Jeff H

Well, I stopped at Cabela's on the way home tonight and no Exceler. So, then I decided I'd get a new HSTA Supertuned and all they had was the same lefty display model, no righty in stock. I then moved on to trying to decide between a Revo Premier or the Chronarch 50mg. I left with nothing but a couple new X Raps and Fat Raps. I'll get the Exceler as soon as I can find one. Going to hit my favorite independant sporting goods retailer tomorrow. He'll probably have one, if not I'll order it. Gonna pick up a new Castaic also.

This is as close to a impossible question as one could get. This could really make your head hurt... :-/ I'd have to go with a 7" Original Powerworm in Junebug.

I use both in 6'6" length. I'm guessing I probably don't try to pitch distances some others do because I've never felt I couldn't reach my target and needed a longer rod to do so. 6'6" is just easier for me to work with. I probably have never pitched more then 30' or 40'. I could see where a longer rod would allow greater distance I guess, but I don't need one. I just had DG Rod Works build me a new 6'6" pitchin' rod on a 08 Croix Avid blank. Prior to that I've used a Croix Premier 6'6 H/F and I also have a Crucial 6'6" MH/XF. Love the power in those Croix heavy/fast blanks. I like my Crucial when I'm working edges with 1/2 oz or less, but if I'm going further into the junk or throwing heavier weight, no way I'd go with anything but a heavy/fast. For $200 a Shimano Cumara 6'8" MH/XF is another nice option for anything but real gnarly cover. I almost bought one but went with the custom instead. A true flippin' rod will be like a heavy/X-fast, really beefy stick.

I'm most excited to use my new DG Rod Works custom rods. #2 is showing up next week, unfortunately I've a bit of a wait ahead of me yet.

7" Powerworms in Junebug or Blue Fleck.

GMAN is my jig connection. He's got nice jigs available for good prices.

Wow! That IS cheap. I'm hoping I may have time to run to Cabela's this weekend, I'll have a look at what they have on the racks.

I have last years version. I checked out the 08 model several weeks ago and it is definitely better than mine. I think its the best deal going in Baitcasters right now. A lot of reel and a lot of performance for $160.

I'll pick one up next time I go to Cabela's. I want to take it apart and look inside. There has to be a reason it's so cheap. Don't think I've ever seen a reel with a Aluminum frame, 8 bearings,drilled spool,swept handle etc etc so cheap.

He's a mean spirited, ruthless, cantankerous old curmudgeon is what he is. ;D No wait, thats me. Kidding aside, he's a great guy. I very much appreciate what he shares with us here Definitely "Elite" material.

GPS was just coming in as I was going out. I never owned a GPS unit and still don't. I might soon though. My gripe was with underwater camera's. They showed up in my last year of tournament fishing. I never bought one and still don't own one and I never will. They would take a lot of the fun out of it for me. I guess it saved those guys who'd dive a little time though. : I never even got to the point where I preferred a LCD unit over the flasher. I still use a flasher on my bow today. I guess I'm about as old school as you can get. I've nothing against locators of any kind, but the camera's bug me.

When I'm on a serious reed pattern I like to use Power Pro 12/50. Anything else is 17lb XT.

Thats usually the case Might not be entirely the lines fault considering the reel. Your rod will also have a big effect. I would choose Big Game over XL any day.

Check out some Shimano Clarus rods. They are about $60 I think, with a Daiwa Exceler you should come in under budget.

Probably because everybody is using them on their drop shot rigs. I use splitshot and pegged bullets.

LOL....thats totally cool!

Shimano Crucial....$130-$140.

I'm surprised at the poll results so far. I'd have guessed Loomis would easily walk away and St Croix would hold 2nd. I'm really surprised Shimano (my choice) is 3rd, although way back from the top 2. I didn't know Shimano rods had any following here. Interesting!

You need to tell what you are willing to spend. Everybody on here will assume you want to spend $200 or more if you don't set your limit. Even then they will tell you, "for a little more money you can get.....". So make it clear what your budget is and you'll be better off. If you are willing to spend at least $70, the Daiwa Exceler sounds like the one to have.

Sept 29th, last fish of the day was 1.5 lbs and caught on a 6" black grqpe/blue flake Producto Tournament worm in 16 ft

Fish for fun. Usually 3 weekends a month and several 4-5 day trips over the summer.

Finding. You can't know you've found them without the other 2 happening, unless you can see them. I totally get off on finding a new deep structure and then finding it IS occupied. I like following stuff out,deep in concentration, while mental imaging takes over what I can't see with my naked eye. It's why I will never own a underwater camera. That would just take all the fun out of it for me. I'm happy watching a flasher all day.

I can just see some yoho having a brain fart and lighting a cig while he's cleaning bearings in lighter fluid. There has to be better choices in a solvent for that. Whats wrong with a little Zep Dyna 143? If I was going to do this myself thats probably what I'd use along with a little air pressure to blow them dry.

I don't have a GL2 but I do have a GL3 and will never buy another. I have 3 Crucials and they are a WAY better rod than my GL3 is. I have old Lightning Rods that are as sensitive as my GL3, and an old Pulse that smokes it. The term "dead", in a descrptive sense, is right on the money for the GL3. For a $180 rod it's a certain disappointment. It's just easy to do much better than a GL3. The IMX may be a better rod, but it's double the money of a Crucial (or nearly so) and Crucial weight and sensitivity are not far off the mark. The Crucial is a lot of rod for the money. A GL2 probably doesn't even come close if a GL3 won't. So many have said that the real GLoomis experience begins with the IMX....believe it.

I keep 6-8 rods in the boat. If I have more than 3 of them on deck I'm having a tough day.