ChiCityBasser

Some of the house offerings from Cabelas, BPS, Gander Mountain or Dicks are worth a look. A One piece rod I'm guessing as well and for any particular use?

I know the feeling also as I fish from the bank exclusively on a number of different lakes and the shoreline determines if it will be a baitcaster or spinning reel due to a couple of backlashes. If its a rentention pond or something open I will load a baitcast setup and take it along. If the shore has trees or shrubs or even tall grass or weeds I load a couple of spinning setups.

The Cabelas Prodigy also is at the price point you are considering and its made by Daiwa. I have a couple of the older grey models made by Daiwa also and they are great reels for the $ as well being right at $100.

The baitcast reels will be right around $249 and the spinning models at $199 with the rods retailing for around $179 from the video. Wow 9.1 oz. for one of the baitcast combo with most being less than 10 oz. which is extremely light as Glenn pointed out. Guess the baitmonkey will be calling soon.

Good Info

I'll bite and I have 2 current favorite setups with both being spinning setups. The first is my: Quantum Catalyst PTi-20B with 30# Power Pro Braid paired with a Cabelas Prodigy 7' M/F and I use this setup for shallow to medium cranks and light spinners. This is in my hands most of the times when I'm out. second is my: Quantum Kinetic PTi-20B with 30# Cajun Braid paired with a Field & Stream Tec Spec 7' MH/F Tube/Rigging rod. I use this for all my plastics,topwater plugs,frogs and lipless cranks. For the price this is a great rod and has replaces a Cabelas XML in my lineup.

I agree and the smoke is on my radar but thought this looked interesting and I may try the spinning model once it hits stores in the off season.

No this ● Shimano Bicycle Co.,Ltd. Is established. Begins production of the completed bicycle.

The Daiwa Exceler is around $80 and is a pretty good reel and comes in a lefty model also and all three popular speeds.

Seems as if Shimano is concentrating on its other lines of business for innovation...Bicycles for the posse to ride tall

Seems the Bicycle manufacturer is taking a step back while others progress.

I know the Quantum products typically get a bad rap here but the new EXO PT looks very promising and is even lighter than the Smoke and comes in a spinning reel model but no left hand model for the baitcasting reel. http://www.tackletour.com/reviewicast11quantumEXO.html http://www.quantumfishing.com/exo

I actually prefer the Eva/Foam grips with a few of my Cabelas XML having cork but I have started to replace the with the Prodigy model or other models with EVA handles.

I'll stick with my Quantum products and sure the reels will be nice once some of you get them in your hands but looks like they are taking a step backwards from reading all the comments.

wow some unhappy Shimano fans, never thought I would see that.

X2 and there are better offerings from Cabelas like the Prodigy which is right at the $100 price point

Yes I do but mine just go by other names

Way too many Shimano reels in that pic for me but the rods are sweet

I have the Black Spro and I've had fish hit it in open water as soon as it hits the water. My hookup ratio hasn't been that freat this year but I know its my fault on the hook set but that blow up is a rush.

Sounds like a good choice and I only handled the rods in BPS but they were very light and let us know what you think of it after you have fished it for awhile.

The Smoke can be found cheaper on ebay that the $199 price is a good deal.

Going on 3 yrs on some spools and when it got to short for a good cast I just used to uni to uni knot to put more on the short spool.

Quantum Kinetic PT or Accurist PT are both very good reels in or around that price range as I have both and no complaints at all with how they perform.

The spool I had the braid on was getting low and on long cast I was getting down to the mono backing. I wanted to add the last 25 yards still on the spool so that I wouldn't have this problem.

Ok I'll try the Uni to Uni knot again and see how it works out this time.