strick9

I turned in an old Shimano FX spinning reel and bought a Quantum Tour Edition baitcaster. Unfortunatly they didn't have the burner model so I settled for the 6.3:1. Very nice reel!!!!!! $149 with the reel trade in and the rebate from Quantum.

The only braid I use on a baitcaster is for frog fishing and I use 50# in either Power Pro or P-Line Spectrex both are good lines for me. I use 20 or 30# Stren Super Braid on one spinning reel, it is softer and more manageable on a spinning reel.

That's ok, I still think it's an awesome reel even with only 9 adjsutments!!!!

Thanks Bob, that makes sence but I'll be darned if I can get that adjustment to stay in between clicks at all which is what you were trying to say in the beginning.

Ok, I stand corrected. Can you please explain how you get an infinite amount of settings with 9 brakes and the track moves in only with each click of the adjustment knob which is 9 settings? This might be a good question for Reel Mech.

Actually the new Quantum reels do have 9 brakes and each click of the adjustment knob moves the track they ride against in toward the spool more to engage one additional brake per click. With the old Quantum brake system each click of the knob engaged two brakes out of six. Quantum does recomend lightly oiling the track.

Power Pro or P-Line braid on baitcasters and Stren Superbraid on spinning reels because it's a little softer and just seems to handle better on spinning gear.

St. Croix Premier!!!! Have used them for years and love them!!! I have six of them, a couple I've had for about 12 years and they are awesome!!! I also have a couple All Star Classic's and they are nice rods but I like the Premiers better.

Hey JigMan, have you noticed any issue with your deck after installing your flatfoot??? I have been told if I cut the hole in the deck it will compromise the strength of the deck but I really need the flatfoot to help my knees and back. Do you know if any structural bracing was added when yours was installed???

I have several Quantum reels from the new Energy PT baitcaster to some pre PT version accurists. I love them all and have never had any issues with any of them. They cast as well as any other reels I've owned including my Shimano Curado.

Hey Falcon, I was in BPS the other day and I checked this reel out. It seems like a very solid reel and seems very smooth. I am in the market for a new baitcaster and am interested in this one. My biggest issue is that I have always used reels with centrifugal cast control and I'm not sure about the magnetic controls on the Diawas. Or I can pick up another Quantum Energy PT for $10 more than the TD-Pro with the rebates from Quantum and the reel trade in at the Classic. I too would like to hear from anyone with this reel and anyone that can compare the two different braking systems.

I have the Stratos 176XT with a 70hp Yamaha 2 stroke. I love this boat!!! It fishes great and has plenty of deck space and storage. They advertise a 6'7" rod locker but at least half of the spots will hold 7'. I previously had an aluminum v-hull and the glass boat is much more stable. With the 70hp this boat will do 40mph with just me and my gear and just under 40 with my partner and his gear. That boat also comes with a Mercury or Evinrude. If you have any other questions about the 176XT let me know. I have never owned a Honda outboard but several people on my lake have them and they say they are awesome motors, and they are quieter.

The joy and satisfaction of doing yourself, "Priceless"

A quick question on what you all do when winterizing your boats. I have read that the fuel tank should either be completly full or completly drained. Which is better and why not have a half tank of fuel with the appropriate amount of fuel stabelizer? Thanks

I caught a 20" smallie just after dark on a Pop-R last weekend. Wow was that a fun fish. Hope to get out tomorrow, not many good days left up here in Michigan. Oh ya, I also caught a 19"and 20" largemouth that same evening, both on a Sweet Beaver on a 1/8 oz jig head. Great day of fishing for me!!!

Hey coacht, thanks for the response. I love this boat and I don't feel like I got ripped off at all. There was nowhere around that I checked that I could get the motor upgrade for any less than the $1700 and no one would make me a custom cover for free so those 2 things alone took me just over the $15,000. I don't know what kind of sales tax you have in Alabama but the 6% we pay was another $900 and the freight and rigging charges (which maybe your dealer paid for you) came to another $1000. The registration and license / title fees made up the rest. Congrats on the great deal you got but there is no way you get that boat for that much here. This is going to be an awsome boat for me for a long time. You are correct about the 70hp Yamaha and the trolling motor is plenty strong enough. Enjoy your boat and GREAT FISHING!!!!!

I too recently purchased the Stratos 176XT and it is an awsome boat. I upgraded to the 70hp Yamaha 2 stroke for $1700 and with freight/rigging charges, taxes and title and license fees and a $450 cover, mine came in at $17,000. I financed for 10 years at 6.75%. As far as the hp rating on this boat I can't imagine needing any more than the 70hp, I have not yet reached the full breakin period but have reached 40 mph, it gets on plane quickly and rides great in rough water. As far as the rod storage, you can fit 7 ft rods in the top few spaces and 6 1/2 in the bottom ones. This is a quality boat and I would recommend it for anyone interested in a well equipped bass boat but can't afford or doesn't need one of the big boys.

I think the routing of the cable is fine but you definitely have some room to adjust that td down a couple inches before you go moving it.

Avid, I really like the Stren on spinning reels better than Power Pro. It's not as stiff and handles great. I have never had the Stren Braid break and I have had the same line on for a whole season before.

I too have considered the Stratos 176XT. For those of you that have this boat how does it handle choppy water and boat wakes? My lake gets pretty busy with skiers and PWC's at times and I was wondering how this boat handles these conditions.

I am considering this boat myself. Any opinions on advantages or disadvantages of the Yamaha vs the Mercury on this boat?

Lilly pads, because some real monsters hang out there and there isn't as much fishing pressure on them because not many fishermen are willing to go into that thick of cover.

Hey Mike, I will be there sometime during that weekend. I will try and get over to introduce myself. I look forward to this every year as the first sign it's almost time to fish again. And of course to get the Baitmonkey off my back!!! Mike S.

First of all I want to say that I think any kind of "canned" hunting is totally WRONG and unethical if not illegal. If Jimmy Houston is guilty of this and this was not edited in any way then he should be prosecuted and should be blackballed from legitimate outdoors TV and his sponsors boycotted, but untill I've heard all the evidence I will reserve judgement. As far as the staged catches on TV fishing shows goes, I don't like it if that's happening but I also don't know many that would watch a show about nothing (except Seinfeld). This reminds me of the complaining going on on this site as well as others during last years Bassmasters Classic when there were no big fish being caught. I remember hearing how bad this was to watch, we want to see more big fish caught. Well this year that may be the case at the Classic since it will be held at Lake Toho in Florida during spawning season. Sure sight fishing for big bass makes great TV but it sure sounds alot like those "canned" hunts we were just complaining about. In my opinion catching a bass that is by nature protecting its beds and putting it in a live well for hours before being handled at a weigh in is no better than the hunting. I have no problem with immediate catch and release and I know what is said about the mortality rate of the fish returned after being caught, but these fish are not making back to thier beds and that is bad for our sport. Just thought ther might be a little hypocritical thinking going on here. IMHO.

I'll agree with the fact that jet skis and power boats have as much right to be on the water as I do and if the lake is busy I go elsewhere. However, when I have been fishing an area and there is only one or two other boats or jet skis on the water there is absolutly no reason for them to come within 100 feet of me. That ticks me off and I have yelled at many of them only to usually make it worse. I too have been tempted to make a cast accross thier bow but have not yet. It's not just the power boaters that are not curtious, I was fishing about 100 feet off shore one morning making casts into the shallow flats when another fishing boat decided he wated to motor through between me and the shore line. After yelling at the moron I got flipped off. To bad common sence isn't very common. Mike