Just wondering what sort of rods and reals you guys are using to fish the smaller mission fish(5"-6")? I have been using a 7'6" heavy flippin stick. and feel it fits my situation well. I'm mostly pitching them into tullies, willows and pads. I also just got an Okuma 7'6" heavy for some bigger stuff and was wondering if anyone was using this rod with the smaller mission fish? Is this too much rod for these little baits?

Seth, the Heartland is perfect for the 6" mission fish, and it will work for the 7". I think the Okuma is too much for the 6" but its fine for the 7". Ask Chris to try out this Hearland, I know youll like it. Plus its cheap. Tom used to sell them at Pro-sports, I bet he still does.

Check out this chubby one I got a few days ago on the 7" using the Okuma



http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/4727-Mission.jpg

Hey Steve, Thanks for the input. I actualy have a heartland of my own and I agree its a pretty sweat rod. I have mostly been using it for my smaller swimbaits. The 6.5" charlie casts like a dream on that rod. I just got a new okuma and was hopping to find a good application to put a few fish on the new rod. I figured that it was a bit much for the smaller baits. I bought the okuma for throwing the hudd's. for some reason the fish at my local lagoon wont touch the hudd.x(. I just keep throwing it any way. I guess I will just have to wait for a trip to oregon to catch a fish on my new swimbait rod. (pretty sad huu) Nice fish by the way. Did you catch it in the snow?

Snow? Ummm, it was more like a white out with stinging ice mixed in. Unbelievable weather. I stopped fishing just to take pictures of the weather.

Throw the 7" Mission on the Okuma, it works fine and that size bait should work at our favorite lagoon and Trinity as well.

I got a hold of Dave, thanks for the info.

how long of a flouro leader are you guys using? And, are you going from mono to flouro or braid to flouro?

straight mono dude, I dont like additional knots. And really, I dont see what I have to gain by having a fluro leader on mono. Using it on braid is a no brainer, but then again I dont use braid. 25 pound test works fine for me.

I Have been filling my spool with 20# maxima florocarbon. no braid no leader.

I wouldn't throw the smaller baits with my Okuma. I use my 7', 6" Heavy or Extra Heavy Kistler Helium for Matt's Baits and the like.


Dan