ghost

Shimano Clarus $60-70 IM7 Berkley Series One $80 IM7 BPS Extreme $65 when on sale Shimano Compre $90 IM8 Cabelas Tourney Trail $60 IM6 BPS Bionic Blade $55 when on sale

I got the Revo SX-L today & not sure about the magnetic brake. I see that there is a minimum & maximum setting & whatever else between those 2 settings. With your use of the SX/SX-L magnetic brake, where do you set your brake at? I will (hopefully if weather permitting) trying the reel out tomorrow. I will probably start at max mag brake setting & click down to where it feels good for me. Also, you guys notice that when you turn the mag brake dial that halfway through the turn it tightens up before you get to the maximum setting? Does the mag brake dial need a breaking in???

Got rid of the Citica 201D. Don't get me wrong this is a very nice reel & perfect price point. What I don't like is how big & heavy the Citica 201D is. It does not feel as "low profile" as the Abu Garcia Revo & some of the newer Daiwa's. Also the the Curado 101D being a smaller version of the Curado 201D feels much better. My hands get tired using the Citica 201D after an hour of fishing w/ it. So I've went & returned the Citica 201D & picked up the a new Abu Garcia Revo SX-L. I know I could've gotten the Curado 101D & be happy. But I don't feel like sending & waiting for the rebate check. It should be an automatic $50 off the retail price. Shimano just lost a Shimano baticast reel customer because they haven't come out w/ a left handed Citica 101D or have the price of the Curado 101D to be purchased that same day as getting a Revo SX-L. I really want to get the Curado 101D, but I'm done w/ mail in rebates, those things BLOW! I hate waiting to get money back!

Is there an advantage to either one? I know the rear drag is slightly heavier than the front. What is the advantage w/ the Symetre rear drag? Is the fine tuning of the rear drag make it better or just a bit much for drag adjustment. I'm looking at the Symetre 1500 series.

Line capacity for either reel won't be an issue for me. I'll be spooling 40 lb (10 lb dia) braid. So either way I'll have more backing (SX) or less backing (Curado).

Thanks guys! Jeff, I too wish that Shimano would come out w/ a 101 sized Citica. If they "EVER" do, I am getting one. I already have a nice collection of low profile baitcast reels that feel quite tall, almost not much difference from a round reel. And I don't mind baitcast reels from 8.5 oz & under. Going over 9 oz & it gets tiring using that reel!

No, I checked on the GLX, it's made in the U.S.A. Also it's way more than $200

Hard decision, looking to getting either one of these baitcast reels. With the Shimano rebate for the Curado, it would cost just as much as the Revo. But, I would have to pay full pop for the Curado & wait for the check of $50 to come in. I am brining back the Shimano Citica that I have. Very nice reel, but it's a friggin' pig! Also it's not quite as low profile, it sits higher on the the rod seat. My hands start to feel tired after an hours worth of casting w/ the Citica. So I want something smaller & that's where my dilemma is w/ the Curado 101D & Revo SX-L.

I'm not sure where they are made. The price of them from $150 seems pretty good. I know that the Shimano Crucial & Cumara are made in China & they are $140 & over. I don't mind spending money on good quality rods, but to pay over $150 for a rod that's made in China, I'm not too keen on that idea. I'd rather buy U.S. made then. I don't mind spending under a $100 for rods made in China. I have a few of the BPS rods & they are pretty good for what you pay for them.

Gone Phishin, I notice you're in Wis. I am in Northern Indiana, by the Mich border. You guys frozen up there?

Read the whole thing that is said: *Each rod comes with the full G. Loomis lifetime warranty *These rods are identical in every way to factory new rods. They ARE NOT stamped "demo", they are just like new rods! If in question, you can contact Hi's Tackle or Loomis

Found this, thought I'd share: http://www.histackleboxshop.com/G-Loomis-Rod-Sale-s/451.htm

That's a Cabela's jointed minnow. I have 2 of them, but different in color to the one you are showing. They retailed for under $4, & Cabelas took those out of their catalogs since last year. Good lure, caught some fish w/ it. Wish they didn't discontinue it. It was a good lure & cheap, when they went on sale it was $1.99.

