Ineedanewscreenname20170204

Welcome to the forum - you'll like it here. Hope you find some great bass fishing...

Welcome to the forum - you'll like it here.

Welcome to the forum!

Welcome to the forum - you'll like it here.

Welcome to the forum - you'll like it here. Last year was my first using primarily baitcasters. I messed around for a few years with some cheaply made reels and had all sorts of trouble. I think a well made reel makes a huge difference. I bought a Shimano Citica 200e this year (a bit over $100 online) and would highly recommend it. Best of luck!

Welcome to the forum - you'll like it here.

Welcome to the board Senile1 - LOL

I don't pro-flip anything over 1 pound or so. I kinda like reaching down to lip the bass. Sometimes those crankbaits in a thrashing bass make me think twice though... I don't catch so many fish that I have to worry about the extra 5 seconds to lip the fish...

I suggest an hooking up an 18' fiberglass rod rack with a 150HP merc on the back. LOL. I put my rods in the passenger floorboard like RW says and it works a lot better. My bed is only 5' so even at an angle my 7' rods won't fit and I wouldn't want them getting banged up back there anyway.

I didn't think my Revo SX was finnicky until I got a Curado 200e. I love the Revo but the centrifigal brakes on the Shimano is pretty amazing. Anyway I do love the SX - it casts really well but will complain nastily (i.e. overrun) if you push it too hard...

That's a great reel - just got mine today and I love it. Hasn't seen water yet though... I have it on a medium action rod and intend to throw cranks and light spinnerbaits on it. It would be ok for weightless plastics, esp. the heavier senkos but not for heavier texas rigs (tip too soft). Your setup would be fine for spinnerbaits and t-rigs for sure. I had trouble on a different rig (Curado 200e/St. Croix MH) casting senkos. The rod wouldn't load up and my casting was terrible. I dropped to a medium and it was a lot better. St. Croix are a bit stiff compared to other makes in the same action though... Best of luck.

Well my new citica came today. I threw some 12# YoZuri UltraSoft on it and secured it to a BPS Bionic Blade 66MF. Went to the front yard to toss a 1/4oz casting around. Casts very nicely. Can easily get 100ft - not bad for the untreated line. I'll be throwing crankbaits and an occasional 1/4 oz spinnerbait with it and I think it will do very well. I have 2 of the new Curados and this casts almost as well. Same frame I think but a heavier spool. Both this and the Curado are very forgiving on the professional overruns even with very aggressive casts. I'm a happy camper. Now for spring to get here...

I loaded up on the UltraSoft from Cabelas...

Don't know about Powell but I picked up a St. Croix Avid MHF and the rod wouldn't load up with a 5" weightless senko. I dropped down to MF and it casts weightless plastics beautifully - not suited for heavier texas rigs though. I know St. Croix is a bit stiffer than some...

5'5" light spinning rod with matching spinning reel, 4# Trilene XL.

Baitcasters all have (Yo-Zuri Ultra Soft) 12# except one has 15# (it's the one with the big jig tied on...). I only have 2 spinning outfits for bass - one 10#, one 8#. Several light/ultralight (for the slab crappie) and they have 4#. Spinning gear all have Trilene XL mono.

Citica 200e

I ordered 2 600 yard spools of 12# test and 1 spool of 15# Yo-Zuri ultra soft (clear) from Cabelas for $12 a spool. I loaded up a few of my baitcasters with 12# and casted around the yard a bit and it casts really well. It is stiffer than mono but seems to handle nicely. I'm sure 12# would NOT handle well on most spinning gear though. I'm sure I'll have another update when I get a chance to fish it. I was thinking of using 15# for pitching jigs but I'm not sure I need that much strength - it seems pretty stiff...

Fishing laydowns with texas rigs or senkos - and they're hitting...

Without doubt - citica 200e ~ $105 TYD online

I love my Abus and my SheManos... Any you guys don't like yours PM me for a shipping address...

Shimano Citica 200e online for right at $100. BPS Extreme is a nice reel (esp. for the $$) and can be had for $50 w/ trade-in at BPS in a couple weeks.

The circular is posted on the BPS site now. Go to a local store (mine was Cincinnati) and you'll see it. Some decent sales on jigs and platstics. Here are some examples... [br] [table] [tr][td]Stik-o[/td][td]$3.33[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Net Bait Paca Chunk[/td][td]$1.74[/td][/tr] [tr][td]StrikeKing KVD Spinnerbait[/td][td]$4.94[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Chompers football jigs 2pk[/td][td]$3.94[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Enticer football jigs[/td][td]$1.54[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Booyah Baby Boo Bug[/td][td]$.98[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Berkley PowerBait soft plastics[/td][td]$2.74[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Zoom soft plastics[/td][td]25% off[/td][/tr] [tr][td]NetBait Paca Craw[/td][td]$2.94[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Yum Soft plastics[/td][td]$1.98[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Lucky Strike Guido bugs[/td][td]$2.64[/td][/tr] [tr][td]BPS Extreme Reel (after $10 reel trade in)[/td][td]$49.94[/td][/tr] [/table] http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&appID=163&option=3&template=circular.cfm&catalog=sfc40_09_tab&rfx_versioningid=011&storeID=5

RW - I've read so many posts where you recommend yo-zuri that I had to place an order for some ultra soft (12# and 15#) for my new Curados. Not sure if I'm going to need some KVD line conditioner with the line. I'd prefer not to use anything unless I need it. I've loved Trilene XL in the past but looking for a bit more sensitivity...

I own one of each (both 7' MF) and would hate to give up either one. The mojo is lighter and with the price so close I'd have to go with the St. Croix. I just bought the mojo and intend to use it for senkos and light plastics. I know it loads up well and casts nicely with a 5" senko.