d.hark

Just got back from Dicks and picked up a St Croix Avid AS66MHF. I had originally bought an All Star coastal select 7 MHF but found out it was a saltwater rod and I did like that but felt it was a bit too big and beefy. I bought that for $60 and returned it and brought my $160 Avid to the counter and to my surprise it rang up as $99 ;D This will be paired with my Shimana Stradic 2500 which I also got a great deal on at Dicks for $99. That was originally $119 with $10 off for $109 but again when rang up it was $99. Not a bad combo for 2 bills huh I immediately went back in to look for an Avid casting rod to pair up with my recently purchased Citica, but they only had Premiers :-/ For now thats on a old 5'6 berkley powerpole. I am on my way to an addiction I see

Well I put 30lb power pro an used a horny toad all day and it cast it a mile and not loop, knot, nest or anything. I dont know whether to attribute that to the line or the reel, But its a good combo

Yes I am gonna get some YZH ultra soft heard nothing but good things about it. Any thing wrong with braid for worms? I figured the sensitivity of it would make it nice for feeling settle bites

What kinda line you using? I am thinking of putting 30lb power pro or 20lb suffix braid on. Mainly using it for senkos, frogs, maybe some buzzbaits and jigs. I want something strong to get in the weeds and stuff but thin enough to cast nice. Rod is a All Star Coastal select 7' MH F 12-25 ln and 3/8-1oz lure rating. Want to know if braid would fit the bill

Thanks god!! What was that all about?

I suppose when you make an assinine statement like that your're just trying to get a reaction, but if you were serious, you are just plain WRONG. Maybe I am RW?? I am certainly not advocating $30 combos. But at what point is it overkill? You guys say I will catch more and bigger fish with a nice combo, I guess I will have to take your words for it. RW you have suggested to me and others the Shimano Stradic and Citica combos and those are the ones I intend to buy, unless I find a sweet deal on a St Croix or Gloomis rods. I was just trying to compare it something I know something about in softball. Sorry, Didnt mean to rile eveyone up :-[ RW why dont you do an experiment and go to your favorite spot with a cheap combo and see how you do vs. your high end stuff and see how it goes

Isn't it just hand-eye coordination and strength that makes the ball fly further? Sarcastic, yes, but just trying draw the analogy. The difference? I can work out for a while and still get the fences with the old bat but your hands aren't going to get more sensitive with age. You can get safe base hits everytime with an old dead bat, just as you can catch fish on a $30 combo. But as you know there is a difference in bats, there is a difference in rods, when fishing "feel" baits like worms, jigs, etc.. The better rods will telegraph the subtle bites (which are usually bigger fish) and if you have any sensitivity in your hands- result in more big fish and probably a few more fish overall. Yes there are exceptions to that rule, but I find them to be few. I understand what you are trying to say. Yes you needs the skills to do both. I am saying give professional fisherman a $30 combo and a good ballplayer a $30 bat and have them do their thing for an hour or so then switch it up and give them each a top dollar setup and bat and the ballplayer will improve dramatically and the fisherman probally just marginally, if at all. I will probally end up with a couple nice $200 setups myself (1 spinning and one casting). But I dont see the need for some of the ridiculous prices on some rods and reels was my point I guess if they dont really help you catch fish. Another softball analogy which is what I liken it to fishing equip, would be a top dollar glove. There are $300 gloves out there. There is no way in hell I would buy something like that cause in that case a glove is NOT in NO way gonna help you become a better fielder. You either know how to field/catch or not.

Do I really need to spend $200 each or more on a G Loomis/ St Croix and Shimano/Daiwa to catch more fish? I have cought plenty of Bass on my $30 Shakespeare Ul combo from Walmart up to 5lbs. I am just getting back into bass fishing. I am a serious softball player and have NO problem buying a $300 softball bat, cause I know the technology is there, that ACTUALLY makes a ball go farther and harder. But is this the case for rods?? Isnt it more in your knowledge of fishing techniques, presentation and overall skills that will catch you fish? I understand that some rods, reels, lines. lures etc.. are more suited for certain situations. But cant you buy 1 rod/reel and do everyting with it without breaking the bank??. I understand it wont be "THE" perfect combo for everythiing but wont it get the job done??

