skunked_again

i have so much to learn about smallmouth.

i would think either would do the job fine. me being a Daiwa fan id pick on the Fuego.

isnt it amazing how human we can be? im glad things worked out for you.

youll never go wrong using his service.

im amazed no one died during this.

is the $150 Zillion an in store only thing?

both.

long story short my father refuses to upgrade his gear. he does get my old rods as i upgrade but as far as reels go hes stuck in 1985. he loves the Daiwa plastic reels from that time. ive bought him new reels as gifts but for the most part they sit in the box un-used. a few weeks ago he gave me an old Daiwa reel to clean/lube. as soon as i got the reel home i broke it down and measured the reel for new bearings. i was already ordering orange seal bearing for my Sol so i decided to order orange seals for the old Daiwas as well. yesterday the bearings came in the mail. i clean/lubed the reel, slapped the thing back together, and cant wait to try this thing out. the first good thing i noticed is there was no more side play in the drive shaft.that was nice. after that not much. in the end the reel is for the most part still a plastic craptastic reel with orange seal bearings. the things just not made well enough to gets a lot out of the bearings.

STEEZ 103HA Reel STEEZ STZ701MRBA-FL Rod #8 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra-Soft

i love the smell of Daiwa in the morning.....

co-sign. plus, the Sol can have most of the same mods done to it the Pixys can have done.

that is the coolest thing ever....

im not sure BPS makes that reel any more.

takes some brass clackers to go out looking like this:

i agree with buying 2 Compre rods. i have 2 of them and love them. the idea of the lifetime warranty is bonus.

Gosh, thanks - I'm sorta speechless on that! I'm really enjoying seeing all the modern stuff in this thread but to add a bit of a blast from the past I went out to the garage and took another photo. I got the Ted Williams 400 as a gift from my Dad probably around 1959 or 1960 - it was my only reel for about 6 years and caught a lot of fish. I fished it this year on a 60s vintage solid glass rod - caught two little bass and put it away 'till next year. (Those solid glass rods sure make you appreciate a modern graphite rod!) The Lido (what the heck is a Lido!) spincast reel I got for one book of SSS trading stamps. For a rod, I had found a 5.5' plastic handle casting rod laying on the bank on Alligator Alley in South Florida. I cut off the plastic handle, bought a metal ferrule for a couple bits, and then bought a new chucked handle for a buck or two. So, the whole rig cost me a book of trading stamps and about $2.50 cash. In the summer of 1967 (my last year living in FL) I was trolling a Rapala (or maybe a Rebel) down a canal off the Alley and caught a 4 3/4 lb largemouth...I remember it well..... I have it mounted now on a cheap BPS rod for use by my wife. Lotsa memories ! thats what im talking about. the baits in the display boxes is a nice touch as well.

i try to stay out of these threads because opinion will get posters rods they dont like. good luck, let us know what you end up with. Or it can help someone with additional selections to investigate to make a better choice. i understand your debate but buying a rod youve not used in any way off the net is like buying a wife off the net.

id take a reel with you and mount it on the rod and store fish the rod before you buy it. i try to stay out of these threads because opinion will get posters rods they dont like. something as simple as using your finger for a balancing point will let you know how tip heavy the rod is. good luck, let us know what you end up with.

im a huge Sol fan so i can only assume ill like the Ito as much or more.

a great deal. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250541019571

thanks. ive seen vice grips with grooves ground in them but the teeth scared me off. looks like the right smooth pliers and my drill press will do the job.

quoted for truth.

i love my Instinct S30. good battery life, web search. always works.

in Kansas we call that fringe benefits.

looking for ideas on making spool pin pliers. i have the basics but thought id look for ideas first.