Jeff H

Cabela's Fish Eagle 50 is a good option. These rods are a pretty darn good value at regular price of $90, catch one on sale and it's even better. The 6' medium/fast should work for you.

Custom...or go 6'. There are/were some 5'9" models around also.

And I'll stick with XT

I have one, use it for panfish and light finesse apps.

If you are looking for a 2000 or 2500 size, check with St.Croix for a great deal on their closeout STX models (older Exceler models). These are not the new EXE models but the older one. I just ordered a few myself. Also, I think the new Cabela's Tournament ZX is the Daiwa Exceler EXE, on sale right now for $64.

They are on sale again as of today! Not the new Crankshaft though.

How many lips do you have?

Patience. It'll go on sale again soon. What I do now is put stuff I want in my "wish list" on their website. I check my wish list every night or every other night and when what I want goes on sale I buy it right then. I don't have to pull up all the products to check their price this way, just check my list of stuff I want. I'm down to one spinning reel and a float tube in my wish list now.

Weird year for me Was "off" from start to finish. Below average. C- I cannot remember a year where fish were so spread out and the wind was so constant.

I use Scotts. I buy them 4" longer than standard lengths. Very happy with his product.

I don't think anybody forgets their roots, but most of us don't get tangled up in them either.

If it doesn't improve the performance of the reel at all, why waste the money?

Nice! Wood?

Didn't break the law and there will be no asterisk by his name in the record book but there will always be those who will imply unsportsmanlike conduct. I may not be a fan of it or agree with it but he did nothing wrong, at all. Congratulations to Casey!

The LTD should be a lot of fun with 4-6 lb lines! Do let us know here when you get one. Smooth is most important when using very light lines. That is what I wanted to hear. 7-8lbs is more than plenty. Thanks all!!

Thank you guys! Pretty much covered it for me. How's the drag?

Hmm....they don't do that at my local store. Just when you come in the door and not always at that. Once you get past the greeters you never hear mention of it.

I have no idea when that sale price will expire.

Is it that big of a difference over the 7.3?

My oldest son used this with a tube last fall and cleaned my clock one day. I thought his rig had a small ball-bearing swivel involved too. I'll be trying it this year.

I need opinions from owners! What do you think of it?

I don't even care....I say put some gloves on 'em and throw 'em in the ring and let them work it out. None of us was there and just speculating like this is pointless. I know this though....people can be provoked, and if they are in the right to do so it is natural to want to defend your honor or personal character. You just can't do that in a public event. I was never a Monroe fan before, not a Poche fan either. One is a knob and apparently the other is a super nancy.

Not overwhelmed anymore, but man do I love Cabela's!! So much more there than just fishing stuff that makes it a fun trip every time!! Most of what I wear on a daily basis (except underwear) has their name on it. Love their options in rain gear and footwear. It's ALL there under one roof, sportsman's paradise for me! I buy most of my fishing tackle from Capra's but Cabela's gets the nod on everything else.

I grabbed the 7'3" Frog rod from the same rack on my way home!

I agree.