ABC123

Well, I know the lady a SW that tried to get me to sign up for a SW CC said I would get store points at Cabela's too. HMMMM

Sound like rods that work well for you. 8-) Use what you like, like what you use. I don't buy Loomis rods becouse I have piles of cash laying around that I need to spend, I buy them becouse those rod feel good to me and make my time on the water more enjoyable. If you like the US lites, there is nothing wrong with that. The other half likes her light US for panfishing, but I can't stand that wet noodle rod.

Anise is generally cut down with alcohol. Ususally about 60% alcohol to 40% Anise. This is why a bottle of Anise that you buy in the store does not freeze/gel up. This is also why you can put X amount of Anise in food and not have the irritant issues. Your only putting in 40% of what you think you are really puting in. The alcohol evaporates out of the food as it's cooked, the Anise, in pure form, is left. Anise will break down in water, if it did not, it would not be used for food. Without it's ability to disperse in water, it would stay in pockets and as you eat the food, you would take bites of food with little to no Anise flavor, and other bites would have concentrated flavoring. A swirl effect, in an even more simple form, it would be like eating marble cake. Some bites are more chocolate cake, some are more white cake.

1/2 pound bait...ROTFLMAO.

This could be a tough one for some... ;D

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think the Premiers are on sale. I see them tagged for $80 also. So, now your down to two rods for $160 or 2 rods for $220. Go with the Avids. There was a reason why they normally retailed for twice as much.

Didn't know you were into bike riding too. I alway's thought they made great derailers.

I agree with PP being not so good. I've had nothing but color, knot fray, and general line fray with it. Stren is a great line, but it is noisy, have not had one issue with it. Color does eventually come off, but it takes awhile. Kind of like a warning that the line has been in service long enough, trim off the line. I love Stealth, but it tends to dig into the spool becouse of it's shape which can shorten casting distance sometimes. It is a great line to work with though. No doubt I will have a spool of Suffix for next year to try out.

I got out last weekend and tried my new combo, here's what I had: BPS Bionix extreme reel, IMX MBR785, with 20lb Stealth braid, and about 15ft of Seagar carbon pro floro leader tied with a double uni knot. I found the knot had little effect on longer casts, but it did have some effect on shorter pitching type casts. When I get the actual reel that is going to be paired with that rod, I will be going with a good mono, or Yo-zuri hybrid. I still like the braid/floro leader set up on my plastics rod and vertical jigging rod (spinning).

Given the list of lures, IMO, I would say between a 3/8-3/4 and 3/8-1 oz fast action rod (choose the length you prefer). They are generally listed as medium heavy to heavy rods. It depends on the size of lures you are listing. Larger buzzbaits and cranks are going to require a heavier rod. Slop will also require the heavier rod. Berkley lightning rod and president reel (spinning) will put you well below budget, you could get 2. You could get a closeout Avid rod and president reel (spinning) that will match your budget. You could do the same thing with baitcasters with different named reels. The above are just examples, it's best to take the basic requirements and shop around. Pick out a rod or two, and a reel or two, then ask specific questions on them. Every brand has great reels and rods, and some that your better off avoidinig.

Well....you said around...The Loomis crankbait rod retails for $220. I have not fished one yet, but when I was shopping friday, I spent hours looking at the rods I was interested in, including the MH crankbait rod. It feels gooooooood. Check it out.

What is the actual action of the rod??? More inline with a glass/crankbait rod, or fast to ex-fast action??? Thanks.

Yeah, it's the next day and I still can't believe the luck I had. I'm naturally a bargain hunter, so maybe there was just a touch of skill mixed in with all that luck. I have not paid retail for any of my Loomis rods. One of the other ones I got much like these 2 when I happen to walk in Cabelas on the right morning. When I found my 721C rod, and it was discounted, and they announced "until 12 noon, there is a 25% off sale on fishing rods and reels, excluding Shimano". The others came through a bulk discount purchase through a secret store. IB, Yes, IMX rods are a must try. Nothing against the other rods on the market, but there is just something about the IMX/GLX rods from Loomis. I'm sure there might be a couple rods better...for more money. I'm just glad my rod collection is just about complete. All I need is a new trolling rod for 'Eye's, and maybe a crankbait rod, depending on how I like the MBR rod for them. I took it out to the local dock last night. I threw on the BPS reel with 20lb braid and a 10 ft floro leader. I liked the way the rod worked with the lures, nothing but sunfish were biting at the dock, so I didn't get a chance to try hook setting. I did get to enjoy the SJR with the panfish though. 8-)

Ok, my funny didn't get much response, so I'll go with my real collection. Loomis IMX SJR783S with Pflueger supreme spinning reel. General purpose Bass and 'Eye rod. Loomis GLX BSR803 with " " " " . For plastics Loomis WJR741S 'eye rod with " " " " . For vertical jigging for 'Eye's Loomis IMX SJR721S with " President size 20 spin reel (for sunfish and crappies) Loomis IMX MBR785C With a Abu Revo premier, or Pflueger supreme baitcaster soon to be purchased for it. Going to try as new crankbait rod, otherwise it will be a spinner/buzzbait rod among other heavier duty things and for some 'EYE applications too. Loomis IMX CR721C with Zebco platinum 11 spincast reel (was for sunfish and crappies, now will get a baitcaster for skipping and the other half will now use as panfish rod too) Berkley Avenger glass rod that has been used for cranks. It's an old rod I've been through a lot with. I have a feeling I might still end up with a crankbait rod in the distant future, I'll see how this fast action MBR rod works.

