Goose52

Since you have both the Helios and Komodo - a question. Just reviewing the specs, the Komodo has 2 more bearings, and weighs .4 ounces more than the Helios. The Komodo also offers a 5.4:1 gear ratio option. Otherwise - are there any practical differences between the two?

A very versatile bait. I fish them weightless and weedless on a 1/0 EWG hook. Depending on how you rig them, they can be fished in open water, in the slop, on top, on the bottom, and anywhere in-between. You can drag them, swim them, and surf them. For bass, more of a "numbers" bait than a big fish bait but you can get an occasional lunker on them as well. In the 2010 to 2012 seasons, I caught 1618 fish, including bass up to 5 pounds, on 5" grubs... A 5-pound "grub fish":

I'm not sure I've seen any dominant trend - not even the classic 7' MH-F BC bass rod. I HAVE seen quite a few mentions of 7' M-F BC rods though, which, since I fish mostly all open water, is my favorite BC length, power, and action; very versatile for many other folks as well it seems... Now, THAT'S interesting !

I took the Prolite/CrankinStick combo shown in the photo out on my front lawn this evening. I had never actually fished this combo with baits under 1/6 oz so I was curious as to what it would do. The reel currently has 6lb YZ-US on it. The reel has never been serviced since I bought it used 3 years ago and I did not fish that combo at all last year so the spool bearing lube might be a bit...gummy. With no spool tension, a 1/8oz weight would sorta slowly drop from the rod tip to the ground when the spool was released - not a good sign of success for actual casting. It cost me some line (backlash), but I was getting some moderate distance (30-35 feet or so) with side-arm casts at 1/8 BUT I don't consider it practical. The rod would load fine, but the reel is the limiting factor in it's current state. Perhaps with a freshly serviced reel, and lots of playing with brakes, spool tension, and amount of line on the spool, you MIGHT make it reliable at 1/8 but I think it's a stretch. Perhaps a more expert caster than myself could do it, but not in my hands. I'll have to backtrack and say that while 1/6 oz should be reachable, 1/8 oz is probably not gonna happen on a regular basis on the water. Still, a cheap way to get under 1/4 oz, but that next step down to 1/8 oz is tough.

The fact of the matter is that most of the reels that are ideal for this application are out of production or are too expensive. The manufacturers probably think (and perhaps rightfully so) that this is a niche market not worth servicing at any lower price point. Spinning gear is certainly more practical for this application - but the OP indicated that he wants to use BC gear, and is on a budget. So, there is a (relatively) cheap way to do it. Buy a used BPS Prolite reel (~$50-60), put it on a ML BPS cranking stick ($60 on sale), add some 6 or 8 pound line, and for ~$130-140, go fishing. The downside is that Prolites are gaining popularity and getting hard to find. Another downside is that the "C" model Prolite shown in the photo was only in production a short time, and parts availability may be a long-term issue. With the combo shown above, you get much of the capability of the combo shown below...for about $550 less dollars... :lol:

Edwin Evers. E + E = 2

Now that would describe me, I get 'em with persistance - time on water...except my water has no big fish. Now Fish - he does fish water that has big fish...but he also has the skills to identifiy the spot, within the spot, within the spot where the big fish actually live. And that's why he's Fish Chris...and we're not......

"This is the fishing rod that goes with you everytime you go fishing." I fish all 4 seasons here - including every day this winter (soft water all winter so far). I fish different stuff depending the season and whether I'm fishing from the bank or the boat. There is only one rod that I always have with me, ashore or afloat, regardless of season - a lipless crank rod. Nothing fancy - a St. Croix Premier 7' MF BC rod with the 5-Year Challenge PQ on it with 10 YZ-US line. Except for the dead of winter, there is a 2nd rod that I nearly always have with me - a grub/senko rod. Loomis GLX BSR852 spinning rod with a Pflueger Supreme 025 with either 6lb YZ-US or 20lb braid. I'll have to say that neither rig "elicits a visceral response just by looking at it..." - I'm not sure I have any tackle that does that... I do have some tackle I'm fond of, but not to a "visceral" degree. They're just tools....

