Goose52

John - go with the future..................not the past..................

Fixed it...................................

...and the Calcutta could end up outlasting all the others..........................

That's a HUGE jump. OK - here's hoping your next PB also jumps up by 3-11 !

I use a sharpie and write the "book" diving depth on the left, rear of the bait. I used to write it on the diving bill but it didn't seem to last long there. The rear of the bait usually gets beat-up somewhat less than the lip and front of the bait (not counting hook rash). For storage - I separate the cranks by depth: 0-9ft / 7-16ft / 15-20ft / >20ft.

Thanks Dwight. So many more reels left to try..............................................

Outstanding ! Congrats on the DD and new PB. And that is a GREAT photo... Didn't this fish bump up your PB by a couple pounds?

My Daiwa squadron just added another member. Ryoga 1016H, 6.3:1 ratio, gives a measured 26.5 IPT at the top of the spool - a very handy number... The only reel I own where the sideplate is secured by allen screws! A Zillion is often referred to as a tank. Maybe, but check out this frame.................THIS is a tank! 20-position MagForce Z dial (the black ring on the sideplate): RCS 1016 spool - I'm sure the Daiwa junkies will be chiming in with spool options. I usually always include a photo of a new reel with a fish...............but unfortunately there is not much catching going on here right now. Water is still soft, but surface water temps have been around 41-43 for the last couple weeks and catching is poor. I've had it on the water for about 90 minutes over the last couple days. SOLID reel - it feels like you are holding a solid block of aluminum. Glass-smooth on the retrieve. A nifty reel indeed. It should work, reel in fish.........................as soon as I can find some fish............................

I use either 6 or 8-lb Yo-Zuri on my PX-R - usually the 8.

Depends on the bait and the wind. With something like a lipless crank and little wind, I'll use 1 internal and whatever external I need. Other baits and/or more wind, I'll use 2 internals and then usually minimal external.

I have a Ryoga 1016 arriving tomorrow or Monday but haven't any on-the-water experience with one yet. The 1016 is too small for your chosen line at any rate. I haven't heard of anyone on the board mentioning if they had a Ryoga 2020 but I believe there are some Pluton owners on the board that might chime in. In general, and only speaking from theory, not experience, I don't think the Ryoga is going to be "better" than any of my Conquests..................it's going to be "different." Different braking system, different "feel" while cranking under load, but still a very high-quality, robust reel. I like having different gear to play with - adds to the overall experience.

Best value? Easy - the Cardiff 300. Why? It is a quality reel, with an established reputation of handling swimbaits, has the right line capacity, will do all you need it to do, and is 25% of the price of the Conquest. Now, do you have a preference in braking systems? Cardiff is centrifugal, Luna is Magforce Z. That preference might help you decide but keep in mind you're MORE than doubling the price of the reel if you select the Luna. The Conquest? Over-engineered, over-built, an heirloom reel, loved by many (including me), but best "value"...probably not. I think DVT gave great advice... Swimbaits are expensive

I LOVE seeing the results photos in these kinds of threads. MUCH better than the posts that say this reel is the best and show a photo of it sitting on a box or mounted on a reel......................with no line on the spool.....................................

WOW - I would love to see some photos of 15" bass that weigh 4 pounds - I bet they must look like basketballs! Fish tend to run thin in the water I fish but after weighing 211 bass 15" in length the average weight is only 1.48 pounds....

Tom - how do you rate the sensitivity of the Defier for jig fishing as compared to flouro?

okbassguy - we're just having a bit of fun. There is usually a "what is the best" thread about once or twice a week and most are similar in the types of responses that we see. aavery2 provided a very astute post that sums up the situation very well...

No problem - one possible answer to that would be TWO Daiwa Tatula rods.....................................................................

$200 budget? Hmmmm - one answer could be TWO Daiwa Tatulas - one in 5.3:1 ratio for cranking, the other in either 6.3:1 or 7.3:1 for all other presentations...

Surface water temp was 42 degrees when I caught that bass this morning so I have a few more degrees of potential catching temps left...

I think some folks might typecast Tennessee anglers as only fishing with an Ugly Stick, a big spinning reel, and chicken livers......................

Year round? Well, here up on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, sometimes it's year-round...............sometimes it's not..................

I think the answer is that as a Pixy derivative, it can indeed handle lighter baits. BUT, as essentially a "from the factory" Pixzilla, with a multidisc drag stack good for about 9 pounds, it will handle much larger baits and fish. You're really only limited by the spool capacity for your chosen line... I do use mine for lighter baits with 6lb test line but that's a chosen application - not a limitation of the reel.

Hey Hootie - I know you probably have hard water up there so you haven't been able to "field test" your new Scorpion. I just thought I'd report that these Scorpions work, catch fish... Good luck with yours in the spring!

I have no personal experience with it...but Daiwa recently came out with the Tatula HD - rated at 100yds of 20lb. That might be one option if you can find it at a good price.

I agree with webertime - those are the sizes that would give you adequate capacity for 20/25lb line. I would recommend that if you haven't handled many round reels before that you try to visit a tackle shop and handle some of these reels mounted on a rod to see if you are comfortable with the fit of the reel in your hand. Reels this size palm MUCH larger than 100-200 size low-profile BC reels and you should check out your comfort level with them.