The_Natural

Glenn is right...the answer is language, but the question isn't phrased right. The correct riddle is... Angry and hungry are two words that end in '-gry'. There are three words in the English language. What is the third word? Everyone knows what it means and everyone uses it every day. Look closely and I have already given you the third word. What is it? There is the riddle...language is the answer.

+1 I used to fish tournaments on Missouri lakes like Table Rock, Bull Shoals, and Beaver back in the day...those are examples of lakes that fluorocarbon would give you a low-visibility advantage. Other than gin clear water, I also don't think line visibility is an issue. Granted braid is too far to the other extreme for me...a lot of anglers have success with it, but I just don't have confindence fishing highly visible sewing thread. I fish fluorocarbon for the sensitivity advantage only, but still use a lot of Pline CXX. I've contemplated going back to only CXX, but I haven't made up my mind.

You need 8 reels more. I need two more reels, only problem is I can 't decide which ones I "need". :-/ A little OT, but I'm serious when I said I was going to buy some of the new '09 Citica E series reels...I like the look, stats, and price. Casting should be identical to the Curado, due to it having the same spool and spool support bearings. The Citica has the same 5 bearing setup as my Cores, and they are smooth enough. I'll probably buy 6 when they are released. It's going to be nice not having to worry about scratching them

I live Northlake, TX, and I'll only venture out from 5am-10am or 7pm until dusk. Call me a pu-tang, but if I'm burning up...I'm not having fun.

I've got 16 reels and only 12 rods. I don't buy combos per say...I like to mix it up.

Just take it back to where you bought it and exchange it...problem solved!

I agree with The Natural...I also like the Chronarch colors on it...Tight Lines!!!! Yeah, the old Chronarch 100a is the first thing I thought of when I saw it. I'm surprised they went the extra mile and anodized the spool, handle, and drag star in black. Did I mention it has the Dartanium drag?! I'm growing tired of trying to keep all my expensive reels from getting scratched...it's a PITA to put the reel covers on and off...make sure they are sitting face up when I don't have the reel covers on...etc. I'm thinking about buying 6-8 Citicas I can use and abuse without worry.

It is confirmed to be for saltwater use, granted it could be used for a swimbait reel. I think it looks very different from the stx, and not near as trick as the Citica with it's black anodized spool, handle, and drag 8-)

I can't believe the value you get in that Citica. It's only .2ozs heavier than the Curado and looks more badass for only $119. Hmmmm....

Although there is no wrong answer here...I would go with the Avid, based solely on construction and quality. Weight will slightly favor the Crucial, and sensitivity is probably a tie.

I had some budweiser confidence built up when I posted that last night ;D. Crap...I better produce! Hopefully my brush and compressor will be here by Friday and I can do some painting this weekend.

Who the hell is that?

I just won an ebay auction for an Iwata HP-C for $87, and ordered a 1/5hp compressor to back it up. I can't wait to start paintin'. I also ordered $140 worth of skirts from fishingskirts.com...I didn't mean too...I just couldn't decide what all I needed to compose the ideas I have in my head. I'm actually more excited about the skirts than the airbrush...I just know I've got some good ideas for some skirt color combos. I'm not going to pour my own football heads, but after two weeks of searching and checking out different options...I found someone that has the exact mold that Picasso has for their 'Fantasy Football Jig'. Not just 'like it', but THE mold. It's my favorite football head...it has the textured bottom and this guy paints them in several colors. I'll post up some pics in a few days, but I'm already excited. About the painting...I'm fairly artistic...took some art classes in high school and college, so I expect good results from the get-go and will be ticked even if my first baits don't look good. It sounds like high expectations based on what I've read, but I'm tough on myself and have quite a bit of confidence. I'll gladly eat humble pie if they turn out less than perfect, and I will post a pic of my first baits regardless of how they turn out. I've said I 'keep it real', so that pertains to myself as well.

Only RW can make a thread about a bait that becomes 5 pages...he's got some serious influence around these parts! I'd take that as a compliment

I've owned all three and I would go with the Avid. The new Avids with IPC are pretty dam sweet. Don't get me wrong, the middle rod market is the toughest segment, and very hard to argue one way or another. I say the Avid based on it being more sensitive and having better guides than the Carrot. The Crucial is right there with the Avid, I just like the quality and refinement of the Avid better.

