Locked and Loaded, my arsenal for 2008

[DTro]

What better thing to do on a snowy Sunday morning, then to get the gear all cleaned up (relatively speaking) and ready to go?

Here are my two flathead setups. The first is Surge MH 7'10 Casting rod paired with a Abu Garcia 7000iC3 spooled with 65 HiVis Power Pro.

The other is the same Surge rod in the spinning variety paired with a Cabelas Salt Striker 50 series spinning reel with the same 65lb PP.

The next one is my Channel/Sturgeon setup.

It's a Tactical 8'6 MH Custom made by Midwest Rod and Reel paired with a Trophy Series Abu Garcia 6500 spooled with, yep you guessed it, 65 lb PP.

These setups will by my bread an butter this year with others in rod racks hoping to see some action if needed.

What's everyone else using this year?

On a side note, shad scales really....REALLY suck to clean off. I did my best, but could've probably spent another hour doing some fine detailing. But why? Before you know it.....slimed again

[Larry FlatCaster]

oooooooo.... a new 7000ic3. I got me one last week, that will go on my St.Croix Premier . Where was your made? I was surprised to find out mine had a made in China sticker. I can't wait to hear that clicker sound off when I'm on the water.

Got me a new catfish safari rod for channels and sturgies, and will be getting the new catfish 6500c3 in metallic blue to go with the yellow.

Will be using my same 2 6500c3s One on my Boss and the other on my stubby quantum big cat,(Flat rigs). I might have to retire the Bantum and Ugly stick,(channel rig) will have to see. That little rig has been through Ell and back and has never let me down.

Looks like your locked stocked and loaded.

Good pick on the Hi Vis PP.

Did you go out and cast with that 7000 yet

Good pics.

LFC

[DTro]

Is anything NOT made in China these days?

I had the 7000 towards the end of the year last year, and really liked it. The free spool lever takes a bit to get used to, but no biggee.

Your little channel combo proved time and time again that you can get away with using all types of gear for these fish, yet at the same time highlighting the limitations. I still can't believe that thing isn't at the bottom of the river somewhere

Your gonna love that 7000!

[rushing]

 Originally Posted By: LFC

Will be using my same 2 6500c3s One on my Boss and the other on my stubby quantum big cat,(Flat rigs).

That Quantum Big Cat needs 7000, I think a 6500 would look weird on such a beefy stick.

[Larry FlatCaster]

That thought crossed my mind.

Did you ever see the post I put "out" there for you??

By the way.......I owe you a Steak dinner and drinks. Can't wait to see what stubby looks like.

How are your weekends looking. I could come down your way or if your in my neck of the woods.

I would hate to wait till fishing season.

I'll ring you in the next week and see what your sched is looking like.

[harvey lee]

My two main flathead rods will be

Moyer Boss #3 with a ABU 7000I spooled with 65# High Vis PP.

KING KAT 7.5' with a ABU 7000I spooled with 65# High Vis PP.

Channel Rod

Rods by Engel, new, have not seen it with a ABU 6600 with yes,65# Hifh Vis PP.

Extras include 3 other rods all with ABU reels spooled with 80# PP.

Misc.

Hundreds of circle hooks and gama baitholder in sizes from 4-10/0.

A gross of barrel swivels in 80# and numerous no roll sinkers from 3oz-56-oz.

I'm ready baby.

[Ralph Wiggum]

 Originally Posted By: rushing

 Originally Posted By: LFC

Will be using my same 2 6500c3s One on my Boss and the other on my stubby quantum big cat,(Flat rigs).

That Quantum Big Cat needs 7000, I think a 6500 would look weird on such a beefy stick.

The 6500 works out fine on the MH Big Cat. The H Big Cat is quite a bit beefier, though!

[Grant]

still got my 9' King Kats with Penn 209's and 80#PP.

a small tackle satchel with a selection of circles, Kahles, swivels and big lead.

Keeping it simple as I fish on foot most of the time.

got the same PP on as last year, in green... I may switch out for the high vis if I get the cash handy.

[rushing]

 Originally Posted By: LFC

That thought crossed my mind.

Did you ever see the post I put "out" there for you?

Yeah I answered it a few days ago. Give me a shout and we'll hook up. Ole stubby looks like it was always meant to be that size now.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I've only got a channel cat rod rigged up so far, but here's my plan for 2008:

Main (early season) channel cat rod:

8' MH Storm Thunderstick mated with an Abu 6500C3 spooled with 15lb Trilene Big Game.

