Goose52

Merry Christmas to all .... and go fishing if you can ! I went this morning - didn't even have to clear any ice from the rod guides !!

All my BC reels right now are either 6.4 or 7.1 - I want to try one slow reel for DEEP cranking. Otherwise, I'm with you - I think the 6.4 works pretty well.

I haven't a clue. If you miss this sale, they may end up on sale again during the big BPS Spring sale. I'm waiting for the 4.7 ratio PQ to go on sale and I will grab one.

I haven't used a Revo or an Extreme so I can't help you on this one. When I was shopping to upgrade my BC reels from a couple of mid-80s Shimanos that I had, I did some catalog browsing, some reading on the forums, and just jumped on the PQ. The reels has features, like dual-braking, that are usually only found on higher priced reels so the PQ seems to be a good value for the money. I'm committed to these now - I now have 4 PQs with 2 more planned ... Otherwise, perhaps someone else with experience with all the reels that you mentioned will pipe in. One thing for sure, if Steezy thinks it's a pretty good reel, with his perspective, it must be so ! BTW - the 6.4 and 7.1 ratio PQs are still on sale on the BPS web site for $79.

I have 11 small lakes around me that I fish. I'll usually have 3 to 5 rods in the car but will pick one to carry with me for a particular lake/presentation. I'm never more than 1/4 mile from the car so if I have a huge reel or rod problem I can always get back to the car easy enough to grab another rig. I'm thinking of making a sling with velcro ends so I can sling a second rod across my back in the event that I need to change presentations. I have all open shoreline with no overhanging trees so a slung rod won't hang up on anything... My gear goes in a fanny pack and that works well.

Along those lines, just today I received another BPS Pro Qualifier baitcaster reel that I bought on eBay for $40 shipped - smooth, as good as new, dual braking. I'm pairing it with an Extreme rod that I got at the $59 price. PQ+Extreme=$99. Of course, there is some risk in buying used reels on eBay... well, the reason i say the Abu 4600 series is 2 things: there will be parts for the things for a long long time. 99.9% of the world service the reel, including Reel Mechanic. Yep - I knew that was the reason for the recommendation. My recommendation was based on the dual braking feature of the PQ reel - something easier for someone new to baitcasters to learn on. Regarding the potential melt-down of BPS reels, in essence, I just bought every spare part on the reel for $40 shipped Since I now have 4 of these, and plan on having several more, I'm not concerned about spares ...

I fished the Glades back in the late 50s and in the 60s when I lived in Miami - I wish the peacocks where there back then !

Along those lines, just today I received another BPS Pro Qualifier baitcaster reel that I bought on eBay for $40 shipped - smooth, as good as new, dual braking. I'm pairing it with an Extreme rod that I got at the $59 price. PQ+Extreme=$99. Of course, there is some risk in buying used reels on eBay...

As I posted in another thread - I had to try at least ONE high-end rod to see what all the fuss is about. The Loomis is a nice rod, but I still like my Extremes (especially on a value for dollar standpoint) ...

Well, I always considered myself to be a "fisherman" - not necessarily only a "basserman." The 11 little lakes that I fish are not real productive and I'm pleased to catch fish, not only bass. The 20lb channel cat that I caught in September on a 5.5' light power rod w/6lb test was a FUN fish. A 1.5lb shellcracker on an ultra-light rod is fun. Just yesterday, I was tossing an inline spinner slow and deep and had a rainbow trout, about 18", follow the spinner back to the bank - twice. I'm getting ready to drive back over there and see if I can find him again It's all good.

One suggestion - Bass Pro Shop 2009 model Extreme combos are still on clearance for $99.98. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_103927____SearchResults Great rod - OK reel ...

As discussed in many threads - the BPS products seem to be controversial with both passionate naysayers AND supporters. However, the Extremes on closeout right now on-line seem to be a good value at $59. I just got in 2 more yesterday. A fun fact: I now have both a G. Loomis 7' MF casting rod (GLX MBR842C), and a BPS Extreme 7' MF - the Loomis rod weighs 125 grams, the Extreme weighs 152 - a 27 gram difference. So, the Loomis weighs about 18% less but it also cost nearly 5 times more than the Extreme... I hope it's 5 times as sensitive !