They are nice...a good bargain no doubt. Mind blowing?! That seems extreme (as Chappelle would say...I'm just keepin' it real). I dig'em, and they are nice sticks, but they don't blow everything away in the middle rod market.. They are the lightest rods in that price range, but sensitivity I would put in the middle of it's class. I think my Avids and Powells are more sensitive, and have better guides no doubt. I chimed in because of similar threads I read before I purchased my Carrots. I don't regret buying them one bit (I'll get that out of the way), but the threads I read had me thinking my GLX's were in jeopardy with these $150 rods, or they would do my laundry. Good sticks, but they probably compete for second or third in the middle rod market IMHO, with the Powells being my favorite. Between the Carrot and the Avid it's close; the Carrot is far lighter and more contemporary with the split grip, but the Avid is more sensitive and has better guides that actually have ceramic rings. Just giving my .02 for those that might be in the market.

Nope, CXX > US That's what I was going to say. You can make a lot of claims...less memory, better casting, etc...but in the strength and abrasion department CXX is unchallenged IMHO. I've only used the regular Yozuri Hybrid, but it can't match CXX so I can't imagine the Ultra Soft is stronger/more abrasion resistant than the regular Hybrid. CXX isn't a forgiving line...it's tough as sheet, but some say it isn't user friendly (I honestly don't think it is bad at all). However, if CXX were a cigarette, it would be a Camel non-filter. If it were dip, it would be Copenhagen. Catch my drift? It isn't silk, but when you need the toughest crap out there...CXX is your line. Memory?! Grow a pair! (or as burley said "deal with it".) It isn't wire...just not Trilene XL.

The key words are BUY and PROVIDE. It is a shame but some want the distinction so bad they are willing to buy it. And that is exactly what they are doing. They are really only very good customers. +1, albeit if you already use the product...it's nice to get a discount. Basically...pro-staff means you sometimes you get a few free baits, but most of the time you just get them at a discount. Everyone that is 'sponsored' by a rod or reel company is paying for their reels (except for true professionals).

+1 The Slider worm is designed to swim through the water column. I guess you could bump the bottom with it, but I'd go for a different head. I generally fish them on 30-45 degree banks or points and under docks. The little slider worms on that head just glide through the water column. Just leave your rod tip high and reel slowly intermittently...it will swim back to the boat with little effort on your part.

I've got several TD-Z's apart now, and they are getting a fresh coat of paint. I'd probably order the bearings from VXB Bearings, versus paying $42.99 for only two TG bearings. What I'm confused about, is the TG Rocket Bearings kit only comes with 2 bearings. Are folks generally only replacing 2 bearings? I though it would be 3 or 4.

Line is a personal preference, and unfortunately even if it was just a bad spool...your confidence in the line is gone. Same thing happened to me with Trilene Sensation. I kept breaking off at the knot. Many swear by this line and it was thrown around that I possibly got a bad spool. By that point I was done though. The line that comes to mind that should behave like Ultra Soft would be Pline CX Premium. It's limp and had great clarity.

I like my 803, but I also have an 852, both in the casting versions. The 3 power BCR's are powerful...they are labeled as extra-fast, but they probably should come up with a new category just for these rods. Ludicrous fast maybe? Anyway, the 803 is great, but the 852 probably behaves more like a spinning rod in the since that it is geared more toward finesse. However, the 852 is probably real close to the 843 in the upper section of the rod; it has surprising power. Just keep the 803 for skipping jigs and tubes, working flukes/Slug-go's, and everything else you could use a shorter rod for. The 852 on the other hand, is the ultimate rod for all your general spinning rod duties.

That's really disappointing . I wonder how they got their paypal account going again.

WARNING !!!!!! That site raises a huge red flag. I'm not so sure. The prices are good, but not so cheap they are unrealistic. A lot of them are very close to ebay prices. Plus, they prefer paypal...which completely protects you and makes it seem unrealistic that they would be able to maintain a paypal account if they weren't legit. We should know fairly soon. I've got some money hanging out in my paypal account, and I could use an alphas type f for $170

Sounds like they transposed the plastic/flake color, or he just bought two different colors. It sounds like he bought a package of grape/red flake and a package of plum crazy.