Micro

I have several C4s in the 5600 size and 6500 size. I don't have any Trophies. First, if you want a traditional Ambassedeur, the C4s are good, solid reels. Second, for bass fishing, I'd definately go with the 5600 size over the 6500 size. I can't find anything that the 6500 does better than the 5600. The 6500 is just too wide. It's a great catfishing reel, though. You might even want to consider the 4600 size. Mine are older models with 2 pin, non-adjustable brakes. I think the new ones with the gold spools have 6 pin brakes. Even then, my C4s way outcasted my Shimano Cardiff reels. As far as durability goes, these reels will last you a lifetime. On top of that, they are great reels for learning to do your own maintenance. They break down very easily and are very easily maintained. I don't know enough about the Trophy to say anything against that. Except that a 6500 size reel is really wide for bass fishing. The C4 will be a reel you'll be enjoying 30 years from now. Still made in Sweden. Good, solid value. If you can spare a few extra bucks, the baby-blue Abu Garcia Record reels are the pinnacle traditional Ambassedeurs.

If you are willing to spend slightly over $100, I recommend the Abu Garcia 802 or 804. These reels are build like tanks - all alumiumn bodies, rotors and sideplates, large use of brass and stainless steel, dual bearings under the spool elimiates spool wobble when under drag pressure, overbuilt bails, etc. Thase reels are extremely smooth and have super tough black crinkle finishes. No shiny bling, either. Suited for fresh or salt water. Even the spare forged aluminum spool is as nice as the one that comes on it. I have 2 802s and 1 804. I caught several striped bass on my 804 and it works, and looks, like brand new. Best spinning reels out there right now IMO.

There is nothing particularly wrong with Shakespeare. The perception is that Shakespeare is a little "low end." Shakespeare produces no-frills stuff. Otherwise, that combo should give yeoman service. Are you a fisherman? Is fishing something that you think your son will want to continue? The reason I ask is because I think you can get a rod and reel from a company that has a wee bit better reputation that your son will have pride in owning and will give great service for many years. Keeping it at the $50-$75 mark, here are some combos that I think would work: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20287&rid=&indexId=cat20287&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=1&parentType=index&parentId=cat20287&id=0043392 http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20287&rid=&indexId=cat20287&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=3&parentType=index&parentId=cat20287&id=0037134 http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20287&rid=&indexId=cat20287&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=5&parentType=index&parentId=cat20287&id=0044015 http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20287&rid=&indexId=cat20287&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=7&parentType=index&parentId=cat20287&id=0037131 http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20287&rid=&indexId=cat20287&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=9&parentType=index&parentId=cat20287&id=0023619 http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/horizontal-pod.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/pod-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20287&rid=&indexId=cat20287&navAction=push&masterpathid=&navCount=11&parentType=index&parentId=cat20287&id=0042973 Of course there are many rods and reels that you can buy separately in your price range. Pflueger, Abu Garcia, Mitchell, Shimano, Daiwa all make very nice reels in your price range. Shimano, Berkely, Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas, etc all make very good rods in your price range. IMO, there is no practical difference in performance between 2 pc and 1 pc rods. It's a matter of personal preference and space requirements. It's not my intent to try and steer your from a Shakespeare branded combo. When I was a kid I had one and it lasted for years. It's not my intent to try and get you to buy a cabelas rod, either - just showing you some options. What I'm try to get at is there are better options in your price range - from names that enthusiasts trust.

I don't really buy a lot. My problem is that I tend to buy two-at-a time. 2 Revo SCs, 2 Revo SXs, 2 Shimano Curados, etc. I like to have doubles of everything, and I have no clue why. When I decide to upgrade, I usually keep what I have, so I've accumulated a lot. When I decide to retire something, I end up giving it away.

