ChiCityBasser

I agree with the other guys on you going with the 1000 size. I have a Sahara 1000 that I have 10# test/4# Mono braid on and it is as small as I would go as well.

I do the same thing as far as browsing Cabelas and I have 1 xmlti, 4 xml's, 1 mag touch, 2 fish eagle II and now the prodigy. I've been happy with all my other Cabelas Rods and I'll be getting out with it on monday since the store is open today I can get line on my Daiwa Exceler to try Monday as well.

How has the Kistler Mag/CRR worked for you?

Powell 704CB or Lamiglas XL703C or XL705Glass

I finally added a Cabelas Prodigy to my arsenal of rods. After seeing them on sale for awhile at $60 instead of the normal $100 I broke down and purchased the 7' MH/MF 1pc to use as a crankbait baitcasting setup with a Daiwa Exceler. This is my second 1 pc rod and anxious to see how it handles. I have both reels and debated on the rod for awhile and told myself if they still had the MH/MF on sale the next time I went in I would put it on layaway. Well the layaway line was too long yesterday and of course that gave me all the more reason to purchase it outright. Seems to be a pretty solid rod and I'll know more bout it once I get it on the water in the next couple of days. I got out with the Rod and reel yesterday and figured I would try it with Crankbaits and just spend a couple hours with the reel and learning to use it with 1/4 oz shallow diving crankbaits. After following RW's advice and having 12# Ultra Soft added to the reel I spent 3 hours at the lake. I started with the brakes on 10 and quickly adjusted to using the reel and got down to 3. The reel is very smooth and had no problems at all with the 1/4 oz Strike King 1xs. Not one backlash and no problems getting fairly long casts. The rod loads up nicely and caught 5 fish with the largest being close to 2lbs. The rod and reel balance very nicely but might be a tad heavy combo for some but not sure of the exact weight for the rod but the reel is 8.8oz. Nice inexpensive combo with the all the rods on clearance at $60.

Hello and welcome to the board and from the Chicago area myself

I fish from the shore also and agree with the things said in regards to moving around and learning bottom structure and changing up lures. Of the fish I have caught this year I would say 90-95% have been caught when casting parallel to the bank. Either using a shallow diving crankbait just coming over the tops of the weeds near the shore or using a swim jig with any creature bait as a trailer. Most important thing for me is learning the lake makeup meaning the shallow areas, the bottom structure, what types of weeds and how high up in the water column the weeds grow. I have caught most of my fish this year on a Strike King 1XS or on a variety of swim jigs in either 1/4oz or 3/8oz. The fish in my profile pic was caught from the shore as well and was my first frog fish caught on a Spro Bronzeye. Learning the lake is the most important part of fishing the shore for me and the way to fish either over or through the weeds near shore.

Congrats and the frog bite is awesome and got my first frog bite on the same color spro a couple weeks ago

My Sahara didn't come with one either but I don't think any Shimano reels come with an extra spool any longer.

If the quality of the new gear is the same or better then Iwould be making the switch as well.

I have 7-8 setups and out of those all but one are 2 piece rods. Several are Cabelas XMLs and one is a Cabelas XMLTi with the least expensive being a Daiwa D Force 2 pc fiberglass rod I use for cranking. My one piece is also a Cabelas XML rig and jig rod and my 2 piece rig and jig feels just as sensitive. As Raul said the gap has closed and of course you get what you pay for in either the 1 piece or 2 piece rod. The only one that has ever come apart on a cast is the Daiwa and that was my fault for not putting it together snugly. All in all they aren't bad at all and for me they are great.

The Daiwa Exceler has gotten some pretty good reviews and even a node in a recent issue of BassMasters. I just picked up one myself but haven't had a chance to hit the water with it just yet. Another good choice would be the Cabelas Prodigy (made by Daiwa) I've had one for a couple of seasons and it's a smooth solid reel and on sale now for $80 and normally $100 Good luck with whatever you decide on

I have several Cabelas Rods and Quantum reels and but no thoughts on the combo you picked up. I would say the better Quantum Reels start at $80 as well. I have a couple of the Catalyst both a A and B model, an older Accurist baitcast reel, a Kinetic B (much better than the A model), a older Incyte and last years Energy PT baitcast model. All working perfect even with the older models being a bit heavy by some opinions.

Thought I would post the Tackle Tour Peek at the New Pinnacle Rods http://www.tackletour.com/previewpinnacleperfectarods.html

Spro Bronzeye jr. and caught my first and only frog bass so far on it...in the avatar

Right now on my spinning gear I have Cabelas Flouro and it's great in 6# test and I would have to agree on staying away from Vicious after having tried the 6# test as well. Way to much memory and a difference of Night and Day between it and Cabelas Flouro. I also have Power Pro braid on both spinning and baitcasting setups. Spiderwire is also pretty good as its on a spinning and baitcasting setup as well.

Here are some pics from one of the other Rod winners. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1276219191

Both reels look really good and looks like Pflueger is stepping it up a bit. Can't wait to read the testing reviews.

thanks , i was fishing a local public lake in winter haven fl. i not sure what the crank is ,i put a thread in fishing tackle" what kind of bait is this" ... most replies said it was a Norman thin-n Great catch and most of my catches have been on a Strike King 1XS this year. The crank you caught it on is a Norman Thin n also

I would go with the Symetre 3000 or the Quantum Kinetic PTI-B30 for use with 10# line on a spinning reel. The new Kinetic is much better than the previous model and even though I have no experience with the Symetre, I'm sure it would work well also.

Nice catches and yeah I don't blame you guys for not lipping them over the side of the boat

It's a nice looking rod and thanks for the mini review and hoping to get win one in the next go round as well but if not might have to add it to the arsenal as well.

I've had some custom painted baits that have worked very well for me. I've had both factory lures custom painted and builders lures in colors not available from the factories and good results on both. Other factors play in as well but they work well for me at any given time. I don't purchase as many now cause my spare box is so full but when I do loose a couple I grab a couple of the customs and hit the water.

So far the Spro frogs have work great giving my first frog fish and PB til that point.