Speaking of Roostertails top to bottom: 3/8 oz chartreuse caught about 25 bass retired 3/8 oz firetiger took out of the packaging, bent the eye and blade the way I usually do on these, and on the third cast caught the bass in my avatar 7lb 12oz just pure luck. It's caught a few more small ones since then. 1/4 oz white this one caught a 20lb channel cat just pure luck. Caught a few small bass since then Scratch the 1/4oz white Roostertail in the photo - was fishing it slow and deep today and got hung-up and couldn't get it free - had to break off ... :'(

Thanks for the post - I may go with that if I ever decide to get another Loomis rod. On the Loomis web site, they make this comment about that rod: MBR783C "....If we had to choose one casting rod for all of our fishing, the 783 would be our choice." AND, I learned something new - I didn't even know that Loomis made 2-piece casting rods (which I like for travel when I can't have a 7' rod sticking from the trunk of my sedan, over the folded rear seat, all the way into the front seat area) ;D MBR783-2C "A two-piece version of our best all around bass rod. Fish small jigs, plastic worms, soft jerkbaits and spinner baits. It's super sensitive and you won't need a big rod tube to take it with you."

I just took the plunge two weeks ago and bought my first (perhaps only) high-end rod. I wanted something versatile for the type of fishing that I do. I don't have any heavy cover in the waters I fish and I also like fishing smaller baits so I went with a medium-power rod instead of a medium-heavy. Based on some research, and a lot of recommendations on this site, I got a Loomis GLX MBR842C. I got it new from a seller on eBay for $279 shipped.

I have 3 of the 2009 models (green w/gold), with 2 more inbound right now. These older models are being clearanced at $60 - a great deal IMO. BPS just added the new model Extremes to their web site for the full price of $100. Based on their descriptions of the old and new rods, all that seems to have changed is that they're now using "quality Pacific Bay® Hialoy guides handle braid, fluoro, or mono with ease." I had heard some reports (don't know how true) that braid was causing a problem on some of the earlier models so perhaps that's why they changed the guides. I don't have any personal knowledge of what else might have changed between the old and new rods. Interesting that the rod that you got has no hook keeper. One of the features that I liked about the 2009 model Extremes (and other model BPS rods) was the hook keeper design that allowed you to secure a T-rigged bait. If BPS has deleted the hook keeper, I think they shot themselves in the foot ...

Around 1958 in South Florida, my Dad sat me down on the bank and handed me a cane pole and some bread dough and said "catch a brim." So I caught a brim and he stuck a big hook in it's back and suspended it under a float and said "now I'm gonna show you how to catch a bass ..." Artificial baits came later... ;D

I guess you weren't kidding .... !

Speaking of Roostertails top to bottom: 3/8 oz chartreuse caught about 25 bass retired 3/8 oz firetiger took out of the packaging, bent the eye and blade the way I usually do on these, and on the third cast caught the bass in my avatar 7lb 12oz just pure luck. It's caught a few more small ones since then. 1/4 oz white this one caught a 20lb channel cat just pure luck. Caught a few small bass since then

I have 3 of them and thought they were a good value! If the OP is still following this thread - I don't know if you were considering a BPS ML rod - but if so, I have good news and bad news. I was just on the BPS web site and the good news is that they have the Extreme rods on clearance - marked down from $90 to $60 (a pretty good deal I think); the Pro Finesse rods are marked down from $70 to $60. The bad news is that it looks like they are sold out of the ML rods.

That's what I'm hoping for too ... since I have 1 Rick Clunn, 3 Pro-Qualifiers, and 1 ProLite now - and have another PQ, and at least one Carbonlite, on the shopping list (and I should have gotten one more ProLite before they were gone too!!)

Not to go OT, but based on the raving reviews of that rod by yourself, Steezy, and others, I have one of those arriving FedEx today 8-) BUT, it's a medium, not an ML... Goose52, you are going to fall in love with that MBR842C and don't let the Med rating fool you, it is very flexible but has plenty of backbone when needed. I hope you were able to get the GLX model. Aplogies to the OP - gonna go OT again. I got the GLX. I have always been a user of low- to mid-range equipment but I decided to get one high-end rod to see what all the hoopla is about. I wanted a versatile rod that would cover most of the type of fishing that I do and that meant a medium action, 6 1/2' or 7' length. Then, I saw multiple references to this specific rod in recent threads by you and others, so I put in an order for one. I did see on the Loomis website about the rod having some backbone and that was a key factor as well. FedEx came to the house today, but I was out so I have to wait 'till tomorrow to play with it... :'( AND, for now, it's going to have a (OH NO) BPS Pro-Qualifier reel on it (at least until I get the new BPS Carbonlite reel !)!

Wow - that would be the world-class solution - as soon as Raul posted, I went to the G.Loomis web site to look up the rod ... then had to wipe the drool off my monitor... ;D Of course, if the OP wasn't thinking of going over $500 on a combo, another option if the BPS Extreme combo that is on sale right now for $99 ! :

Not to go OT, but based on the raving reviews of that rod by yourself, Steezy, and others, I have one of those arriving FedEx today 8-) BUT, it's a medium, not an ML...

Good point - I forgot to mention the reel that I'm using - the BPS ProLite Finess reel (discontinued at present). The dual-braking on this reel has been very handy when trying to throw these light baits into the wind.