So, all the talk of the Avids on sale got me wanting to check them out. So I forced myself to the local Gander to look. I didn't like the bulb handle of the Avid AC70HF they had. I then looked at the Legend Bass rods that were down to $150. I liked them, but I was hoping for a 70, they only had 2 66's. The light bulb came on and I decided to try Sportsmans warehouse. I get to SW and they had basically the same clearance going on, but if you spent so much money on a rod and reel, you got a certificate for XX dollars, depending on how much you spent. So I sent the guy to the back room to see if they happend to have a certain rod. While I'm waiting, I check out the Loomis IMX's. I'm comparing the Loomis to the St Croix rod and I happen to catch the price tag on the Loomis rod, I had to take a second look. It said $150. Hmmmmm, I'm holding onto a $275 MBR 785 IMX rod and the price tag say's $150. I ask the clerk when he comes back, yup, the price is correct. So I start looking, they have 4 different rods marked down, including the SJR721 rod I have been wanting for a panfishing rod instead of using my casting rod. That $210 rod was $120. Yea haw!!!!!!!!! So, instead of getting a Legend bass rod and Avid light spinning rod for $250, I got the 2 Loomis IMX rods for $20 more. But wait, there's more. Remember the certificate?? Well, if I were to get a $50 Pflueger President size 20 spinning reel for the one rod, I get a $50 certificate. So not only did I get the rods at killer prices, I basically got the reel for FREE! Yeah, I bought a couple lottery tickets on the way home too. ;D

The SwimSenko pumpkin has boated the most fish this year, but in all fairness, it was the bait I used the most. Jitterbugs and spooks are my favorite to fish.

The closest Sportsman's warehouse to me has a real good selection of reels, fly fishing stuff, and plastics. They have a an ok selection of line and rods. They have a poor selection of cranks and other hard lures. They have a down right pathetic selection of hooks and terminal tackle. I don't shop there much.

Well, I ended up getting some cheap throw away containers and filling them with the bait. I bagged them up, then sealed them up, and left them on the counter. No cat problems, no smell. 8-)

I fish a company tourneyment in the spring. One of the participants proceded to lose 4 lures, in 45 minutes, while casting, using braided line. Bass fishing is about correctly presenting the correct lure, at the correct place, at the correct time. If fishing consists of violently throwing lures around, in hopes of getting the correct combo, then more lures will be lost, than fish boated/landed. No line can withstand that, not even 100lb line. It too will eventually break down and become problem line. Any line can have random issues, no manufaturing system, line, load of raw material, inspection procedures, ect... is perfect. For one person to have multiple issues with multiple lines, and multiple brands, IMO, is not bad luck, it's operator/equipment errors.

I second islandbass. Pick up some tackle here and there trying out different things. See what works for you and the lakes you fish. Once you know what you like to use or need to use on your lakes, then the forum can help you pick out the correct set up. When I was going through post secondary school I fished with 3 cheap setups. A medium glass rod (still use that rod), a medium heavy spinning combo, and a medium light spinning combo. I'm sure glad I waited until I could afford more and better equipment. It's nice to have the selection and nice stuff, but, IMO, it's even more enjoyable knowing your at the point you can afford it without thinking twice about it.

A new washer and dryer, a new stove, a new icebox, a new $1500 computer, a new $800 sewing machine, and a good car that alway's works right when she gets in it. She dosn't say a word when I buy a cheap $430 rod and reel combo, Christmas or not. ;D

I use 2 hard sided boxes that fit 3700's and have slot's for 2 smaller 6 compartment boxes. One box alway's has one tray that never leaves. It has tools, weights, and terminal tackle. The other tray's I interchange as needed. I have extra tray's that hold like lures. One tray of top water, one tray of cranks, one tray of lipless, ect... As my father is really into wood working, I am in the process of building permanent cabinets in the boat ( I have a dual console, full windshield boat, not a Bass boat). The cabinets will hold the tray's so they will alway's be in the boat. I can then just take out what I need if I do some shore/dock fishing.

Well, at $1.99 each, I was willing to pick up a selection of Rattlin' Rapala's like bone, Bluegill, gold, ect... The others are still over $5 each, so I had much more restraint. I only got a gold and a glass minnow HJ #12's to add to the collection of 2 I already had. No floating ones...yet. I got to thinking that the suggestion of the #11 silver/black was a pretty good one, so I think I'm going to pick up a couple different floaters later this week.

Here's what I do. First, if you think you might change spools while your out, make sure you have along your hand held fish scale, and rubber bands. 1) Wrap line around spool and tie the end of the line to a rubber band. Secure the rubber band around the spool. 2) Unscrew drag (front drag models). 3) Remove spool. 4) Gently place new spool onto reel working is around until it falls into the same place as the one that came off. 5) Reinstall drag and tighten until there is light resistance as you turn the spool. 6) Feed line around bail and through guides. 7) Secure your fish scale to something, dock post, tree branch, steering wheel of boat, another person, ect... 8) Tie the end of line to fish scale and set your drag. 9) Fish. You don't have to get so fancy with setting the drag, you can set it by feel, if so desired. Just make sure you set it on the lighter side if you do it by feel. It's easier to tighten the drag a little if you find it light, then to stand there looking at broken line or equipment. Drag should be set at 25% of line rating for bait casters loading the rod, as if your fighting a fish. Drag should be set at 15% of line rating for spinning reels, with an inline pull. Don't load the rod, keep the reel and guides inline with the scale. I set mine by feel, but that's after 30 years of learning.

I have: Dora the Explorer combo I use for search baits. Superman combo for when I'm using oversize baits for lunker Bass. Spiderman combo when I'm bouncing lures off objects. Scooby doo combo exclusivly for Whacky rigged worms. Barbie combo for when all that's biting are dinks. SpongeBob combo for topwater lures. Batman combo for night fishing. and a Thomas the tank engine for pulling lures with long trailers.