Flathead rod #1:

8' MH Berkley Reflex mated with a Pflueger Trion 66 (power handle) spooled with 25lb Hi Vis Trilene Big Game. This will also be hauling in sturgeon in April.

Flathead rod #2:

7'6" MH Quantum Big Cat mated with an Abu 6500C3 (power handle and carbon matrix drag) spooled with 25lb Hi Vis Trilene Big Game.

I'm giving mono the nod to start the year but have Power Pro on back-up if need be. Of course, there's a few spinning rods in the aresenal as well, but they mainly see "friend" duty.

[DARK30]

Holy Cow...the cats don't stand a chance this year!

I do like my ABU's but Penn Reels are made in the USA I believe

[aanderud]

I think only certain Penn models are still made in the USA. They started importing from China a couple years back (2005 or 2006), I think.

Anyone here have trouble using power pro from previous year? I hadn't used power pro until last April at sturgeon excursion. I thought that stuff was sposed to last a couple years at least, so I hadn't planned to respool either of my cattin rods....but then again, I don't think it's worth losing a big fish over either. I'll probably try bustin it a few times in the living room or garage, just to see how strong it is, before I take it onto the water...

I have an okuma spinning reel on an ugly stick cat rod (white, very bendy, good for channels but can also reel in a 40+ flathead if needed). I also have an abu 6500 with a power handle on an ugly stick 'tiger' rod. That's it. I figure if I bust both of those and need more, I'll just hope I have WWG in the boat...he usually has 20 to 30 rods along at all times

[DTro]

I think your a little conservative on that number Brian

I honestly don't know how long PP will last. My guess is a good 4 yrs probably. By then it's usually used up from retying and breaking off.

What you might want to do is unspool the line and respool the old line end first.

See Here:

http://fishingminnesota.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/1292623#Post1292623

[Shack]

Ya, Brian.

Wear gloves when trying to break the PP, or you may be wearing a PP tattoo on your right or left hand.

[crazyice]

Yeah that stuff is like a razor when you try to run it against bare skin! Learned from experience I am afaid to say.

[rushing]

Now that I use mono leaders I lose a lot less power pro and expect to get at the very least two seasons out of it. Keep your reels out of the sun.

BTW - Dtro those pics are like fishing tackle porn.

[DTro]

 Originally Posted By: rushing

BTW - Dtro those pics are like fishing tackle porn.

Don't go blind

[hanson]

Here's more Fish Porn for ya!

Seriously my do everything rod, and I have 2 rigged exactly the same.

- Abu Garcia 7000C3 spooled w/ 80lb Power Pro

- Berkley Reflex 8' MH (discontinued)

7000C3

Berkley Reflex

[hanson]

And my "new" toy for this year, although I'm not sure if I dare bring it on the river.

- Okuma Epixor EB50 Baitfeeder spooled w/80lb PowerPro

- St Croix Classic Cat 7'-6" MH Spinning (discontinued)

Okuma

St Croix

[Dan189]

Wow, you guys aren't messing around. My ugly stick pulls those dinosaurs in just fine, but I guess you wouldn't expect Tiger Woods to use a Dunlop driver now would you?

[crazyice]

Here is my similar set-up for flats. Got an Epixor EBF50 spooled up with 80lb PP, on a cabelas king kat 8' MH rod. I can't wait to here that thing go off this spring.... So Hanson, I don't think that you need to worry about your set-up, it will do just fine.

[crazyice]

Oops, sorry about the size of the pics guys, I didn't realize that I had forgot to resize them.

[ec30_06]

Flathead/Rainy River sturgeon rigs

1)salt striker sbf50 w/30 lb big game mono & uglt stick tiger

2)abu 7000 pro rocket w/80lb ultra cast braid & quantum big cat

3)abu c3 7000 w/80lb power pro & whuppin stick

4)penn 320gt2 w/80lb ultracast braid

Channels/sturgeon/pike/muskies

Abu 6500 & 2 6600, 2 cabelas pre 300's, freedom baitfeeder spining reels. 65lb power pro, ultracast & sufix braid. 20lb triple fish mono.

[DTro]

nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah

I think I'm blind

[Larry FlatCaster]

 Originally Posted By: dtro

nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah

I think I'm blind

I think I'm related to big foot with all the hair on my palms after this..... LOL