Hooligan

Cheaper manufacturer? Shimano IS the manufacturer, they own the facility and they produce no other companies reels in either facility. Secondly, the Malaysian facility has better tolerances than the Japan facility because the machine tools are newer. Lastly, I've had zero problem with the G series, in Curado or Chronarch and I have two dozen or more of them. The reviews, I'm near certain, that have given them bad press are from people that have never used them, and are comparing them solely to the Curado E; which is apples and oranges an there have been more than plenty of threads here about that.

E21 has been purchases by another company and they are in the process of changing everything over. It should make it easier, in the long run, to get warranty and repair items taken care of. I have their updated contact info at work, if anyone needs it, shoot me a pm and I will get that for you.

The BB1 is the reel that I like most out of the lineup. I want to put more time on it before I pass judgement overall, however. I've spent less than four months with it so far.

Good review, though I cannot support your confidence and pronouncement of other reels. What I will say is that your mileage may vary with Lews. They make a very good reel, however it will forever come to brand preference. For the record, as well, tolerances being what they are, I've seen as many poor examples from Lews as I have from others. Time, definitely, will be the judge. As I am only a year and change in to mine, I can't comment on long term. What I can say is that I have had a couple issues that were resolved by Lews quite quickly.

I'm all over that, Bobby.

Rapala Shad Rap or a Wiggle Wart, or a jig.

I break more from bending the frames back in tune after catching fish. I suppose something like 4-5 a year I will actually break. Otherwise what happens is the skirt gets shredded or the pain comes completely off the head.

I start fishing top water when there are absolutely no other options. It's traditionally one of my least successful ventures in fishing. I think last year I landed three fish over 15" on top water.

I've been waiting for a decent creeper for a few years. I've tried to build them, and have had various success and failure. The huge numbers of fish I've caught on larger, Muskie sized creepers drove me to find something like it in a smaller package. I will most assuredly be seeking a couple of these out.

I organize by color, sorted by size. Then in my boat box, I have the colors I will use in sizes from 1/4 to 1 oz. in storage, I peg board them by size and color. Color top to bottom, size small left to large right. I never leave jigs in boxes longer than I would be using them. It can deform the weed guards.

Right, I'm speaking to the effect of the 893 being the best rod in the NRX and the 894 being the best in the GLX. The best rods in the respective series.

Key words- Braid. Rock. Are you sure it is the weights damaging your line and not the rock? That is what would be suspect to me.

The rod I'm referring to here is the NRX though, the same can be said of the new GLX. I honestly do not feel you're losing too much from the NRX by comparison now. Yes you lose a bit, but it is not so substantial that you're going to miss fish. 895? It's a total and complete stud in the GLX.

You're missing the point. It isn't about how many tournaments he's won, it's about how often he takes home a check. He's one of the highest rates, by percentage to make the 50 cut and get paid. Yes, there are guys that crank better, or flip better, or finesse better- and those guys win tournaments when the conditions favor their strengths. But for a guy to consistently get paid regardless of conditions? That's the mark of versatility. I find it absolutely hilarious that TH is the angler picked out of those I listed that people have issue with- although I did expect that from some.

I would say the vast majority of these responses are geared towards the 5". The little pig l, I've found runs extremely well on a 3/16 Bass Magic Shakey. Works incredibly well.

I don't disagree with that at all. I have switched all of mine to Gamakatsu #4 round bends.

The little John square is size fives. The MD is size five. The Baby DD is a size three, and the DD is a size 1.

893 and 894 are the two best rods in the series.

I have the DSR822C and use it a lot for fishing in 20' or less. Where it particularly excels is dragging dropshot when you're not vertical. The other thing I really like it for is bed fishing. It provides such an easy, shallow entry in comparison to spinning gear. I have a CH51MG on it using 10 or 12 Tatsu. In some situations I drop down to 7# toray.

I like the Vault, Binsky, and Showdown. The Showdown is far and away my favorite. It's simply incredible in terms of ability to hook fish, and vibration. I fish it, almost exclusively, in 1/4 ounce. It has a single rear treble so it doesn't snag much. It's very easy to modify to come through cover extremely well. Clip one of the hooks and trim the tail so that the hook will ride up. Best blade bait there is, IMO.

#1 reason I wouldn't fish an ugly stick- weight. #2 it simply isn't as sensitive as even lower end graphite. I will guarantee you that you miss fish, you cannot, and I mean 100% cannot feel a lift bite on the drop on an ugly stick. The physics of the rod make it next to impossible. You may feel that you're successful with it, and that's fine, but declaring that it is sufficient for all presentations is simply ridiculous. Skill has its limitations, and you cannot replace those lost senses. A progressive taper rod like the ugly stick cannot account for so, so many things. You cannot feel the transition from one bottom type to another. You cannot feel the light tick of hanging on a stem of grass. You cannot feel the light push of a spot moving your jig to you. Skill alone cannot tell you those things, either. Is it necessary to spend $450 on a rod to feel those those things? No. Is it necessary to have a adequate feel and transmission in a rod to be able to feel them? Yes. If the Ugly Stick is so sensitive and so adequate, why does not a single angler on any major circuit fish them? Even by comparison to other modern rods they lack the most essential qualities to be deemed even a workable bass rod. So you're happy fishing them, fine. But to claim that an ugly stick will do everything a $150 to will do, and do it better is asinine. The laws of physics alone deny that claim. In limiting your ability to delineate structure and other items by fishing sub par rods that are incapable of transmitting those changes you limit your ability to increase in skill. You might be fine with moving baits on an ugly stick, but I will guarantee you you're missing fish on them when it comes to bottom contact techniques. That, or you have super human senses and reaction times.

Fish them just like you would a football jig around rock, too. They come through wood and grass extremely well. I fish them on a 5/0 Moaner 1/4 ounce weighted almost exclusively.

He's had quite a few top ten and top twenty in the past two years in the elites, as well as finishing well in the PAA. That's what I'm talking about in terms of versatility not always paying the best, but it will always pay.

I disagree with your Internet stance and assert my own. So there. Really though, it's something that is very subjective. Versatility on the water is one of those things that you grow in to. You have to make the choice to fish the conditions and swing for the fences. Versatility will always pay, however it may not always pay the highest. In those situations that you're forced to be versatile, fish your strengths. In terms of versatility at the top levels, Ike doesn't even make my top ten. Evers, Klein, Horton, Snowden, Chapman, Faircloth- all I would consider to me more versatile than Iaconelli. But then, what do I know...

With a 7-1 or 7-2 jig rod and a 1/2 ounce jig I hit the 40 yard marker. With my cranking rigs, I'll hit the 55 yard marker easily.