GRAPHITELEADER FINEZZA

I wasn't looking for another rod but when ALPHAHAWK sold some rods earlier this year I couldn't pass it up and I'm glad I did. Rod length is 6'10". The first few trips it split time with my Shimano Soare BB but yesterday I used it almost exclusively, only made 4-5 casts with the Soare. Skunk off on first cast, a small trout. Fished two lakes and continued catching fish. Finished with about 25 Bluegill, bass and the one trout. Caught several gills around 7", not big but big enough that I could feel every flick of the tail of these fish with this rod, actually felt every little vibration from these fish. I can't wait to hook something bigger to see how it performs, it's starting to grow on me.

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Sounds like an enjoyable trip and a great new to you Rod. Thanks for sharing

Always good when the rod doesn't disappoint. Alphahawk doesn't have any junk either so you know it's a good one. Thanks for sharing.

I watched a couple videos of ALPAHAWK talking about this rod and fishing it. When he made it available I had to have it. It's a gem. Has me wondering what the rods he kept are like. He certainly knows JDM.

Glad you’ve gotten another favorite for your stable .
Randy knows his rods .
Nice gills , pretty winter colors glow when the sun hits them . Just lights them up.

Thanks for sharing.

I kicked a couple of rods around when he posted and finally chose the Banshee. I’m a weak man when it comes to good gear. My stable is pretty full right now. I’d like to try a diplomat though, but that’s on the back burner. Glad you found a rod that makes you smile. Im waiting for tha crappie to move into some of the places I’ve found em in years past and I’ll be giving the Eradicator a good workout. I believe these are good problems we have. Trying to decide which of the fine rods we’ve gathered to play with today.

Yeah I agree with the wonder which he kept. Would buy a tickett to wonder around Randy's garage and be able to hold the treasures to be found their. Scott

Skeet, I have a Diplomat. Rod is so light it's like holding just a rod handle, totally different from what I'm used to. Son started using it with my Stella 1000 and first trip out catches a lunker trout last November. Haven't seen it since that day. I like the Finezza better, it's a longer rod and favor rods in the 7' range.

I understand our differences in our preferences. You do a lot of bank fishing and I can’t stand that long so I do little of that. Longer rods work well for bank fishing. I’m real comfortable with a 5’6” or 6’ rod. I like my TSSwith the Regal 1000s but the handle is a bit long, like a few others have said. A long heavy rod from my stable is 6’6” with 6lb line. I haven’t really had a busy trip with the Eradicator yet but thats a feather also.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

I understand our differences in our preferences. You do a lot of bank fishing and I can’t stand that long so I do little of that. Longer rods work well for bank fishing. I’m real comfortable with a 5’6” or 6’ rod. I like my TSSwith the Regal 1000s but the handle is a bit long, like a few others have said. A long heavy rod from my stable is 6’6” with 6lb line. I haven’t really had a busy trip with the Eradicator yet but thats a feather also.

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I feel like rod length is a personal thing IMO . And depends on the here I’m fishing.
I’m a 99% of the time, bank fisherman. I do stand about 50% of the times , I carry a stool most of the time to give my legs and knees a little rest if I’m going to be out there more than an hour.
I like shorter rods , under 6’6” . Most of my favorites are under 6’ .
On creeks I prefer a rod around 5’ or less .

That first pan is really beautiful, Jim. It probably doesn’t even have its full colors yet.
Bob

Getting this rod dialed in. Using a 1/16 freestyle head with a #1 Trokar jig hook and a 3" Keitech swim bait produced a couple nice bass in the rain, temps in the 60's with little wind. Lost a bigger one at the bank as I was reaching to lip it with a net right next to me. Threw the jig back at me and jig stuck in my hat. Sharp hooks !!!

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Nice catches. Thanks for sharing

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Originally Posted by JUNGLEJIMJIGS

Getting this rod dialed in. Using a 1/16 freestyle head with a #1 Trokar jig hook and a 3" Keitech swim bait produced a couple nice bass in the rain, temps in the 60's with little wind. Lost a bigger one at the bank as I was reaching to lip it with a net right next to me. Threw the jig back at me and jig stuck in my hat. Sharp hooks !!!

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Nice green fish day !
Fun fish on ultralight tackle .
Watch out for those hooks .
Back when I did a lot of Flyfishing , I always wore sunglasses not only for sun protection but for hook protection.
I had removed my sunglasses for some reason and the wind blew my cast that it wrapped my head and I thought the fly was in my eye .
I headed back toward the dock , thinking I was headed to the ER . I was freaking out .
About half way to the dock , the hook just fell out of my eyelid .
I went ahead and loaded up and went home .
Now , even when it’s cloudy , I were glasses when doing any fishing .

I always wear sunglasses as well, don't go anywhere without my Ocean Wave sunglasses that I have had since 2001. First bass had moved up shallow and was on a bed already. Tried to catch it with my finesse worm but ignored it. Moved further away and tried the smaller Keitech swim bait and got to watch him/her eat it. Wouldn't have seen that fish without those sunglasses. Saw several other bedding bass but couldn't get them to bite.

Good stories. Thanks for the walk along.
Bob

What Bob said, thanks for taking me along. I just get to look at water right now. And the Crappie should be on the beds. Just my luck.

Very good and informative post by all .. pics are very good Jim ... it seems that everyone that commented for this post has their own favorite rods for fishing the panfish and I am no different... my favorite is my 5' UL and will use up to 6' even tho I have some 7' ones that will do as well but I seem to prefer the shorter rods for the larger ones that hit my lure. Again thanks for the post.

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Originally Posted by Slabjerkin'

Very good and informative post by all .. pics are very good Jim ... it seems that everyone that commented for this post has their own favorite rods for fishing the panfish and I am no different... my favorite is my 5' UL and will use up to 6' even tho I have some 7' ones that will do as well but I seem to prefer the shorter rods for the larger ones that hit my lure. Again thanks for the post.

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Me too . It a personal preference thing .
I own UL rods up to 9’ , but my faves are those around 5’ . They just feel like a wand in my hand that I can make do whatever I want . I can’t do that with the longer ones .

Everyone is different on their rod preferences. As a teen I had an ultralight 6' and used it to fish for carp with 4# line. Biggest carp with that rig was 27 lbs, rod tip had grooves in it after all those battles. Main reason I like longer rods is they protect light lines very well when something big grabs my jigs. It doesn't happen that often but when it does I like my chances of getting it in. My PB Bass was caught on my Soare BB using 2# test. Weighed 10.23, hopefully she is still swimming in that lake. Attachment 503123Attachment 503124