Darren.

Welcome aboard!

Great writeup, Brian. I used to fish a similar pond in a development. About 2 acres. No longer fish it as the residents must've gathered together and banned non-residents. There were people who would sneak in, even cutting a fence for access. Ruined it for the rest of us.

Interview with the cast just posted. And there's another character that is returning...fans will recognize the name "Hugh".

Unless you are curious and tempted to try something other than a Daiwa, I'd stick to the brand you know. I am a Shimano guy but do like a lot of the LT model Daiwa reels out today. I'd be strongly tempted to buy one if I were in the market today. Hard to go wrong with Daiwa or Shimano.

Tell me about it. Subscription overload, and it's only gonna get worse.

Sweet catch on a top. I remember my first topwater bite. Full moon night, reeling a jitterbug across the middle of a pond and BANG! Quite the adrenaline rush, eh?

Yes, indeed!

The thing with the newer ones, specifically TNG, DS9 and Voyager, is that they all paid homage to the original. There's a DS9 episode where they actually time travel backwards and end up hunting a Klingon on the Enterprise. It's the episode Trouble With Tribbles. Kirk, Spock, Scottie, et al. Nicely melded in.

Welcome aboard!

That's a happy crappie. Nice catch. And welcome to the forum!

Welcome aboard, Vinny!

Welcome aboard! If I were in the market for a new BC, I'd take a long hard look at Daiwa's offerings. I have experience with the Lexa and really liked it. Son 2 of 4 is using it now as his own. I use a Chronarch 50e, used to have two, but downsized since I use spinning more than casting. As suggested above, Diawa or Shimano. Not that others don't make fine reels, but these two make some darn fine reels.

I was actually a fan of DS9, Voyager, TNG. Enterprise? Meh. Second season of Discovery was v good, IMO, following more along the lines of JJ Abrams' vision, to be sure. Sorry to mention his name! <ducks for cover> Picard looks to take off 18 or so years after the TNG timeline. I'm stoked to see the Borg, 7 of 9, Data, and whoever else shows up. Finger's crossed it is as good as it looks.

Be sure to let us know what you get and how you like them!

Okay. I *KNOW* I am not the only Trekker on the boards here. I just can't be. Second trailer for Picard dropped this week, and there is a stunner (for me) from Voyager who's in the show. Hopefully not just a cameo, but a regular. Anyone looking forward to the show? I am. I'm also a fan of Discovery, DS9, Voyager, TNG...

Welcome aboard, and back to the sport!

At that price also check out BPS Carbonlites, and they're regularly on sale. Although the new versions are $119. But in the $100 price point there are so many great rods. Would be best if you could go into BPS, Cabelas, or other sporting goods store and check the rods out in person. Most will let you bring your own reel and put it on rods you're interested in.

Carbonlites. I've got black and white versions and they are excellent weight-wise.

Why yes, yes I do . My favorite setup is my 1000 CI4+ paired with a 5'9" MLF Premier. And yes, I purposely cut the rod down from 6' to 5'9". Just prefer how it handles all around. 6' casting rod, which I don't use much now (sons do) is what I caught my PB on. I've cut down (butt end) one of my 6'6" spinning and a casting rod (both Carbonlites). Not sure I like the shorter butt end as much as I thought I would, but they're effectively 6'3" now. Fishing from a kayak, short rods are just my preference.

I had one inexplicable breakoff with Yozuri Hybrid 10# as leader about 10 years ago. Scared me off it for a while, but I've been back for a number of years. That said. I bought some clearance hooks at Walmart - Daiichi. I lost several hooks when fishing. One day, as I was tying on a snell to a worm hook I broke the line as I tightened/tested it. Did it twice and on the third time I paid closer attention. Broke again. But this time I ran my fingers along the hook eye and found it was rough and a snell was rubbing on it. I lost all confidence in the hooks, went back to Gamakatsu and no probs since. That said, I believe a NON-snell knot would have been fine. And as intimated above, the entire package: line, rod/rod rating, reel, drag, all contribute to the experience. If drag is too tight when using lighter line, boom. Disaster.

Fishing from a kayak, long casts, as defined by @WRB are not as big a concern to me. Not that I don't do long casts (shoreline), or trolling with the yak. Also using shorter rods from 5'9" to 6'6" as I do, long casts are not so much in the arsenal. As mentioned by @A-Jay and others, I will cast as long as I need (or can) to.

Big fan here. Stradics FI, FJ, FK, CI4+ for spinning, Chronarch 50e for casting. I do spinning mostly, obviously. Also have Spirex, Sedona reels. All good. In fairness, I'm also a fan of Daiwa, but I haven't bought any of the recent LT models (and probably won't for the foreseeable future)....

Welcome aboard! Spinning/Braid: PowerPro Yellow #10, PowerPro SS8 #15 Casting/Braid: PowerPro Yellow #20 Leaders on all: 6, 8, 10# Yo Zuri Hybrid or Gamma Edge Fluoro

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!