The_Natural

How are you rigging it? I'm T-rigging it with a 3/0 X-point and 1/8oz tungsten weight. The Beaver bug is the best BPS plastic I have used to date.

I generally switch a few things up in the summer when I am pitching a jig in bathwater. I like a heavy jig...1/2oz or 5/8oz...to get the reaction bite. For finesse jigs I like the 7/16oz Jewel heavy cover finesse. Swimming a jig with a blue hue to it is very effective and underutilized. It honestly isn't hard to swim a jig at all...just hold your rod tip high and lightly 'pump' it...bordering on shaking it. Just use a lighter jig for swimming...1/4oz works well.

I've used slow reels....I had an old Quantum cranking reel that was 3.8:1, and I've used burners. I think I like the higher speed reels better, just for the fact I can burn my bait back to the boat when my bait is out of the strike zone. When I say high-speed, I mean 6 or 6.3:1, not 7:1. You can use a 7:1, but they are just too dang fast for me and don't have any torque. My Cores have actually cranked very well, and my all time favorite is the regular scorpion.

I realize tight tolerances are not the only measure of quality. I've got to say though, the anti-reverse bearing serves only one purpose....don't let the handle go backwards! If you have one bearing that allows some backwards movement, and then one that totally retards backwards movement....I'm probably going to go with the latter.

Hands down the BPS Beaver Bug in Roadkill Camo. This thing is just dominating as of late. Of course I'm doing well fishing my C-rigged french fry where the bass should be, but it seems like any time I pitch the Beaver Bug to cover I get bit. On Memorial Day, I launched at a busy marina full of drunks and loud motors. I went ahead and fished the marina out anyway, and stuck countless bass on the bug. This is my 'fat ika'. It is so magical for me right now if I were more fortunate I would send everyone a free pack. Seriously...it's that productive. I'm waiting on someone to pick up a pack and back me up...

If it doesn't affect the reel's abilities then how does it affect the quality of the reel? What I think you may have meant is that the backplay "issue" represents certain people's PERCEPTION of build quality. The backplay "issue" does not negatively affect the reel's capabilities but certain anglers feel that it is an issue so it becomes a "problem" when it really isn't. And as a caveat, my next reel purchase is more than likely going to be a revo. Again, it isn't a 'problem'...just a flaw per say. When you drive a Ford Focus and the handling doesn't feel as tight when compared to a Honda Civic...you can still drive it fine; it just doesn't feel as tight. Tight tolerances generally signify build quality (hence when tolerances are tight...quality control is tight). I do own several Shimano's and they perform extremely well; I just don't remain loyal to one brand and will give my true opinion of each. When we are speaking of $200+ reels we are being picky, and that is just what I am doing. It won't prevent me from recommending my Cores....love 'em...but I'm not above saying the anti-reverse bearing shouldn't have play in it.

So it isn't a "flaw" then? I may just be inexperienced, but my citica's don't have this "backplay" that everyone speaks of. Maybe someone can clue me in to this issue with my reels. It doesn't hurt fishability, but it represents build quality.

So how does this "flaw" negatively affect the reel's ability to fish? I don't know that it negatively effects the reels fishability, but I do not think Shimano purposely left play in the anti-reverse bearing. Daiwa's have zero play, and it has never led to any sort of damage. Tight tolerances leading to damage seems a little crazy. You aren't going to bend gears by setting the hook.

Buy yourself some tungsten bullet weights. This will help you immensely with detecting bites versus limbs/brush/etc.

Yep...802/852 Pick your poison. The 2 power BSR's have won me over. The 3 power rods are good, but they encroach on casting reel duty...those are powerful dudes! The 2 power is more of a traditional spinning power, albeit with a super-ridiculous fast action that is notoriously BCR.

I own a pair of these, and they seem very solid. Are they my favorite high-speed reels? No...I do like my Zillions better. Daiwa just has the tightest tolerances of any brand. However, a $200+ reel is going to work pretty good regardless of brand. Will it hold up over 7-10yrs? Who keeps their reels that long?!

