ChrisAW

I have both the 30 and 30S, and they are great reels. I bought the S and a 7' ML Carrot Stix Wild. I actually didn't want the high speed for a dropshot rod, so I swapped the gearset from the 30 to the S, and now I have a 30S"low"! I normally don't care what my combo's look like, but this was just too perfect a match. They are a little heavy, but I don't mind it at all. It actually helps it balance out a little bit, feels like theres no rod at all. They are definitely tough as well.

Hmm, thats weird. I just sent 8 DT's back about a month ago because of the broken bill issue, and they were all replaced no problem. I'm kind of shocked I have broke so many since, like I mentioned in another thread, I haven't caught a dang thing on cranks in a couple years.

Line watching can definitely cause this. Its not a 100% technique to pick up a bite. I can bet anything that they are catching your lure on the fall and not giving a sign that they grabbed it, which allows them time to swallow the hook. I always pick the tip up and feel for anything after the line stops, just lightly as to not move the bait much. They won't always move off with it, or hit it hard enough to cause that jump in your line.

Senkos as well for me. I keep some in the box cause I know they can work, but I can't catch a cold with them. Rage craws, also. They've worked well for me on one lake, but no other lake have I ever had a bite on them. Crankbaits are the worst for me though. The last 4 years, I have not caught a single fish on a crank, and hardly from lack of trying. Probably because I'm better at beating the banks than fishing deep, and not having any electronics makes it hard to find a decent producing spot. I got a few more square bills over the winter so maybe I can entice a few that way this year.

I don't like the Flambeau's. They came with my soft side box, and I threw them all in the storage closet and replaced them with Plano's. They flexed too much, the corners of one of them opened up enough to start letting my weights fall out. The latches are easily unsnapped, even just coming undone when I grip the box near the latches. This caused a very unfavorable problem one day with about 30 crankbaits flying all over a carpeted floor, which prompted the throw-away.

Rod Slix, strapped in the boat or slid into the lower part of the kayak. Sometimes in the bed of the truck.

I like my Veritas, but I don't care for the micro guides they used for the new ones. The first one or two guides are raised off the blank, and aren't reinforced. They look like tiny spinning rod guides, and they didn't need to do this IMO. I fear that I would end up breaking one of those guides off. Buuuut.. I may take the chance, because they do feel very nice.

Well, you might want to stay inside then. Theres LOTS of that going around these days.

Not many people know that their logo is a Loomis logo, they just like it. Why do you care what someone else wheres? Its not like being part of a country club or something and you can only where those if you own one.

Just hold it so the hole where the hook comes out is at the very bottom, and give it a couple squeezes every few casts. It will squirt all the water out.

You can spend much less than that and still have an effective baitcast outfit. Although most every one of my reels are $100+, I do own an Abu Garcia Black Max and its done its fair share of work among the rest of my combo's, and I don't regret it one bit. Is if my favorite? No. But I would buy one again. I'd say pair the new Black Max with a Vendetta, which you could possibly find both for around $100 total on sale, I'd say you'd be set. But when you ask does it make sense? That depends. Do you like fishing heavy jigs, or creature baits? Flipping and pitching can be done with a spinning reel just fine, but I find it to be MUCH easier with a BC combo. Have a lot of problems with line twist and have a love/hate relationship with your spinning reels (Like me), then yes, you may like having a bait caster. There's a lot of factors to take in and it will depend from person to person, but I personally believe that fishing with bait casters can make you more efficient.

Watch Major League Fishing online, and see the people throwing an Alabama rig get knocked out of the competition.

I personally dont feel like its a $250 reel. Its heavier than any other $200 reel ive ever felt, not nearly as smooth as a Ci4 or a Patriarch, and makes noises that a $250 reel should not make. Coming from a guy that is a big fan of Abu Garcia, I would pass on it. Get the Ci4 or take a look at a Pflueger Patriarch. Both are very nice reels.

I just got an Arbor, and I really like the way it handles line. I got the smallest one, the 30, and it fits the bill perfectly as an ultralight/dropshot reel for me. I realise The larger ones, I just don't see having a use for. Most of my reels I don't have much problem with line management, but I guess if you're trying to use heavier than 10# flouro on a spinning reel, it would definitely help. Presidents are nice quality, but they aren't too different from any other reel. The arbor is a sort of "technique specific" reel, which it definitely does make a difference when using flouro to have that bigger spool.

Biggest advantage is the sensitivity and its abrasion resistance. It transmits any vibrations from your lure much more effectively than mono. And actually, it does have more memory, which makes it harder to "handle", although not much worse with a good brand. It is less visible, and has less stretch. It also sinks. I usually suggest it to anyone who wants a line for deep water presentations, being that it will sink with your lure unlike braid or mono, and have less of a bow in your line which can reduce the feel of the contact with your lure. Also fishing around hard cover such as docks, rocks, and wood because of its abrasion resistance.

Just pull. I've never had a problem with cutting itself or anything. When you're pulling line and it stops, there will be a little loop thats grabbing your main line, right behind the levelwind. Sometimes just giving it a good pull with get it to come loose, but not too hard. If it won't, grab that little loop and try to pull it out, and it should free up your main line to pull the rest of it free. It will happen repeatedly.

I'd say the main reason why most don't keep Bass is because there are just better tasting fish in the waters to be caught and eaten.

Not nearly as costly when you get a bottle of Mend-It

Thats because they are made by Big Bite for Gander Mountain, just like many other "manufacturers." Northlands "new" line of bass baits are just Big Bites stuff repackaged, and many use their 5" stick worms repackaged as well.

I can't believe how many people I've talked to were all upset that KVD didn't win (Living in Michigan doesn't help that.) Most had nothing more to say than "I don't even know who Chris Lane is." I enjoyed every bit of coverage. I'm not sure how you guys think there wasn't enough? There was maybe 2 minutes for every 10 minutes of fishing that they talked with the guys in the weigh in center. And wasn't last year only an hour per day coverage? There was over 5 hours of coverage this year just for 3 days.

I figured the gold rods had the same guides as the others but the ones on gold are actually titanium guides, which are the lightest available, and probably strongest, and least likely to break. I know they look cheap, but they definitely arent.

Just curious, whats wrong with the guides?

Thats about right, the backbone feels good but it has a lot more tip than my other rods. And yeah, it fits my hand well, and feels great with a Revo mounted. I also wasnt aware of the warranty, so thats a good thing.

Anyone fish these yet? I was planning on picking up the 6'8" worm and jig rod, a MH-F. I mainly want this for lighter cover, close quarters, pitching texas rigs and jigs with flouro, as well as some skipping. And it will be used mainly in a kayak. I seen people mention that they feel under rated compared to other rods, and i kind of agree, but thats probably better for flouro anyways. It will be paired with a spare Revo, and together they balance well.

Well, I got bored after the little woman went to work, so I took a stab at it, and it happens to have worked very well. I now have a Trio 30 with a 6.2:1 ratio and a Trio 30S with a 5.0:1 ratio.