs home for my shop!

I fished with Jeff Jarret, of Orofino, ID, in May. We had a slow day, only put five fish in the boat, but every one was weighed on an accurate scale (boga). One was 3.5 lbs. The rest were 4-5.5. Jeff is the only guide doing bass on Dworshak, right now. There was a tournament going on that weekend. We didn't enter, but if we had, we would have doubled the winning weight that day, plus won the largest fish award, too. Would have paid about $1250, if I remember right. ;D

Western Montana, somewhere near Noxon Reservoir.....

Crucials here, too. Just picked up a 7' medium light, fast action, casting. Paired with a Curado 101D, 8# mono, I can easily throw a 4" senko on a 2/0 EWG super line hook over 100' (35 yards), without any problem.

Here's some Montana smallie pics from the last couple weeks.

I've been using a double or triple surgeons knot to join braid and mono for several years. I've never had a problem with it, super simple to tie, strong. I don't know why I don't hear about anyone else using it.

We fished cranks, 5-12'.

Haven't figured out how to do mulitple posts, yet.

OOps I'll try a few more: http://www.steelheader.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14243&cat=500&ppuser=7873 http://www.steelheader.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14242&cat=500&ppuser=7873 http://www.steelheader.net/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14241&cat=500&ppuser=7873

Here's a few pics from Saturday. Kinda slow, but good size. We ended up with six fish, C&R, mostly 3.5-4.5 lbs. There was a tournament going on, but we weren't in it.

Haven't used 8# CXX, but have used 10# CXX on spinning reels without any problem.

That was our first time. Looking forward to learning how to fish it.

My son in law and I fished Dworshak on April 3, to no avail. Tried dropshotting, tubes, senkos and cranks. Water temp was 43 degrees. We'll be back out on April 26 on Dworshak. Hopefully the water will have warmed up by then.

I own four, two spinning and two casting. Love'm.

I hear this all the time, but I also deal with fisheries biologists that do fish rescues from irrigation canals at the end of the season, as well as electroshock surveys and they use nets all the time and don't seem to feel it's an issue???shrug?

When catching larger (3#+) bass, why do most people lip them rather than net them? Is it legal to use nets in most tournaments? I'm curioius, since I come from a lifetime of trout, steelhead and salmon fishing, where we use nets all the time. When watching bass programs on TV, I never see a net used, even for 5+ pound fish.

Well, I'll add to the dog pile. I've used Iron Silk for a grand total of two fishing trips a couple years ago. Finally realized that no matter what I did, I wasn't going to be able to tie a knot that wouldn't break. I thought it cast ok, but I grew to loathe the stuff, especially after losing a couple of good steelhead. I never did try it on my lighter bass rods.

I'm pretty suprised by the trouble people have with CXX. I use it on my steelhead rods, fishing all winter in temps from 9-40 degrees. I broke ice out of my rod guides probably 60-70% of the days I fished this winter. I use it on both spinning and casting rods, 10# test. It doesn't have any problem handling hot 15-20# steelhead. I was a little leary of using it on a spinning rod, but all my guests who used it this winter loved it. I use a casting rod exclusively and didn't have any problem with it. I can't remember a single birdsnest on either rod, and I fish about 25+ days in really cold weather. For my bass rods, I use regular CX, 6-8# on spinning reels and 10# on casting reels, again, no problem. In fact, the only problem I've ever had with CXX is breaking off a snag. Man, that stuff just doesn't break! And when it finally does, it sounds like a rifle shot going off!

What do you think would be the best Shimano baitcaster for small (4") Senko's? A Calcutta TE 101 or TE 51? Thanks.

What's the difference and what is the better reel, the Scorpion Metanium XT or Scorpion 1001? I'm looking at both, for casting light stuff. I'll be using 10# line on these.

Saw the Carrot Stix in the Cabelas catalog. Gotta be frank, I guess I'm more traditional, 'cause they looked awful to me!

Two Calcutta 151's and two 251's. The 251's are used for steelhead fishing (15-20 lb. fish), the 151's are my smallmouth casting reels (also have a couple spinning reels). The Calcuttas are bullet proof! I regularly cast 3/16-1/4 oz gear with the 151's.

Quantum Catalyst for my spin gear! ;D. The 30's handle 20 pound steelhead and the 20's for smallies! Great reels.

I have two Shimano Compre CPC66x-m. (Extra fast, medium action). I fish smallmouth with them, using Shimano Calcutta 151's. I can cast a 1/4 oz wt 60-80 feet, depending on how much I put into it. ;D. I think they're great rods (I also have two spinning Compre's.)