The_Natural

Seaguar spools Cabelas line. Carbon Pro=Cabelas No-Viz....Inviz-X=Cabelas No-Viz Xtra. They have discontinued the NoViz Xtra, and you can get a 600yd spool for like $20 in the bargain cave right now. Inviz-X users should jump on it.

Different folks prefer different brands (I prefer Daiwa spinning reels), but as long as it is a reputable brand and has an aluminum frame....you should be good to go. An aluminum frame (or magnesium) is the most important feature; an aluminum frame won't flex like graphite and will keep your gears aligned for years. The Daiwa Exceler has an aluminum frame and is $69.95. I think the Symetre does as well.

The 15 and 20lb are very popular lines here in Texas. The 15lb has the same diameter as 10lb CXX, and lots of guys use it as their 'all-around' line. RW needed the 10lb CX premium on his spinning rig...6lb is suicide :-X

Yeah...Yozuri Hybrid and Pline CXX would be the only suitable lines in the 6lb class I would bass fish with...they are both very underrated lines with much higher than advertised breaking strengths. CX premium is VERY thin and pretty true to its rating. I've got 6lb CX Premium on mine and my wife's crappie rigs...there is no way you could bass fish with it...holy crap! I should have put a disclaimer on it knowing what you normally use 8-). The 10lb CX Premium is the same diameter as 6lb Yozuri. So basically fishing 6lb CX Premium would be like fishing with 2lb Yozuri Hybrid . I guess I'm glad you threw it away before you lost a good fish on it. Oh well...I'll still get you to try something else 8-)

I hate 3x plastics as a whole, but the 3x finesse worm is almost a staple for me (and should be fore everyone else). Nothing floats higher. It is one of the best shaky head worms out there...you just need a wire corkscrew-type fastener. The Spot Remover Pro works great for them.

Oh yeah; you don't have to pay to use TurboTax until you actually Electronically file them. So basically, you can do the 1040 form with deduction maximizer for free, and if you like it than you can electronically file it and pay the $30. If you didn't use that product, try it and see if you owe less money. It won't cost you anything....only about 1hr of your time.

I paid way more taxes than I had to for several years. I have always used Turbo Tax, and it's free for the 1040EZ form. You have to pay $29.95 to do the standard 1040 form, which has their 'deduction maximizer'. I used the deduction maximizer this year and last year, and my return was significantly better. You can claim things you didn't know you could claim, and turbo tax makes it extremely easy by just asking you questions. I recommend to anyone that has taxes to do, to use TurboTax and spend the $29.95 to do the full 1040 form (unless you are young, make little money, or someone can claim you as a dependent.) The thing that ticks me off, is you get the same tax break ($2000) whether you spend $6000 or $15000 on tuition. That is the difference between what we paid in tuition last year versus this year (my wife is in grad school). I was expecting a HUGE return because of that. Anything over $4,000 in tuition gets the same tax break.

Yeah...I just realized there is quite a difference in price between the rods you are comparing. I would expect the Dobyns to be better overall, but only time will tell.

I'm with you micro. I blasted the Zillion when it first came to the U.S.; I thought 'why would I pay more for the same reel as a Fuego...only heavier?!' I bought a Fuego shortly thereafter, and it was a good reel, but nothing special and had difficulty casting baits below 3/8oz. I moved on and came across a Zillion for a price I couldn't refuse. Even though it weighed more; it was clearly more refined and noticeably smooter. The Zillion is the smoothest reel in existance that doesn't have handle bearings. As a matter of fact; my Anniversary Zillions have handle bearings and I can't really tell any difference between them and my regular Zillions. Like Micro said....you just have to use one to understand.

See, I could do the 7'6" heavy if I were pitching frogs, but I hate trying to cast with a 7'6" Flippin' stick. You swimbait guys may cast with 7.5ft broomsticks all the time....I just can't do it!

Yeah...and not all Heavy power rods are created equal either. The Daiwa 7'1" Steez Compile-X or MBR 844 Loomis would be on the light side for a true frog rod. My Zillion 7' Heavy's are broomsticks and work well . I fish frogs over hydrilla, and I think you need a broomstick to be able to effectively horse them into the boat.

Come on Muddy...spring for that new Cabelas Prodigy rod; it looks as good as some of my high-end rods. Regardless of which model you buy, go with a 7' Heavy. *edit* Nevermind...I didn't know there was a $40 difference between the Prodigy and Tourney IM7 rods. I though it was more like $20.

I haven't held the Okuma, but dam the Mojo's are sweet for $90. There are few (if any) rods that you can be 'proud' of for $90-$100.

BrokeJu might be the only person who can answer that. I've never fished with a Dobyns rod.

This is my beef. The SX would get significan 'professional overruns' when trying to throw anything under 3/8oz.

I think the higher-end Daiwas have tighter tolerances than any of reel brand.

When you can get a $250, 5.9oz magnesium reel for $160 bucks....it's a no-brainer. The Mg50 will significantly outcast any revo due to it's line capacity (35yds of line weighs a lot). I thought my mg50's had just enough capacity...similarly to the Core.

Dam. It makes sense though. Shimano USA painted the Curado green again hoping to achieve Curado B sales. The Shimano Scorpion was the best selling Japanese Shimano, and I guess they didn't want to mess with success.

+1 You can really hone a trap bite if you utilize a few different types of traps. A very wide flat surface on a trap (like the XR50) moves a lot of water and is very aggressive. The opposite would be the Lucky Craft LVR which is skinny and far less aggressive. I don't have a rhyme or reason on what trap I start with, but if I get a few fish on it...I will usually tie on a different type of trap on another rod. On another note; the Spro Aruku Shad is the most impressive trap for the price...period. The finish on these baits is Lucky Craft quality...and I own a lot of L/C traps. My local Cabelas and Bass Pro have them for $7.99, but I get a pricematch when I show them Janns Netcraft has them for $5.99. I highly recommend the members here pickup a few of these....they are the deal.

The old Scorpion handles were 70mm I think. Very short. Most don't seem to care, but they bothered me a little.

Like others have said; buy it because it is a solid reel...not because it has the twitchin' bar. I bought several when my local Cabelas clearanced them out for $100. I found it to be an impressive caster...even better than my zillions. This is due to the relatively shallow spool of the Viento, which also makes it excel at casting and pitching light baits.

Winding checks are aluminum and as thin as a pop can. They add no negligible weight, which is why a lot of custom rod builders use them. I know you will defend your brand and company, but the Cumara just looks unfinished in the handle area. The minimalist 'racecar' theory would work if Shimano wouldn't have done aluminum trim with a metal plate on the butt section. If you are going to dress up half the handle...just add the .01 grams of weight and do the other half. This pic shows the handle looking unfinished. You could shave off more weight than the aluminum checks would add by properly shaping the EVA as well. The Cumara and Zillion are BOTH great rods. When two competing rods are both light and sensitive....you have to start splitting hairs. That's all I'm doing....

I suggest nothing too expensive if you drop them in the lake every few months like I do mine. I'm on my third pair of Cobalt Needlenose (Lowes I think?) and love them. They seem to be better than Craftsman.

+1....but you could do the 6lb and it would be as strong as most soft 8lb lines people spool on their spinning reels. I have 8lb CXX on a Loomis 723c IMX spinning rod and I'm not scared to throw 3/8oz jigs with it. Bring it!

I'll get some close-up pics and a review a little later. I'm finishing up a few things at the moment. I think they are underrated and a rod that should be mentioned in those circles. The Zillion, Cumara, and Superlite PT are all made in China...all are nice...and all have their good points. I'll explore that further in a few....