5 hours ago, TheLastBestFish said:

That's super generous of you but we live several hours away from each other, so I'm not sure it's gonna happen.  Thanks again though!

Offer stands, just let me know if you ever head my way! @ol'crickety that was very generous of you, you're a great Fisher and person! 

@Pat Brown right from Pure Fishing website description of the Ugly Stik GX2 "one-piece stainless steel guides provide excellent durability and eliminate insert pop-outs"

7 minutes ago, MediumMouthBass said:

@Pat Brown right from Pure Fishing website description of the Ugly Stik GX2 "one-piece stainless steel guides provide excellent durability and eliminate insert pop-outs"

 

 

Only thing I can figure is that thicker braid doesn't cut into the guides as easily or something along those lines, but I've caught a lot of really big fish with the guides on my ugly stick and 40 lb. Braid!  I use 4 carrier.  I could see 8 carrier cutting more also!

 

I just have like the ugly stick elite graphite 7 ft medium heavy fast.  The guides are shiny and not black.  I don't trust the black guides.

@Pat Brownim thinking it has something to do with the braid being thinner/thicker as well, how do you like that elite? always wanted to get one but didnt find alot of reviews on them at the time i was looking at them.

I just went out with my 6' 6" GX2 with 10 lb mono and was able to pin a 1 lber and a 3 lber.  Missed another bite, but I'm okay with those odds.  Also, on that old 5' rod I'd been using, I caught a 36" grass carp on a size 60 whopper plopper, natural bluegill color.  The pics are too large to attach but I'm on cloud 9 right now.  Thanks to your guys's suggestions, I used a different hook and pinned both fish right through the cheek.

 

God I love prespawn.

 

Tight lines!

A three-foot grass carp must have taken you for quite a ride. Do tell. 

8 minutes ago, ol'crickety said:

A three-foot grass carp must have taken you for quite a ride. Do tell. 

I fought him for 5 mins and every time I got him in and tried to grab his tail he'd take off again.  I wasn't prepared for carp, so I ended up just having to pray and drag him ashore (I know you're supposed to have nets and pads for carp).  I did get an official measurement with my tape, and he was 36 on the dot.  As soon as I slid him back in the water he swam off well, so that's good.  My first ever carp, and will likely be my biggest.

Grass carp are sturdy fish. I'm sure it's fine.

Absolutely what Katie said, those Carp, and all the species within that genus are super hardy fish.    

 

Goldfish are like little terminators lol. 

Are we talking common or grass carp?   In Tennessee it is illegal to release a grass carp alive.   Common carp are one of the most hardy fish there is.   I read once that they can live in a sealed air tight jar for a month.  

I'd go with @papajoe222 suggestion with the lighter wire hooks.  You might also try taking up some slack and letting the fish have the bait a couple of seconds longer before setting the hook.