You guys used these yet? I bought a few packs from a local fishing store. Also bought the weigted hooks that are made for them, they come in 1/8-3/8 oz. Haven't used them since the weather.....SUCKS! Just want to know how they compare to some of the other swimbaits that are similar to them.

I buy the .95 cent Walmart size 1 snaps that come in black. They work great & have a 25 lb weight rating. They will not come undone under load & they open & close easily. I bought some Cabelas size 1 snaps & those things were thicker wire than the ones from Walmart. It was impossible to open those up, had to use needle nose pliers to open & that wasn't what I wanted.

Found these on ebay & had to get them cuz they are just a bit different. I have lures w/ props for top water but not in a crankbait. Bought a couple colors that were available, can't wait to get them! Wish they had them in shad & baby bass colors, but the seller said they'll have them by spring time. It's 5" & 3/4 oz, should be able to cast easily. Depth is 0-2'. Also it's made out of wood. I totally like something out of the ordinary.... Oh wait...I do have a crankbait w/ a prop, the Jackall Dagored. But that's a wake lure.

I gotta say that there are very good snaps & some weak snaps. I've found some very study snaps in size 1/2/3 that I've used & have not had one bend out, even when I am trying to free a lure. I've actually straightened the hook first before the snaps gives out. To each his own, some guys likes to tie to their lures, others don't. It's not that I'm fishing fast, I just want to change out my lure faster.

Cart7, that All Star ASR is a great looking rod! Can you PM me where you can get it for $75? That's a helluva great price for that rod. I checked BPS & they don't carry that rod, so I went to All Star's site & found the rod. http://www.allstarrods.com/ROD%20SERIES/ASR_series.jpg Here's the specs on the ASR rods: http://www.allstarrods.com/as_asrseriesspec.html

Using snaps w/o swivels. I use smaller size 2 or even 3 for snaps. Makes changing lures easy. I do recommend that you take off the split ring from the top eyelet if you are going to use snaps. I think it improves the action of the lure when the split ring is taken off when used w/ snaps. I hate tying on lures every time I want to change out a lure or lure color. It's much easier w/ a snap.

Nice, just too stiff for my liking. If I was going to be pulling bass out of heavy cover, I would want a rod that was not split grip. I want to be able to wrap my hands around the grip when I'm pulling that bass. Split grips works great when the lure weight is under 1 oz. IMO. If they come out w/ these rods in lighter actions, then I would be very interested in upgrading my BPS rods.

Can you post a link to the Berkley Frenzy suspending?

What do you guys use? Length, lure weight, action? If you use baitcast rods for skipping how do you do it? Wouldn't you get over runs when the worm or frog starts skipping? Mfg, length, lure weight, action?

Yup, wake/twitch bait. I was reeling in med/slow, any faster & it would run untrue, like it would pull to the side.

This is from a couple summers ago, but wanted to show that a big older California swimbait like the A.C. Cole original wood swimbait will work in the Midwest. This lure measures 8", this bass didn't find it intimidating at all! Check out how un-realistic this lure is compared to the newer tricked out & very expensive swimbaits. Also I was using 40 lb braided line...in clear water

Always used braids when I use my swimbaits, but looking to going w/ a mono line. Just want to know what you guys throwing swimbaits use for line brand & poundage. I have Mattlures Baby Bass & some Osprey 6 & 8" swimbaits, AC Cole swimbaits, & some others. I have other models that range in weights from 1 oz-8 oz. Setup I have is a Okuma Guide Series 7'6" heavy, split grip baitcast rod. And the reel is a Quantum 1421 MB Classic or I'll use my Shimano Cardiff 301. Both have braided line, but the Cardiff I'll mostly use for musky. So the Quantum has 60 lb Izorline braid.