The_Natural

I don't know about that... I do have two Shimano Core's I purchased recently and love them, but I feel the Daiwa Steez represents the pinnacle of bass fishing instraments. IMHO...Shimano has remained somewhat idle in recent innovation while Daiwa has leaped forward. I own and utilize both, but I think this gives me the right to comment. This is a whole different bag of worms!

Trilene XT is one of the first coated lines ever introduced. Big Game is very popular and works well, while XT is stiffer and has better abrasion resistance. Big Game should be considered the gap in between XT and XL. I used Trilene XT for many years when I was younger...it never failed me.

Yes! This should probably be a sticky. You can also include the posts that state "I just bought X rod or reel...what do you think about it?" What does it matter?! Are you going to sell it if we don't approve?!

+1 You are one of the few that have noticed some fluoro's turning white. That is a pet peeve of mine. Having a light refraction index close to water doesn't matter if the line is milky white!

+1 I assume you are talking about the bcr894. What most don't realize until after they purchase a long rod like a flippin' stick is how accurately they can pitch. Skipping is also easy and fairly backlash-free with a 7'5" or longer rod. You will see...I couldn't help it and ordered the 7'6" and 8' Carrot Sticks. I'm a proclaimed Loomis guy, but the E21 rods are not a gimmick or fad...they are the real deal. I would go with the 894 if you can afford the $450, but if you prefer to spend less the Carrot Stick is dominating the middle rod market right now. You won't find a bad review of the Carrot...

+1 I've got the 2000yd spools of the 12 and 15lb Berkley Pro-Grade; it only took me one filler spool of each to realize it was the fluoro I had been waiting for. I purchased a filler spool of 20lb to throw swimbaits on today, and it casted effectively with relatively no memory. I actually purchased two filler spools and gave them away to a couple of fluoro users on the Bass Pro forums. I was one of the first ones to get the Pro-Grade last summer, and I was so excited about it's performance I wanted someone else to try it. How about you make a phone call and get us on the pro-staff so we can bathe in this line! I would spool every reel with it, but as of now only my jig and worm rods get the good stuff.

I'm a huge sluggo fan...it was the first thing I purchased when I got back into fishing in '04. My favorite color is watermelon/pearl. The Sluggo has the best action of any soft jerkbait when twitched. It doesn't have the Senko wiggle when falling, but both have there place. The Sluggo isn't made for dead sticking. If you plan on working your soft plastic jerkbait...you can't go wrong with a Sluggo.

I heard this from a reputable source before reading it online. Bantam1 over on Tackle Tour verified this as being true by his reply of 'No Comment'. It is very obvious that a 'No Comment' response is used if something is true, and if it is not true than the rumor is put to rest by just saying "Not true...this is totally false!". If somebody asks you if you're gay...you are going to say HELL NO! If you really are gay, you are probably going to say 'No comment'. I'm not saying Shimano is gay, just trying to illustrate ;D

I don't think my Pelican can hold all my stuff...it would sink. Definitely looking forward to getting a full size rig.

I have the 6'9" medium/moderate action and I use them for cranks.

Between 7 and 8 based on the size of the mouth and that you are actually a ways away from the camera.

+1 It definitely prevents sampling. I don't use scent on reaction baits, but all plastics and jigs get scent. I like the convience of arerosols, but have been using the baitmate gel lately and it rocks! I put a little ribbon of gel on my plastic, and smear it around with my finger. It is a little annoying to have to wipe off my finger, but this stuff lasts an unbelievable amount of time. At least 45min with constant fishing. I scored about 15 bottles on clearance at walmart for a dollar. Jigs still get spray...Jack's Juice Garlic right now. I honestly buy whatever is on sale. I like Yum, Bang, Jack's Juice, and even Baitmate aerosol. Baitmate's bass formula actaually smells like shad versus the old gamefish version that was pretty much just anise scent.

I think everyone growing up used the clinch knot. When I started bass fishing and learned the palomar...I found myself retying a lot more often due to the fact it took so little time to tie the palomar. I can tie the palomar in a fraction of the time it takes to tie the improved clinch or trilene knot.

+1 My two white chatterbaits didn't produce, and I'm not really sure why I purchaed the gold shad boogie bait. I had my first 30+ fish day on this bait...it was unreal. This is out of a couple acre pond. I bet it averaged out to be a keeper every other cast. I now stock the boogie bait in gold shad and lavender shad.

I won't convince you. I use Trilene Pro-Grade and enjoy the little spike in sensitivity, but it is a decision you have to make as to whether you want a little spike in sensitivity or higher knot strength and abrasion resistance that copolymer provides. I'm fishing a lot of clear water now I'm in Texas...not gin clear but clear, and there are a lot of anglers down here and I'm looking for every advantage I can get. I use adequate line size and check my line frequently, and therefore haven't broken off a fish on the Trilene. But honestly I don't see somebody that isn't using fluoro and think "Man...I can't believe they're not using fluoro!" There are good arguments on both sides. Definitely give it a try; you should try everything once (ok...most things!)

As mentioned several times...it's the overhanging tree limbs or shrubs behind you that can cause a backlash of catastrophic proportions. If you intend to sling you bait across the pond, but it hangs on something behind you...you are in for the worst backlash that a baitcaster can offer. That said...I feel I can cast further and have more control over my bait with a casting reel. This is a preference thing...

They must have a lot of backstock...they have been that price for almost a year now. I purchased two Sol's last June, and plan to buy another one or two while the last. The Sol is an incredible reel...especially for $179.

My Loomis CBR 843 and 845 are awesome rods...light and senstive for a cranking stick. However, I took my two new carrot sticks out today for their maiden voyage, and was very impressed. I purchased two of the 6'9" medium power/moderate action rods and they seem ideal for a wide range of cranks. I didn't want to put them down...

I use the Trilene Pro-Grade. It seems to be what I have waited for in a fluoro...super soft WITH excellent abrasion resistance. Tackle Tour is testing the new Trilene fluoro right now, and the review will be posted next week. I'm curious on how it stacks up against the other fluoros in terms of abrasion resistance, tensile strength, and knot strength.

Oh man! Yes...12lb CXX has no business on a spinning reel! I would go with 8lb for an all-around spinning line, or 6lb for small finesse plastics.

You have excellent taste in fishing line 8-)

I love my 853, but go 854 if you plan on working 3/4oz footballs.

The sad thing is I'd probably buy one 8-)

I'll add that I was a little off in my assessment that even the fast carrot blanks weren't very fast. I think during my last trip I was actually playing around with the medium/moderate, but thought I was playing around with the medium heavy/fast. The line weights are almost identical, with the medium being rated 10-20, and the MH 12-20. I handled the MH and it was pretty crisp. They also had the 7'9" flippin' stick, and it was very light for a rod that big (rated up to 3.5ozs).

The Cumara just received a strong review on Tackle Tour...you might read it. It so tough in the middle rod market; you are going to get 90 opinions. If I had to buy one right now, I'd go Cumara (only because I already have the Carrot ).