Goose52

Quality crankbaits for sure - good enough hooks, good finishes, all of mine have run true (so far). The Deep Little N is my "go to" for it's depth range and I use it the most. I also toss Fat Boys, Thin Ns, NXSs, and DD22's as well. This DLN is having a bit of a finish issue..................but then it's on the north side of 100 bass caught. Caught a bass on it yesterday...

Scotty must have managed to give FedEx Warp 9.5...

Occasionally I would look at this thread and think that Hawk started all this - where the HECK is he? Welcome back! I bet you didn't think this thread would be coming on ONE-QUARTER MILLION views...

True - the line won't slip if you tie to the spool. BUT, it's generally not recommended to tie to a hole in the spool - especially with braid. Just apply the tape as described...and not a bad idea to just run the end of the line under the tape - that's what I do with braid. Regarding knots in general - with mono/flouro, I use an arbor knot and don't tie directly to the spool either. I've never noticed a problem with USING an arbor knot re line lay considering you're adding from 80 to 150 yards or so of line on top of the knot. As Snook said - you won't ever get down to the knot or tape while bass fishing...but depending on where you fish, you might end up hooking up with something much bigger than a bass. You don't want to be spooled by a big fish and then be tied directly to the spool with something like 50lb braid. I never gave this much thought since I only bass fish until I went through a spell of hooking up with 40-50-pound class carp and one time watched one of those guys take about 90 yards of line off the reel...

The PX Type R is basically an export model - the equivalent JDM model is the PX-68. These run a bit cheaper over there than a good deal on the Type R here (I paid $400 shipped for my Type R). Rakuten is showing PX-68s for $350 right now but you'd have to add shipping cost and any possible currency exchange fees.

As the owner of BOTH a Zebco 202 and the PX Type R, I can say with authority that ONE is MUCH more fun to use than the other... and you can guess which one...

It's already been done - especially in Japan where they have their "bait finesse" systems (BC reels, rods, line) perfected to the 'nth degree. Here in the U.S. - some folks fish light baitcasting tackle but as already mentioned, the gear (especially the reel) tends to be expensive and, as also already mentioned, spinning tackle does the same or better job, easier, for less cash. Still, it's fun. I don't have any true bait finesse gear but I do have some gear just a bit on the heavier side - Daiwa Pixys and PX Type R, CQ50s, etc. Matched with a light or medium-light power BC rod, those reels are a lot of fun to play with. Daiwa PX Type R, Phenix Recon PHX-C682L, 4.7lb bass = fun...

Happy customer here too...

I think 20 is the "gray area." Most folks will recommend 30lb or heavier for BC...BUT, we have some board members who have excellent results with 20lb - especially when cranking. If you do run 20, I'd set your drag to allow slip on the hookset to somewhat reduce the tendency of the line to dig-in.

You can use 20lb PP on any size spinning reel if you want to. I ran 20lb PP on a "25" size Pflueger (near ultralight size) for a long time since 20 is what Walmart stocked. I only went to 15lb PP this season since I remembered to add it to a mail order... When using braid, I do set my drag to allow some slip on the hookset to cushion the impact on the reel...

This is the second time that BPS has recycled the ProLite name - each time with reels on the bottom end of the price structure. Trying to still get mileage out of the good rep of the original reel I expect. The original ProLite Finesse reel was made in three versions, with the final version (PRL05HC) being the most sought-after - perhaps since it has dual-braking and a swept handle. I have three "C" models - nifty reels...

I've had two inserts come out of the guides of a heavily used St. Croix Premier BC rod in the past year. Press fitted the inserts back into the guides, applied a little bead of superglue to each side, good to go.............(so far... ).

I've got a bunch of casting rods with moderate or moderate-fast actions and all could be considered "cranking rods." They range from ML to MH powers and lengths from 6' to 7'11". I couldn't identify a single "favorite" without knowing "favorite for what"? Light, mid-weight, heavy cranks? Close quarters, open water, etc. I can say which cranking rod I use the MOST - a 7' medium power BPS Crankin' Stick with a 5.2 ratio reel on it. For your 5.2 PQ - you might get some pretty solid recommendations if you mentioned what type of baits you want to toss and what your price range is....