Those yellow 'tags' you see are just the tabs that lock the lid down. I've got 3 waterproof spinnerbait boxes and 3 standard. It's funny you ask, because I plan to label each and every box (they used to be), but my printer is broken. I actually have Fellows label making software that comes in real handy. On another note, you can see I have some skinnier 3700's on the right shelf with the yellow tabs. I've only had these for a month, and they are what I use for my 'On deck' baits. They are only 2/3 the width of a regular 3700, and you can fit quite a few more of them in a bag. For instance, my red Cabelas bags could only fit 7 boxes of standard 3700's, but they can fit 11 boxes of those. The boxes do allow enough storage for a days worth of baits...actually it is just perfect. If you feel you need more than 7-10 of a particular bait...you just alot it another compartment.

I own a couple of Carrots and a Couple of Powell rods as well (same price range). I honestly like my Powell's better...they are equally light in weight and have much better guides. Sensitivity seems better also. Powell is my new recommendation in the middle rod market; I honestly think the sensitivity and performance is on the Croix LT level (which I own also).

I fished Quantum exclusively back in the day, but I will admit they fell apart and ended up with misaligned gears. That was before aluminum frames were the norm (and I had the top of the line). I have owned a cheap Shimano with a graphite frame that also ended up grinding...I'm chalking this up to the graphite frame. I haven't owned an aluminum framed Quantum until this point; we'll see how they do. Granted I don't keep reels more than a couple of years. I never let my reels get dated.

I'm no Quantum Junky, but I think every manufacturer has a few dissatisfied customers. Just trying to play devils advocate, but wasn't there a well publicized saga of someone getting like 3 or 4 bad Shimano reels in a row?

BSR802 is my all-around spinning choice. The DSR820 is just a little to whippy for me. The SJR782 is nice also, but the BSR802 is just very crisp with the perfect amount of power.

I throw them a lot...I've caught a lot of fish on them. The 1 and 2 share the same action, with the 2 obviously being larger. The 3 and 4 are shaped more like a minnow than a wobbler, and have a little different 'swimming' action. The BDS 2 is one mean shallow water wobbler; it's a 4x4.

I used to fish with Quantum rods exclusively back in the day. They have always used Lamiglas blanks, and I thought they were on top of their game.

Need may be a strong word. I fished tournaments all through high school with just 4 setups and did just fine. Granted, it is really convenient having a few more.

Zillions are sweet. It will cast 1/4oz and up baits almost as far as my TD-Z's. I picked up a couple of clearance Tour Edition PT's, and they are like winches. I'm not fond of the weight of them at all; they are bricks! I'd either buy a Zillion or wait until August for the new 7:1 Curado.

It just depends on if you can spare the time to tie on a different bait. I can't. If I am going down a bank, I will be working a moving bait until I hit a laydown. I'll drop my crankin' rod and pick up my jig rod or T-rig rod. After working that I may see some activity behind me...looks like shad are being busted. Time to pick up my spinnerbait rod and fling it out there before the action stops. I may also see a ledge or break that has fish all over it, and want to drop a C-rig down there real quick. See what I mean?

They aren't. Bassresource is kind of our little 'world' we live in, and Shimano's dominate here. If you go down to the Texas Fishing Forum, they don't think the Fat Ika is anything special and will most likely recommend Trilene Big Game. Don't get me wrong...Shimano has the majority of the reel market share (35%), but while fishing tournaments, the guys I draw I think represent what the workin' man is buying. I bet I see more Bass Pro reels than anything. Quite a few Quantums as well. I'll tell you...the Revo is coming one VERY strong. They are showing up on the deck of more and more boats.

Yep...get yourself some fluorescent CXX (or CX if you have feelings)

Well, if the afforementioned store is selling them for $147....that is where I will be getting mine. I rarely buy reels at list price from BPS or Cabelas anyway.

I have a crapload of Plano 3700's, but I keep 6-8 of them empty. When I am heading to a body of water, I make selections based on what I am faced with, and put them in my empty boxes. I refer to these boxes as 'On Deck' plastics. When I get back from my trip, I stock them back in. Works well with me...