Hojo

It was early morning 5:30am but this area isn't restricted so no special stealth skills required.

That fish makes a 68 look like a 4" shad - nice catch.

Early morning RS Jr. - Creeping it along and just lost contact with the bait. A couple of quick reels, feel the rod load, sweep and then hold on! I'll be her valentine...

Finally got the new year started right. Nothing huge but a solid 3# on a mission fish pitched into the cattails.

I was in the same boat - make sure you watch the review video with the guy throwing actual baits. I ended up with the XH production blank and for grins I tried a 1/2 oz jig + trailer and was able to throw it quite well. I didn't have a big enough bait to find the upper limit. If you think you may go bigger, and want only one rod I would suggest the XH. With that said, Ben's customer service is top notch and he will answer your questions.

Bassin, Welcome! Let everybody know where your from and what waters you fish and they can make better recommendations. As a relative new guy, there seem to be two approaches. 1. Ease your way in with the sub 2oz baits like MS Slammers; Smaller Punkers; Small Triple Trouts; 6" Hudd series using a rod you currently own, and then if the addiction hits hard, step up to the big stuff. Or 2. Get the rods (search LDC XH) to throw the big stuff and go big from the start. Now you can also throw the smaller baits on the rod I mention. The difference btw the two seems to come when you can wrap your mind around the fact that a good fish isn't intimidated by a 8-10" or bigger bait. The second option will actually save you money... But only if you ever decide to quit the big baits b/c those rods and baits hold their value well. Enjoy and the people on this forum are great enablers!

Can't help you with the G. Loomis question but with the Dobyns rods the difference is the handle length as far as I cold figure out (I don't own one but have been looking). Matt Allen of Tactical Bassin has a nice review of Swimbait rod actions and specifically talks about the Dobyns 806 and 807. Hope that helps some - John

Just as a follow-up and not to totally high jack the thread: Outside of line capacity, wouldn't the 200 and even 100 sized Calcutta TE throw the big baits just as well then? Or is there another component(s) to consider? Do the smaller Calcuttas give up something in construction to the bigger 300 and 400 sizes?

I'm still working on that as well. My current idea is to use a regular Plano box but remove the dividers and lay the RS on its back, perhaps use a foam piece to keep the tail in place with compression from the lid. Haven't gotten to try it out yet as my latest order is waiting on the 3:16 shop to get movin' again (mid July) but good things come to those who wait.

I'm new around here but also in Texas (DFW). Rookie has been an invaluable source of info for me thus far, and I would only assume extend his hospitality once he finds this thread.

I'll play - #32

Trophy, didn't realize you were so close! I'm down the road in N. Richland Hills, and we definately need to get together and "field test" some equipment cause after the Pig, I've blanked the last few nights. I figured it is the swimbait gods testing my resolve.

Thanks so much for the warm welcome! Mike (spectrum), I got the PM but am too new to respond - can you sen an email to giovanni_133@hotmail(dot)com and we can work something out. Thanks for all the rod recommendations so far, I've got some research to do.

Guess in my excitement, I forgot that part... I am thinking of things like the RS, K9, 8" hudds... then maybe some hardbaits (still have to workup to paying that much for a bait). Looks like the Dobyns 807 (3-10oz) would be perfect...didn't know how bad I needed that one on the Black Market, but it seems it sold. Anyone else have one they want to get rid of? I saw an older ad for a at G Loomis SWBR904C - but looks as if that is only 1-3oz and I would be lacking some for those baits? Let's say budget would be $250 hard ceiling...

So I've been lurking on here for a little while and really have enjoyed learning about throwing big baits. I don't have the specific swimbait gear so I've been using a Dobyns 735 and conquest 100 with 30lb power pro. I started with the BBZ 4" shad and did well and then went with my first soft bait a Mattlures U2 gill. I was getting hits but not hooking up. Then I sort of said to heck with it and ordered a Mini slammer (bass), some 3:16 Little boogers, and the 8" Rising Son top hook (black). I have to add here the part about how my order from 3:16 had a little surprise in it - some 3:16 soft bait glue, what great customer service!! So I know the RS is overpowering the rod, but go big or go home right? So at 4:30am I was casting out the RS on a little urban pond here in North Texas and slow grinding it back in. I didn't follow all the advice in the night-fishing thread, specifically I have no idea what this baits doing in the water, just that it lands like a ton of bricks. I'm having my doubts that there is anything in this pond big enough to eat it, I doubting my choice to only bring the big baits, I'm doubting what I am doing up at 4:30 knowing that the pregnant wife, twin 5yr old girls, and the 2yr old will all be up in a couple of hours and so begins a crazy Saturday b/c the house was flooded by a broken pipe yesterday....then reality hits. About the 4th cast and halfway down the bank from where it landed the Rising Son gets freight-trained. Not sure if the rod actually left my hands or that my shoulder dislocated and then returned, but the fight was on. She came to shore and there is a 20" bass that weighs in the 6-7lb range (no scale and measured off the rod). She was a pig with massive shoulders and almost grotesquely full belly, simply awesome. Of course, I left the cell phone for pictures in the truck and there is no one around...I noted that the RS was approx 6" above the fish and I'm thinking I'll find the treble in front lips somewhere. Nope, it was lodged in the roof of her mouth almost to the crushers. This girl choked on the RS like...(analogy about the ex-wife, ex-girlfriend and/or boss here). That did it, I am officially hooked on swimbaits. Not another hit all morning and then the tragic happened. I botched a cast a watched the RS sail off into the pre-dawn sky and crash into the water... So, thank you SU for enabling yet another, thank you to the specific posters who share so much so freely, thank you to 3:16 for great baits and hooking a newbie up. My wallet does not thank you so much.... Okay off to make another 3:16 order. Hope you enjoyed sharing in my excitement and heartbreak... I need suggestions on big-bait rod as well...