You should get paid by Yo Zuri for all your recomendations ;D When I finally buy some more line it WILL be the Ultra soft on all your recomendations

Yep cooler of beer is the # 1 priority, then you can worry about that trivial stuff like floating, PFDs, horns, lights etc....... ;D

this is the one I was looking at online. It has great reviews and is all I need for my jon on all the shallow ponds I go to. Anyone have experience with it LMK Thanks http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_75236_200001001_200000000_200001000_200-1-1

Any you guys recomend a fairly cheap fishfinder unit in the $100-$150 range? Would prefer something portable if possible. Also how exactly does a portable unit work as far as the part you stick in the water? Does it just dangle over the side or do you have to mount something to your hull? I saw and "eagle" unit I think that was the make anyways for about $100 that had great reviews???

alright bought a MinnKota 55lb motor. Now recomend me a battery and charger. would prefer something that I can get local. Any of the chain stores would work if posible

If I can get away with using this rod for the applications mentioned above and just buy a reel, I would like to keep it around $100-$125. If I have to scrap the rod to get what I need and get a combo then under $200 would be nice. I have been looking at that combo RW what size rod and action would you suggest for my needs?

Before I go crazy and jump into the baistcaster market buying a $200 setup, I figured maybe just buy a nice reel for now . I have an old Berkley powerpole (with the neon tip) that had an old Ambasseduer 1022 caster on it. Well the rell mount broke on the reel so its junk. Looking for a replacment reel for this rod. The rod is only 5'6, lure 1/4-5/8, 10-17 lb, med action, super strong. Very new to the baitcaster craze and dont know what this rod should be used for or if I should just junk it and get a combo set? I would prefer a setup that is versatile that I can pretty much use for soft plastics, stickbaits. spinners etc. bascially a good all around setup

why dont they tell you how many yards in the 1lb spool? :-/

I have always liked casting these but usually the are cheap as hell. I have been looking around and seen some up in the $50-75 range that must be way better than anything I have ever messed around with. I like the versatily in that they usually cast a mile and in my experience you can really finesse little flips and pitches better than spinning or baitcasters (for me anyways). I know most of you and myself think these are for beginers and kids but after just getting my son a "Cars" spincast and messing around with it I could see a good quality one being something I might look into.

HMM maybe this is the problem then. Cause we usually run it till its pretty dead and have to row back >. Any you guys use one of those solar chargers whille you are out there to get a little extra time?? Do they work any good?

I have a 12 Pelican jon boat and am getting a trolling motor and battery or 2, and charger for it. Need some suggestions as to what brands to get in motor, battery, and most important charger. Is there a "magic" charger that will get me the most out of my batteries? I ask cause I have been recently fishing with a buddy and we use his stuff and it seems his battery isnt near as good as it was just a few months ago. I dont know if he isnt charging it right or if this is just someting you get when you just strickly run a trolling motor for propulsion?? Any help or sugestions greatly appreciated

Roger i dont know, using live bait is a different animal...... the funnest part of freshwater fishing is the lure, the illusion, and the art......the trickery..... using live bait takes all this away.... yep!! Its cheating if you ask me > But back to the subject at hand. I do agree the GY are expensive. Personally I have been having great success with Tiki sticks. I gues its personall preferance and confidence in what you buy and use

Hi guys just registered. Looks like a great site so far. I have recently just got back into fishing after about a 15 yr layoff. I see alot of talk about braided line and dont know anything about it myself other than the fact it appears to be alot stronger but still thinner than mono. I am currently using a cheap Shakespeare microspin rod for WalMart that I love BTW. Its ultralite action with 2-6lb capacity with 6lb on it now. And have a stiffer more beefier setup with an older Berkley powerpole and old Mitchell reel that I have 10lb on. I dont like to go any heavier than 10lb cause I feel like I am casting the line instead of the lure!! But at the same time I am looking for something stronger that will still cast the same as the lite line does. I love the ability to cast a rubber worm on my ultra lite 100ft. ;D Will braid be a good option and what are the pros and any cons I might experience? Sorry if this has been beaten to death I did search the first 10 or so pages and dint really find any direct comparisons