Goose52

Well, the Liberto Pixy was discontinued around 2009. It was replaced by the PX68 - sort of a formalization of the popular Pixzilla modifications (minus the worm gear bearing). The PX68 has Magforce Z instead of the Pixy's Magforce V, a higher gear ratio (6.8:1), a multi-disc drag stack, a slightly different higher capacity spool, and probably has other differences as well. The PX Type R is the U.S. market version (with several changes - color, clicking drag, knobs) of the JDM PX68. The Daiwa experts on the board can summarize all the differences better than I have I expect...

Three or four years ago, Raul posted in this forum the math formula that you are calling "TCF". For me it was one of those "duh" moments; a simple formula, but so useful and I have frequently used it over the years. Thanks for posting it again - lots of folks should get some use out of it... Sorry - don't remember that............7th grade was 50 years ago.............

Luhr Jensen Hot Lips Express in 1/4 oz would be one option. It has a very small profile (2 1/8") compared to other lures with comparable depth ratings.

The Phenix is as close as I will probably get to a factory BFS rod. Instead of ordering a true BFS rod from Japan I would probably go with a custom on a spinning rod blank. I have a 5 1/2' light -power spinning rod and one of these days I'm going to put one of my Pixys on it just to see how it will load and cast (if the reel will fit in the reel seat and I don't get honked up by the first guide being so far off the blank... )

Wow - you be stylin' now...

thehooligan mentioned the Phenix Recon C682L (6'8" light-power, 1/16 - 3/8 lure rating) so I'll chime in. It's a foam, split-grip so maybe out of the running but there's no doubt it will load at 1/8oz. I use that rod nearly exclusively to fish weightless Kalin 5" grubs on a 1/0 EWG hook. Weight = .177oz - closer to 3/16 (.1875oz) than 1/8 (.125oz) but watching how much the rod loads with just a grub it's certain it would still have effective loading at a true 1/8oz. I have a PX Type R on the rod with 8lb line and just took it out on the driveway and with a conservative brake setting got 55-60 feet casts with it and a weightless grub is not the most aerodynamic bait to toss. I have a Pixy with ABEC 7 ceramics and 6lb line that on that rod will beat that distance by a bit. Phenix also makes the C712L rod (7'1" - same line and lure rating) that would perform as well or better I expect. I also have several of the other rods mentioned above - the Avid 6'9" ML-XF and the LTB 6'9" ML-XF. They both will also toss the weightless Kalin grub but don't have the range of the Phenix rod. I don't typically toss anything lighter on BC gear than the 5" grub so can't give any reports on TRUE 1/16 to 1/8oz baits. Weightless grub: The Phenix will handle the lighter weight baits, but still has enough power to hookset through the plastic and into a bass...

Try fishing it. Mine runs about 3-4 feet deep, has a good "wiggle", and has some flash from the metal lip - seems to work... My surviving Runts - had them both since sometime before 1967. I guess one of these days I should try to catch a fish on one of these too...

WTG A-Jay

My 7'7" medium-"regular" casting rod fishes as a moderate-fast. I have no experience with the rest of the product line rated as "regular." It would not be my first choice for bottom-contact single-hook applications but it could be made to work if using braid or if you are in the habit of using a Mongo hookset. Could work perhaps for moving single-hook like spinnerbaits but again, not ideal. I am very satisfied with the 7'7" rod for what I use it for, open water lipless cranks, where it excels. But I never considered using it for single-hook; there's other tools in the shed for that...

I still have all my baits (called lures or plugs back then) from the early- to middle-1960s. Some are safely in boxes in the garage...but some are still in the active boxes. I don't actually fish with many of them however; afraid to lose them I guess. The only 1960s vintage bait that sees regular use is a small Rapala original floater. Anyway, I was fishing a small pond yesterday and opened a crankbait box and saw one of my 60s baits, thought of this thread, and decided to catch a bass on it. Ended up catching three little bass on it. It was a MirrOlure model 15LS jointed crankbait. I just visited the MirrOlure web site and was surprised to see that these are still being made. Anyone else remember these? Not much of a bass......................but this is the first bass caught on this plug in about 47 years - perhaps longer...

If I buy a new reel, I keep the box and as others have said keep the original paperwork, tools, etc. in the box. NOW, if buying a used reel, I LOVE buying them without the box. You can usually get them cheaper that way...like the excellent condition Conquest 50 that I DID buy on eBay that perhaps John passed on. Thanks John !

I LOVE to see the results...instead of just photos of reels with no line on them.................. ;)

NICE reel ! NOW, the next photo you post of that reel should look something like this one...

Happy BD Hootie! Like everyone has been saying - your wife should give our wives some purchasing training...

8 and 10 lb Yo-Zuri Ultra-Soft.

The 7' ML is the bottom rod in my photo. Nice rod...but a niche player - happiest around 3/16 - 3/8oz.

The Crankin' Stick line-up is extensive, and normally includes a 7' MH. I see that the BPS website is showing very few models available - perhaps they are just low on stock and waiting for a shipment from China. There could be some 7' MH models in the stores if you are close to one. Otherwise, if you wait a while the web site might show the full lineup after a shipment arrives. (And hopefully, the low stock isn't because the rod is being discontinued!) FWIW, I use the 7'6" MH Crankin' Stick as a deep-cranking rod (second rod down from top). For shallow- to mid-depth cranking, I use the 7' medium (third rod down from the top).

OUTSTANDING Jeff - looks GREAT ! That should keep the memory alive !!

Red Eye Shad in Orange Belly Craw works sometimes...

x 4. Great/best pricing, fast checkout with PayPal, typical fast EMS shipping. What's not to like...

I toss plastic worms on all sorts of sticks but the primary, dedicated worm rods are: Cumara A - 7'2" mf NRX 852C JWR - 7'1" mxf NRX 893C JWR - 7'5" mhxf Which one is used is mainly based on the weight of the bait being tossed.................but also depending on whether my tennis/casting elbow is acting up!

I fish Fat Alberts all the time - a very versatile bait. As already mentioned, they can be used as a trailer, on a jig-head, or fished alone. I rig them weightless and weedless on a 1/0 EWG hook. You can swim/pop them on top, or let them soak for a few seconds and swim them back sub-surface. Since they are rigged weedless, you can drag them over slop and let them sink into holes, etc. Color? I typically only use one color - Watermelon Green Orange Flake. Not a big fish bait by any means, it's mostly a numbers bait. However, this ole gal must have been in a diet and only wanted a light meal when she sucked up this Fat Albert back in June. That's a Fat Albert WAY down there... Her diet wasn't working very well - she still looks a bit "chunky" !

Very wise to have read the signs and gotten off the water in time. Not fun to have to bail the boat out while portaging...but that's better than having to bail it out while on the water! I got caught in a significant downpour (no lightning) a couple months ago and decided to ride it out. Was sitting in the canoe with an umbrella, continually bailing out the boat to keep from sinking...

Similar to Bluebasser86 - my LMB PB bit in 18 fow....but the fish was higher in the water column, probably at about 6-8 feet max.

When you say that you contacted BPS - do you mean you called a BPS store? If so, then you need to contact Outdoor World Rod & Reel Repair. If they are temporarily out of stock on handle assemblies, ask them about the availability of salvage handles (handles salvaged from returned reels). Otherwise, lots of handles fit the PQ, including as you already mentioned Lew's and Abu handles.