Lostime

I tried breaking the SDJ with 15 lb Big Game but I pulled the eye out of the dipsey sinker I had in the vice at around 20 lb. With 6lb Sufix Elite I was able to break it where it passed through the small diameter wire at around 10 lb. I used the Dipsey because the wire is thinner than most hooks or eyes. I know how to tie the Palomar. I just have a tendency to get it a bit sloppy if I tie it in a hurry. PS I thought the SDJ was supposed to be a fairly strong knot. I thought that was the reason for using it for Tuna?

I have discovered I tend to tie the San Diego better than any other knot especially when Im in a hurry. I only use Sufix Elite and Trilene Big Game (0.10 - 0.15" diameter) Mono. Any reason not to use it for most terminal connections? I have always felt how well the knot is tied is more important than which one.

Spinning - Sufix Elite 6 lb (0.10) Clear Baitcasting - Berkley Big Game 10 lb (0.12) Clear Baitcasting - Berkley Big Game 15 lb (0.15) Green

SC = 5.4 HC = 6.4 HF = 6.4 w/ Flipping Switch SH = 7.1 Thats according to the 2006 BPS Catalog.

If you just cant get any distance the rod may be to heavy a power with to stiff tip. The lighter the power, the softer the tip and the slower the action the better it will handle light lures. My Medium Power, Soft Tip, Fast Action will throw 1/4 oz just as far as the same reel will cast a 3/8 oz on a Medium-Heavy, Stiff, Fast. If its backlashing unless you use excessive clutch you may need to remove the left side cover and adjust the brakes. Lighter lures generally need more brakes as the slow more quickly in the air resulted in the backlash. I use 4/10 brake and more clutch with 3/8 and 6/10 brake and less clutch with 1/4 oz. My reel has magnetic brakes which are usually have finer adjustments than than centifugal. I would guess you have 6 or 8 pin centri. I have not tried less since I dont have a rod rated for less than 1/4 ounce. Its also possible that reel just doesnt handle light lures well. Some do better than others. PS I have just returned after a 20 year hiatus from Baitcasters so others may have better advice but this is what works for me.

I see All Star American Classics for $50 at a local dealer regularly. Not sure if they are older models or refurbs. He sells a lot of refurbs like BPS Extremes for $30. So far Im pretty happy with the Cabela's Fish Eagle II I got on clearance at Cabela's for $30. The best buys will be refurbs or clearance items.

Disclaimer: The below is based on my personal experience and should not be taken as legal advice. Check your laws and regs, GVWR is the total allowed on tow vehicle only. I seriously doubt he will get enough tongue weight on any boat trailer to put the truck over on either GVWR or RAWR (Rear Axle Weight Rating). These are legal limits he has to abide by. GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) or Tow Rating are recommendations only and are not listed on most vehicles data plates. They have no federal standing and no standing in states I am familiar with. However I can see where this may be changing due to the excessive number of accidents because of the combo SWB SUV's and long heavy travel trailers without the very expensives hitches (Hensley and Arrow) required to control this combination. Over on GVWR of vehicle will only occur if he exceeds the GVWR on the truck (again unlikely) or the trailer. I have seen trailers under boats rated to light for the all up weight. That said towing over the recommended tow rating would likely not help you in a civil suit resulting from an accident. Depending on state regulations he may also need to register his truck for a total GVWR of the combination. This was the law in Alabama until a few years ago (when they changed it for light-duty trucks). Although most people didnt know it and towed in violation.

Automatic with 3.73 Regular Cab - 2600 lb Supercab - 2420 lb I would make sure it had surge brakes on anything over 1500 lb. Dont forget to figure hull, outboard, batteries, trolling motor, electronics, fuel, fishing tackle, and trailer in the total towed weight. I suspect the chassis/brakes are able to handle much more (based on 4.0L ratings) but the ratings are low for the engine size. Most foreign trucks in that size class are rated at 3500 lb with 4 cylinders. I suspect the trans may be an issue at heavier weights with the Ranger. Power is generally the least important point of the equation. You can tow 288,000 lb with 400 bhp because Ive done it.

Disclaimer: I had not used a baitcaster in years until this year so feel free to disregard Keep going lower until you start getting backlashes in flight and then go back up just enough to eliminate. Its better to use less brake and smoother cast instead of "whipping" it really hard and trying to control the initial overspeed with more brake at least for me. It took me a while to trust the brake and stop feathering the spool the entire cast. Now I only feather to drop the lure where I want it or to stop the spool at the end of the cast.

Disclaimer: I dont use FC so feel free to disregard the following. If its the knot its the nature of the beast. The more stretch the FC has the better the knot strength. The less stretch the FC has the worse the knot strength. Tackletour's testing shows the simple improved clinch as having the highest average strength at an average of 78% for FC lines. Suprisingly the Palomar tested #2 at 72% (It has got a bad rep with FC). Most others (including the San Diego) were in the 60's. It appears FC is VERY unforgiving of less than perfect knots. Whatever you tie has to be perfect. This is more important than knot type.

Daiwa Ike Talk about bad timing.... :

I asked Fenwick... "How does it compare to the HMG and HMX?". I think we may have gotten the same answer with different wording. By "upgraded HMG" they may have meant the new lighter blank but designed to have the same action as the old HMG. I took it to mean the Hardware since they mentioned it later in the same sentence. I have now received the reels and rods and do think the WC is very light for the price. Despite being Medium/Heavy with a much stiffer tip it is still a good bit lighter than a Medium Fish Eagle II. It feels as if they both will work well for my intended use but the WC really deserves a lighter reel. They are now spooled with line and ready to go this weekend. Medium Spinning - Sufix Elite 6-lb 0.25 mm Medium Casting - Berkley Big Game 10-lb 0.31 mm Medium/Heavy Casting - Berkley Big Game 15-lb 0.38 mm

I was told, "Upgraded HMG with better hardware and different color". Lighter blank with same action and Techna level hardware seems pretty close. Sounds like a decent rod for $100.

That is not true. Although there are no industry standards, Ande might be close. Ande lines are IGFA certified and account for more Line World Records than all other brands combined. Ande #6 has a diameter of .010" and is exactly 6 lb test. Yo-Zuri Hybrid #6 is .010" diameter, but is 11.9 lb test. 8-) I think I would have chosen a different example rather than a Mono and a Copoly. But I do take your point. Ande Tournament 0.38mm is 16 lb max which is likely a good bit less than Trilene XL 17 lb. However my point was you may be better off to look at the correct diameter and construction for your use and then look at the actual breaking strength of the line. I still want to know how much worse 12 lb Trilene XT cast than 17 lb Trilene XL since these two lines are comparable in diameter and maybe breaking strength... My premise is part of what we blaim on the coating may just be the larger diameter. Guess an experiment is in order.

An interesting observation... Regardless of lb rating lines of roughly the same diameter and construction tend to break at roughly the same time. Example: Berkley XT 12-lb (0.38 mm) = 22.50 lb average break strength Berkley Big Game 15-lb (0.38 mm) = 22.38 lb average break strength Many will say XT is tougher, stronger and stiffer than Big Game. How many have compared lines of the same diameter instead of rating? Are we making a mistake by comparing them by the factory rating. Maybe a truer comparison would be by diameter? Anyone want to bet Trilene XL 17-lb also 0.38 mm diameter would not break around the same lb? Just a newbie observation...