Redears: the good, the bad, and the ugly...

The good: Got on some big crackers this morning at a nearby county water reservoir, using the Tict Ice Cube Rockin' Power, fishing with red wigglers. Caught about 30, and kept a dozen huge ones for supper (most were gut-hooked anyway). These were all 9-10 inch fish between 12-16 oz.
You had to throw just right under the overhanging bushes, but if you got it within 2 feet of the bank, a big one would suck that worm up every time. It was a little windy and hard to feel the bite, and tough watching the clear 2 lb Trilene, so by the time I noticed or felt I had a fish on, they had sometimes already swallowed the worm, I guess. Biggest one was 15.5 oz and 10.75".
Attachment 342221
Attachment 342223
Attachment 342224
Attachment 342222


The bad: (not really) If my cast was a little short, a channel catfish would pick it up. I caught about 5 of these and they slimed up my line and swallowed the hook every time. If my cast was a little long - I was into the trees and had to break off several times because I didn't want to paddle in there and spook the fish.

THE UGLY:
On the way to the take-out I was throwing the Daiwa jig with trout magnet and hooked a nice-sized spotted bass. He fought like heck, but I tuckered him out after he peeled off several long runs of 2 lb test off the Luvias. As I was bringing him to the net, I heard a snap. My Ice Cube rod snapped at the 3rd guide. I was crushed. I threw that dang bass back in the lake and went home.
:banghead

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jawjatek

Attachment 342221
Attachment 342223
Attachment 342224
Attachment 342222




THE UGLY:
As I was bringing him to the net, I heard a snap. My Ice Cube rod snapped at the 3rd guide. I was crushed. I threw that dang bass back in the lake and went home.
:banghead

---

Yeah... I just look up the price of that rod.:mad:

Great day until the end. I feel for ya man. I have one ordered and waiting for it to arrive. What do you think caused the break? Drag too tight? I want to learn from this story and make sure I don’t do the same thing.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

My goodness I didn't realize that rod was that expensive, I wood have eaten that bass.

Since I got that rod last week, it has hauled in over a hundred fish, I estimate. I have been careful not to flip anything except little peckerhead bream babies - I net everything. I kinda copy Randy (Alphahawk); I've studied his videos hard. Since I've started using the Daiwa jig and trout magnet I've been catching the crap out of some fish, and I've had to reel in several 3-4 lb bass. The drag is set real light. I don't know.

When I net a big fish I kinda reel down, get the fish sliding toward the boat on his side into the net, rod in left hand behind me, held high. I've been real careful not to yank on snags or knock it on anything. Maybe I'm just too hard on 'em naturally. I've asked Digitaka to help me purchase a replacement tip section, and to forward my email to any Tict rep they know. We'll see.

If I have to, I am buying another one. But the $75 Cadence 1-piece 6'3" CS7 rod will be hauling in the fish in the meantime. I bought one after watching Richard Gene videos, and I love it.

Today I had a lot of gut-hooked big crackers and was ping-ponging 2 rods - the Tict and the Cadence. I'd cut the line and put the fish in the cooler, then fish the other rod while tying on a new hook. I tried to use the Tict mostly, but that Cadence is a fine rod, too.

Great looking redear!!! My apologies on the rod...maybe I won't buy that rod if it's that fragile????

Well I don't have to look up the price....have it memorized. Sorry to hear that. I've broke a couple JDM rods......and cried like a baby for a few minutes....then got online and ordered the top section to replace. Of course that don't make you feel any better....dang.

Regards

Oh....beautiful fish. I know they are a lot of fun on that rod.


Regards

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jawjatek

I have been careful not to flip anything except little peckerhead bream babies

---

Doesn't that kinda take the fun out of fishing if you always have to walk on thin ice just to use a fishing rod ?

Not at all, and I don't walk on thin ice, whatever. I fish the my gear hard. These rods are a whole new ball game in sensitivity and playability, and I really like using it. I net fish all the time anyway, I hate losing fish at the boat, and haven't in a very long time. I have good panfish rods by Cadence, Eagle Claw, and St Croix as well. I prefer using this one if I can. They may not be for you.

