Delaware Valley Tackle

It's all about line diameter and the effect it has on diving depth. For open water cranking I run 10# mono, Suffix Elite, smoke color if that matters. RWs heavy core idea is worth a look if your throwing deep diving cranks.

Are you using the same rod (guides)?

My thought was that if the drag was jerky at all, the damping of the rods action may affect the point at which the drag would initially break free by cushioning. Start up pressure and sustained pressure aren't always equal. I think that's one of the improvements you see with Carbontex. Over all strength seems to be improved somewhat as well. I agree John G that some real stats would be good to see. I'm doing something similar with rod blanks using the CCS system.

Plastics on jigs, T-rigs or weightless? IF you can believe the lure weight ratings most of the difference between each model appears to be power in the mid- butt sections in which case cover and size of fish can dictate your choice.

Rambler, I'm sitting on an older but unused quantum pistol grip rod. If it might be anything you're interested in let me know.

The Rage in on an SC III (Avid) level blank. Very nice blanks. As you've seen the Pflueger spinning reels are a good bang for your buck. There are a couple light weight offerings from Pinnacle and Okuma that I'd be willing to gamble on if looking for a switch.

A true loss to the Forum and fishing community. R.I.P. David and blessings to you and yours.

If you took the reel off the rod and lifted the weight straight up I think the results would have been different. Either way, it is eye opening, is it not? 5-7# of drag and 5-6 well placed quality bearings is all a bass reel need to perform very well and last a long time.

Outside of personal preference, the only time I really factor for the angler's height is when building rods for tip-down applications like jerk baits, spooks etc. The exceptions would be youth rods and maybe some ladies builds. Other special circumstances like small crafts, bush whacking etc. as well.

There is no best length, power or action rod. Each is a tool with it's own purpose. My bass rods range from 6' to 8' with several in between. A lot of it is personal preference though. Sounds like you've found what works for you. I urge you to keep an open mind as you try new techniques though.

ABU is very popular here locally and I haven't seen any trend of the Gen 3 Revos coming in for repairs. Lew's vs. Revo is about the same as Chevy vs. GMC trucks, they come off the same assembly lines. At similar price-points you almost can't go wrong. Personal preferences, features and the deal are what it comes down to.

That's one way of doing it, but "should" is debatable. It's much more mechanically efficient to move the fish with the rod and simple to take up line without putting slack in the line. Hold a rod too high and start cranking too much weight and next thing you know you've got a broken rod just like high-sticking a hookset.

TT's fluoro shootout was kind interesting. It dispelled the myth of fluoro not stretching (again) and the BPS brand scored decently.

Sharp hooks and appropriately matched line should not require locked down drags for good sets. At the end of the day though you gotta do what works for you.

The 50 size are capable of throwing big baits but the lower weights are where they really shine. And of course the profile is smaller. IPT is nearly identical in standard ratio at 25 & 26 for the Curado. The high speed version Curado has an IPT of 30

Frog fishing doesn't require anything more than any other heavy cover application, ie: metal frame, good drag, good casting. Pretty much any of the $125> reels out there meet these requirements. Gear ratio is strictly preference. I don't see the need for a super fast reel here personally.

There are all kinds of tips for making your own too if so inclined.

A-Jay, You're obviously experienced in these things. In addition to a PFD how is it best to dress to stay warm as possible should get dunked?

Most important thing is to keep them clean. A film of light oil won't hurt. If casting distance is severely limited look into the rod and line before the reel. Otherwise accuracy will do more to improve your catch rate.

The president is a great bang for the buck. The Trion is decent if you need to save the difference. Scope out the flea market forum for a second hand rod in your budget. A second hand st croix mojo or premier maybe

The cost of servicing is less than $20 for members here. Of course I can't say for sure without seeing it but I'd be surprised if that reel needs to be junked

Josh, as you're seeing first hand there are no industry standards. As a matter of fact many won't even publish physical weight. Action is just where the rod bends initially. Power describes the resistance to bending or stiffness. Even though terms like fast and slow are used to describe action, a rods speed is it's recovery rate or frequency. Your "whippy " rod is slow or low frequency. A modern graphite rod will be "faster" having a higher frequency. The corresponding higher stiffness to weight ratio is where the improved sensitivity comes from. Your older rods are certainly fishable but will serve best in technique specific applications.

Repeated soaking is sufficient. IMO the potential for an accident mixing an aromatic solvent with high rpm tools isn't worth it. Care with abrasives is required but Polishing needs to be done in stages. Polish alone won't give the best results.

My kids have just been through this. Work and save all your money toward tuition. Attend a community college for two years and finish at a state school. With the exception of a few select fields, where you get a degree from has little or no affect on life time earnings. If you graduate saddled with huge debt you won't be owning a boat or starting any business for a long time, maybe never. Don't get pressured or suckered into paying a ton to attend a "Name" school. It's not much different than wearing only designer clothes. Be professional in all your dealings and writing. You used "there" in place of "their" in the OP. Best of luck.

For distance casting a heavier spool has inertia on its side. In modern reels it's all really splitting hairs. As stated any quality reel can be setup to cast more than far enough. The real keys lie in the rod. A 7'6" or 8' moderate action that loads properly with the weight being casted is your best bet. The baits weight and profile play a roll as well and a light and supple line casts better. Last but not least, casting ability varies. A fluid stroke, release timing and thumb control all need to work together.