DaveT63

I have a casting rod, so I can't really tell you how the spinning rod would feel.

I use a Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth 6'10" MHMF rod, and love it. it is dedicated to ploppers now.

I typically fish higher end rods like GLX's and Legend Elites/Xtremes. But I also believe you don't have to have a high end rod for some moving baits. I like to fish traps on a spinning setup for some reason. But I wasn't liking the BPS Extreme MH I was using. I went to Wally World looking for a 7'MH Lightning Shock, but they were out. So I took a shot on the basic Lightning Rod. I tried it this morning and was impressed! This thing is light, balances VERY well with my Stradic 2500 FJ, and feels good in the hand. It will launch a 5/8 trap on light braid a country mile. I can feel vibration almost immediately upon starting to reel, and when I feel grass, it has plenty of backbone to rip it free, something my BPS Extreme lacked. Overall, even though I've only fished it a few casts, and haven't caught anything on it, I'm very happy with it, and recommend it as a budget rod for moving baits like traps and spinnerbaits.

I bought one of their rods when they had a sale last winter. They told me the wait time was about 5-6 weeks. But two weeks later I got notification my rod had shipped, and I received it 2 days after that. I love the blank, just about on par with my NRX. I DON'T like the reel seat or the straight carbon fiber handle. To the point I am going to talk to a local rod builder about changing both.

Look for a G Loomis SJR 781. 6'6", Medium Light action spinning. Very nice rod.

I recently picked up a T3 1016. I hear good things about the stock spool, but I have a stock spool from a JDM Steez 103 after I swapped it with a Zillion G1 SV spool. Is the Steez spool any upgrade over the 1016 spool? I really like the SV spools and have read that the SV1000 spool is a great reel for the T3 as well, but I'm not sure I want to spend more on a spool than I did the reel. Thanks for any info, Dave

Baitcaster - Loomis NRX MBR843C / Steez 103L with a Zillion SV spool in it Spinning - St Croix Legend Elite 6'8" MXF / Stradic 3000FK

I would buy a couple combos, used, for that money. If you are patient, you can find a like-new St Croix Legend Elite, an NRX, a Steez, and an SV 103, all for under $1000. I think I spent about $925 total on the ones I have.

I've been considering buying a new reel for swimbaits. The Curado 301 is hard to find, and expensive when you do find one. I found this Shimano I had never heard of before from a Google search. Has anyone ever heard of it? If so, do you know anything about it's quality and suitability for swimbaits? It would go on a Dobyns 795 swimbait rod. Thanks, Dave

As others have said, the Avid is in a different league than the Compre. The part nobody has responded to is the 1/2 price. If you can get one at half price, there is no question about getting the Avid. Actually, buy two if you can at that price!

Yep, it was on my Alphas Ito that it was broke. That picture was from another Alphas.

Thank you, rippin-lips! Got one on order!

I have an Alphas Reel, Left handed, that I broke a part on. I can't seem to find this part on the schematic. I ordered a Brake Dial Retainer, Part Number G84-6201, but that wasn't it. Could someone please ID this part for me so I can order it and get this reel back into the rotation? It's the white plastic part circled in red. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated! Dave

If you haven't used them yet, I think you will really like the Avid rods. As for a reel, I haven't used a Curado K yet, but loved my E and Scorpion reels. Hard to go wrong with a Curado. That said, I would highly recommend you take a look at the Daiwa Tatula reels. I think you can buy the Tatula SV for about the same price as a Curado K, or maybe just a bit more. I have really grown to like the Daiwa SV reels. You can also find the non-SV Tatula CT for a bit under $100 if you are patient. Great reel for that money.

Do you have a code for this? I'm not seeing one anywhere.

I will be visiting family in the Beavercreek/Dayton, OH area this weekend. Can anyone recommend someplace to do some bank fishing while I'm there? Thanks, Dave

Thanks!!!

I've got a lefty Alphas Ito 103ML with the see-through sideplate. Apparently it has warped or twisted over time, as I cannot get it to fit flush against the body of the reel. Will a sideplate from another Alphas (either a 103L or an SV105L) fit it so I can at least fish with it? Or is there someplace I can buy an OEM replacement for it? I can't seem to find a used one.

I've received a rod valued at over $500 directly from the manufacturer in one of those triangular boxes. The box was a little banged up, but the rod has been fine. Use it.

I recently put a Tatula handle and drag star on my Alphas 103L. Now, even with my drag tightened down all the way, the drag still slips considerably on a hookset. Could i have done something wrong between the drag star and handle install? Is there a certain way they have to go on? Thanks, Dave

I have a second Revo Winch I'm currently not using. Has anyone out there used it for a swimbait reel? Any reason it wouldn't work for things like Hudds and S-Wavers? Thanks, Dave

I snatched up the same reel for my swimbait rod today using the partyinusa promo code, $95 and some change. Very happy!

Not to hijack this thread, but what is PAA?

I'm a huge St Croix fan, and it's hard to go wrong with a Legend Tournament rod. And I like the idea of the 25% discount at Dick's. But there are places online, as well as the flea market here, where if you are a little patient and look on a regular basis, you can find lightly used G Loomis GLX rods for well under your $250 budget. I've picked some up for under $200 myself. PM me for info if you want to consider that option.

I'm a huge St Croix fan, but have several G. Loomis rods as well. I bought a Loomis MBR842C GLX a number of years ago and absolutely LOVE it. It's been my senko and light plastics rod since I bought it, above a St Croix Legend Xtreme 7' MF rod. But this past winter, I picked up a new model St Croix Legend Elite 7' MF for a great deal. It didn't take long for it to take over the main chores from the 842. Still love the 842, but for what I use it for, I really like the new Legend Elite.