Jeff H

Custom DG Rod Works 08 SCIII Avid 66HF with a brand spanking new Shimano Castaic. I can't wait to get pitchin' with it!

Mine never seemed to last more than a few years before they got to feeling like they were worn out. To be fair, they were fished hard and often and probably not taken care of as well as they should have been. I still have 4 of my old Shimano's and at least one Daiwa that have graphite frames and I could use them, but it wouldn't be much fun. Maybe many years ago there were problems but it is possible today that advances in composites and manufacturing techniques have made them much better.

Ok, this is both good and bad. Good for new stuff coming in but bad if they are cleaning house.... I'm going to buy some more Castaics. I don't ever want to be without Castaics in the next 20 yrs (if I live that long).

Good quality, small scissors.

Buzzbait. It's been at least 12 yrs since I tied one on, maybe longer.

When I'm wade fishing at the lake I only carry one rod. It's usually my 5'6" Medium St. Croix Premier or Avid spinning or it might be a 6' MH. If I'm at the river with the kids fishing carp in early spring it's a 6'6" MH spinning.

Whats the difference between this reel and a Pflueger Patriarch? If it is a Pflueger product it sounds pretty close to the Patriarch, which is a few bucks cheaper.

I agree, it is a nice reel!! Looked them over a few weeks ago and was very impressed by the new Patriarch and Asaro reels. Pflueger has some NICE stuff for sure! 8-)

I can remember when they were cosidered light!! That was many years ago but they were extremely popular early on. They are a good bargain even today. I think the Shimano Convergence is slightly better for about the same price.

Never use a bead on Texas Rig.

I have always left mine on the deck of the boat and thrown them away at the end of a day or weekend trip.

Reminds me of a Gapens Ugly Bug. See if you research experts can find anything on that. Guys name is Dan Gapen. BTW Dave, I think you'll enjoy great success with your modification. The above mentioned Ugly Bug is a smallie killer. It is responsible for my PB smallie caught in the BWCA.

Geez....are they trying their best to run BASS into the ground or what?

Mono. 10 lb Trilene XT. Why? I guess because I already have it on hand for other apps.

DG Rod Works AVC66HF w/Shimano Castaic.

Try the weenies on a 1/16 or 1/8 oz snagless Slider head. One of my all time best producers on shallow fish.

Even THAT won't work for me. She figures I have too much the way it is.

I had already been fishing a LONG time when braid showed up. Like most guys back then, I jumped on that wagon and experimented with it immediately, including the Dyneema fiber fused superlines. It never really grabbed me and I went back to my Trilene XT on all my rigs within a year. I use the Clear XT for everything in 6,10,14 and 17lb test. It is exactly what I like, and with the most recent changes Berkley has made to it, I like it even more. It is tougher but also less forgiving, particularly in lb test above 12. The manageability factor is not a big concern in my fishing. I want a tough mono, XT delivers. I do on ocassion use 12/50 Power Pro if I'm on a very solid reed pattern that requires pitching jigs. But I also use 17 lb XT for this with no problems. I just never really cared for the braid but I will concede it is a better choice at times in certain conditions. I was going to try some Trilene Pro Grade Flouro this summer but after reading about it in general, I'm again skeptical of change. I'll probably give it a go but as always I'm reluctant in change with lines. XT has given me no reason to change yet. I just like the stuff and it has been good for me.

I use BANG Crawfish on my jigs.

Micro once posted some pictures of Recoil guides after braid use. Ask him if he can share those again. Wasn't pretty. I can't "hear" that stuff zinging through guides but I can sure feel it on the cast. If that isn't friction I don't know what to call it.

I tried red Gamakatsu EWG hooks last year and compared them straight up to my usual Black Nickel....didn't make one bit of difference from what I could tell. They look cool sometimes though

Don't forget to check out Shimano Crucials, hard to beat for the money. 8-)

Talk to GMAN, he's got some good ones. I buy my heads from him. Far as I know he'll sell you as few or as many as you want. Good stuff!!

my mistake. Not the Pro Grade review itself but their Flouro "Sequel" or whatever they called it. It was about Flouro lines in general. It's just the general attributes of Flouro don't appeal to me based on their testing. However, I guess I should try the stuff and give it a chance, but reading the "sequel" didn't seem to make it stand out in any great way to me. I only intended to try it on my drop shot rig (spinning) and it sounds like flouro is more appreciated on baitcasting rigs. :-/

Read the Tackle Tour Flouro review and decide for yourself. I bought a spool of Trilene 6 lb Pro Grade to try this summer but I may not even bother with it after reading that review on TT.