HopelesslyAddicted

This is very interesting. I have always thought the action of my Giron could look a little better. Let us know how much better you can get it to be! A video would be awesome if you have the means.

Here's some good advice. When you select your braid of choice pay close attention to the diameter rather than the pound test. For spinning gear you want around the diameters of 2-8 lb test. Good choices to start are Power Pro (5-20lb), (Suffix 6-20lb), or whatever line has the qualities you are looking for in a braided line. If I were you I'd start with 10lb or 15lb power pro because its cost effective, it doesn't break anywhere near 10lbs (closer to 20), and it will tell you what qualities you like and dislike about braid.

I wanted to try out what a lot of people are calling the best braid ever. So I shopped around for awhile and I found a 300yd spool of 18lb for 39 bucks. Judging by the market at this time that's a pretty good deal. So I got 18lb because I intend to use it on my spinning gear with a leader. What I didn't realize was just how thin this stuff really is! Don't get me wrong its the smoothest, quietest, best handling braid I have ever used, but I am a little worried about its breaking strength. I have some 20lb Suffix (.009" diameter), some 15 lb Power Pro (.007"), some 10lb Power Pro (.006"). The Daiwa Samurai is supposed to be .008" in diameter. That would put it in between 20lb Suffix and 15lb Power Pro. The only problem is it actually has the smallest diameter out of all of these braids, even smaller than 10lb power pro. :-? So what gives? I realize this gross mislabeling has been going on in the line industry for a long time but the actual measurements on the box are wrong? I wonder if anyone else has noticed this? From what I can gather Daiwa hasn't made any breakthroughs in strength to diameter ratios, they are basically just selling thinner line and calling it a higher pound test. And breaking strength is LARGELY a function of diameter. Anyone else have any experience with the smaller # tests of Daiwa Samurai?

Hell yeah Dodgeguy, I'm glad to see you like that Patriarch too I can't wait to get my hands on one. I'm gonna have to say a Loomis NRX with a Pflueger Patriarch, super light super sensitive and super sweet. Neither of these products are actually out, but I feel so confident in what I know about both products and both companies that I think I'd be quite a happy camper.

Gander Mountain has Pflueger Supremes for 65 dollars with free shipping. IMO its a much better value than any Shimano at that particular price point. If you want to spend more than that then look at shimanos, daiwas and abu garcias in your range.

Oh I see, well it still looks great, and it took some skilled craftsmanship to pull off.

WOW. Just wow. Your painting skills are sick dude. Can I ask does your bait slowly sink and suspend in the water with your rod tip up? If so I think you have a real winner there!

That's what baitmaking is all about dude. Trial and error. I'd say for your first bait you did a heck of a job and you should be proud. As you continue making baits you will get better and better, and eventually you might not need any more factory produced baits!

Do we need to reenter for each phase or are we automatically in the running for the next one?

Between Gamakatsu, Owner, and Mustad they cover almost everything you'd ever want. Sure the Lazer trokar hooks come out of the box a little sharper, but in my experience they don't stay that way. IMO it comes down to quality/price. Once you have a certain level of sharpness, you really don't need anymore. Then it becomes more about the hooks STAYING sharp, and the VALUE. I only use premium hooks but I shop around and only pay 30-40 cents per hook--sometimes less. Owner cutting point, Daiichi X-point, and even Gammys all provide the right level of quality/price when you shop around properly. 8-)

This is what I'm wondering about. I need a new baitcaster for heavier baits and with the sale price on the gold version its only 129$. I'm wondering if someone who has used them for awhile can recommend them or not? Trust me I've done many searches on this subject but none of them talk about whether or not these rods are worth it at the 89 dollar or 129 dollar price point... To me, that may make it worth it.

LOL I liked when our boy Johnny Johnson sticks himself with the crankbait in the opening credits! ;D

I believe the 9530 carries a little less than a 2500 size Shimano. Just look at the line ratings on the Pfluegers they are a bit different from Shimanos. Pretty amazingly light. That's as light or perhaps lighter than a comparable Steez spinning reel. I haven't looked into the Exceler, but two different size spools sounds cool.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewpfluegerspinningpreICAST10.html Pfluegers have always been great reels for the price, and now they are getting lighter, prettier, and smoother than ever before. I own two Supremes and a President (all spinning) and have been extremely happy with them. They say that the new Patriarch is the smoothest, lightest best built Pflueger yet. The 9530 model is only 6.3 ounces! I can't wait! I was looking for a nice reel to match my Legend Tournament, and was even considering a Daiwa Tierra, but this new Patriarch is the most attractive spinning reel I have ever seen around this price point. Not to mention how sick its going to look on my Legend Tournament!

