Hey CD i wasnt trying to overshadow your post those are some nice fish you've caught and if those carrot stix hold up for you, you'll prove me wrong looks like you had a great time.

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Heritage Redfish 12

Just looked at these at academy. I don't think these are the $129
Rods on sale but rather something cheaper created to sell
At a lower price The guides look like what you would see on
A $20 rod. They had other carrot stix for $99 that looked more
Substantial with better guides

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Green Ocean Kayak Prowler 13
Mango X Factor

Hey guys thanks for the response, jroland, no prob man. This is not the mysterious Tarpon Pit, however, I have heard of black drum limits being caught back in there. I have not done good at that spot in about a year and Ive fished it prob 5 times in the past 3 months. I think the Tarpon Pit becomes less mysterious every year and gets more and more pressure from anglers. Not to mention the dock that is under construction along the edge that is sure to destroy what makes it a decent spot: accesability. My drum hole is a stupid easy to get too and produces like a spot I would paddle 3 miles for

As far as the Carrot Stix, I actually noticed that about the guides. There are absolutely no frills about them. You may be right that this is a new product marketed to seem like an attractive deal, they got my dollar. The thing I have learned to love about Academy is they will return ANYTHING. So I have no problem giving it a try, if it breaks, I return it. If i don't like it, I return it. I don't see how I can lose in the long run. I have read a lot of stuff about these breaking, but please don't believe everything people post on the internet. I read reviews on the Penn Fierce combo that I also picked up from Academy, people said (on the internet) the rods were crap and they break easy. 9 months, and a bucket of fish later, no problems (I really wanted the reel but it was 10 bucks more for the combo so i figured what the helk). From now on, I will do my own product testing, and continue to purchase all my equiptment from Academy because YOU CANNOT LOSE! Catch Em Up!

Did some research on the Carrot Stix... i wouldn't buy one. known for breaking. the tube design is a joke. Very brittle. If you drop anything on them they collapse. Don't step on one either. It takes very little to crush the tube. I am also incredibly unimpressed with the Blair Wiggins Blue rods as well. you can use one as a kayak strap.
Flimsy junk. No back bone at all. Loved the lay out, but that's about it.

Back to your fish, Great Job CD. Very nice fish.

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176 Sportsman

Im going to agree with CD every one has their own opinion on everything like i said earlier i tried them and didn't like them i like the blue rods they are a little whippy but i haven't found a fish to really work it out but like CD said I'm going to do my own testing and see what I come up with. If you ask everyone on this forum what the best rod and reel is the answers would be very different. Use what ever you like and what works for you. It reminds me of this time I fished the 100 bridge casted on this light for about 30 mins and nothing so I turn and fish the dock. This little girl walks up next to me makes one cast on the light with her little pink barbie rod and reel combo and catches a 26 inch snook on a freaking barbie rod with like 5lbs line! As long as it catches fish use it!

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Heritage Redfish 12

I heard Barbie spanks the crap outta some snook! lol

I bought a couple Stix on clearance at dicks last fall. I have no complaints about them over all. They are just a little heavy and stiff to me. I prefer my St. Croix rods over them. But for the price I would buy more as back up's or loaners.

It must be the color pink........many many years ago I was going to the inlet with a friend to catch reds.....well....my berkley rod had a broken eye that I discovered that morning so I took my wife's PINK, 6', medium action Silstar rod and threw my Penn 430ss (8lb braid) on it so i'd have a so so back up pole.......long story short.....end of the jetties....hooked into a 42lb cobia.....50 minutes later and nearly a mile off shore....we boated him.....Silstar rod continued to serve us for several more years....until I closed the door on it.......

~Grumpy