softwateronly

Break in? too soon? scott

I know I'm looking forward to the video of those footballs on topwater and I doubt I'm the only one! scott

Never had it. It's on the list, thanks! scott

It really is. It's like holding a feather in your hand. The first time I got a bite on it I was afraid to set the hook. But like you said, it has power that you wouldn't think it'd have. Early Feb, I hooked and landed my PB with that rod between 2 docks and a gnarly brushpile. It was able to really lean into her the 2 times she went for the cover and lead her out to more open water for me to lip her. I wasn't real sure how to utilize it, but now I know it can do almost anything. scott

Moretti's? d**n! That's some crazy and real sad. I've got family w/ kids on one of the "O" streets between NW highway and Touhy. They had a attempted break in on their block a week ago Thursday, neighbors heard the screaming and wrestled the dude to the ground and handed him over to the cops. That guy wasn't right in the head either. Did some facility shut down recently? That neighborhood is literally nothing but CPD, CFD, and teachers. Not a place to get out of line at all. I know the CPD soft strike has sucked resources from the good hoods, but this more just mentally ill type stuff. scott

The PA 6'11M+ is just incredible. So light and still powerful. scott

This is just too much of a match the hatch opportunity for me not to try. We get these coming/going out of the creek/marsh in spring and fall in large schools. scott

My experience is very similar to everyone else's. 4-5" soft swimmers on beast hooks or flashy swimmers. I'm liking Scottsboro swimbaits in 4in, D walkers in 100mm, and 3.8-4.8 keitechs, also gonna try some miyagis and largo shad as well this year. Also, A-rigs. The exception is a big swim jig, 1/2-3/4oz DJ in crappie w/ a 120mm D walker. This might be unique to my lake, but I've run into wolf packs that have cornered juvenile crappie. The swim jig slays at this time. The 6-7" magdrafts and scottsboro's seem to deliver best for me on deep water feeding flats post spawn and shallow flats at night in the summer. scott

I'm running out to Arlington Heights for an errand tomorrow and know nothing about fishing out that way. I have a couple rods, finesse jigs, jerkbaits, and small keitechs with me. Looking at stopping and throwing around Busse, Songbird Slough, or Bode Lakes. I know this is sensitive stuff, but I'd love a chance at something. If anyone wants to recommend somewhere near there, it'd be much appreciated. scott

Another vote for 7. I can keep aware enough to reel slow for a bite, but I absolutely hate losing a fish that's rocketing toward me because I can't pick up line fast enough. scott

You'll never eat a banana on a cross country flight again! scott

Mine are a couple years old now, but I remember that wheel being awfully stubborn when it was new. My uninformed suggestion is to be absolutely positive you've put a lot of force into it. scott

Nichols and War Eagle with the bullet heads are most of what I use, but I found the Picasso inviziwire double willow and a gambler ez gives some great thump for real slow rolling in that 10' range. I think the pivoting swim head has a lot to do with it. scott

Sounds like a worthwhile experiment to me. Hope we get to hear about the successes. scott

I don't know what to tell you. Shimano themselves calls it a mod/fast. I agree with them. I think this is the truth down below from @jbsoonerfan I have 3 exprides that say mod/fast according to the Shimano site; 7'6MH, 7'7H, and 7'3XH. The 7'6 and 7'3 feel crisp yet soft tip. The 7'7 is definitely slower than those other two. I crank, open hook swimbait and scrounger with the 7'7. My guess is the 6'10M falls in line with the mod/fast that is the 7'6MH and 7'3XH. scott

I foresee myself loving to hate all of these baits that I will donate to the Pike gods. scott

What you think, might be worth using a cps and texsposed or exposed hook through the body? It should allow you to keep the weight low and centered for that almost damiki rig horizontal swim. Killer bed bait? scott

To me it doesn't really feel that way because it's such a powerful stick, but when you really push it, it becomes more obvious that a mod-fast rating is appropriate. IMHO the mod-fast is what gives the XH backbone the ability to be so versatile and helps keep fish pinned when hooked. I'm a fan of the rod. scott

I saw the same thing as @mrpao Shimano itself has always rated it this way. https://fish.shimano.com/content/fish/northamerica/us/en/homepage/Shimano_Product_Page.P-EXPRIDE_CASTING_17.html If you get the B, it'll be tradeable for an A with me scott

There's a rumor on the internet that their jerkbaits can't catch a cold in Florida ponds... scott

T-rig for me, I have the same issue with wacky, nothing but weeds and I lose interest... scott

The XH has turned out to be super versatile for me and we don't have giant bass either. I frog and run large weedless swimbaits with mine. I also pitch 3/4oz jigs into heavy weeds during the summer. scott

Fair point and you're right, I bomb 3/4-2oz all the time on jig rods, braid to leader, and 100 size spools because to me, they're way more comfortable to fish and I have better feel for the tail thump which helps control ipt speed issues. Long casts are my norm to be effective, not reservoirs but some of these midwest inland lakes remain 8'+ visibility through the year. Currently looking for a 7'6-7'9 sensitive and light weight H or XH just for this role. In my defense, 20lb floro on 100 size spools would severely limit my effectiveness and I couldn't recommend it. scott

High in the water column w/no wind has been the least likely time for me to do well with spinnerbaits. If visibility goes down, my spinnerbait success goes up. Fishing mostly clear water means I use them most for deep weedlines and night fishing. scott