Motoboss

A couple 3700’s with big pike lures, walleye rigs and bottom dragging weights I bought for a trip to Canada,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,twenty+ years ago. Most have never seen water. The only time I actually fished for pike or walleye!

Welcome @Ryan_Z I see you’re at amateur level baitmonkey status 😊 Let’s see, New Terrova trolling motor Two Edge Rods 12-15 new swim/glide baits Several spools of new assorted lines and terminal tackle and…..

@Big Hands I think you’ll appreciate the rod! Great deal with the Golden Ticket on that rod. Good on you for getting in under the wire.

AnyHoosiers getting out yet? Lakes are now open but man, have we had some crappy weather! Doing a repaint on the bottom of the canoe so hopefully gonna get out week after next. GRBY tournaments start at the end of the month so gotta get ready.

Very nice. When we lived in South Carolina I visited a couple factories when debating my bass boat selection. Got to meet Davey Hite at one. I love the learn how the sausage is made!

Bummer

Both……. Drift to a spot, anchor Wind drift along and cast

What type of fishing mode are you using? Fishing from the bank, standing in a boat or sitting in a kayak/canoe is different. I fish from a canoe, similar to a kayak close to the water. When getting bit a sideways backwards steady pull is very effective. Pulling upwards while down low I’ve either missed or barely hooked fish and have lost them when they surface and shake the lure. Fishing from shore, reel in slack and then a steady walking back pull works well. Dropshot, neko and t-rigs are very subtle bites and a hard fast yank will result in missed fish. A tight line between your fingers helps detect bites. As @casts_by_fly states, lean into them and start reeling with a smooth backwards pull works a higher percentage of the time.

Can’t say I’ve ever experienced drag pressure with the star drag backed off but do notice a “quicker” compression when adding drag. Although in my Shimanos the carbontex washer were near identical to the felt, maybe even a bit thinner, just more aggressive.

I used the Shimano “quick fire” Spirex reel for many years. Just this year it gave up the ghost when the trigger arm and bail latch broke internally. I couldn’t repair it cheaper than buying another one. So I bought a new Vanford 2500 😜

IF you’re fortunate enough to be near water. My closest lake is near an hour’s drive.

I don’t buy a Volkswagen expecting a Lamborghini………I buy the Lamborgini. If you are familiar with G. Loomis rods, This is him The NFC blank is his design and an industry standard for years. A true American built company. Personally, I don’t feel there is a better rod made and find it ironic near every upper shelf rod is built on his blanks. His reach goes well beyond fishing rods. Research his life story, it’s amazing. From Mr. Loomis in 2021 “From the desk for Gary Loomis: As I write this message – it is Memorial Day. It also happens that I am 80 years old today. I am privileged to have made it this far, many of my friends have not. I cherish their memories and miss them dearly. I look back at my 45 years of rod building and realize that I would not have been able to accomplish anything without great mentors like Milton Shedd and Chuck Yeager – there have been many. Today millions of products bearing my name are sold all over the world. Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness – these are the unalienable rights that make me a proud American, those that my countrymen have fought hard to protect and defend are the same reasons why I love our industry. Within it, and reflecting on them, I feel alive, free, and happy. A little over 30 years ago, I sold G.Loomis because I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer and given 18 months to live. Some time after a decision was made to stop selling blanks to rod builders and OEMs. As a rod builder, I was upset, by that time we had manufactured blanks for 32 major rod companies, and tens of thousands of rod builders, but I was told that the founder of a company is someone who “started the company, built the company, sold the company, and had no say in how the company was run.” In 2010 with the encouragement of my friends, I started North Fork Composites (Edge Rods was started a little later) the market had changed, but what didn’t change was that we were going to manufacture blanks and rods in America, and they were going to be the finest that we could make. I am a designer, but you also need to know materials and a little bit of engineering, and I am again thankful that while in the US Navy I was a machinist – that job prepared me for a lifetime of adventure. It takes a little more than understanding rod design or material science to re-create a rod company. My close friends know that I have a favorite quote – “I would rather be lucky than good” and after a number of years of trying to scale, I met an ex Amazon nerd, who was working for Microsoft as a Lead in their Retail/Operations segment and convinced him to partner with me. For the last seven years, Alex has been my CEO, business partner, and my apprentice. Today, we manufacture hundreds of thousands of tubular composites annually, we make parts for our military, aerospace, commercial, and of course rod builders and OEMs. We are proud that in a world where going overseas to purchase blanks, mark them up and re-sell them is the norm and easy - we choose a more difficult path. Our business model of direct to consumer enables us to deliver a high quality product at a fair price while outperforming imports that rely on deceptive marketing tactics like “graphene” or “nano-technology” to promote sales. They will soon join the ranks of Kevlar (or pick your other latest exotic buzz word in composites) of never to be heard of again in this industry. The re-sellers that promote them don’t know any better (despite their techno-babble claims) and manufacturers that take advantage of their ignorance – should be ashamed. The USA blank industry is very intertwined with the steel, chemical, plastic industries. Factories in towns all over this great Country that employ American workers and feed local economies. Those that put “Made in the USA” on a rod manufactured with an imported blank need to reflect on the meaning of those words. The blank is the soul of the rod – in ours it is Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. To quote Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants” Our blanks encompass the knowledge of the American blank builders that we have learned from, and their innovation will live on in us. God Bless America, God Bless this industry.”

