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Hook lesson and field testing new rod!
#10984122
07/17/15 11:19 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,588
jagg
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,588 |
I bought a St Croix Panfish rod model 6'9" earlier this year and after the first couple trips noticed that the reel seat was a little loose. I contacted St Croix and they sent for my rod and sent me another exact same model. Well, I finally had enough time to test it out a little bit. The first trip was only about an hour and as I mentioned in another post, I was basically fishing with rusty, dull hooks. At first the rod was not as reactive as I'd hope but I guess it just needed a bit of breaking in because it was soon casting like a champ and I was feeling every bite, every pebble and every blade of grass. The jigs couldn't be helped since I didn't have my trust hook file on my trusty Gerber, but I still caught a few; just missed a lot more than I was used to.
The next trip I had new jigs AND my trusty Gerber and the rod proved to be even better than I expected. The hardest bite to detect for me in the Summer is the Crappie tracking a swimming retrieve bite, and that's how these little fellows were biting. After catching 3 in a row on that soft, tracking, mushy bite and feeling it distinctly, I was more than impressed. The bluegill bites felt like a shot directly into my hand. I really honed the pattern to more repeatable results the 2nd trip. 4lb Trilene XT, 1/32nd oz jig and a 2" watermelon seed triple tip grub steady retrieve less than a couple feet below the surface. I have a few pics but nothing like the normal posts made here by you guys.
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Re: Hook lesson and field testing new rod!
[Re: jagg]
#10984134
07/17/15 11:26 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,759
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,759 |
Each time I fish a new rod and reel it seems the more time you have to break it in the better it works. Weather I fish for Sunfish or Crappie after a few trips out a new rod and reel seem to work a whole lot better. Casting spinner baits is another story. I can usually pick up a bite pretty good on a new rig after a couple of hours.
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: Hook lesson and field testing new rod!
[Re: jagg]
#10984139
07/17/15 11:27 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,588
jagg
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,588 |
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Re: Hook lesson and field testing new rod!
[Re: jagg]
#10984149
07/17/15 11:31 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,759
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,759 |
Nice variety "Jagg"! Good job. Where wore you fishing?
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: Hook lesson and field testing new rod!
[Re: jagg]
#10984320
07/18/15 01:11 AM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,286
SlowDown
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,286 |
My best panfish rod is a St. Croix 6' UL. It is very sensitive, a great rod.
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Re: Hook lesson and field testing new rod!
[Re: banker-always fishing]
#10984723
07/18/15 06:42 AM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,588
jagg
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,588 |
Nice variety "Jagg"! Good job. Where wore you fishing? Fishing from Haymes Res which is a small 2.5 acre what we call in TX tank. I hear you on the new combo fishing. Normally I have to figure out the best way to fish a new combo and learn how it feels. It's been a long time since I actually had to "break in" a rod like this one. The action and feel of the rod actually changed and got much better over time. I was really worried that I had a "dead stick" on my hands, but from the first cast to about 4 hours worth of fishing, it kept climbing and hasn't plateaued yet. I can't remember the last time I felt I had broken in a rod since most modern rods are what they are right off the shelf. It may be because this particular rod is a blended blank or maybe because this is a niche rod and may not get the hands on work and testing some of the more popular St Croix rods see at the manufacturer. Probably the last rod I felt I broke in was a Shimano spinning rod that I bought to fish smaller lures for bass. It was one of the first rods I bought with my own money. Those were the days. BTW, I hope I haven't jinxed myself by my repeated mention of the b-word.
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Re: Hook lesson and field testing new rod!
[Re: SlowDown]
#10984724
07/18/15 06:46 AM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,588
jagg
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,588 |
My best panfish rod is a St. Croix 6' UL. It is very sensitive, a great rod. St Croix really does make a great spinning rod! I've got a few of their different models for panfish and bass.
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Re: Hook lesson and field testing new rod!
[Re: jagg]
#10984807
07/18/15 12:18 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,759
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,759 |
That piece of water holds a nice variety of fish. Always nice having a place like that to fish!
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: Hook lesson and field testing new rod!
[Re: jagg]
#10984984
07/18/15 02:27 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,067
Laker One
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,067 |
I use the Bass Pro series 1 ultra light combos. Took me a few trips to really start feeling the light bites. I have several of the Bass Pro UL combos and love em. Also a great Crappie rig.
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Re: Hook lesson and field testing new rod!
[Re: jagg]
#10987147
07/19/15 09:03 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 310
Wadefishing
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 310 |
That's a very nice rod and reel combo. What type of reel do you have on there?
Glad you're liking the rod better each time you use it. I'm sure you will catch many fish with that rig.
Wade
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Re: Hook lesson and field testing new rod!
[Re: jagg]
#10987294
07/19/15 10:53 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,588
jagg
OP
TFF Team Angler
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OP
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,588 |
It's a Phlueger President XT size 25. They only made them for a few years, but it's probably the best spinning reel I've ever used.
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Re: Hook lesson and field testing new rod!
[Re: jagg]
#10988331
07/20/15 02:07 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 486
etexbasser
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 486 |
Thanks for all the information that y'all posted in this thread on rods and line.
later...don
Don Chumley If I ain't fishing, I ain't happy. But mostly I'm happy. I love being retired, the check is in the mail. Mt. 6:33
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Re: Hook lesson and field testing new rod!
[Re: jagg]
#10988576
07/20/15 03:48 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,564
J-Moe
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,564 |
Great information Jagg.
I'm too cheap and too hard on fishing gear to buy the good stuff. I have a couple Pflueger President reels and Ugly stick rods for pan fishing. I spend most of my fishing money on fly fishing gear, LOL!!
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