Hey Hootie - you and Ghoti need to form a support group... OK, I'm Done With The Rod & Reel Monkey

Sure - I lose a fish from time to time- especially the small fish where it's easier to rip the hooks out. Larger fish (like the photo below) tend to stay on more often. A moderate or moderate-fast action would be better for a treble hook bait...but then you have a harder time ripping out of grass. I use YZ Hybrid line so I do have some stretch in the system to help keep the fish on. The rod is a compromise because of the grass-ripping technique - It's not ideal for treble hooks, but has enough power to help rip out of grass...but it's still soft enough to help keep fish on.with lipless cranks . As I mentioned in my original post, if I know I'm fishing open water exclusively I often use a m-m or mh-m rod instead of the Premier m-f. Since I fish open water more than over grass, I normally wouldn't use this rod as my primary rod for lipless. The main reason I do use this rod the most is that it has the PQ Five-Year Challenge test reel on it and the test isn't over until October of this year... Regarding building a travel rod on this blank...for me, the rod is a one-trick pony. Too stiff for regular cranking, there's more sensitive rods around for bottom contact. It could work as a light spinnerbait, buzzbait, and chatterbait rod I guess....

You bet - all 5 of my Crankin' Sticks were purchased at a sale price...

I toss lipless cranks with all sorts of rods from ML to MH powers and from moderate to fast actions - depending on the weight of the bait and whether it's open water or I expect grass. The rod that I actually use most is a St. Croix Premier - 7'm-f. It's rated at 1/4 to 3/4oz and fishes heavier than most medium-powers, but lighter than a true MH. This is that rod in the photo...

The handle on the 7'6" is 1.5 inches longer than the 7' (roughly 10.5 inches behind the reel seat compared to about 9" for the 7' rod). The 7'6" easily handles 1/2 or 5/8oz lipless cranks. I've tossed 3/4oz on it and it handles those as well (a bit above the weight rating for the rod). Haven't tried anything above 3/4 on it as I have other rods for that. I actually don't use the 7'6" rod that much - mostly for 3/4oz lipless. I use the 7'6" MH Crankin' Stick for the heavier baits, the 7' Crankin' Stick for the 3/8 to 5/8oz range and go to a ML Crankin' Stick for the 1/4oz range.

Mostly with a BPS 7'6" MH Crankin' Stick / PQ 4.7 that is good up to 1.5oz. I also have a Legend Extreme 7'2" MH-M / CTE-100GT that could handle that duty up to 1oz.

I weigh all my new rods so I DO have the weight. Mine is 130.3 grams (~4.6oz). Not particularly a light weight by todays standards but it IS 7'7". With the Tat reel on it - it feels fairly light in the hand (given the length) and balances 1.5 inches ahead of the knurled lock ring (right at the hook-keeper winding). It's a nice rod...

I can only speak for the one Tatula casting rod that I have - the 7'7" m-r (TAT771MRB) - it fishes like a moderate-fast (a pretty nifty open-water lipless crank rod).

Nearly every day. Last year I fished 344 days. Hours per day varies...

I didn't know that there was a telescoping handle option in the Crankin' Stick line. My 7'6" has a fixed grip...

Hey Hootie - good eye! It's not illegal...but it does open one up for bashing.... The last couple hundred bass that I've caught with that combo haven't been insulted by being reeled in with a BPS Carbonlite that I know of......... Once quite a while ago we were bidding against each other and you won. After that, I realized that three ProLite "C's" were enough and I haven't bid on one in a long time. They're all yours...

I think you mean that the rods were meant to be paired with one of the three models of ProLite Finesse reel (3rd model - PRL05HC - shown on the right side of this file photo) not the 1st Gen Carbonlite reels (shown in the center and left of the photo). Same color - but different reel...