Performance:
Redington Predator Rods are short, and stiff as a board and are recommended with heavy lines for a reason. They throw big bugs very well, but I immediately found the decreased length lends itself to more chuck-and-ducking as large double-hauled streamers and poppers whiz past your head. A slight side-arm cast kept my melon in the safe zone.
“Delicate” is not a word I would use to describe the action, but when setting the hook on a feisty largemouth, these rods move quickly and with authority, the unyielding butt-section like a crowbar in your hands ready to pry stubborn fish out of the weeds, but that same attribute can definitely wreak havoc on knots and tippet if one were to get a over-zealous in their fish retrieval. I think the same can be said about any fast rod, though.
On the Predator 6wt I threw streamers and bait fish patterns with sinking line. After some fuddling I found that my RIO Lake Deep 7wt line threw very well and loaded the rod nicely, flinging big bluegill patterns as far as one would could need. The heavier line helped turn over the largest streamers I had in my box.
Nuts and Bolts:
The little nub of fighting butt, the gunmetal aluminum reel seat, and the rust-colored wraps are pleasing to the eye. The length and line weight designation is written on each ferrule, which would fall into the “nifty" category more than anything else, I think. But I suppose if you owned a pair and were prone to bouts of absentmindedness it may come in handy.
The ferrules have those little alignment dots, but I have always found looking down the rod the fastest and most effective way to guarantee your guides are in proper position.
New are the “hidden hook-keepers” – a small half circle hole milled into the base of the handle where it meets the reel seat - and are pretty self explanatory in their purpose. Hiding the business end of your large-pointy help keep wandering fingers and sliding hand out of harm’s way whilst the rod is not in operation.
The logo on one of the reel seats had a little defect that looked like a glob of white epoxy or maybe paint, I couldn’t tell. I scratched it off with my knife and didn’t think twice about it. Some glue is visible on the bottom of the cork where it meets the seat, but I would rather see glue than have the cork come unstuck.
These rods are akin to your uncle’s Gremlin drag car. It looks good from a distance, but if you get under the hood you may find some primer and when you look down the side you may see a ripple of two where the body guy failed to block sand the filler perfect.
But that stuff don’t matter because when you turn the key and that that big 4-barrel dumps a half-gallon of gas and that MSD distributor throws a big nasty spark and that 427ci big block roars and tires squeal as the positraction locks and you fly down the road in a hot-rubber fury - you don’t care about primer or orange peel. You’re just hauling ass and it feels good and there is nothing “delicate” about it.
Other things:
When broken down the rods four-pieces are just shy of 25” long which will fit nicely in just about any pack.
In the pontoon the rod’s 7’10” length is not cumbersome, and it stays out of its own way when you are flopping around trying to grab that empty beer can that fell out of your cooler. Little flies don’t fit into the hook-keeper, but the cork of the handle or a guide takes care of that just fine.
When wandering around in the bushes, the shorter length also helps keep the tip out of tree branches and other path-choking foliage.
Conclusion:
The rod is compact power that can be very accurate with a little practice. Stepping up a line size might not hurt, and you might even like the feel a little better. They are good in a tube, pontoon or other small watercraft where space is a consideration, and they pack well. Keep ducking in mind while casting.
The rod will catch any kind of fish you have the right fly for, but in a brute-force fashion that may turn some anglers off, especially if they like noodle rods. But for $200, they are definitely worth a look.
UPDATE 12/12/2010: After throwing these rods for another year, I have grown to like them more and they have definitely found a place in my arsenal. Like any new equipment or technology they can take a little time to get acquainted with. I don't own a rod that can laser a heavy deer-hair bug under an overhanging tree better than the Predator. I would recommend a heavy weight-forward line, like a RIO Clouser, or Sage largemouth to help load these rods.
It's bad enough watching your friend beat the local piscatorial population like a red headed stepchild while you are picking weeds from your hook and tying the next crap thing on your tippet, but now when you splash your way back to the bank you know he will bring some brand of proof of how much of your ass he actually kicked.