I walked into BPS two weeks ago with a Vertigo Battery Charger that I purchased in the spring that was making a funny noise when I plugged it in. They told me that they had a 30 day exchange policy. But then said a battery charger shouldn't crap out after only 6 months and invited me to go get a replacement and they would go ahead and swap it out. I'm sorry you haven't had good luck with your BPS. The customer service in the Hampton, VA store has been perfect for me.

Claw meat is lighter but stronger than aluminum or graphite. Everyone knows that.

Wish I could read Japanese. Wonder if this is a new model or a Japanese market version of the Premier. http://purefishing.jp/new/2007/11/10_29/index.html Edit: I translated the page. it is a Japanese market-only reel. http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.purefishing.jp/new/2007/11/10_29/index.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://purefishing.jp/new/2007/11/10_29/index.html%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Great! Thank you. Anything you can post would be helpful. I don't have a thing in the world againt Ardent. I just don't know anything about them. Their website just doesn't give the prospective buyer enough information. I'd like to see TackleTour do a comprehensive review of one or all of their products.

Can you post some pics of the reel? Especially the brake system? There is an shortage of photos of this reel on the internet. Agree 100%.

I know it sounds silly, but you could take it to a decent auto-body shop. There are plenty of techniques for repairing cracked plastic bumper covers. I'm sure a body shop could do it, cheap. (Heck, if they make money painting appliances, fixing a plastic boat isn't so far fetched.)

I know this thread was a joke, but... I occassionally feed live mice to my snakes. I can assue you, mice can and do fight back. Trying to hook one would surely result in a nasty bite. Tossing one into grass or lilypads would result in the mouse climbing the tallest dry weed. Now, in the alternative, they do sell dead frozen mice in most pet stores. Using those might work. Once they are thawed they are very supple and you could probably induce a nice action. Hmmmm.....

I agree. I know even a few ounces will fatigue you after a day fishing. But an rig with crappy balance will even more so. My Curado D 200s are a wee bit heavy, but on my All Star rods they feel great.

Revo SC > SX. I have both and the there is no discernible difference in performance. The SC has two fewer bearings, but it doesn't degrade performance at all. SC is the best Revo value out there right now, IMHO.

I hear good things about these reels from the few people that seem to have them. However, I can't find a genuine review (not talking about a promotional press release) on any Ardent reel. I can't find pictures other than the ones on their website. Just what is it that makes these reels so great? My personal opinion is that they are butt-ugly, though I know "pretty" doesn't catch fish. I'd like to know more about them. What sort of brake mechanism does it use? How is it adjusted? How is it accessed? What's the finish like? Is it durable? What do the guts of this reel look like? How is Ardent's customer service? etc...... I'm not about to spend $200 to get the answers to these questions. Other names, big names, like Daiwa, Shimano and Abu, are known quantities. Ardent, IMO, isn't. I know nothing about these reels. And no one seems really inclined to give up some useable information. Why should I buy an Ardent? Being Made in the USA ain't enough.

I've always said that BPS is a great place to shop if you know what you want. If you don't know what you want, someplace else may be better. I never order from BPS because they have a store near me. I buy a lot there, but it's always stuff I'm alreay familiar with - or educated myself on. I've learned not to ask too many questions at the BPS store because their sales people are just that, and usually not outdoor enthusiasts. As much as I can, I buy from a store called Green Top in Richmond, VA. Their folks know hunting and fishing. Many staffers have been there for eons. Their folks know their stuff. They also carry lures/baits from lesser known makers - much of which is superior to the major brands. They can talk about fishing or hunting on a fisherman or hunters level. It's also a localy owned store. These are the kind of places I like. BTW, if you ever go into a BPS store, have you noticed that that the Stren line they sell comes in weirds lengths? The big boxes are 550 yards (normally 1000 yards anywhere else) and the small boxes are 175 yards (normally 330 anywhere else). And the prices aren't really any lower than stroes that carry the 1000/330 yard boxes. Watch out if you buy Stren from BPS.

