Dockhead

Hmmmm...... Grandpa owns a 500 acre lake...dad "loves" the NRX...you're able to fish 7 days a week... Your last name wouldn't happen to be Loomis would it? ;D

What he said.

They are over priced...

I grabbed a Tierra pretty cheap off of Ebay. I had been using centrifugal braking reels only for quite a while, and was interested to see if the magnetic worked for me. Big mistake, only because I love it and can't find any good deals on them lately. May have to break down eventually and get another. If I see one for less than retail I will pick it up instantly.

South Pasco Bassmasters

Trying to get an expedient (and straight) answer has been like pulling teeth. We are a small club (and getting smaller all the time) and frankly it seems as if the powers that be could care less about us. Because we feel like the main reason we are having membership problems is the monetary commitment, we attempted to get someone to answer some questions about the benefits of tbf. Got the run around. Then when someone contacted a man of importance with Fed Nation via email, he not only answered all of our questions, he volunteered to come to a meeting and talk to us about our concerns/needs.

I have a B series on a 7' 3" Kistler Magnesium TS. Great combo. I have actually had it on several different rods over the last few years, and it hasn't met a stick it doesn't like. Great purchase.

Who do you have to know to get that deal??!!

Most savvy's are split grip. Some are full. Just depends on model.

I like Kistler a lot, and the z-bone concept is intriguing. I actually went through the online process of picking out the specific components, but didn't pull the trigger. I'm sure others can give you more specifics when it comes to custom built, but if I were to do it I believe I would go to an individual as opposed to Kistler. If you do it with them seems like you don't have as many options as you would if you went to someone and were able to talk it through with them. Seems like it is a lot more personal with a small builder, and I believe there are several good ones who are members here.

Anyone know what happened with Aaron Marten's in that first post season tourney? I believe he had 4 dead at weigh-in, but I never heard if they knew why. He was putting ice in the well first thing in the a.m., right after he caught his first fish. I thought he said something about the ice, something to the effect of he should not have put ice in the well. I always thought bagged ice like that was detrimental, but can't remember why. Something chemical wise in the ice I think was what I heard. I take frozen bottles of water myself. Don't know how much it helps, but it isn't too much trouble to throw them in the well once in awhile so what the hey. I just make sure to take them out when I run so they don't beat up the fish. Anyway, just wondering what was up.

Federation Nation - I have done both and tbf just always comes off as bush league to me. The club I am in currently has been flw for a few years and the support is non-existent. We are a small club and are not even on their radar. Next year we are either switching to BASS or going independent. BASS is also just more "grass roots" friendly in my opinion.

UGGGHHHHH! I finally looked into this and it is indeed kaput. You snooze you lose... :'(

Thanks guys. I will probably send it in with a few other reels in the near future.

I just had a conversation with someone who mentioned this very tactic. Bounce dryer sheets rubbed on your skin to keep the no-seeums at bay. I guess I've heard of starnger things - just can't remember when.

I used Sahara's for a long time. Then I got a Symetre and will never pick up another Sahara. Then I got a Saros. Wow, like it even better than the Symetre. I really think it's noticabley smoother. I better not get a Stradic. Afraid of what will happen to that Saros. Oh, and the Saros I picked up for $100 shipped. Same price as a Symetre retail. Stradic for $120 would be worth it. But I would think you'd be just as happy with the Saros.

Good find! I recently pulled a rod out of the trash myself. We arrived at the beach for a week, and saw this rod in the garbage that must have been left by the people who were in the condo before us. Pulled it out, and it sure wasn't a Castaic. Probably about a $12 spincast combo. And it was trashed... But as for that Castaic, it is a solid reel. Used one as my primary flippin reel for quite awhile, still use it for toads and as a back up flippin set up.

Is "Kissimmee grass" anywhere on that brochure? :-? (Don't even know the real name of that stuff.)

Atta boy Johnny! Way to stick up for Tarpon!

I had the break off problem for awhile using fluoro and coploymer leaders. I opted to downsize my braid. 10 lb is plenty strong, and really the main reason I have it on spinning gear is for the zero stretch, which you get whether the line is 50lb or 10lb test. 8 or 10 pound leader and 10 lb. braid and no more breaks.

I also enjoy Shimano reels, but recently picked up both a Pro Qualifier and a Tierra. I am liking them both a lot, the magnetic brake is more of an advantage than I thought. Makes life pretty easy. I also just picked up a Carbonlite on the flea market, have not had it out yet. But it sure is promising for the price. If you go with a Patriarch XT make sure you check ebay. I have seen them going for a lot less that $250.

Burnt orange makes everything ugly! Go noles- ;D

Ebay

I have a curado 200b that all of a sudden has about an inch of back play in the handle. What can be done?

I have the 7' casting rod, mh. I like it a lot. I have felt the spinning version in store, and it felt nice as well. It is an extremely solid rod and very strong. I got it thinking it would be a bit stouter than it really is. If there was a category between med. and med. heavy I would rank it there. I also don't consider it a true extra fast (compared to my cumara) but I would say it is fast. I use it as my primary texas rig rod, generally throwing 1/8 or 3/16 ounce worms. So it depends what exactly you are looking to use it for. As far as quality goes, it is a very well built rod. But the best part is the price. It is good rod at the $150 price point, but they can be had on ebay for under $100. I got mine for $92.99 to the door. That makes it a super value and well worth it. In my opinion...