John G

A lake that has large gators. Does that matter to y'all? We had another story in the news yesterday about an 11 footer that killed a criminal that was running from the police and he (at night) decided to hide out in a little pond and Mr. Gator grabbed him. I was thinking about a Gheenoe but would feel safer in a Jon. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3350360/He-hid-wrong-place-Florida-man-killed-eaten-ALLIGATOR-hiding-police-caught-robbing-homes.html

I keep telling myself that a 1448 is as small as I would want to buy for safety reasons. Am I misguided in my thinking?

Or a big heavy big bladed spinnerbait rod.

$119 is a steal for the new Curado.

Because the rod is so sensitive that you are getting a thrill just very slowly draggin and hoppin jigs and soft plastics so that you can feel anything and everything on the bottom?

What kind of FC are you using? I like Sunline Sniper.

Never used the ZPI and I have not used the KTF enough to give an educated opinion. There are different Avail Spools for the Aldebaran MG7/MG, XT1000, Curado 50E, Core 50MG7 and Chronarch 50E reels. Japan Tackle has a description of how light each spool is capable of casting. I have the most experience with the Yumeya 32mm spool. It is a fine spool that is plenty capable (with the right rod). If you go to YouTube and watch the Shimano BFS Videos where they are using the Poison Glorious, Poison Ultima BFS rods etc, you will see that they are not using 1 gram jig heads with 1 gram plastics. Americans have a different definition of what BFS is as opposed to the Japanese that invented it. They are tossing 6" worms and hard baits that don't look BFS to me. My Shimano BFS rods are rated from 1/8 to 3/8 of an ounce and my Megabass BFS rod is rated from 1/8 to 1/2oz. 1/2oz is not very BFS is it? Well, that is what the rod is rated for and I think it even says BFS on it. I have evolved in my BFS fishing to when the conversation gets into casting a lure that weighs the lightest possible weight, I don't participate because that is not what I do. With my BFS combos, I am tossing Keitech 5/32 oz finesse jigs with a trailer that probably weigh a 1/4oz true weight and I use an 1/8 tungsten bullet weight with my light t rigs. I can easily cast 1/16 oz bullet weight with plastic but I am not happy with the distance. I am also using 1/16oz jig heads with the little 2.8 and 3" Keitech Swimbaits, Super Fluke Jr's and my Flick Shake Jig Heads are 1/16oz. Do you how light in total reel weight or how light it will cast? Other people can comment on the bearings. The Avail spools are great. I have the CNQ5026R's in my Conquest 50's and one is mounted on an MSX-X Limited BFS rod. It casts a Super Fluke Jr. considerably farther than my KTF Spool equipped Aldebaran Mg7/Poison Ultima. I do have different lines on each reel but the difference in distance is very noticeable.

What your other questions? You are going to find that the Avail spool is going to be a performer even by putting the regular XT1000 brakes on it.

A shallow spool does sooooo much more than those two combined. Lightening up on the brakes makes you work on casting form to avoid backlashes from hell and a shallow spool takes just about all the headaches away. My experience with the 50E shallow spools is with the Yumeya, the KTF and the Avail ALD0915RR. I just bought the KTF from Matt aka The Hooligan and I do not have any real time casting with it yet. I much prefer the Yumeya over the Avail ALD0915RR because it holds a lot more line and it still is able to cast lighter weight lures. If I were buying another shallow spool for the 50E platform, the spool that I would buy is the Avail Honeycomb ALD0936RR because of line capacity and the ability to cast lighter than I care to go. Check out Hedgehog Studios and Japan Tackle for shallow spools.

Yumeya, ZPI, KTF and Avail all make great spools. Before you buy, make sure that you research the spool or ask questions.

Bantam1 said the Classic Mag Bass Line isn't going anywhere. I think that he's right in regards to the GLX's but not the IMX's.

That about covers it.

Time will fly by and before you have time to think about it, she will be graduating from high school and then off to college so cherish every minute you have with her.

Upgrading the bearings, drag and the polishing of certain parts. Ian Shields aka eBassfisher over at Tackle Tour has the reputation as being the best around at super tuning.

JDM

Shimano Poison Ultima 172H because life is short and you can't take your money with you when you die.

Same to you Bill

I use to love that show! RIP Rosco

Ham! Not much on oven baked turkey but I do like smoked turkey legs. Never had fried turkey but I would like try it.

Bait Finesse System is what BFS stands for.

I would buy the BFS XG Limited or if you already have a 50 size Shimano, as has already been stated, get a shallow spool for it.

I can't fathom what you are feeling right now. Hope you and your family get through this ok and prayers sent.

The E being Made In Japan may have something to do with it.

If you always wanted the Curado 200E in a 6.3:1, you need to get a Shimano Scorpion XT1500. It's the same reel in a different color and its 6.3:1.

I agree with Jrob and Bluebasser, the I is a better reel than the 200E and I know it's not worth anything, but I think that the I is the best Curado ever made.