After what I can only assume involved a good amount of blood, sweat and tears (not necessarily in that order), Fishy Kid wrapped up their first coloring contest, with fantastic turnout.
Sportsman's Warehouse Wading Jacket:
I have never been crazy about turkey. As I reflect upon holidays past my most fond face-stuffing memories revolve around a centerpiece of spiral cut ham dripping with honey peppercorn deliciousness, or maybe a torso-sized prime rib sweating spice all over my potatoes, mashed or scalloped, never mattered much to me, but I do have a thing for scalloped potatoes. Don't even get me started on Duck confit... my god the deliciousness! But being thanksgiving American standardly, this year turkey we had.
I stood on the bank, rod under my arm and a handful of mono beginning to resemble a knot. He needed a dropper, and I was there to help. His fly box opened with a click, and he withdrew a neat looking parachute something-or-other and held it out near my face, "I tied this," the soldier said through a proud smile. It was a good looking fly, and I told him so.
I think his driver's license says John, but I can't say for sure and I have always called him Whitey. He is retired, but occasionally fills in behind the counter at the local Orvis store, where I met him a few years ago.
Drinking in Manitou Springs and the dedication to Fly Fishing. So I was having a few drinks with some friends and decided to fish the creek, I am going to make this very short and very simple. I found a Prince Nymph and some mono in my car and knew I had my Shillelagh (Irish beat your head in stick) in there.
I met this fella, Chris Kohne, and we decided to try to catch a fish out of the creek. Well the plan worked. After seeing 4 or 5 fish 14 inch plus I pulled out that little fella, and you can see my rig I was using. So to put it simply and if you want to drink and catch small fish go out to Manitou Spring drink at the Royal Tavern, drink get bored and walk out the door to catch a fish. Obviously you dont need to bring all your gear with you, in fact bring almost nothing at all you will still catch them.
. I have not been tying much so I thought I would make a golden stone out of strawberries cantaloupe, pineapple, and blue berries. If you could not tell I am quite bored. Stupidity or creativity you tell me.
You remember that angry little short-haired blond kid from middle school that always punched everyone? His step-dad was an auto mechanic or a construction worker, and his mom smoked like a pack a day and watched Court TV? In my opinion, largemouth bass with their constant scowl and tough skin are like that kid. Just plain mad at the world.
Sometimes you feel like using your hemos to tie tiny midges to 8X tippet, and then sometimes you just want to tie half a deer carcass to a 20lb leader and make Neanderthal noises while you swing your 8wt around like some sex-nuts-retard-strong barbarian.
The other day before a trip to Arivaca, I met with my friend Mike Leed Jr., and he gave me a tube fly frog to try out. After throwing it for a few minutes, I nicknamed it “the shoe”, (that Aaron hand-modeled for us in the image here) cause that’s what it felt like on the end of my 320 grain Sage Bass line. A big wet shoe. But with that 1/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hook shoved up its rear point-up it walked across the weeds with authority. I threw that damn thing all day, and all I got was a sore shoulder. I blame something else.
There are those that tie flies, and then there are those who tie flies, and my friend Mr. Leed Jr. falls into the latter category. He is a fishing madman, and he can tie the crap out of just about anything you might need, or he will instruct you in tying it yourself if you are so inclined. Recently at the local shop, he had a class on tying the grass frogs he loves to dearly. I attended and took part in the hour-long process of creating such a masterpiece. (Mike says it takes him 30min when not showing all us tards how its done)
The woosh was followed by a sloppy slap as the frog disappeared into the green cottage-cheese lumps. Lead wrap, 3-dollars-worth of deer hair with a side of rabbit: It was like throwing a wet shoe.
My cell rang at 12:30 sharp and I knew who it was. "You ready to do this?" It was Tim Emery, the Carp Slam Tournament Director and Field Editor for FishExplorer.com. We were going to do a Podcast about the new e-mag Fish Can't Read, its coverage of the Slam, and some other randomness. So I said I was, and we began.