It's not something I sold, but something I threw away... In 1966, I found a 5.5' plastic handle solid-glass casting rod laying on the bank on Tamiami Trail in South Florida. The plastic handle was cracked nearly all the way through at the reel seat and the wraps on the guides were rotten and the guides were nearly falling off. I cut off the plastic handle and re-wrapped the guides. I then bought a metal ferrule for a couple bits (I already had some ferrule cement) and glued it to the bottom of the blank, then bought a new chucked handle for a buck or two. I put on my now 5' rod a Lido (what the heck is a Lido!) spincast reel that I got with ONE book of S&H trading stamps. So, the whole rig cost me a book of trading stamps and <$2.50 cash. I used that new rig to catch my first >4lb bass (a 4 3/4 lb largemouth). I had drug that rod (and my very first rod from the 1950s) around for over 40 years and finally tossed them during my move from California to Tennessee in 2008. I still have the reel, now mounted on a cheap BPS rod for use by my wife (but she’s never used it). And I have a photo of the best catch with that rod, but I wish I had the rod back - just for nostalgia sake. BTW - the next time you read about someone saying that their new, fancy bass rig is so great because it handled "a 4 pounder with no problem"...think of my homemade rod and my spincast reel...

I remember seeing your WTB in the Flea Market about Prolites. I was going to PM you about the eBay "C" model...except I had a (low) bid on it myself... Good for you to get it at a good price - glad I didn't bump your bid! I have 3 "C"s so I shouldn't be greedy...

Many people have negative opinions of BPS reels based on models that they owned at some time in the past. However, the more modern BPS BC reels, from about the $80 price point on up, have proven to be good values. The PQ is probably the sweet spot in the BPS line for value received vs. money spent. If you wait for the eventual sale - PQs can usually be had for $80. If you are interested in a real-world report on the life and times of a test PQ, follow this link. If you have time, also review the earlier reports that are linked in this thread: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/112219-bps-pro-qualifier-bc-reel-–-5-year-challenge-–-time-to-pay-the-piper/ BTW - I have very little experience with BPS spinning reels and can't give any report on them...

You can try eBay for the BPS Prolite - they show up from time-to-time. Most common is the PRL05HB model. The final model (PRL05HC) with the dual-braking system, shows up less frequently since it was only in production for a year or so. A "C" model just sold a few days ago for $51, a "B" model sold for $49. As you can see, I check eBay for these frequently myself - but they are getting popular and prices are going up. No $40 mint "C" models anymore! Otherwise, pickings are slim for an equivalent at the low price point. A used Curado 50 is an option, but those are holding value pretty well.

I don't know how to answer. "Best" can mean: most expensive, most productive, most satisfying, most game-changing, etc. I think for my answer I will use - a fishing product that continually exceeds my expectations and gives me pleaure every time I use it. BPS Prolite Finesse BC reel - the last model (PRL05HC) - I have 3 - average price for the three = $57. I don't know what it is about these little reels...but every time I fish one, I smile...

You didn't say what vehicle you have and whether it already has any roof rack or rails. With that weight, I think you're probably going to have to not only get a proper roof rack, but also one of the gizmos that they make to side-load the canoe up on the rack. Another option is a trailer-hitch mounted device that lets you put one end of the canoe up on the device, and then lift the other end of the canoe up in the air and walk it around 180 degrees to get it on the roof of the car. There's a number of brands of these gadgets and they are not that expensive - here's one from Cabelas: http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/search_catalog_command.cmd?fromProductSearch=true&item1=IK-017442 On the foam blocks, that's what I use...but my canoe only weighs 34 pounds and I'm putting it on the roof of a sedan. They probably would NOT work (for my canoe) if I was putting it on the roof of a station wagon or SUV since the blocks don't give enough elevation for the bow and stern to clear the roof (see photo). Don't know if they will work for you. On paddling, best would be to sit in the "front" seat facing backwards. I know you can't do that due to the moulded seatbacks. As you mentioned, take a look to see if you can come up with another seat for that position. Plan B is to sit in the aft seat and put weight up front. Consider getting a couple 5-gal. plastic paint buckets. You can store/carry your canoe gear in them - then when rigging the canoe - fill them with water and put them as far forward as you can. When you're done - dump the water and put your gear back in them. Good luck!

Yeah - lots of nifty introductions on the JDM scene, but pickins' are getting a bit sparse here. One would think that all this new technology would translate over into updated Calais and Core models for the U.S.

