John G

The disadvantages in getting a Scorpion is no warranty support if you need it. There are no advantages in getting a Scorpion XT1000 IMHO. I got one because it's a great looking JDM 50 sized Shimano that is very affordable.

I just bought 3 Scorpions from Japan Tackle. A XT1000 and 2 XT1500's. The XT1000 is a better reel than the Curado 50E that I had IMHO. People say it's the same reel but I don't remember the Curado 50E that I had being as good a caster as the XT1000. Japan Tackle has the XT1000 for $199.00. To be honest, after using the XT1000, I wish that I would have bought 2 XT1000's and 1 XT1500 instead.

Just for future information, if you get good with a baitcaster and you want to get a sweet little reel, I highly recommend a Shimano Calcutta 50. There are real expensive versions called the Conquest 50 and some lower priced models. Ebay is a great place to look for older models in great used condition. They are also a very palmable little reel and for me, they palm just as good or better than the 50 size low profile Shimano's and they are excellent casters too!.

Braid......Cause Gary Yamamato uses braid.

I hope KVD isn't using the WalMart combo that carries his name! I consider myself to be very proficient at using a baitcaster and trying to cast using that combo made me look like a rookie!

In reality, I only need three, maybe four for freshwater. I fish from the bank and the area that I fish has lots of weeds along the edge so for me, a H/F bottom contact rod that can also throw spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and smaller swimbaits. A topwater rod, a rod for weightless plastics and maybe a rod for shallow running cranks. But my wants have taken over my needs and I have combos that I rarely use.

If the reel were really important to me, I would look for a used one in operating condition on eBay, buy it cheap and use it for parts.

I don't have Loomis MH/H 7 footers in GLX yet but I do have the MBR843 MH/F and a Loomis MBR844 H/F both in IMX. For T rig worms/craws with a 1/4 oz and lower, I like the 843. If I fish a jig, which is rare, I would use the 844 cause the 3/8oz jig will be over 1/2oz when you add a trailer. Hootie, if you haven't used the 844, it is a very versatile rod and when I did not have my 843, I used my 844 with that same T Rig setup and it worked just fine. The 844 is a legend among bass rods for a reason.

Some people are content with cell phones that do nothing but allow them make calls and others like me, prefer an iPhone or similar. Some people are content with a $99.00 Huffy and others buy a $1000.00 or more Cannondale. The examples are endless and fishing gear is no different than anything else.

Pinky and ring finger

You have obviously never used a Conquest 50 that is mounted on a Loomis MBR783 GLX.

Magic Eraser and you do not need to use any extra elbow grease to get the job done.

I'd rather get skunked with an $800.00 combo than a $50.00 Wal-Mart special any day of the week!

I would not worry about the dirt unless you can actually see it on your line and you can hold the line in your fingertips while you are reeling to put some tension on it.

Kevin, you first need to understand why a bait caster backlashes. It backlashes because the spool is spinning faster that than your lure can pull the line out. To overcome this, you need to adjust your brake setting kinda tight if you are a beginner and you need to use a lure that is aerodynamic and one that is in the upper weight range of your rod. For example, if you are using a 7' Medium Heavy/Fast rod that has a lure range of 1/4oz to 3/4oz, you should be using a lure that weighs closer to 3/4oz. The heavier aerodynamic lure makes casting for a beginner easier.

X3 on buy Shimano's!

I should have known that you knew that! I wonder what Shimano was thinking putting the graphite drag star, a bushing in each knob and a plastic clutch bar on the E Model Curado. I would have gladly paid $200.00 for the 50E with those upgrades.

I am usually the one learning different things around here. It what this Forum is all about. Since you in the upgrade mode, another very inexpensive upgrade that you could do is to replace the bushing in each knob with a bearing. Look at the 51E Schematic on Shimano's website or your owners manual and you will see that right now, you have 1 bearing and 1 bushing in each knob.

The 50E had a graphite drag star.

The Avail drag star is also $50.00 plus $9.00 shipping. You will probably have $30.00 total in your genuine Shimano drag star but, if you want a swept carbon fiber or aluminum handle later on, the Avail product is the way to go.

Yeah the 201E will be aluminum. I ordered the drag star, the click pin, click pin spring and the retainer spring that holds the click plate on. J Franco is right, just order everything above the nut. I ordered everything starting with the Roller Clutch Innertube....BNT 3909..... but I do not think that I needed to order everything that I ordered. The knob caps are an item that Japan Tackle ordered for me from Shimano Japan. I bought them when I bought a reel and they shipped everything together. You can go to PLAT, create an account if you haven't already done so, and look at their Shimano parts schematics for Shimano baitcasters and order the Scorpion XT1000 knob caps from them.

This is what a 50E looks like with a 200E drag star and Scorpion XT1000 knob caps. I think the Core50 drag star is a different shape and the Core100 looks more like the 200E.

American Legacy Fishing

You only live (on Earth) once!

You guys need to remember that this IS the Internet! Right now, he (if it's a he) is probably sitting back and laughing at you guys getting worked up over his trashing the Tatula.