Micro

I'm glad to see Abu cleaned up their line of products. In LP reels, they only offer the REVO and MAX lines now. In round reels, they still offer the old staples like the C3 and C4 (and a few others), and have brought back some popular models, like the Trophy reels. They've really worked on their spinning line. They've added to the 100, 300 and 500 reels - now have 600, 700 and 800 series. The 600 is an awesome reel for under $80. Now, all they have to do is IMPROVE their website - which sucks. And they need to revamp their logo. The... ...logo is getting a bit dated. Time for something new. And that's a good thing. No matter what company it is. Abu's old spinning reels with the stamina drag (rubber ring around the rotor) sucked. Thankfully that's gone the way of the dodo bird. Abu has taken aim squarely at Shimano. Here's the text from their website on the REVO page: The new low-profile baitcast reels that have started a REVOlution among serious anglers everywhere. These are the reels that are getting all of the "Buzz", and have anglers across the country replacing their beloved Chronarchs and Curados with their new "favorite" fishing reel, the REVO. Why you ask? Anglers will tell you that they are more comfortable in your hand (lower profile), every bit as smooth, have more fish fighting power due to the oversized main drive gear, hold more line (140/12), hold up better in fresh or salt water, are far less expensive, and has a 24 lb. drag system that is 2 to 3 times more powerful than any other reels in their class. Oh, and did I mention that the Revos are far less expensive? Don't take our word for it. Get yourself a Revo and join the REVOlution. You too will claim it as your own "favorite" fishing reel.

The Power Drive is awesome with either the remote or corded-remote hand controller. You have way more versatility than with a manual foot-steered model. Yes, it steers slower, but you don't have to steer as quickly because you can have better and much more constant control of the motor. My PD came with a foot controller, and I've never used it. The corded-hand controller is much better.

I have a Spirex front drag reel. It's nice, but it's excessively heavy. The QuickFire II system is a neat gimmick, but I stopped using it altogether after a few trips. I like opening and closing the bail with my hand. The reel itself is nice. It's relatively smooth, but the bail closes very hard. And it's overweight.

I've owned a Curado SF and two Cardiffs, and fished several other Shimanos. I like them well enough, but I've always thought Shimano BCs felt unrefined. The reels I had, and the ones I've fished, all had a distinctive metallic "clank" when engaging the spool that reverberated throughout the reel. The Curado, and the ones I've handled in stores had spools with excessive side-to-sde play. I also feel that they are over priced for the features they deliver. I only own one Diawa reel, a spinning reel, which I like well enough. But I won't buy anymore. The spool wobbles and the material in the reel seem relatively cheap, if lightweight. Stop reading now, because I'm going to plug a brand no-one asked about... Abu Garcia. I think it's the company right now at the top of the game. The Revos are fantastic, exceptionally well built, and have a very "sure" feeling about them that I don't get with Shimanos. I think the Revo STX is the quintessential low-profile baitcasting reel. It's not the lightest reel, but it's light enough. It doesn't scrimp on materials to reach it's relatively light weight. It's got the best drag out there on a LP reel - bar none. It doesn't have any excessive play in any respect. It's smooth as butter and casts a mile. There aren't any other BCs out there right now, regardless of price, that impresses me to the extent the Revo STX does. Abu has another winner in their 800 series spinning reel. I own two. These reels are exceptionally well built. These are the smoothest spinning reels I've tried. These reels have the most instant "instant anti-reverse" I've seen on any reel. Like the Revo, they have the best drags out there. The rotors are exceptionally well balanced. And again, smooth as butter. When I bought them, I was considering Sustains, but the Abu were more impressive and smoother.

I've messed around with one in the store and the bar seems kind of gimmicky. But the reel seemed very nice. I wanted another LP BC reel for my flipping rod (currently using Abu 5600 C4) and thought the Viento might be a nice change from my usual revos.

Does anyone have this reel? What's the verdict on it? It got a decent review at Tackle Tour, but I'd like to hear some long-term reviews. How's the twitchin' bar? Does it hold up? Does it even work well? Any other thoughts? I'm thinking of putting one on my flipping rod.

My favorite type of bass fishing is hitting the lilypads with toads and frogs. So I want something suitable for that. I was thinking a 7 1/2 or 8 ft heavy/fast. I have a couple of craftsmen in mind for a rod. The reel is stumping me. I've been searching the internet for reel customizers, or custom reels, and I can't find much. I know I'm going to want a low-profile, and regardless of brand I want it color-coordinated with the rod. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to want beyond that and figured I would consult the person customizing it for suggestions. I just want something unique. And this isn't something I'm going to do anytime real soon. I just bought a new outboard and my fishing budget is busted for quite some time.

Some of the best bass waters I fish have large gar populations. I think gar go after smaller fish than decent sized bass. Gar may occasionally eat small bass, but I think they have different niches and don't compete with each other.

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I agree, don't be too harsh. As an insurance claims adjuster, I've seen it before. I've seen a $40,000+ bass boat floating over a mostly submerged F-250 pick up. It can happen to the best of them. The idiots are the ones standing around getting sick enjoyment over it.

