Goose52

I can only speak to the PQ. It goes on sale quite often for $80 so if you decide to go in that direction it might pay to wait. Regarding the reel itself - it's a nice reel - available in lots of gear ratios in both RH and LH. A good, durable, work-horse of a reel. You can eventually wear-out a PQ...but it takes a while... BPS Pro Qualifier BC Reel - 5 Year Challenge - Complete

Back in 2011 we had a thread about a great deal on Ultra-Soft - $25 bucks for a 1 pound spool. So, I bought 4 spools: (2) 10lb, (1) 8lb, and (1) 6lb. FIFTEEN miles of line. I've finished one of the 5,800 yard spools of 10lb and am working down on the other - it will probably be gone in another 2-3 years. The spools of 8 and 6lb will probably last the rest of my life. Many people don't care for it but it's a good enough line. Strong, manageable, fairly abrasion resistant, and the price was outstanding. I have 60 reels with line on them right now and YZ-Ultra-Soft is on 34 of them. A good line to feed so many reels...

Shimano Metanium DC Reel - Initial Review / Impressions

I have the 7'2" MH (TAT721MHRB) and it's pretty much a spot-on MH. However, this rod is a regular action (moderate-fast) and the other two rods you mention are fast and extra-fast actions so they will all feel different. I know there are some other Tat rod owners on the board so you might get some feed back on the other rods...

Sometimes it's all about the rod...sometimes it's all about the reel. For bottom contact, IMO it's all about the rod and you've got that covered...

Grass carp are stocked in my local lakes for aquatic weed control. Since they are stocked for that purpose, and in quantities calculated to be sufficient to "accomplish their mission", they represent an investment by our homeowners association. As such, I don't specifically target them. However, I occasionally snag them when working the water for bass. Once I've snagged one, I have to get my lure back so it's game-on... You might want to check with the entity/agency that stocked the grass carp in your water to see what policy they might have in regards to specifically fishing for the grass carp or whether they discourage it in order to allow the carp to accomplish their primary mission of aquatic weed control. On growth rates, grass carp grow VERY fast. The one in the photo below was 48 pounds and probably around 10 years old.

Looking good ! You can see the "sweat equity" that you have in her !!

Should I Get An Nrx 893? Yes - they work - catch fish...

She's been gone MANY years but she went wherever I went - including in the boat. She'd get all excited when I had a fish on...but as soon as I landed the fish she'd take one sniff, turn up her nose, then go back and lay down. She was a great dog....

Apologies to the OP for going off-topic... I use a 45lb Minn-Kota Traxxis TM. It pushes my small and light 12ft canoe nicely and in any reasonable wind condition. I've made headway into wind strong enough to generate white-caps (I wasn't fishing in that "sea state"...I was trying to get back to my launch point after that wind popped up). If I had a longer/heavier boat, I would probably move up to a 55lb (or more) TM. Yes - I have outriggers (stabilizers) on the boat. I usually stand and fish all day - the only time I sit down is to land fish, change baits, and eat lunch.

Looks great !

Good deal on the 10 ga. On the conduit - steal away! Another view....

Looking good...............................................BUT......................................your extension wires between the TM and the battery look awfully puny (meaning too small a gauge wire for the job). You might not want to go too far from the dock on your first time out... and I'd be feeling those wires to see how hot they get. When I ran extension wires for my canoe I used 6 gauge. 8 or 10 gauge might work for you - especially for only a 30lb TM. Your wires look like they're only about 14 gauge.....

Water temp here is already up to the mid-60s here and I wouldn't want to do that test in my water either !

Nice vid ! I fired my PFD manually (just like your video) before I re-armed it - just to see what happened. Next time I re-arm, I think I'm going to jump in the lake with the PFD on to REALLY check the auto-inflate feature....

Yes - a very clean mount - good score !

Now THAT'S how to show off a classic rod...

Daiwa delights !

Looking good - have fun! .....................................................................................................................and make sure you wear a PFD !

Welcome Ford A coincidence, I bought my first Ford two days ago!

Kevin - that is a Kalin 5". It's a bit heavier than a Zoom Fat Albert for a bit more casting distance, but it's still soft enough to pull the hook through it with that 682 rod.

I have the 682 - I use it nearly exclusively for weightless 5" single-tail grubs. It would handle all the baits that you mentioned as well I guess but I don't have personal experience using the rod for those baits. I also have several ML-power casting rods so anything I don't feel comfortable tossing on the 682 I can just move up one power. You really have to decide if you want to play BFS like they do in Japan - meaning a light-power (or softer rod)...or whether you want to play what's becoming sorta a USA "bubba-BFS" where people obsess about getting a reel that will toss very light baits...but then put it on an ML or M rod. Here's the 682: And here's just about the only bait I toss with the 682:

Looking Good ! (now, you need line, a rod, and some fish slime... )

Me too - I'll take a free one... Wait - I guess you meant that your Conquest 400 has escaped from Customs, finally !