The_Natural

I posted a NIB bright red '93 Curado that was on Ebay a couple of months ago. Box, instructions, oil and wrench still with it. It ended up going for $138. I feel it could have gone for more though...it's probably the only NIB '93 curado in the world. I honestly was itching to buy it....it was pretty hot looking....even for today's standards.

A little off topic, but is that a flex-lite steez robert? I have the opportunity to purchase a couple, and was curious what you thought of them.

My Core 100's out casted my Steez reels by 5-10% in some areas, but I feel it is solely due to their centrifugal brakes versus the magnetic brakes on the Daiwas. I like the centrifugals for distance on a normal weight range of baits, but for ultralight baits, magforce V is still the king.

I believe it. They didn't get as big as they are by making a ton of mistakes, and as any successful large company....they will fix this mistake. E21 is and has been selling a ton of Carrot sticks; I have pondered a little how much iternet message board fodder has hurt recent sales, but who really knows. Anyway....they will fix it and move forward....just like Dobyns.

There are a couple of variables. In subtle presentations such as clear water and highly pressured areas; I would lean toward yes. I say 'sublte' presentations because a reactionary bait that is hauling asss is less likely to be affected by braids visibility. Even in clear water, if you punch through a mat with a 1.5oz sinker....I don't think it matters what your bait is tied to. Drop-shotting in gin clear water however, I think you would have a noticeable impact on your bites. My opinion only....

I buy them when I can, but the problem is you have to fight the lure collectors. There seem to be a bunch of Bagley collectors out there, and they are willing to pay big bucks for older Bagley cranks. Most of these guys don't even fish their baits; it's a crime I tell ya.

This is a mystery to me. Changes done to baits that make them less expensive to produce obviously makes financial sense, but it's the changes that I can't imagine would benefit the company that confuse me. I just purchased a few 1970's Bagley B1's and B2, and of course they are different than today's. They used to have brass hardware, but that wasn't the difference maker. The line tie came straight out of the nose on those old baits....totally different. Bagley more recently came out with the 'original series', which they claimed were the original molds, yet didn't put the line tie back where it should be. All they did was add brass hardware to the 'updated' design. The line tie is still lower than the original baits. If you have a classic bait like a Bagley's B....why would you move the line tie? It makes no sense....not even financially. Here is Iaconelli's B2 that he credits with multiple tournament wins. He recently had it restored because he literally wore it out. Ike's lure makeover... http://www.customluresunlimited.com/extreme_lure_makeover__ike

I forgot to mention, that along with 13 reels per bait, you also need 45-50 Carrot sticks to be taken seriously as an angler. Otherwise...you aren't a threat.

The gunk or slime on top of the water is what makes me skip the jig in an area like that. You'll be cleaning off your jig after every cast. I don't fish Senkos very often, but it's what I'd use in that situation. Gunk doesn't seem to stick to senkos like other plastics with appendagesd.

http://www.gloomis.us/

I'm going to have to politely ask for a pic of your 50 Carrot sticks, otherwise I'm calling BS.

Gander Mountain, like Bass Pro, make their own rods. It is more expensive to have a U.S. based rod manufacturer make a blank and rod. BPS and Gander mountain designed what they wanted, and went to a chinese factory that would replicate what they want at the best price.

I have 13 reels for every bait, and you can't fish unless you have at least that many. Seriously....don't make excuses....you NEED 13 reels per bait to even be considered a decent bass fishman.

Get some purple winding checks....Matagi makes some sweet checks at about $5 a piece. You could order them and have them sent to Larry's place.

The easy answer is two custom Gblanks rods. Order it with black foam and brushed aluminum winding checks....badarse! They will run you $125 each.... http://www.imaginationbassin.com/gblanksproducts.htm

Go with the 7' MH....I own both and the MH is a great all-around jig and worm rod.

I would go around to the houses around the pond and see if anyone saw somebody dumping something in the pond. Stuff like that REALLY pissses me off. I'd try and find out who did it.

I frequently flush the spool shaft bearings, but I have complete breakdowns done by someone else. I'm famous for having a spare part or two left over after I put something back together .

I'm ordering a 7'4" Steez rod for my flippin' duties; weight is a big concern for me and has prevented me from fishing my flippin' stick in the past. However, the Loomis BCFR 894 is a better rod.....I fished with one for a couple of outings and it blew me away. It felt lighter than my 854 or 864 for some reason. I can get a deal on the Steez though, hence the reason for my choice. The Steez will be sensitive enough, and will serve my needs well. Loomis makes the best graphite IMHO, but the perfect blank for its intended purpose isn't a guarantee. My 6'3" Steez rod is the best jerkbait rod I have ever fished with. Out of the Loomis' blanks however, the CBR 845 and BCFR 894 are just perfect blanks for their intended purpose. There is no way to improve.

11.5 grams is an extremely light spool.....lighter than a Daiwa Pixy (the standard by which all finesse reels are judged). Most anglers won't appreciate how big of a stat that is.....it's really eye opening for the enthusiast crowd. I predict the new Core 50 to be as good of a caster as the Steez or any other reel made....no arguing there.

I almost started a thread about brush hogs being too hard these days. I purchased several packs of the limited edition smoke/mustard color, and thought they were way hard. Back in the '90s Zoom baits were super salty and super soft. I prefer soft baits that tear easily....that means they have great action in the water.

Paca Toads

Should be an easy review; the Core 50 shares the same spool and gears from its larger Core 100 brother. Handle bearings and better 'palmability' separate the two.

Pure Fishing represents Abu Garcia and Pflueguer. Both series of reels are made by a manufacturer in Korea under liscense from pure fishing. The Patriarch and President share the frame of the Revo, but other specifics I don't know about.

I don't have a problem with the Core's pricing point, but it isn't a Steez killer; the Steez is just a more refined reel. Even at $370, the Core still has handle backplay. As said before, this probably won't cost you fish, just like a loose bezel on a rolex won't affect the time, but it shouldn't be there. This is high-end...right? Do I plan on buying a Core 50? Absolutely, I will be buying two of them when they hit cabelas....they are going to be sweet. I'm just not buying a corvette and expecting a ferrari.