I recommend the Daiwa Tierra and the Okuma VS. Both are among the very best at that price point and both have been reviewed and highly touted by Tackle Tour.

Holy crap they are available now! I have been waiting for these, but I wish they were a little cheaper. I just realized they are available at tackle warehouse too.

I agree. I believe that even in semi stained water, there are fish big enough and smart enough to see even 6lb yozuri, that why I'm so anxious to try a good strong fluorocarbon.

Thanks Hammer, that's what I needed to know. I don't fish rock too often mostly weeds. Yozuri VASTLY underrates their LB test and I'm sure you know that already, and that's why it never breaks. I also feel like yozuri is certainly "good enough" when it comes to stealth. I've had too much success to think otherwise. But I have never given fluorocarbon a fair shake so I wanted to compare. Thanks again.

Like I said in the OP I want to compare it to a true fluoro. Trust me I'm not going to stop using yozuri I have an 8000 yd spool and currently its only being used as leader material lol. I feel like I may have been spoiled by the strength of yozuri, I mean the stuff just doesn't break. Two weeks ago I caught a 25lb snapping turtle with 10 lb braid and 6lb yozuri leader. Hopefully the suggestions that you guys have made, and will continue to make will lead me to the right fluoro. Oh yeah what invizx were you using? And was it because of a situation where most fluoros would break anyway?

RandysBreth, I like the idea of the strength of the stuff you mentioned. 1x breaks at 14.5lbs? Sounds great to me because I'm comparing it to what I have already been successful with - Yozuri US #6 (.010" diameter and 11.9 lb breaking strength) Whatever I change to has to be at least as strong if not stronger. Mirage's 1x is the same diameter too. SoFlaBassAddict, I have heard people say that Invizx holds up better than Abrazx, but I don't have first hand experience. Maybe I should bump it up to 10-12 lb Invizx? Fourbizz, I will definitely look into Sunline Sniper, specifically into the breaking strengths in .010-.012 diameters. Dodgeguy, You sure love your fireline braid I prefer to use a leader for confidence, and I did look into some fireline but couldn't find the Lb test or diameter that I wanted (for spinning gear).

Alright I need some advice from some guys that have a good amount of experience with braid and spinning gear. I have been using 10lb power pro and 20lb suffix braids and they perform well on my spinning equipment. I always feel the need to use a leader for extra stealth/confidence. I have been using yozuri ultra soft 6# as the leader and it performs great, but I want to compare it to a true fluorocarbon. I bought some Seaguar Invizx 8# based on some recommendations, but I heard that is usually used as a main line fluoro. Is there a better option for tough, thin fluoro leader material? Keep in mind that I want the line to be thin because I like to use about 6-8 ft of leader so I can retie my lures several times. I usually use an albright knot to tie the leader on and have been very pleased with its performance, but if the line is too thick it will hit my guides a little. I also need the line to be dependably tough because sometimes I have to pull them through 3 feet of weeds. Yozuri US #6 believe it or not does this for me no problem. Also are there better braids to use on spinning gear other than what I'm using that are actually worth the price?

I don't know man it I'd go up to 40,000 lb test, what is that rod rated for? ;D

Dodgeguy, Alright that sounds reasonable that a far more expensive braid like samurai would perform better. I have been using 10 lb power pro and some 20 lb suffix braid on my spinning rigs for two years(with leaders). Both perform fine but I like the power pro a little better performance wise. The 10 lb power pro has never even come close to breaking let alone the 20 lb suffix. I don't understand all this talk about 8 strands vs X amount of strands, what does it matter if the line never breaks? Maybe its a baitcasting thing? More strands = rounder line, which I can see being an advantage for baitcasting, is that it?

Could someone please tell me why power pro sucks? That's all I hear now is "power pro is outdated garbage " I really don't get it, because it works fine for me. I'm fishing it side by side with suffix and I don't really functionally see that much of a difference. What am I missing out on? How much better does it get? And why?

Dude its pretty funny that you're mentioning this. I also live in CT and my last trip out in the canoe, I thought I had hooked a monster fish. The thing was pulling us around a bit in the canoe, and I was thinking to myself, "d**n if this is a fish its a HOG!" And then of course I pull up this ugly freakish beast of a snapping turtle, with my wacky rigged senko in his mouth. After seeing the canoe for a bit he decided to let the worm go thankfully, but he held on for a good 3-5 minutes! The thing had to be at least 25 lbs. Dang turtles.