Capriceragtop

I've heard of monster cats in Audubon. Perhaps an old wives tale, but supposedly some 75lb cats in there. I've never had luck. Frequently too many folks when I go. Seems I've got to go out east to cville to fish. Maybe this is the year I can make a concerted effort to kayak fish.

Hey folks, Picked up a four-piece St. Croix Triumph the other day and got a feel for it. As expected, the sensitivity isn't great, though it could be the fact I was using mono, which I never use. Considering swapping to a two piece, but the main purpose of this is as a travel rod. I'm pretty sure I'd have no issue carrying a four piece on a plane as carry-on, as it packs to about 20" long. But, I'm curious if someone has carried a 6'6" or 7' two piece spinning rod in a case on a plane recently. I'll be traveling internationally on Delta, so any info specific to them would be handy. Tight lines!

4:35pm July 2. Cloudless skies, little windy, no clouds. By all accounts, absolutely worst time to catch anything. Caught my PB bluegill that day, too. They loved the Panther Martin

All my spinning reels are Pflueger. Mix of president and supreme. Think I should snag a different unit for this purpose?

Planning on running a Pflueger Supreme 3000. Think I'll plan on ordering some options, try em out before I go. Need to get a feel for the new travel rod, anyway.

Yea, I suppose I'm overthinking it. I assumed I was gonna need 30-50lb braid, stainless leader, all kinds of unique tools, etc. I caught a trout when targeting smallies with a crawfish crank once, and a whole variety on inline spinners.

Yea, I may end up scrubbing the idea of targeting pike. But you never know what's gonna bite the hook. I've spoken with some pike fishermen, and it seems their go-to lures are basically what I was gonna take anyway. I hear pike are a great fight, but from the sound of it, seems like I'll need a second spool or reel to properly go after em.

@bulldog1935 don't suppose you've got a good, speedy source for the YGK, do you? For toohy fish, do you use a wire leader, or hope the snap/swivel/other item protects the line? Used to using leaders, but never gone after toothy fish.

Straight to lure, or with a leader?

You're telling me! If I could, I'd schlep all my gear with me. But, as I've gotta be able to carry this on a plane, my options are to try a "one size fits all" approach. Species available are trout, perch, salmon, pike, wrasse, greyling. Who knows what I'll catch.

On a medium spinning rod rated for 6-12lb line, if you could use only one line, what would it be? Open to any options. I'll be tossing everything from 1/4oz jigs, spinners, some soft plastics, up to 1/2oz spinners, spoons, some top water. Here's the kicker: targeting everything from trout and perch to pike. Already have some steel leader. I'm used to having dedicated rods/reels, but in this instance, I'm limited to one. I'm considering taking two spools if I can find a spare. Tight lines and happy weekend!

I'm still working over which one-size-fits-all rod to take with me overseas. I think I've settled on a St. Croix Triumph as they're in stock and I've got a bunch of St. Croix Premiere and like em. My quandary now is which power, which line, which size reel. Potential species I'll snag are pike, perch, trout, salmon, wrasse, etc. I'm torn between the M (6-12lb line, 1/4 - 5/8oz lure) and MH (8-17lb line, 3/4-3/4oz lure). I've been using braid with leader, but looking at some of the reviews, folks complain of broken tips, but then other folks chime in that they're an idiot for running braid on this rod. I've never snapped a rod before, and I certainly don't want to start on a trip where I have no backup! I'm inclined to run M, as I'll be tossing a Panther Martins, Kastkings, spoons, jigs, and maybe some spooks and whopper ploppers. I don't think I'll go above 1/2oz lures. But, I don't want to hook into a big pike and snap the rod. That's why I'm waffling on the MH. Given this is my one rod for the trip, is it still a good idea to run 30-50lb braid and a 8ishlb flouro leader? For pike, I think I need to get some stainless wire. Or, should I just run with something like Yo Zuri hybrid? What lb test? Lastly, I've got a slew of Pflueger Presidents and Supremes, so if I don't have to get a new reel, I can get more tackle. Would you recommend a 2500, 3000, or 3500 reel? Any advice for this baitmonkey addict is appreciated. I always carry too much stuff, so trying to select a rod that will catch both small trout and toothy big bois is a challenge.

