The_Natural

I worry more about the bass peeing on me when I lip them! I'm not into the golden shower...

It's not the surface area of weight that dampens the sensitivity, yet the softness of lead. Tungsten is much more dense, which transmits vibrations better. This is true with any material, including fluorocarbon, and higher modulus/strain graphite...the more dense a material is; the better it is at transmitting vibrations. If you like the soft touch of lead...it will just save you money. More power to ya...

That's just hilarious...I can't believe they didn't play off of it...they just copied it the best they could.

Oh wow...you guys have to enlarge the photo! It looks so super gaaay it's not even funny. I'm not commenting on them copying Daiwas swept handle (isn't that patented?), but the drilled holes of the Zillion as well (it looks like a retarded Zillion) . I know Daiwa has the latest and greatest...but at least put your own spin on it!

I think the 7:1 excels at a lot more techniques than people think...jigs, all soft plastics, c-rigs, traps, and even some cranks would benefit from picking up more line.

Where the hell did this come from?! Well...I guess I didn't ever reply, so... Watermelon Cream...kills in any condition or clarity! Green Pumpkin/Chartreuse tip is awesome in stained water. Watermelon/black flake or Green pumpkin/black flake when you want to go natural.

Not to confuse you, but in several scenarios. First off...in the early spring when the water is in the 50's...traps are dynamite for a strong reaction bite when retrieved with a good clip (when you think you should be fishing slow). It is the same way in the fall. However, traps can be used all year long to cover water...or for fish heavily feeding and/or schooling fish.

I don't know of any huge cranks that dive 6-10ft...it seems like the large cranks are shallow cranks or wake baits. If you can live with just a few feet...the Z-baits big bite shallow crank is hot right now, even though I haven't purchased one yet. RC3.5 and BDS 4 are also good choices. When I throw B2's and the like areas with stumps or other laydowns...I go with 15lb CXX. I'm not messin' around

Good point, a Carrot Stix medium action is stiffer than the medium action of a Croix or Loomis imo. Same goes for the mh action. Stiffer than a fast or X-fast action Loomis or Croix?. I can't tell you which one to buy...I do own several BCR's and love them, but I haven't fished the carrot stick.

The TD-Z has bearings in the handle, a micro-click spool tension knob, and a hybrid ceramic spool. My TD-Z's cast better/farther than anything I have ever owned.

That fish would be close or over ten...it's as big as her thigh.

I make my own. There are only three main components...I would share them but I will be selling my version soon. I purchased the KVD spray and thought it worked ok...but it seemed watered down. I was right. Distilled water is one of the components...and the Company that makes the KVD spray is making just a little of the main ingredients go a loooong way. I bet it casts them .50 cents to make a bottle...including the bottle. I was a fan of reel magic for a while, but it wash off fast, and won't actually absorb into the line. Silicone won't actually penetrate mono or fluoro...so developed a mix that I actaully soak my bulk spools of mono with. If you leave a bulk spool in the conditioner for a few hours...it will actually expand on the spool...you see it bloated. When it dries...the line is UV resistant, soft, and more manageable. The conditioner does contain silicone...but it is a water based silicone. It works better than just oiling your line...

I thought you lived on Toledo Bend?

You ought to try the Table Rock Tackle Rock-Walker jighead. It doesn't have that thick fiber weedguard...yet two thin rubber coated wires. It is the 'in-between' regarding a thick brushguard and going 'bare'. They easily bend and offer effortless hooksets. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_51886_100010006_100000000_100010000_100-10-6

Discerning/differentiating bottom medium. It's what sold me on Loomis years ago...I felt the bottom like never before. It obviously wasn't as drastic as switching to a GLX, but I'll take any advantage that I can get. Really? I can (generally) tell the difference between a rock (rounded or gnarly) and a clam, mud verses sand, limbs as opposed to brush, but when I move over a beer can I have a little trouble with the brand. I have been fishing tungsten this year and it doesn't seem to help. Well... I gues that just saves you money 8-)

Discerning/differentiating bottom medium. It's what sold me on Loomis years ago...I felt the bottom like never before. It obviously wasn't as drastic as switching to a GLX, but I'll take any advantage that I can get.

I use 1/2 and 3/4oz lead football heads with a fiber brushguard on a modified brush hog to imitate a crawfish. I bought the heads at walmart a few years ago...and am almost out. I need some more head I guess

I think you have to ask yourself the question "If they were free...which one would you fish?!" I do believe in the point of diminishing returns. I only spend $200-$250 on reels...I don't 'have' to fish with the best of everything. However...with the Tungsten weights I have fished with...they are worth the money. It's not a question of better...we know Tungsten excels in a few areas [(size...sensitivity...bottom contact noise...paint stays on (lead dents easily...loses paint)]. This is yet another debate only you can answer for yourself. "They are better...but are they that much better?". Only you can decide that. My tungsten weights probably don't get me another couple of bites...but just another piece of the equation when I put them in harmony with my sensitive rods, fluorocarbon, and my hands.

I'm guilty of calling a bait sweet before getting it on the water...that is how we end up owning them in the first place!

That is what happened to me. It wasn't that I decided to ditch my Shimano's, but I scored 6 TD-Z's from Cabelas, and I needed to ditch some reels. I have purchased a couple of reels since then that happened to be Daiwas though...just like the look and feel. LBH...if I had to buy 8 or 10 reels that It wouldn't bother me to toss around and abuse, that perform well, and aren't expensive...I've got to go with the new HSTA. It's been out for a few years now...it just got some improvements. It has a micro-click drag, 90mm swept hangle (these are sweet), and has a red anodized spool for some bling. Here is the HSTA... http://www.tackletour.com/reviewdaiwaadvantage153hsta.html

I honestly don't think it affects performance...the Shimano's have proven durability over time. We just become discriminating critics of every noise or movement the reel makes. That said...I noticed it on the Core now that I have been a 'daiwa only' user for a full season. I was considering the Core...it had a little backplay...but overall didn't feel any different than the 50mg if I closed my eyes. The reel looks badass I must say.

Nawww....give it up dude. That rod isn't good for anything. I'll shoot you my email, and you can send me a paypal bill

Same exact thing I described above, so I know its not the BEARINGS due to your description and my experience. We both relubed bearings and no dice. Try adding a little reel grease around the edge of where the pinion shaft hits the friction plate on the tension knob and then add a drop of reel oil to the center of friction plate. Its working with my Premier and wonder if it will work with yours, post your results. I am in your boat, I really like the feel, weight, and castability of the reel, but the noise has to go. If not back for a refund and no more ABUs for me. Like I said...had a Scorpion with an unexplained noise...couldn't take it back. It came from Japan. The easy way out is to just exchange it...

A Calais on a Steez?! That is a sin I think. You can't put a brick on a feather. We can still be friends Robert...I am an all Daiwa reel owner!

I'd just exchange it then. I have always done a bearing flush and relube upon a reel purchase, but anything else and I'm going to get rid of it. One of my Shimano Scorpions made a noise that could not be figured out...by me after doing my maintenance or Lake Fork Tackle. So I sold it for a $50 loss. One of my TD-Z's made a high-pitched noise right off, but I realized I was too eager to fish with them before I flushed the factory grease out of the bearings. All is well now with my Z's. Maybe ReelMech or someone else will chime in, but but a high-pitched noise during casting seems to point to spool related bearings. I'd just get a fresh reel...