Goose52

The line capacity decals on the spools usually list pound test lines that are typically used on that size of reel; you are not limited to those lines. Line management issues are usually the limiting factor in how heavy of line (mono or flouro) you can use on a particular spinning reel. You can go as light as you want but will have excess capacity if you put light line on a larger reel. With braid, you can really run just about any pound test you want, depending on what rod you're using and the presentation/baits being used. If you are looking at Pflueger reels, many people would select the 30-size as the best solution for bass fishing. Not too big, not too small, plenty of line capacity for mono or flouro, enough drag.

Never had a boat until after I retired and moved from California to Tennessee. Finally got a canoe as my first boat at age 57. After studying all small watercraft from float tubes up to bass boats I decided that the best solution for me was a heavily-accessorized canoe. I only fish my local, small (1.5 to 201 acres), no-wake lakes. Some of these lakes don't have boat ramps. I needed something car-topable without a special rack, modular, very light weight, with as much capability as possible. I wanted stability so I could stand and fish all day, lots of inboard storage, motorized, and little to no maintenance. I didn't want to have to buy a truck or other tow vehicle, I didn't want to consume a garage bay or driveway space with a boat and trailer, didn't want high recurring expense and maintenance, and didn't want to use gasoline. Taking everything into account, I ended up with my funky canoe. Trolling motor, outriggers, DI/SI sonar, anchor system, rod racks, etc.; it's not really a traditional canoe...it's a bass boat that you can car top... This boat just finished it's 4th season and has scored over 2,300 bass. This boat, or something like it, may be the only watercraft that I ever own. I still can't think of a better solution to fish my particular water.

A BIG X2. I occasionally snag/foul hook huge grass carp when tossing lipless cranks. One time, with a 40-50 pound carp on the line, and pulling drag at will, I watched my uni-uni knot between my main-line and my backing run outward through the guides and go for a swim in the lake. Another 10-15 yards of backing line followed the knot into the water as well. 80 yards of main-line in the water and another 10-15 yards of backing. The fish hung up and broke me off on submerged cover but the backing knot held. I WAS wondering how old my mono backing was at that point though . I keep meaning to save some old braid to use for backing on that reel as a result of that event...

Yeah - at present there is no direct replacement in the new GLX line. There is an 842C in the new Mag Bass NRX line but it has a different weight rating than our older GLX 842Cs. I use my 842 mostly for light t-rigs and I've tossed lipless cranks on it as well. A very versatile rod. Couple pics of my 842 - the grass carp tried to steal my lipless crank so I had to land the fish to get my lure back...

A-Jay - was this another travel rod?

Rod received in three days - pretty fast. NOW, to send in the rebate form.

Before you start looking for closet space for the tee shirt... read all the details. To get the $30 rebate from Gander, you have to send them the UPC label attached to the rod tag. To get the tee shirt, you ALSO have to send them the original UPC label. Looks like you can't double dip on these deals. Also - $9.95 shipping/handling on the shirt...so, it's not "free" even if you had an extra UPC label. EDIT - you MIGHT be able to double dip - I just checked the Gander rebate form - they only ask for a COPY of the UPC label. So, make sure you send Gander a scan or photocopy of the UPC label and then send the original UPC label to St. Croix for the tee shirt (assuming you want to pay the $9.95 shipping).

Thanks for the tip - rod ordered!

The two plugs above the Super Sonic are Heddon River Runts. That's an outstanding Shimano reel !!!

Well, it would be OK if they take an ounce out of the weight, and perhaps change the brake drum from brass to steel (if that would still give them enough braking) but otherwise, I hope they don't mess with it too much.... But I still have two of those, NIB, that I got at the $60 clearance price...

Thanks guys - I don't really have a collection...I just tend to keep things until they're "used up"....and this gear isn't used up yet... ... but let's have some more folks post photos of their gear...