They only sell Direct to consumer . $200. for the Delta Series, $479. and up for EFX and other series near to $1000.

Golden Ticket Edge Rods special offer. I’ve bought two EFX rods for $210. each (Golden Ticket plus $10 tax) Purchase the “ticket” and they email the code. Choose rod, place in cart and apply “ticket” code at checkout, pay $10 “tax” to complete order. A great offer actually.

The reasoning behind the “Golden Ticket” is to raise the upfront capital for improvement in all phases of production and HR to stave off consideration of a sell out to a conglomerate. I don’t believe it’s a cash grab but an honest attempt to stay solvent for reasons you point out. Edge rods is really a side line for Mr. Loomis in the big picture of the blank and carbon fiber industry.

Rope & mushroom anchor and/or spotlock!

Canoe w/55# trolling motor. Covers all your bases; easy maintenance, fits two easily, light weight, capable of gass or electric motors, easy to store and transport and best of all affordable. I’ve had pontoons, deep V’s, bass boats and kayaks and enjoy my Sportspal canoe as much as any of them.

Good stuff. I’ve been anxious to replace my line but don’t want to re-spool to soon to avoid curl memory in the floro.

Down Bloomington way it just opened up this week. Farther north may still be icy.

If your Nephew has waited 7 months something is up. I’d make some calls. They never have a wait time that long. I waited near 5 months for my last three Edge rods, but was expected as it was the 50% off sale and orders were gigantic at the holidays. I bought the Golden Ticket and now waiting on two EFX rods. Delivery is estimated at 3-5 weeks. Now approaching 4 weeks in. Great rods worth the wait.

Pulled up to a liquor store once to get a small bottle of joy for our crappie trip, came out and some homeless guy (a common group that hung out next to the store) was standing next to the boat. Got to the lake, launched the boat then reached for my brand new custom made 10’ crappie rod and,,,,,,,,,gone! I was po’ed!

This is the reason I have stayed from swim/glide bait fishing! Although this year I’m in, conservatively !

Various crank and spinnerbaits along with many, many splitshot rigs. But the most memorable. $75.00 cast net. First time out, brand new out of the bag took a giant toss,,,,,,,,,,,and didn’t have the loop around my wrist tight enough. Bye, bye!

I, at times feel guilty for having combos that I don’t fish, mainly from being replaced by “newer” models and technology. I think I need to sell/donate some then I read through this thread and think “ I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH RIGS” ! …….is this thread secretly sponsored by the bait-monkey 🐵

It’s funny reading through your thread after just welcoming a New Member His knowledge may be helpful in keeping your pond healthy and strong. A coincidental introduction…….. I post this with great envy!