I'll tell you something else: I caught just as many fat shell-daddys today on my Cadence 6'3" CS7 LXF as I did on the Tict JDM, and it performed admirably (don't like their reels, though). I could have caught these fish on 12 lb test and a Zebco 33, but I LIKE DOING IT THIS WAY. That is enough; life is short - maximize fun.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jawjatek

Caught about 30, and kept a dozen huge ones for supper (most were gut-hooked anyway).

---

Are you using a bare hook or a jig head? I've found that using a jig head completely eliminates gut-hooking.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Are you using a bare hook or a jig head? I've found that using a jig head completely eliminates gut-hooking.

---

Yes, a #6 hook with a tiny split shot above it.

I will try that next time I go (I just got a bunch of small jigs off ebay with #6 hook); makes sense to me. Are you working the jig or letting it sit?

EDIT TO ADD: that was what I had to do today to get on fish; that is where I found them. It may/may not be the same tomorrow. :cheers2

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jawjatek

Are you working the jig or letting it sit?

---

Moving the jig.

Trust me: switching from a bare hook to a jig head was a revelation.

Great report - with a bad ending - hope you can get a replacement tip. You guys would be shocked the way I fish the inexpensive JDM rods.

Broken rods happen, I have broke 2 already this spring. Mostly cheap ones. I replaced them with higher priced rods, we will see. If they come with a recommending 2-4# line, then that's what I use.

Dang dude, I read this post last night before I went to bed and had nightmares about breaking JDM rods. I feel your pain, I broke a Majorcraft TripleCross back in the winter while taking it apart to stow it. Rammed the tip right into the side of the truck. I replaced the top section and put the rod right back into the rotation. Nice catch on the Crackers, a great way to fill the freezer. I prefer a #8 hook on a jig head, seems to get a better hook up rate for the Gills, do not catch many Crackers in the lakes I fish locally so you may need the bigger hook for the bigger Panfish.

I moved some posts to a new thread:

https://www.crappie.com/crappie/panf...ooking-issues/

Well the replacement top section has been ordered. It will take a lot of bass fillets to make up for my $200 mistake, but so be it. I'll still release the LM, but a few of those 16"-18" spots better watch out for ol' Joe. You can better believe I'll be more careful with bigger fish from now on. Today I started building my hard case for the rod. The top section should be here in time for the shellcracker spawn on this particular fishery.

Also just got Mega+ SI unit to install, but I'm putting it on the kayak first, so I can scan for beds. Yes, I spent a lot of money on fishing gear this weekend, and the rest I wasted. :biggrin

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jawjatek

Well the replacement top section has been ordered. It will take a lot of bass fillets to make up for my $200 mistake, but so be it. I'll still release the LM, but a few of those 16"-18" spots better watch out for ol' Joe. You can better believe I'll be more careful with bigger fish from now on. Today I started building my hard case for the rod. The top section should be here in time for the shellcracker spawn on this particular fishery.

Also just got Mega+ SI unit to install, but I'm putting it on the kayak first, so I can scan for beds. Yes, I spent a lot of money on fishing gear this weekend, and the rest I wasted. :biggrin

---

You can’t take it with you!


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

Great catch on the crackers, and sorry about the rod. Broke my 4wt fly rod a little while back, no replacements available. Costing me about as much as you. Good post.

Dang! I hate that about the Tict... I have the rockin finesse and it seems it might be a wonder I haven’t broken mine yet. It has tamed some nice fish... I generally get them up to the bank and lip them but I may really need to go ahead and get a net... glad you were able to get a replacement tip and nice crackers!

Nice size gills !
Jigheads IMO rarely get sucked in deep enough and in fact mostly lip-hook the fish I catch. Don't care for sickle hooks jigs but order 1/64-1/16 and in hook sizes #8-#2 oz jigs on Ebay.

Also had the same experience catching many cats - one at 7 lbs - using the same lures.
Only had one rod snap due to a big fish diving under the boat due to a drag set to tight, but all my light action rods cost less than $30 and have hauled in some
pretty large fish on 6# test line. The usual reason I break rods involves a truck or rod locker door. :bash