There was a similar thread in the Fishing Tackle forum back in September titled "Sentimental Gear" - this thread not only mentioned rods and reels but also any vintage tackle/lures that you were fond of. This is my response copied from that thread; I've added a couple more photos: I started fishing around 1959 and have most of my gear that I used from then through the 1960s (Fishing Era 1). I still have almost all my reels from the 60s (2 spinning reels, 2 spincast, and 2 flyreels - missing a baitcast reel). I'm missing a rod or two but still have 2 spinning rods and 1 fly rod from back then. I still have a bunch of my lures from the 60s. I still have most of my 1980s vintage gear (Fishing Era 2) - minus the salt-water rods (don't need a 13' surf rod in Tennessee... ) I still fish some of this stuff from time to time. File photos that I had on hand: My first spinning reel - a Ted Williams (1959), and my first spincast (about 1965) - a Lido (what the heck is a Lido you might ask...it's the reel I got my first 4-pound class bass on!) Here's the Ted Williams reel on a mid-60s solid glass Heddon rod - June 2013 on its annual sortie - still reels in bass 54 years after I got it. (I know, it's not a very big bass..............but its a bass... ) An in-the-box Zebco 202 (~60s something) - I never fished this much and preferred the Lido (don't know where that non-original handle nut came from...............or IS it original???): Fly reels - a Sears knock-off of a Pflueger Medalist (right)...and a real little Pflueger (left)....along with a Shakespeare Wonderod (mid- to late-1960s): A few lures from the 60s (the Hula Popper has a new skirt): MirrOLures from the 60s: A made-in-Sweden Abu Reflex in-line spinner - I got a kit of 5 of these in the 60s (for 1 book of S&H trading stamps) and fished them over the years - lost them one by one but am saving this last one: A Super Duper - still have a couple of these around: Fishing Era 2: - I still have most of my 80s-vintage Shakespeare spinning reels and a couple 80s-vintage rods (two of the reels in the photo have since been eBayed) . I fished the freshwater-size Shakespeare reels in the photo until recently - finally retiring the last one in January 2012 (the 040 size with line on the spool): More than 25 years old at the time, the 040 size reel on the top row, right end in the above photo, scored a 9lb LMB in 2011. Finally - a Mitchell 408 on a Garcia Conolon rod (purchased around 1966) - both in excellent condition, still fished about once a year - this photo from this past June: Special mention goes to this Ambassadeur 5000, now over 50 years old, that belonged to my Dad. It's on an 80s-vintage Shakespeare rod. I still fish this every once in a while - this channel cat hit my bass plug a couple years ago. I got other stuff too - just no file photos handy at the moment. Lots of memories....

You're the first person to ask about that after all the pics that I've posted of that reel over the past 3 years or so. That handle/knob combo is from a BPS ProLite Finesse reel - the last model (PRL05HC). It is about 1/2 oz. lighter than the stock PQ handle and it comes with two knob bearings. Add the two knob bearings from the stock PQ handle and you end up having a 4-bearing handle. I've never mentioned this mod as it doesn't really affect the long-term durability of the reel itself. Good eye !

Nice reel - enjoy! If you haven't seen this thread - here's some light reading about one of my PQs: PQ 5-Year Challenge

....or an Antares...

Now that's a classic case of bait (reel) monkey logic... A 10mm socket will work if it doesn't have too thick of walls - my Craftsman 10mm socket worked perfect, both to remove the Shimano nut and tighten the Hawg nut.

Dwight - do you mean the 200DC or the 100A ???

