Micro

I see you changed the title of the post. The reason Shimano is loosing is because almost no one knows about the EXT Pro. I've only run across a few people that have tried them, much less own them. So unless you know them both, its hard to judge, and hard to vote. I suspect the EXT Pro will be dropped by Abu Garcia in the future, if it hasn't already. As good as it is, it just hasn't sold well.

I think the new Curado E is a step backwards from the D in terms of quality and workmanship. I never thought the D was a $200 reel (though I thought it was a pretty good reel). Why the Curado E commands $180 is beyond me.

I am not brand loyal to any great extent. I like trying different things. But I am more likely to try something new from a company that has consistently produced quality and high performing lures without a recommendation from someone than I am from a company I am unfamilar with or had bad experiences with. But if a bait it too unorthodox, I won't try it at all no matter who makes it unless it gets tested over time and becomes recommended (then, its no longer as unorthodox ).

The EXT's reel foot is recessed. They sit about the same height on the rod. You can see the recessed foot in Tackle Warehouse's picture... http://www.***.com/descpageRLCABUGAR-AGEXP.html

I've owned both, two of each. The Cardiffs were decent reels, but they cast about like my Abu Garcia C4s. Good, but not spectacular with light lures. They seemed well built, though. But did not offer any improvement over my C4s. The EXT Pros are great casters, even with light lures. Mine would cast with my Revos. They are a little finiky to get set up, though, needing a little more spool tension and a little less brake than most reels with magnetic brakes. Once you do, they'll throw a light bait a long distance. They also have strong drags. Very nice reels. They also have a strong kinship to the storied Abu Morrum. They aren't Morrums, but they are certainly cousins and while they aren't built exactly like Morrums, they don't cost way over $300 either, and they are smooth. The MSRP of for the EXT Pro was $175. They are on sale at Tackle Warehouse for like $99. That's a killer price for a great reel.

Alan Hawk's posts are always worth looking at. I've found his rebuild of the Revo Inshore most helpful and keep it handy for when I break down my reels. Now he reviews the Abu Garcia Soron. While he reviews the 806 size, the vast majority of what you see applies to the smaller models, as well as the Cardinal 800s and 700LXs. http://stripersonline.com/surftalk/showthread.php?t=638460

Green Top will be going on-line here shortly. Might be a good retailer for Glenn to contact to get them to become an advertiser.

As RW said, the Yo-Zuri Rattln Vibe is excellent. But it's definitely for burning and straight up-and-down jigging. It does not nose-stand on the bottom. Once it hits bottom, it promplty flops over on this side. It is the least bouyant lipless I've tried. But it looks good, had a nice action on a medium or fast retrieve, and can be ripped through weeds without picking up much. It's real draw for me is that if you let it dangle in the water, it stays horizontal. This makes it good for jigging up and down. I've caught a few fish on it doing this. On a slow retrieve, or for bed fishing, the Yo-Zuri Hardcore Drum is superior. I also fish the XCalibur Xr75. It's like a bigger Rattln Vibe. It's great for burning and pretty good in the weeds. But as Stringjam said in a previous post, it does lay on its side on the bottom. It's not quite as bad as the Rattln Vibe in that respect, but it's no good for fishing beds, unless you are burning over them. The Lucky Craft LVR is a decent lipless. It needs a mod to fast retrieve. But it is as weedless as they come. I like fishing these in grass. It's pretty easy to get them through grass. And whatever its action, it's got a great profile and has produced fish for me. As far as a lipless than acts good on the bottom, the Rapala Clackn' Rap, the new one I posted on a few months ago, will probably shape up to be a good bait. That bait stands ***-up in water. Even more than the Yo-Zuri Hardcore Drum. And being a big bait, it sort of rocks at rest on its nose. I haven't fished it enough to make a good call on its action (it did seem a little lackluster), but there is no denying that thing rest butt-up. Its tail sticks up to 1:30 when at rest.

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The Abu C4 is a fine reel. They cast very well. But, IMO, they don't handle light baits as well as modern low profiles. Most of the Abu C series (except the Records) have deep spools that hold a lot of line, which means high spool mass when the spool is filled with line. The spools are also geared to the level wind even in free-spool which means the the level wind moves even when the reel is casting. IMO, that combination of high spool mass and geared level wind makes it hard to get a light lure moving. I fished C4s for years and never really liked them for light baits. I used spinning gear for anything 1/2 oz and below. For heavier baits (1/2 oz +), they are good reels - built like tanks. If you want an Abu round reel that handles ligh baits well, consider the Abu EXT Pro. It is a modern reel with the Linear Magneitc Brake. It has a shallower ported spool. And the level wind disengages when the reel is in free spool and casting. This reel handls light naits as well as low profiles. Tackle Warehouse has them on clearance at an exceptional price. http://www.***.com/descpageRLCABUGAR-AGEXP.html

I don't know of *** is a "sponsor" but they are on this site's links page. They sell DD22s and do take Paypal. In fact, that's the only way I've paid for anything with them. Click "Links" then "Bass Tackle Shops."