It will move your boat, but that's all. I have a 1548 jon, and mine won't plane on 9.9 hp. It's a nice barge on 9.9 hp. I've since traded it in on a 15 hp. I haven't taken delivery of the 15 hp yet, but I am not expecting any miracles from it, either. If you need any sort of speed, I'd consider a 25 hp. I'm sticking with 15 hp because I have hp restrictions on some lakes. Otherwise, I'd go to 25 hp, too. On the upside, the B&S has a good reputation for being durable. Since it's air-cooled, you don't have to worry about a water pump, or running in dirty water.

Maybe a better question is, who customizes reels? I'm thinking of putting together a high-end outfit with a custom made rod and reel. I know about rods, but the reel part is stumping me.

Daiwa, bah! Then he'd have to add a different sticker:

I bought three and returned one because it had a gouge in the blank I didn't see before I got home. I have two 7' medium baitcasters. I fished them briefly a week or so ago. I used them for cranks and small spinner baits (tried a a few topwaters, too, but didn't score). I only caught 2 or 3 small fish on them. But I like them very, very much. They cast extremely well, and are extremely sensitive. They feel good under load, like you have a lot of control. It just feels better than my All Star IM10s. Some people don't like the PowerHump grip, but I do. I also think the reel seat is the best mass-produced seat in the industry. The guides are top-notch - Fuji Alconite (as you said). And the rod is just pretty to look at with it's marble finished blank. I got mine on sale for $59.88 each. I think it was a sleeper deal at the normal price of $119. Highly recommend them - while you can ge them. Apparently, BPS will not be carrying them next year. I have a Johnny Morris Elite and I fished that one briefly a few days ago, too. I didn't catch anything on that rod, but I feel like I could map the lake bottom with its sensitivity.

OK, I'll say it. Shimano's carry high prices because people are willing to pay it. A name can command a premium price if people demand the name. (And I've actually owned and fished Shimanos, so my opinion is qualified.) Now, where's the popcorn.

I've tried it. I didn't care for it. I was used to mono and even though Invizx is the most supple fluoro out there, it's still stiff. If I was dead set on using fluoro, I'd use Invizx. I'm going to try Yo-Zuri Hybrid, which I hope will be a good compromise between mono and fluoro.

What guides are those? Look like Berkleys, but can't tell.

Where the heck did my post go? :-? Anyway, I like Stren Super Braid. I've never had a problem with it, it's very smooth, and it holds its color.

2. Or maybe 2.5. But not 3. If it fished like a rod 3 times its price, it would fish like a Loomis GLX. And we know that couldn't possibly be the case. So you would compare this rod to a Loomis IMX rod? It's either this rod, the Lamiglas Drop shot rod, the Dobyns 701 or 703 , or a Powell Drop Shot rod. Can't make up my dang mind!! I'm only joshin'. I can't compare it to anything, I've never used one. But I understand your problem. It's like, will it be a hot blonde tonight? Or a hot brunette? Or a hot redhead? No matter what you choose, it's gonna be fun.

I would personally recommend a 7' spinning rod, in medium or medium-heavy power and a medium-fast or fast action. I would use mono line - 10 lb on a medium and 12 lb on a medium heavy. I think either one of these would be about as versatile a rig as you can get. I won't recommend a brand, either. There would be lots of decent choices out there in your price range. I would, however, stick with the bigger names - Shimano, Abu Garcia, Daiwa, etc.

2. Or maybe 2.5. But not 3. If it fished like a rod 3 times its price, it would fish like a Loomis GLX. And we know that couldn't possibly be the case.

Playing devil's advocate here: Isn't "oil" the carrier for the scent? The scent isn't the oil, the oil carries the chemical that carries the scent. Oil is used to prevent evaporation and being washed off too quickly by water. If fish can't smell oil based scents, why can we? Some scents on the market seperate in the container and have to be shaken up before they are sprayed. Presumably because one ingrediant is oil based, the other water based. If a fish can't smell the oil, it should be able to smell the scent, unless the scent molecule bonds to the oil molecule preventing its reception - which I'm not sure happens. I don't use scents very often at all, and when I do, I don't catch anymore fish with them than without them.

Whatever you do, if you are going to leave your charger on your battery, use the lowest amp setting. Deep cycle batteries in good condition don't naturally discharge anywhere near a rate of 2 amps. 2 amp trickle charge output is the norm, so use that. Check your battery periodically. If it's warm to the touch, disconnect your charger and "trickle charge" every few days for a few hours at a time.

The 802 was $119 and the 804 was $129.

Let me clarify, I don't care for Fuji TCS seats. The rods that I have TCS seats mount my Abu 5600C4s. That very well my have something to do with it. My rods with ECS(?) seats have my Revos on them and they are just fine. My spinning rods with Fuji seats are just fine as well. I haven't a clue who makes the reel seats for BPS baitcasters. But I really like them. They've never loosened on me, and they are exceptionally comfortable.