On the spinning rod combo - you really can't go wrong with a Pflueger President reel - the 6930 model ("30" size) is a good versatile size for bass (the "35" size is really bigger/heavier than you need). I have no experience with that Cabelas rod but at the sale price - it looks like a good deal for the combo. You just have to decide the types of baits you want to throw and decide on whether you want the ML or M power rod and then the length. 7' is my preference for the boat or on the bank with no overhanging trees. 6'6" might be preferable if you have any casting clearance problems. Cabelas has limited options on that sale page so if you want the "30" size reel, you have to take the 6'6" length rod. Were it me, I'd get the 30-size reel, the 6'6" rod, in M (medium) power as the most versatile option. If you were ONLY planning on throwing the lighter baits, the ML might be an option. On the rod for the BC reel - you have to decide what you want the rod for (techniques and weight of bait) and your price range. For all-around use, a good starting point is a 7' medium power, fast action rod. Very versatile rod. Usable for single-hook applications and workable (but not ideal) for treble hook applications. If you fish in a lot of slop or are planning on using heavier baits (like heavier jigs, heavy soft plastics, etc.), you might consider a medium-heavy power. On price, there are viable options from about $40 on up. The Berkley Lighting Shock and Abu Vendetta are available at good prices in Walmart. Once you get up to the $80 to $100 range - there are quite a few nice rod lines. If you search in this forum for "best rod $100" you'd get all sorts of hits. Good luck in your decision!

The PQ is a great option in that price range, ESPECIALLY right now since its on sale for $80 and BPS is currently offering free shipping. The PQ is available in 4 ratios, 3 of which are usually considered for cranking. So, how deep do you want to crank? If you are shallow- to mid-depth cranking, the 6.4 would work...but I personally prefer something slower than the 26" IPT on that option. The 5.2 (21" IPT) is a great all-round cranking option. The 4.7 (19" IPT) shines on deep cranking. Me, I have a 4.7 PQ on my deep cranking rod, a 5.2 PQ on my heavy spinnerbait rod, and use a 6.4 on a shallow- to mid- cranking rod (but may be changing that to a 5.2 one of these days).

Order received - 1 swept handle and some bearings. Warp 9 shipping, great packaging. Finally installed the handle today; the bearings I won't be playing with until the spring. The handle went on a Calais 200DC - super quality on the handle, perfect fit (once I figured out which way the spacer was supposed to go... ). This was a two-fer upgrade. The Hawgtech handle on the 200DC, and the long(er) handle from the 200DC (which also has bigger knobs) moved over to a Calais 100A to replace its absurdly short 74mm stock handle with small knobs. Thanks guys - happy camper here...

Yep - thanks for the tip. I'm maxed out on PQs right now having six of them...but every time I see them on sale I keep thinking I should get another 5.2....

I really like Rhino's rod rack but I am a bit "length challenged" to make it work on my boat...unless I used 4ft rods... Thanks! It's just a 'lil 'ole fishin' boat. It WAS a nice cold-water bass!

Here's some detail photos as mentioned in our PMs. Took the boat out today for probably the last time this year and got some pics of the boat rigged when I got back to the bank and was starting to tear it down. Plus - a couple file photos. File photo of the connector for the TM and the cable conduit: File photo of the Slidetrax Transducer Deployment Arm (old photo - I now have this arm rigged a bit different and it's got a SI/DI transducer on it now): From today - view of the bow showing the dashboard, tackle trays, sonar, sonar power cable, battery box, and the other end of the TM cables: From today - view of the "cockpit" showing the TM cable conduit: From today - view looking aft - anchor system and rope can, seat, etc. It was a short trip today so no cooler/lunch that is usually under the seat: From today - view of the 3-rod holder unit. I can store up to 5/6 rods pointed aft if I need to. Only took 4 rods today. Finally - from today - just to illustrate that the boat is NOT all show and no go.......

As a Marine Corps veteran, I bought the USMC model with the intent of perhaps fishing it a bit....but mostly keeping it on display in my den/office/bunker. I put line on it, caught one fish with it, retired it, and it's now on display. The reel I received is "fishable" but is not a very good reel overall. It's rough on the retrieve, average on casting, and in general just feels cheap. I have lots of other BC reels and don't need to fish this one. I paid $60 for mine. If you can get the USAF reel for $40, then that's not much to pay for something that celebrates your service and it makes a nice keepsake. BUT, if you are looking for a reel that you would want to fish with quite a bit.................I'd explore other options.

Order placed!