Do you happen to know the length of the sections? Diawa doesn't list, but my math shows they should be around 28". A little worried, as most airlines list a max carryon length of 22". How's the Ardito compared to the St. Croix?

Fishing for fun. Given work travel is picking back up, I may have more and more opportunities to use a good travel rod.

Hey folks! I've got a trip planned in the fall, and I'll be travelling by plane. I presently own no two-piece rods, so I'm looking for suggestions on travel rods that I can carry on the plane with me. I've got several St. Croix Premier, so I've been eying the St Croix Triumph four piece. Would prefer a two piece rod, but I can't find much info as to whether or not I can carry that onboard. Would like to avoid checking it, if possible. I'm leaning towards a medium heavy, as that seems to be the stoutest rod I can locate that will pack well. Open to correction, though. Don't care if it's casting or spinning. Planning on taking some Panther Martin spinners, spoons, etc. Concern is being able to throw lighter (1/4oz), but still be able to handle a pike if I hook into one. From what I can tell, the expected species I'll run into are: pike, trout, salmon, perch. I may even hook into the Loch Ness Monster. Fresh water. Budget is $150-$200 for the rod. I presently don't travel with fishing gear, but if I get the right stuff, I may in the future. Any suggestions?

Siebert. Let some of their jigs fall into your basket, too.

I always crush my barbs. Yea, I've lost a few fish, but those I do land unhook quickly. And if I ever do hook myself, it shouldn't be too bloody to remove.

Ah. I should've clarified: this setup is braid with flouro leader. Leader is maybe 5' long. And where I'm presently fishing, it's all clear water with no top slop. There's vegetation under water, so I've got to clean my chatterbaits frequently.

What would you suggest? Not being combative; genuinely curious. Part of it is I couldn't find my spool of 10lb, and the other part is I don't have a dedicated topwater setup, unless you count a frog rod. I use this setup as a general one: weighted TRig, jerks, weightless big plastics, wakebaits, etc.

... looks like I'm off to buy a net. Maybe this is why I've been catching mostly dinks in the 2lb range: God's up there saying, "you need some additional tools, ya dingus."

Tom, are you saying with the drag maxed out, I run the risk of breaking the rod with a large fish? This was a MH St. Croix Premiere, but I'm sure your advice still holds. I always thought you had to be doing something extreme to break a rod: smacking it against something, snagged on a tree, etc.

Ah. Now I know why some of my reels have what I thought was "puny" drag at 11lbs. Couldn't foresee how a drag like that would work with big largemouth, let alone bigger fish like pike. Thanks!

Sunday, I was tossing a Super Spook Jr. in a light drizzle. It got hammered by something sizeable. I figured it must be large, because I could feel it fight, but I wasn't bringing line in while cranking on the baitcaster. It was probably my PB, but I won't know, unfortunately. My 8lb flouro leader snapped right in the middle. I've always just cranked the drag all the way down. I take it that's the wrong idea? Is this the most likely reason why I lost the fish? Oh, and if my fellow Memphians are out at Halle and see a monster with a Super Spook Jr. in Baby Bass color, tell him I want my lure back.

I bank fish, and went to my most productive lake one night. Took in my gear with a headlamp. Didn't have much luck, but I kept hearing what sounded like someone chunking bowling balls into the lake. Big thumps followed by a splash. Pretty sure it was the sound of some sizeable fish coming up to feed. I ended up cutting the trip short when the cotton mouths started heading towards me. Buddy of mine later told me it was because the head lamp reminds them of frog eyes at night. Said he carried a tiki torch with him. Helps keep the bugs away, and provides just enough extra light.

Well done! It was too beastly for me today, but I did catch em yesterday while dialing in a new rod. Wanted a baitcaster setup for weightless Texas rig and other small, light things. Just right for crappie and bream, too.