SWMIBASSER

There is a HUGE advantage to pitching IMO. Water is too clear up here for flipping. There is just no point. Plus anywhere you can get with a flip, you can get with a pitch....Here anyways. We don't have much knarly cover. 'if' I did flip I think I would go for one of the 7'11 rods, but I don't. I'll stick to the 7'6 for pitching. And only that long because it is a really light rod, is only a MH, and has a balancer on the handle all making it more manageable than the super heavy 'flipping sticks'

I've been old school with my fishing reels up until last year. Almost all of what I did growing up was Musky fishing so I got used to, and never stopped using the round Abu reels. But I decided to upgrade to the L/P reels last winter since my hand was starting to get tired of the large diameter. I took apart all 3 BPS reels when I got them, to clean them and check out the internals. The longevity of those round reels makes me worry about all other reels. But the BPS reels were built very solid. I'm pretty impressed.

I've been fishing weightless wacky worms all summer on a creek running through our back yard.....The Pro Finesse reel throws them effortlessly, and I've hauled in a dozen 3lbers, a couple fours and a TON of legal fish. When I'm out fishing I use the reel for my jerkbait rod. It's light, casts a mile, good backlash control, smooth as silk, small frame, and not too fast. I'd like to try the new ones as well. The one I have is last years model.

It's weird how line reviews are all over the place. I know of a few people who swear Flouroclear is EXCELLENT. My brother uses Viscous Flourocarbon with succes. I've fished with him plenty and I've never seen him have a problem. PLine especially in the CXX, has a large diameter to line rating ratio. Of course it's strong....The 17 is in a 12-14lb box. I'll stick to Yo-Zuri in most applications, 100% Flourcarbon Trilene in only a select few.

IMO $50 more can get you more than $50 worth of rod performance. $150 is where the value is at. IMO.

Well it might be a bit OCD on my part but I do have to say I look at every minute detail in any product I buy, and can usually get a bit more for my money that way. Not just with fishing gear either. But as an example, with baitcast reels I feel like I hit a home run with a quality reel for a more than affordable price. Got 5 of the BPS Extreme reels, and they're solid for the money and when on sale it's like finding them. With spinning reels though I still have yet to get one that seems to be worth it's price. I'm looking around and exploring the products available. Not trying to be dramatic about it (though I did get frustrated a while back that everyone else seems to get quality President reels and I can't seem to find one that doesn't grind. A week ago at a tackle shop I was looking at different reels and asked to see yet another President just to see if it would grind too, and sure enough it did just like all the rest have before it). Well said. As far as baitcasters go BPS offers great reels at a good price, and when on sale a GREAT price. Spinning reels are a different story. The BPS spinning reels seem to hold up OK, but I just don't like them. Not that smooth, balanced weird, etc. Pflueger Supreme spinning reels all the way. All metal construction, light as a feather, smooth as silk, and even in small sizes (8030) I don't have problems with twisted flourocarbon.

It isn't that you can't post Shimano questions in the general forums. It's not up to me. I'm no moderator. But with everyone else using the general forum, and Shimano having one all to themselves it only seems to make sense, and to be fair by putting those questions in the Shimano forum. This is of course my opinion. And you know what they say about those.

There is a Shimano area in this forum http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?board=Shimano

There is a Shimano area in this forum. http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?board=Shimano

Just remember there is a flea market/classified section. If you shop around you can get a BUNCH more rod/reel for your money. In that price range I'd like to try one of the Carrot Stix, with a used Pflueger Supreme....The used reel should get me in under or close to budget.

Hit the nail on the head perfectly. You also have to have a rod that works in concert with the inertia of the spool. My BPS Fritts Crankin' reel will BOMB bigger cranks on the Horton crankbait rod it's on, but with little cranks the spool will try to overrun and cause backlashes (need to adjust the brake or a faster tipped rod)

I'll have to agree to disagree with anyone about the value of the GLX. I don't care how good it is. But I understand wanting universal rods. Fishing from shore has quite a few limitations on storage, transport, and even techniques that you can or will use. I usually like to have 7 or 8 rods always rigged, and will leave one or two home depending on when and where I'm going. Shakey head, tube, drop shot, jig, jerkbait, crankbait, worm/senko, and either a wacky worm, or another crankbait rod. Some little lakes I can pare that down to about 3 or 4.

BPS Pro Qualifier, Pflueger Patriarch or President, Abu Revo SX, Used Diawa TDS (my favorite of that list) Others are beyond the point of diminishing returns. A bunch more $$ for not a bunch more performance. And FWIW if strictly performance is all you are after the BPS reels, when on sale are an unbeatable value.

I don't doubt for a second that they are GREAT. But everyone suggests them casually like anyone can spend $400 for ONE fishing rod. I'll stick to the technique specific rods from Loomis, and to other brands in a similar ($250 max) price range.

Rogue rods, are probably the most underrated rods ever made..... You will not be dissapointed. I also think the Johnny Morris Elite series are grossly underrated rods....

Everyone talks about how great the GLX is. I'm sure it is. But it SHOULD be. It's almost $400 :

I agree with you on the moving lures. Why in the world anyone pays over $200 for a Loomis crankbait rod is beyond me.......But as I type this I remember that I'd like to have one of the Quantum KVD crankbait rods. For spinnerbaits, crankbaits, topwater, swimbaits, frogs, or any other moving lure, or lure that doesn't require any sensitivity....I just don't see the point of the expensive rods. IMO. And you know what they say.

I'm sure they do. But with a given budget, I'll buy the absolute best rod I can afford, and then put a cheap reel that I feel performs fine... My $200 J/M Elite rod has a $40-50 (on sale) BPS Extreme reel on it. And the combo is GREAT. Would I like to have a nicer reel on it? Sure. But given the fact I want more rods, I'll stick with my current formula. With that said, IMO you do need to spend a moderate amount of money on a good spinning reel. But again this comes down to the above criteria. Drag, prevent line twists and tangles, and not break. But I don't spend big bucks there either. I'm happy with the Pflueger Supreme and that's what I'm gonna put on the 7'4 Loomis Bronzeback that I'm gonna get this winter. I just haven't told the wife yet. ;D

You did this all backwards. First you get the rod you want, and 'then' get a reel for it. The reel only needs to not backlash, not break, and have a smooth drag. Everything else is just the warm fuzzy feeling you get from having a nice reel. Kind of like a guarantee on a box. The rod on the other hand WILL help you catch more fish.

Put it on the absolute worst fishing rod you can find, and then leave it in your boat.....When a time comes that a fishing partner needs a rod hand him that one and wait to see the look on his face.......HAHA..A good gag reel right there.

Buy the BPS David Fritts reel when it's on sale and get two for that price.

I've been reading alot of posts about how great the GLX version of this rod or that rod is. I should sure as heck hope so! I like nice rods. In some applications I feel they do, without a doubt help you catch more fish. But I'll be damned if I spend close to $400 on a fishing rod. Besides all the other reasons, I just simply won't do it out of principal. Besides, I don't see KVD or or Skeet Reese or for that matter much of ANY body using them on the pro circuit. Sponsors? Sure. But that still doesn't change the fact that most of them aren't using a $400 fishing rod and could still kick all of our butts.

I just bought from fish307.com for the first time last week. Ordered monday arrived Friday. Several e-mail updates. On sale for less than $10 for 600yd spool, less than $15 with shipping. Good company.

Pflueger Supreme, President XT, President.

Any other tube rod recommendations? How about the Loomis BSR852=Mossyback 7'1" M, XF 6-12 1/8-3/8 Also thinking about trying the St Croix Legend Tournament LTBS70 7' M F 6-12 3/16-5/8