That's lure I've never had luck with. I've tried several storm swimbaits and none of them produced for me. LOL, I even cast one near a striper feeding frenzy and got no strikes.

I have 6 of these King Shads. Mine seem to track well and have good actions. The paint durability could be a little better. I fished one last week and succeeded in catching a striper about 20 inches long. It also gained the interest of an osprey that was doing his own fishing near me. I have 2 in the alewife color, 2 in the gizzard shad color, 1 in the bass color, and 1 in the firetiger color (or whatever Strike King calls their colors). These lures seem to have some following among some striper fishermen.

Treatment was 3 day admission into the hospital. 20 vials of Crofab (antivenin). The doctor recommended amputation of the finger - declined. He also recommended a fasciotomy (slitting the skin to relieve pressure from swelling) - declined. I don't know how much his hospital bill was. But Crofab cost $750 - $1500 per vial. He recieved a very significant dose of Crofab. Swelling in the limb and tissue damage would have been mostly likely much worse without it. -- I've heard people mention Copperheads. Except for a species of copperhead in Texas, the Trans Pecos Copperhead, Copperheads are supposedly far less venomous than Cottonmouths. Copperhead's primary toxin is a hemotoxin (destroys red blood cells). Most people recover fully from Copperhead bites with little more than swelling, some bleeding, and pain. Cottonmouth bites are a different story. Cottonmouths have a hemotoxin and a myotoxin (destroyes skin, muscle, connective tissue). They also have dirty mouths and secondary infections like gangrene are a real possibility.

Considering the marks on the arm to show the progreession of swelling, probably under 3 hours.

2 years ago I had a large watersnake crawl up my outboard and try to get into my boat. We had seen the snake swimming moments before. When I decided to move on my son asked where the snake was. I checked the motor and sure enough he was on his way up.

Sorry Lucky, I have to agree with DMB. These ARE NOT the same Pro Qualifier rods that usually sell for $119. I have several of these rods and that ones in the add are not them. BPS has slapped the Pro Qualifier name on lesser products in the past.

They aren't that bad. I wouldn't post anything that would make you throw up. This guy actually got off lucky. I know a fellow that got bit on the right thumb and never got any antivenin - just treated with antibiotics and antihistamines. After several months, his thumb had to be amputated due to chronic infections and gangrene.

These are series of photos posted at a snake forum I frequent. They were posted by a guy that was bitten on the fingertip while reaching for his camera by a cottonmouth he did not see. The photos show a rather graphic injury to the finger. I thought they were very interesting and migh be of interest to southern bass fishermen who share space on water with these snakes. Was photographing this snake when another one bit him: http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/DeanAlessandrini123/0000Indytalk.jpg Five minutes post bite to the right index finger: http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/DeanAlessandrini123/Slide70.jpg 3 hours later: http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/DeanAlessandrini123/Slide80.jpg Also 3 hour later showing the gradual swelling of the limb: http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/DeanAlessandrini123/Slide77.jpg 6 hours later: http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/DeanAlessandrini123/Slide81.jpg 1 week later: http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/DeanAlessandrini123/Slide86.jpg 8-10 weeks later - getting feeling back: http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/DeanAlessandrini123/Slide92-1.jpg 12 weeks later: http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/DeanAlessandrini123/Slide93.jpg Also 12 weeks later: http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/DeanAlessandrini123/Slide94.jpg The final outcome, permanently disfigured: http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/DeanAlessandrini123/Slide95.jpg Moral, watch where you step or put your hands. Cottonmouth venom is unforgiving.

Never used the Premier. But I have an HMX 6'6" ML spinning rod. I like it a lot. It's very sensitive. I like the guides - Berkley SS304 hard chrome. I have mine paired to an Abu Garcia 802 spinning reel and 6# test. I recommend it. It's a great looking rod, too.

Those sure don't look like the regular Pro Qualifier rods for $119 (70 million modulus, Alconite guides). BPS recently had these rods on sale for $59 since they are being discontinued.