The 8.5:1 ratio model offers a whopping 35.8 ipt. 6 ounce weight. $456 at current conversion rates. Optional spool about $100 - the going rate. Now, will all this translate into a new Calais replacement for the U.S. ?

Yeah Dwight, when I opened the first shipment, I thought I was a cooked goose. Anyway, it turned out to be a great deal. I still have to decide if the ratty reel is going to be fished...or held in reserve. Perhaps I fish it as a beater....and, in the event I need a part for the good Pixy, it becomes a donor reel. A good deal that way as well, a complete set of spare parts for a Pixy for only $40!

Not one of the big eBay sellers in Japan - but he does have an eBay "store." Not sure he has any different stuff than the other folks...but he seems like a stand-up guy. The seller is "buzzroom_jp" Thanks, but there's a bunch of other folks here that do a good job of answering the mail. It was a good deal though. I'm just about "finessed" out though since I now have these two Pixys, a PX Type R, a Conquest 50, an Abu 1500C I still need to hot-rod, and 3 BPS ProLite Finesse reels. Although, I keep looking at that Aldebaran BFS

To paraphrase Forrest Gump's mom: "eBay is (sometimes) like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're going to get." Just about every night, I cruise through eBay - looking for interesting reels. I see a nice Pixy, some minor rash, and a comment about a stiff clutch. Has the box, papers, wrench, but no little bottle of red oil. Starting bid of $195. As I often do on interesting stuff that I don't really need, I put in a bid at the starting price - $195. Dang, no one else bid on the reel and I now own a Pixy for $210 shipped (seller in Japan). The EMS package comes in - YIKES - in the box is an old, beat-up, but seems to be fully functional Pixy. WRONG reel. I contact the seller. Many apologies - big mistake - I'll send you the right reel and include a couple JDM lures for your trouble. OK says I. Seller says, please send beat-up reel back to me and I will pay the shipping. I ask the seller - big hassle to package, fill out customs forms, get to PO to mail, etc. Would you be interested in selling me the old reel? Seller says - OK - how about $40? OK SAYS I... So, for $250 total, I get TWO Pixys - one very nice one, one doggy but functional one. The doggy one IS missing the clip and washer that secure the sideplate screw to the sideplate - otherwise - all systems seem go. I also get two JDM baits - a WooDream crank, and an HMKL Dynamo spinnerbait - retail in Japan of $40 for both. I guess I'm a happy camper !

You think the front grip on the new Crucial and Compre models is short? Divide that length in half and you have the new Cumara "A". This might be the only Cumara A that I buy...because of the grip. Not only the short front grip, but the overall grip length (front to rear) is too long (for me).

Old news already... http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/112412-revo-mgx-extreme-49oz-499/

My Sol is on a 7' ML-F St. Croix Premier.

Hey Boats - that's what it means. Shimano - Calais and Calcutta DCs in the US. Then there are several JDM DC models as well - Conquest, Antares, Scorpion, Metanium, Cardiff, others?

Wow - this is too weird. I just got home from fishing mine for the first time today. It's a Calcutta 100DC. Nice reel. My primary use will be 1/2 and 5/8oz. lipless cranks - mostly when fishing from the bank. Just trying to get all the distance I can to get where the fish are. I probably won't fish it from the boat much where casting distance isn't as critical (and where dropping it overboard would be REALLY bad ). I will play with rods a bit before deciding on power and length. I fished it today on a 7' medium cranking rod, will fish it next on a 7 1/2' medium cranking rod. Only fly in the ointment is that the IPT is a little slower than I would prefer for lipless cranks. On casting distance, I have it on the lightest braking setting, with zero spool tension, and was getting out there fairly well. BUT, I'm not sure that I'm getting a whole lot more distance than I get with my standard CTE100GT. Will have to play with it more. All this is with 10lb test line. The whine is kinda cool....

A big X2. If you fish in slop, add a heavy braid. Keep it simple, Go catch fish. As you gain experience, you might want to experiment with line types. Just keep in mind that you don't NEED all sorts of different lines to catch fish. I caught 1236 fish in 2012 - most of those were caught using just a couple types of line. Had I used the theoretically optimum line for each technique/presentation - perhaps I would have caught 1300 or so...or not...