hawgchaser

The 702lx is the way to go. Its the best of all the reels that have been mentioned IMO. Sahara and Symetre are also good reels. I own 2 Saharas and have no complaints but the Abu is superior in every way.

i've been fishing jerkbaits for about the past month almost exclusively bc thats what the fish want. I have always caught fish on them this time of the year. I have learned that you need several kinds of jerkbaits. Some days pointers out produce all others. But at other times bass want a more erratic action like the X Rap. IMO both baits are a must have. The LC baits aren't magic but they run true and the paint holds up better than most. However, I believe the X Rap has those same characteristics. Believe it or not, the most productive jerkbait I used all week was an H2O Express made for Academy sports. This thing was on fire yesterday and out fished all others! Bottom line is that the pointer is a must and so is the X rap.

Quantum Accurist PT burner is 60% at cabelas. I bought 3 of them!

I have always thought that Falcon is one of the best values on the market. I have a Lowrider that I really like. Another suggestion for a line of rods in the $100 range is the Quantum PT Energy series. I prefer these rods over most that I have fished. They are light, sensitive, and have great action. http://www.***.com/descpageRDCQUANTUM-QECR.html The 7' M is my favorite rod for ratltraps, jerkbaits, and senkos. My next rod will be the 6'6" MH for spinnerbaits. Awesome rods ata great price IMO.

High end rods are not worth it to me. I think they are extremely overrated. I have found that I do not lose anything by fishing with rods in the $100-$150 range. Yes I have fished with the "good" stuff. I've owned several loomis rods, a kistler, and St Croix as well. They are all great but do not put more fish in the boat. For me, they aren't worth paying extra but I know plenty of folks think they are.

Well my problem is that they are hitting chrome/blue. The lure is now white and they aren't hitting that color.

I don't mid some chipping but they are basically white on one side.

The red eye shad catches fish as good as any trap type bait I have fished. However, the paint will not stay on them for anything. I have been through 4 of them this week and they all have half the paint gone! The Xcalibur Xr50 have held up perfectly and is a superior bait IMO. I will stick with them. Well worth the extra $3.

Thanks, I am fishing main lake points between points 12 and 14 on the north side of Sugar Loaf, Higdon Bay has produced some really nice 2.5-4lb fish on jerk baits, and a little bit by five fingers. The only place i can catch them is on points with chunk rocks and the wind has to be blowing into the bank. If I can find those conditions, I have been catching really nice bass. I haven't been on this size fish on Greers in 15 years. I am letting the jerkbait sit for 10-15 seconds before I jerk it again and they are hitting it dead still. My buddy has been catching the same fish on Xr50 traps.

Greers has been hot the last couple of weeks. Tournaments have been weighing in 22-25lb sacks. I have been the last couple of weeks and have found some nice fish. Right now they are on main lake points hitting pointers and X Raps. I caught a nice one last weekend and a bunch of decent ones all on the Xrap. Olive has been the best color for me. I am going this weekend and will be throwing the same but will mix in some ratltraps on those same points. I was told by a tournament fisherman that knows the lake well to find points with bluffs that fade into pea gravel size rocks. He was dead on!! That is where the fish were hitting. Here is a nice Greers Ferry bass from last weekend. Good luck Check out her belly!

Nice fish..

As so many on this forum, I have always stayed away from Quantum. Last year I bought 2 PT Energy rods that I have absolutely loved! I think they are an incredible value at $100. Then last month, I see the Accrist PT Burner on sale from $139 to $59. I thought what the heck and ordered one. What a fantastic reel!! I loved the reel so much I now have 3 and used them to replace 2 citicas and an old curado that I ran over in my driveway. These reels are very smooth, cast well, but they really shine in the braking department. The ACSII is as good as any I have seen. I like centrifigul braking and the ability to control it externally is a big plus. So has anyone else experienced this or does everyone think they still suck. BTW.. Part of my excitement cold be the fact I have boated 11 bass over 5 pounds this year! No monsters yet but my best start by far!

Plueger has got their spinning reels down!

That is all that matters

Twin tail Hula and Netbait Paca are my favorites. Rage tail has some new chunks that I have heard good things about.

What a deal on an awesome reel. Smoooooooooooooooth

Out of those listed it would be the Tour Edition or Chronarch.

Triple Fish Xrated is a fantastic line! I do not know about the silicon you got.

It feels like you are fishing with piano wire. It has a bad feel to it, casts terrible, and is way to stiff for me. I also hate the black waxy crap that gets on everything when you spool it. Overall, it just has nothing i like. It is inferior to Power pro and Suffix proformance braid in every aspect. If I need real abrasion resistance I will go with flouro or possibly this Yozuri I have started using.

Fireline is the single worst line I have used. I am amazed that people use it. That's just my opinion.

Ive got 4 of them and have been extremely happy with them. I think you will like it!

There is no doubt you will find more support for the Shimano reel on here. Not very many people have fished the 700 series. The Symetre has a little smoother feel to it and is a good reel. Like I said before, you can't go wrong with either....unless you will be using it for inshore then go with the Abu for sure. Enjoy whatever you get!

You can't go wrong with either one. I have spent a lot of time fishing both and prefer the Abu simply bc I take a few trips to the gulf each year for redfish. The drag on the 702xl is superior in everyway IMO. It is also rated for saltwater. They are both great reels and will serve you well. The Abu is tough as nails though! I bought a couple of them...

How fun was that!!!!! 11.7 on a topwater toad

I'll look into some of these. I'm not sure it is a technique I will use much but it may surprise me. I've got a new crank bait box to fill anyway!