J Francho

You are swaying off topic. None of those fish coexist with bass. No one fishes for bass with conventional saltwater gear, so the point is moot. I can make a cast, catch an 8oz. perch. make another, and catch a 2 lb. smallmouth. make a third, a ten pound drum, make a fourth, and catch a 30 lb. king salmon.

I have the Pinnacle DHC5-681SPM Tube-Grub-Finesse rod with the Performa XT. $90 reel on a $150 rod...pretty sweet set up. handles big fish, too.

The end is handled by spool tension or your thumb. It's just after spool start up, when air resistance slows the lure down that is when an overrun occurs.

That too. I don't own any $250 spinning rods, lol. I was just using the balance of the OP's budget.

We've taken care of the issue, by blocking this particular user's access to the forums.

Spit and my shirt tail.

Find a local club, and fish as a co-angler or non boater. You probably want to look for a team format as well.

I'd have no problem putting a $50 reel on a $250 rod.

That would be pretty neat!

deaknnh03, really that's enough debate. We're handling this, as I said many posts ago. Thanks for your concern.

Its not you, I've already located the account.

You need about 3/8 oz. to get the tail really moving on the fall with the big Annie.

Get a pocket camera, and Gorilla Pod, and you're all set to go!

Robert, PM his email, and any other details, and I'll try to cross reference that here.

The floating suits were intended to be used on the ice, where rescue is much easier if the victim is floating.

Considering Stren sponsors some high visibility tournaments and several big time pros, it's hard to consider them "under the radar."

I wouldn't really separate reels along magnetic and centrifugal. Some brands execute brake design better than others. Shimano's VBS is elegant and simple. Set it and forget, it just plain works. Daiwa's Mag-V and Mag-Z are amazingly adjustable. Get dialed in for your cast, and fire away. Want to add a couple yards, drop it by a click. Wind kicks up, dial it up a click.

The adults in my family don't generally exchange too many gifts, but I did get a nice hoodie from my mom. You'll likely see it in one of my trout pics this winter, LOL.

Our bass may not be as big, but I've caught trout up to 22 lbs. on fluoro as light as 4# size, and a Palomar works fine. It ain't the knot, it's the tyer.

This relationship alone is gigantic to catching bigger fish. If you think in this frame of mind, rather than fishing in "spots," you're going a long way to improving your catch.

Crankbaits were probably the last thing I switched to casting gear. Any 1500 to 3000 series reel should be fine. the rod is going to be a little harder to find. The All Star recommended above should be a good bet. I used Team All Stars for years before upgrading, and they are a good rod. The whole spinning vs. baitcasting debate gets over complicated. The main difference: spinning handles lighter line and light baits with ease, whereas baitcasting is more suitable for heavier lines and baits. Yes, there are spinning reels that can handle 20 lb. mono, I know, but you can do it with a baitcaster in a smaller package. My dad did all his fishing with two basic rigs, a heavy spinner and a light spinner. If one didn't handle a certain lure he was using, the other would.

Go with the slick lining. Easier to get in and out of.

The KVD L&L will serve you well. It also helps control color fade in braids, if that matters to you. Give your guides a squirt, too. The Citica is an excellent purchase. If you're into tinkering, try replacing part #3521 with part #0031 from the Curado, for a smoother retrieve and better durability. While you're in there, install a Carbontex Drag - probably the BEST upgrade for any reel.

Go try it. Is it really that much better with a reel designed to throw light baits? Answer: Yes.

Mag v has less mass. Less unsprung weight equals faster startup for lighter baits. I run a wide open spool, but dial in a lot of brakes. 6 is a starting point.