Diplomat Extreme 6'3" UL first trip

It's been cold here but I finally got a chance to actually fish it. I have it matched up with a 2004 model Stella 1000 FA. I wish I would have taken more pics. but didn't charge my phone and ran the battery down. It was cold so I was wearing gloves the first hour or so it was a bit awkward initially, just not used to using a rod this light and gloves didn't help the situation. Once the gloves came off I started getting the feel for it and started catching some fish. First fish was a hand size Redear, then a bluegill, trout and a crappie. Four fish, four different species. I caught a couple more including the smallest bass I can remember, maybe 2-2.5". On my way home I stopped at a lake they stock with trout in the winter and it really got fun catching trout about every 3 or four casts. This got the attention of the power bait guys and before I knew it they were all around me. So much for social distancing and since my mask was in the truck I gave up the spot and moved down to an area that wasn't occupied and to my surprise caught three nice 10-12" crappie in about ten minutes using a black/chartreuse glow stinger on a 1/32 jig fished below a weighted float. I got surrounded again so I left. This rod is like a magic wand, was amazed how far I could cast my jig and could feel the thump of the jig with every twitch of the rod tip. One trip with this rod and I think I'm in love. Attachment 393983Attachment 393984

Very good review, Jim!!

Sounds like a fun mixed bag kind of day. Cold it is, got me staying inside most afternoons as well. That reel looks good on that rod, nice combination.

Nice looking fish and a great report! I remember Ledhead use to talk about “lake lice” at lake perris, and it finally sunk in he was talking about spotters following him because they knew he knew the water. As I recall he liked to take them to dead water. Sounds like you had some of the same.
Bob

Nice review glad you got to get out and wet a line


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Know a guy who has same rod......along with many very high end JDM rods. He was really impressed how sensitive the rod is with the CMG guides. Nice review. I got out yesterday and had the whole section of river to myself. That was a true blessing. I fish that spot as the Power bait chuckers can’t fish it. When they fish down river one guy will cast out and his line takes up about 30-40 yards of the river....you can’t cast. I feel for you.

Regards


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by BobC

Nice looking fish and a great report! I remember Ledhead use to talk about “lake lice” at lake perris, and it finally sunk in he was talking about spotters following him because they knew he knew the water. As I recall he liked to take them to dead water. Sounds like you had some of the same.
Bob

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Where is Ledhead these days? I always enjoyed Sonny's contributions to this place.

Sonny is doing good although he didn't fish at all last year. They closed the docks at the Perris Marina so he sold his boat. He's talking about getting a kayak and hopefully he'll start fishing again this year. I am going out again today once it warms up a little more, 27 degrees right now but the sun is out. That Stella is smoother now than when I first bought it. Things do get better with age.

That’s a great looking combo. Looks like it weighs near nothing, like the looks of the minimal handle. Going to redo an old rod of mine, a Lightning Rod in 6’6” that I’ve had a long time. I’m going with a two piece handle this time and looking into some lighter guides. I’ll show it when I’m done, and I’m sure it will be three times heavier than the one in the pic. If I wasn’t so hard on my stuff I’d consider a higher end rod. Have fun with the new rod, sounds like it’s fun to use.

The rod weighs 50 grams, unsure of the reel. I was going to try several reels to see which had the best balance and put the Stella on first and it was perfect so didn't bother even trying the others. It feels like I just have a rod handle in my hand and nothing else. I used to have a couple of Lightning rods and really liked them. Got to use the new rod twice before the extreme weather hit.