Spectrum

Why is everyone so picky about these baits? I dig the look of these they look like shad. Ill get one eventually even if i have to trade a 250 for one. Keep up the good work Randall and please don't take the hooks off it's a lot harder to catch fish that way. I'm picking up on a pretty heavy level of sarcasm there...

I think you mean that you remember reading about when they were $80.

1-creating depth in a paint job, requires skill. I don't know how much time you've spent with a gun, but it's pretty easy to end up with a muddled mess when trying to give a finish depth. Once you get it down, it's easily repeatable, yes. 2-I have no idea what you're getting at here. If you're going for constructive criticism, try a different tone. I mean this the nicest way possible, you sound like an "Not Allowed". 3-IMO, the price point isn't bad. $120 now I believe? I personally would not want to pay for the added labor needed to put a bunch of tiny ass dots beneath the clear coat. That picture you posted, That's blown up to say, 3x at least? Obviously you believe otherwise, but assuming a fish can even resolve that level of detail in a given body of water, that fish has already decided it's eating or it's not. I don't see how these "intricacies" are going to lead to more bites.

They have 660yd and 1200yd spools. Doesn't save you a ton of money though.

It's not the worst line ever. I've used a lot of it back when it first came out, just because it was really easy to get. It's thick. Pretty damn strong, probably mostly due to how thick it is. Handles zebra mussels fine. Memory is pretty bad, and if you've used nicer fluorocarbon you're probably going to hate it. The newer Sufix is the worst fluoro I've ever fished. Invisx and Abrasx in my opinion are both better than Trilene, and at least here, everywhere that carries Trilene carries one of those two. Really should try sniper though. They carry it in 25# now too. Price wise, basically the same as Invisx, etc. and much nicer IMO. I have some other Toray stuff to try this winter so we'll see how that goes.

Shooter is a harder/stiffer line. Has less stretch than Sniper. One of the very best fluoro lines I've ever used. It's as sensitive as a line can be, it's just expensive. I've gotten used to Sniper, and I like a little more stretch especially for big baits, but Shooter, and Toray Super Hard Upgrade (which I like a bit more than Shooter, just on price alone) are my go to flouros for fishing jigs in deep water.

Get your hands on one, and try and tell me you've seen a more realistic shad paint job than that.

Sniper is also considerably thinner than other fluorocarbon lines. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/331 ... meters.pdf I use 25lb a lot in deeper water fishing the bottom with jig hooked hudds. 20lb sniper is great for fishing up in the column with a treble rigged bait, or on the bottom when I'm not getting around snaggy cover. Tie a good knot and you really shouldn't have problems popping baits off on 20 fluoro. And by a good knot, I really mean start tying knots people say are better. I have one that I trust with my life on fluorocarbon and can tie it in the dark perfectly every time. I'm not one to really believe in the invisibility factor of fluorocarbon, as I've probably mentioned on every fluoro thread I've felt like replying to. The sensitivity of it is the big selling point to me.

Nobody is hating on ish. David, David, Chad, Wayne, and I all own LDCs. We even all love those rods. Hell, my favorite swimbait rods I've ever fished are LDCs, and I've fished with a lot of different rods, including a bunch of musky sticks. If you read anything I wrote after you said I'm "uptight," this shouldn't be news to you. Maybe you did read, but what I said didn't support the argument you were trying to start, so you chose to ignore it. Let me help, viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19813&p=177328#p177328 I don't care what anyone else likes. I do find discussions on why different people like different gear from a technical standpoint interesting. "Look at me! This is what I use! They're Grrrrrreaaatt!!!" is of no value to me. But I'm also willing to accept that some people don't care about things that I find interesting or useful. I don't try to make it impossible for them to talk about whatever they want. If someone asks, "what do you like about ___?" or "why do you prefer ____ over ____?" I answer. I don't open my mouth about ish I know nothing about. You want to imply that I do, that I'm just a good talker, never caught any fish. I apologize if my solid grammar and spelling led you to believe I couldn't fish. I didn't realize the two were mutually exclusive.

There shouldn't be a big deal. Last week we tried to have an intelligent conversation here about the differences between a couple of rods, built on different blanks. Don wasn't going to let that happen, and the thread got locked. Someone got banned from here over the whole ridiculous deal as well.

Don't even try to make sense of that

1. Wrong forum. 2. I believe you are currently the LAST PERSON IN THE WORLD that should be questioning shipping on ANYTHING, especially from TW. 3. Yesterday was a holiday. 4. Maybe your mom got the mail before you and got pissed because you used her credit card. 5. TT, TT.... Post office under construction.

Loomis - Dobyns - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGUkkjBW6cE Plenty of people have caught big bass on all kinds of rods. I'm glad you enjoy fishing with your LDCs. I enjoy mine too. I stuck fish before I had LDCs, and so did you. So I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here.

I never claimed he wouldn't. I've purchased 5 rods from him. All I said was, there is a whole world of custom rod building out there, the majority of which is not of any interest to me outside of an appreciation for the skill that goes into it.

What less do they provide? Just curious as I've never built a rod before. I feel like Ben will do pretty much whatever modifications one asks for Just go google custom rods. Look around other forums with rod building sections. All kinds of crazy ish out there. I can appreciate the art, attention to detail, craftsmanship, etc. but it's not my style. I like clean and simple. I go custom not for all the bells and whistles, but because I want a specific length, grip length and style, and reel seat.

You know who else uses the same blanks, guides, and also EVA for handles? Phenix.

They are.

That was my point, Don. People have to find what they like. And this guy asked about these two different rods because he has some experience with the Phenix UMBX rods. For guys who can't get their hands on an LDC, or any rod for that matter, before having to fork out the cash to buy one and see for themselves, it helps a lot if they can get others opinions on how one rod compares to a rod that they're already familiar with. I have nothing against Ben. I've bought 5 rods from him. I've encouraged plenty of friends to buy his rods as well. I've loaned my rods to friends so that they could get an idea of what they were paying for, before cutting the check. I don't know where you get the idea that anyone here is conspiring against Ben. Trying to cut into his business, turn people off to his rods. Hell, a group of guys, myself included, pooled some money together and had Ben build a rod for our friend because we felt he would really appreciate it. I've broken two of them, and never made a scene about it. And I'm uptight? "Donny, you're out of your element" My comment about the Deps and the TEs, had nothing to do with price. It was just to remind you that once upon a time, you didn't see a need for something, until you did. And then you tried a Lexa, and found something else you liked. Great. Pretty sure that all happened because someone suggested you try something other than what has always worked for you. If you honestly believe that Ben makes the greatest rods possible for targeting big bass with big baits, then absolutely none of this is discussion is "punking him in his own house." Getting people to talk about rod performance, and WHY one rod is different or better than another, should ultimately only lead to more business for him.

in.

Don't we all.

I'm right handed and use left handed reels. I'm not sure why you would want to use a lefty for just punkers and use righties for everything else. For me, left handed reels have always just felt...right. Whatever you're comfortable with. 80lb Samurai braid is my preference. I don't like casting knots through the guides so I don't use leaders. I have used short, like 18" of 40lb mono if I'm fishing in a lot of wind or wave action and getting the bait walking over the line really often. That's about it. But don't even bother with that anymore.

Why would it matter to me what you think about LDC ? I expect nothing good from you really anyway Why should it matter to you? You already know what you like. Remember when you didn't need a Calcutta TE? Or a 250? Sometimes when you try something else, you find out you like it too. The guy asked for a comparison. Anyone else care to provide one? Or are we just going to make this thread 2.5 pages of "I don't know ish about any other rods, but buy an LDC, they're the best, because Ben's my friend."