21farms

actually, if you're a lefty, it's not a bad idea to get a right-handed reel so you don't have to switch hands after casting. just something to think about. a lot of old timers can't because we learned the old way but it seems the newer generation of baitcasters prefer not switching hands, just like you would with spinning gear. for an inexpensive reel, i recommend the garcia black max...i have one i picked up for my kid to use but i've used it myself and am pleasantly surprised by it...it casts better than my revo S.

i bought the Bass Pro Shops® Pro XPS Finesse Trigger Rod in 6'9" medium light just for my finesse applications. works great. my shimano crucial dropshot casting rod can really zing the lighter lures too.

just wanted to make sure you guys knew that if you bought the 1 lb. spools of 6# test yo-zuri hybrid ultra soft at cabelas ($60), that's 8,000 yards which comes out to less an a penny a yard and will last you a looooong time. if you bought the 600-yard spool, it comes out to 2 cents/yard. ;D

i have two citicas and a prodigy (plus too many of other reels, just ask my wife ). the cabelas prodigy is a slightly reworked daiwa tierra. terrific reel...but, so is the citica. the citica 100DSV is wonderfully small and smoother and lighter than the prodigy. the citica 200 is pretty heavy IMHO but still feels great. shimanos are the smoothest but the daiwas offer more casting control. take your pick, you can't go wrong with either.

funny how a 6-footer 20 years ago was considered adequate but today is considered "too short". anyway, some people like shorter rods for spinnerbaitin' when workin' under trees and such and because you can be more accurate. i too had a 20-year old BPS pitchin' stick but in 6'6" size...kinda heavy compared to today's rods but worth a try. fwiw, i just got back into fishing after a 20-year hiatus...so far this year, i've snapped two of my old rods at the hookset...not sure if it's just cuz the rods are so old or what. regardless, i've used that as a nice excuse to buy all new equipment!

congrats on your decision. yep, ya gotta have both spinning and casting gear...there are situations where one will really excel over the other. i cut my teeth on spinning gear but, after i started using baitcasters, look out! it was a tad frustrating at first but the feel, control, and line handling offered by baitcasters totally won me over. as for the megaforce, i have two of them. they actually cast extremely well and easily. i do find them a little on the heavy side and the ergonomics aren't that great because of the twitchin' bar (no easy place to rest your thumb when palming the reel). i also found that i rarely use the twitchin' bar even though that was my primary reason for buying them. if you don't need that feature, i'd recommend the shimano citica 100DSV or the abu garcia pro max or the cabela's prodigy (made for them by daiwa) or the bass pro shops prolite finesse (made for them by pflueger), all at about $100 to get you started. the abu garcia revo S is in that same price range too but i cannot recommend it for a newbie...mine is very difficult to get 'dialed in' just right.

most people want a fast action rod (bends more at the tip than middle) with a lot of power. most people want spinnerbait rods between 6'6" and 7'0" though 7'0" is more common. some people like using a rod with a slower action (starts bending closer to the middle) like on a crankbait rod but i feel you lose out on a lot of critical sensitivity that way. even at your budget, there's a lot of fine choices. i'd personally recommend the shimano clarus CSC-610MH: 6'10", medium-heavy power rating with a fast taper and only $60 with the best warranty in the business (lifetime). this rod is also very versatile...6'10" is pretty ideal for pitching and you can also use it for worming and carolina rigging. but, basically, you want a 6'6" to 7'0", medium-heavy, fast action graphite rod. good luck.

add me to the club. i have 17 baitcasting reels i've bought new just in the last 10 months and my citica 100DSV is tied for my favorite, even over other reels i have costing much more.

does spooling fishing line onto baitcasting reels using a spooling station offer any significant advantages other than the obvious ease of use and consistent tension? if the line is spooled on much tighter with a spooling station than i can do by squeezing the line between my fingers as i'm spooling, does that reduce potential backlashing?

i have two megaforces (along with some curados, revos, citicas, etc.). their castability is amazing...i get more distance on lighter lures with the megaforces with less backlash than practically any other reel i own (17 total). however, i find that i almost never use the twitchin' bar like i thought i would. there's also no place to rest your thumb on top of the reel if you're palming it because of the twitchin' bar. the reel is on the heavy side too. been using mine for about 8 months now and no reliability problems at all.

i believe the berkley TEC one is. i just got mine ($50) and have been testing its accuracy and it is spot on on everything i've tried.

the newer PFDs activate via hydrostatic pressure so this shouldn't be a problem anymore. i tend to sink like a rock in the water so i chose a model with a high buoyancy (35 lbs. of floatation vs. 25 lbs. some of the lower priced PFDs offer).