I think the Pro Finesse has SiC guides. If braid won't erode ordinary aluminum oxide guides, it sure won't erode SiC guides.

String, I haven't tried the Jackall (yet) so that may be a better bait than the Yo-Zuri. But the Yo-Zuri is the best I have tried.

Yo-Zuri Hardcore Drum is an excellent lipless. It is very nicely finished, as well as any high end Japanese bait. It has excellent hooks. It has a very good action even as slow speed. Lifting it up through the water with just your rod and it flutters. And if it sinks to the bottom, it nose-stands. It's an excellent lipless IMO. I've heard good things about the Jackall TN/70 as well but I don't have any of these.

I owned a Curado 200DPV 5.0:1 reel, which I think has the same spool as the E5. The Curado casts light and medium cranks very well. It was smooth with an adequate drag. I also owned a Winch. It was just as smooth, and very well made. It had a deep spool and held a lot of line. It cast medium and heavy cranks very far. The drag is great - more than you will need. Depending on what you will be primarily casting, either can be a good reel. I'd go with the Curado if I was just casting 1/4-1/2 oz baits, and the Winch for baits 1/2 oz and over. In the end, I wasn't really satisfied with either reel. I sold them both. I've now got my sights on a Zillion 4.9:1 reel.

I'm not a fan of telescopic rods. But I can say the HMG is an excellent line of rods. I have 4 HMG baitcasters and 2 HMG spinning rods and they are light, sensitive and tough.

I can say the STX has treated me well. The reel is very well built. Both sideplates are aluminum. The bearings are high quality and I can get exceptional casting distance even with light baits - 1/4oz (though I used them for heavier things currently). It's smooth. And the drag is second to none. And don't let anyone fool you about the drag - it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. The brake is effective and refined and can be adjusted externally. And while I've never had to use Abu's service for a Revo, I have on some other reels and their service is peerless. You can't go wrong with a Revo STX. BTW, the newest STXs have HPCR bearings which cause a "whir" when casting. The previous stainless steel bearings were pretty silent. I have two STXs with HPCR bearings and one with SS bearings. Performance is identical. I judt bring this up because some people say their reel whirs and others say theirs doesn't. The use of different bearings is the reason. Both bearings are great.

I'd recommend the Fenwick HMG GT66M 6'6" medium/fast. Run about $120. It is a good rod for lighter cranks, and will handle weightless plastics well, too.

Hmm, I have three STXs and all will handle regular 12-15 lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid beautifully. I keep 2 spooled with 12 lb and one spooled with 15 lb. I have two SXs spooled with 12 lb and two Ss spooled with 15 lb. No problems at all with this line. As far as Curado (E7) versus STX, it's been done to death. Get whichever you like better. If you need the debate, you can do a search. Though I strongly recommend the Revo due to build quality and overall outstanding performance.

I have this weird thing. I can sit and stare at the faces in old photos for hours. There is something calling about an old - a really old - photo of a person that I had only known from paintings. As if we can glimpse around some corner that had only let words past and finally see the people speaking those words, which we had read in history books. We've all seen photos of Civil War soldiers and Civil War dead, or photos of Abraham Lincoln. But photos of men who lived before that era are few and far between. That's the reason I find this photograph of John Quincy Adams, 6th President of the United States, and son of John Adams, 2nd President, so compelling. Taken in the early 1840's just before his death, he was born in 1767, and witnessed to the Battle of Bunker Hill, was in US government by the turn of the 19th century and before the War of 1812. And who doesn't know about Andrew Jackson, the face on the $20 bill. The man who earned a gash on the head by a sword-swinging British officer during the Revolution after he refused to shine his boots. The hero of the Battle of New Orleans. The man who cleared Indians from the East and sent them West on the Trail of tears. The only known photograph of that ancient man...

If anyone here has tried them, it's probably Stringjam. Maybe he'll post his thoughts.

It was no nightmare, I was in your room... OOOps. I meant to say I will push Heddon Lures. The Heddon Lucky 13 is one of my all-time favorite lures. I recommend it highly.

I used Yo-Zuri Hybrid on all my baitcasters. I even use it on my frog outfit. Fantastic line.

Darn. I was gonna say they all have "Shimano" stamped on them.

I've got a Power Drive on the front of my boat. I'd like to take about 9 inches off the shaft. Has anyone done this? Are the wires in the head connected via fittings, or would this require splicing wires (which I won't do)?