eric1978

Yeah, that's probably a good idea. Any idea what he might charge for that?

Well I just picked up a GLX (baitcaster) at 40% off retail. I wanted a Bronzeback model with a shorter handle, but it was just too good a deal to pass up. The rod itself is the same length as the one I originally wanted, it just has a little longer handle. I'd like to shorten it about 3 inches. Questions: Do you guys think that would drastically affect the balance and feel of the rod? It's a GLX so it's light as a feather and I'm not that worried about it...just curious, though. Can you think of any other reasons I may not want to do it? How do you do it? I have no rod-building experience. Can you re-use the cap or will I need a new one? Do you guys use a jig or something to cut handles perfectly straight? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all.

WooooooHoooooo!!!! Just bought a GLX for 40% off!!!! Never would have bought one retail, but I couldn't pass up the deal. I had my eye on a Bronzeback model, but the GLX ended up $40 cheaper!! Awesome!!! Now I just have to chop some of the handle off. There are still a few Loomis rods left, along with a few St. Croixs and Shimanos if anyone is interested. They have some reels left, too. Didn't look close but saw a Sustain (or Stradic, can't remember) 2500. Also quite a few other Shimanos and some Daiwas and Quantums. All fishing equipment 40% off, even Loomis. They still had a ton of tackle left, picked up a couple Sammys and bags of plastics...quite a few LCs and Rapalas on the shelves. Line, terminal tackle, etc...bargain city. Didn't look at the hunting stuff or apparel, but it looks like there's still quite a bit to pick through.

I haven't experienced the binding problems on the newer models. Guess we'll see.

Thanks for the responses guys. I went ahead and got the Symetre since they were going like hotcakes at the $80 price...got the last one.

Okay, cool. I found a Symetre for $80 so I might go ahead with that one since it's only $20 more. Do you notice the gear ratio difference on the Sedona, or is it so insignificant you can't really even tell? Thanks for the tips.

What do you find wrong with the Sahara and Sedona?

Poo on the Abu. Me rikey Shimano onry.

No, I don't have any twin spins. What I meant was tandem willow leaf. A traditional one. I don't actually see that many people throwing spinnerbaits on the streams. A lot of Rebel Craws, but not a lot of spinnerbaits.

It all depends. If the water gets near 60 or higher, I find they'll chase it close to the surface, and you could really be throwing a topwater at that point. I usually throw spinnerbaits around every piece of cover I can find in water with some current. The colder the water, the less current I look for, but always some current. If the fish seem to be deeper, I'll usually put the spinnerbait away and first try a Wiggle Wart, then a Pointer, then a jig, tube or Senko (if you can use plastics). I generally find that in streams, the deeper the fish are, the less likely they are to be active. I usually fish in less than 6 feet of water year-round, unless the water is gin-clear, then I'll go deeper in the cold months. I just haven't had that much luck fishing really deep in the pools most of the time. I'll usually spend more time throwing lures in areas that are near deep water instead of in the deepest parts themselves. During a wacky weather pattern like we've been having, with way higher temps than normal, my guess would be that the fish are kind of roaming back and forth between their winter holes and nearby feeding areas. Logs and boulders in 2-6 feet of water in some current near a deep hole would be ideal. Once we get into the really cold weather, they'll spend more time tucked under deeper cover, and less time hanging out near shallower cover. That's when I'm usually throwing Pointers and jigs. But during the spring, summer and fall, I'll always have a spinnerbait tied on one of my rods. Always.

I can almost guarantee that with the weather we've been having, if I was where you were Saturday, I'd be chucking a small, white, tandem blade spinnerbait all day (as usual). You should get one and try it out...one good day with it and you won't go back to plastics until it's cold again.

So I've decided to try a cheaper reel this time instead of paying extra for a Stradic or Sustain. I've been looking at the Sedonas ($60), Saharas ($80) and Symetres ($100). I did find a new Symetre on ebay for $80. I was actually leaning toward the Sedona because it's the cheapest and it's got a 6.2 GR compared to 5.6 on the other two (why?). Other than that I can't find a dime's worth of difference between them, except for the ball bearing BS which I think isn't nearly as important as they act like it is. Any of you guys have any experiences with these reels? And yes, I will be buying Shimano, so don't bother convincing me to get another brand. I can't explain it, but I always have to buy Shimano reels. I know, I know....

kokuchibasu...good one cricket! I'm adding that to my signature. The Japanese are nuts about bass fishing.

I've noticed that you hardly ever see them on sale, but I do occasionally. I'm going out there tomorrow...want me to get you one while I'm there Joe? I'll bring it down to you and you can show me all your favorite spots while I'm there.

You can tell that's a happy man holding those fish. You give an old-timer a white spinnerbait and you're asking for a whoopin' and you got it. Very nice Meramec smallmouth. Pops has me jealous.

Good report cricket, nice fish. There's no way you can do 16 miles in 6 hours unless you're hauling the whole time...still probably wouldn't make it if you stopped to fish at all.

You could just put that whole dog on an Octo hook and toss him out there...that would be fun... I feel like I'm really getting to know your wife.

Cricket, why don't you just walk up and offer him a nice handful of your wife's pubes? That should seal the deal.

Good for you man. Hang tough!

You better skin and tan that bad boy before Team Eric is interested. I think I've changed my mind anyway. Send me some of your wife's 70s afro-bush and I'll tie you up a couple Koochie Kraws.

Think I'll try all three. I'm just looking for something that has a good flowing trailer look and that holds up so I don't have to keep screwing with a plastic trailer. I tell you what, I'd feel really weird having my pubes on a lure. I don't know why, but it sure sounds...uh, odd. You go ahead and try it and let us know how it works out. Be sure to use your wife's, though...it's just too gross otherwise. You could name the color "Peach Craw."

That's just nasty cricket. You should be ashamed of yourself. If your wife only knew... I haven't found any either Ronnie...I guess they don't make it, but why? I only looked at BPS and I thought maybe they just didn't have it. The rabbit strips just look like the hair would fall out real easy. I was gonna try it for spinnerbait trailers anyway so I guess it wouldn't matter if all the hair fell out. Guess I'll try some chamois cut into curly tail shapes instead. Where do you get chamois...don't think I saw any at BPS?

It's not that hard to get sponsored. You just have to send Team Eric some tying materials we don't have. We could really use some white zonked squirrel hair at the moment.

Well the point of the trailer was to make the jig weedless...I got about a million jigs that have exposed hooks. I don't think you have to use a trailer to catch fish on a jig either, but I usually prefer to have one anyway.

Cool, thanks for the tip. I'm in the market for a new Loomis at the moment. Did you notice if there were any Bronzeback models there?