webertime

I've used PP, 832, Tuf Line, and FX2 for hundreds of trips. FX2 is the best in the 40+lb range. Regular PP for the smaller stuff.

Powell Diesel 765.

I've got a couple and had good luck cranking it in shallow cover like the op and sloooooooooowly cranking on the top so I can hear the tail click and clack.

I can BLOOP a Jackal Boil Trigger using braid and short, hard pops. That thing is suprisingly loud.

Bubble Gum Wrapper at a university extension pond. A jighead shaped like "manly parts" fished on beds worked too.

In NY the closed season is for large and smallmouths. You can catch them anytime, but you can't keep them until the open season. The smallies should start spawning (assuming current weather pattern continues) around the second week of June. Those 2 lakes are low 60's temperature wise now.

35 smallies on Champlain yesterday. A few 12-14" rats the rest were 16"+ including this 21.5" 4.98lb main lake monster.

I'd use a Texas rig or plastics on a weighted swimbait hook "rage rig". The football head will just dig into/up a bunch of junk.

Look under the football jigs at TW, there are several brands. Colors, just go black Size, 3/8, 1/2, and 3/4oz. 4/0 or 5/0 hook. Fish on a hard bottom, preferably with some sporadic weeds. On a Soft bottom it would not be my first or fiftieth choice.

I got one this past Fall with a roached paint job for $50. Cleaned it, threw in Boca ABEC 5's and a Smooth Drag. This thing is very quickly becoming a favorite.

Mr .ghoti, do you have an update on your thoughts on the Tatula ml?

[quote name="Goose52" post="1523924" timestamp="1399768363" Spinning: 6'8" m/xf Extreme (the previous series - $39 on close-out) / Pflueger President XT reel - used mostly for light spinnerbaits and buzzbaits.

Like Tywithay said the SV spool. $80-90. The 1016 (stock T3) spool is nice and found for around $50 used fairly frequently. As is the stock T3B spool will toss 5/16oz + pretty well if you get the reel adjusted properly. The Stock bearings in the T3B are nice enough once you clean and lube them. My STOCK T3B (just cleaned and lubed) cast just a bit shorter than my tuned Zillion with shieldless orange seals and a 100m spool... IF you do upgrade spool bearing I strongly recommend the stainless ABEC 5 from Boca (less than $20). The 8:1 Ballistic has a nicer handle than the 6:1 and 7:1. It's basically a Tatula handle with Lexa knobs and a bearing under each (with one bushing as well). BUT the knobs are riveted on, so no go on adding another bearing. That being said the stock handle is absolutely fine and you will probably not notice any difference swaping it out, aside from some Bling/Swag. You can't help yourself and have to have 4 bearings, Lexa assemblies (knobs/handle/bearings) are $20 from Daiwa (back ordered to JUNE) Tatula assemblies are $29. Inside the reel, you can add 2 bearings. One to the Levelwind (5x8x3) and another below the driveshaft (5x9x3), these are very low rotation parts and an Abec1-3 is fine. These are a couple bucks each (or less if you know where to look). They just add a bit of smoothness to the reel, again not a huge or even medium preformance enhancement. If you are tearing the reel down this winter to clean it, do this upgrade at that time. If you get bit by the weight weenie bug the aluminum drive shaft from the T3 (1016) is $20 and will swap right into the T3B. Saves about 1/2 oz.

.Ghoti you're looking at the T3 or T3 Ballistic?

Plat, Japan Tackle, Rakuten, Tackle Trap, all have the spools I mentioned. Keep an eye on forums too, one or the other pops up roughly every week.

I have both and LOVE them. Both could use a handle upgrade to something with bearings ( Tatula/Lexa/Hawg Tech/Sempre Fi/Hedgehog). Both accept bearings on their level wind and drive shaft(5x8x3 & 5x9x3 I believe). No need to go with Abec 5000000 bearings as these a slow rotation parts. Spools are fine to start with, but a 100m for the Zillion and the SV for the Ballistic would be good $ spent down the road.

This.

So I've been looking at the Tatula rods over the past few days. I'm reading all the reviews I can. One thing that is sort of driving me crazy is the complete lack of continuity within the reviews about the Tatula's rating. Some say they fish heavier than labeled (like St Croix or Abu). Others say they are a little light. I figure some of you have fished these and can give me an honest assessment (or a really convincing lie). I want a bait casting set up for weightless plastics and small Texas rigs. I'm looking at the 6'10" M xf or 7'1" MH f.

From a Lamiglas Employee, the last few batches of orange ones were also chinese. I've got the 735 Excel II Robster, I also have the Excel I 703 spinning rod and had the Excel I 734 (broke). Nice rods all the way around.

Rigged backwards. 1-3 longish drags on the bottom then pop it off the bottom and let fall on slack line (watch the line!).

I'll do it,

Hahaha I must be your buddy's kindred spirit. I've had the fire tiger one for 18 years, one hit...

Way to end a thread with one response! Pretty perfect advice here.

On the production end it is somewhat dangerous to work with (Kaboom). That raises the cost of production/overhead a bit and maybe to the point of making in not financially feasible for manufactures. I have a Fuego that I love.

I have 3 of them. I feel that they are great reels for $100. Add a bearing to the level wind and drive shaft, get a Lexa or Tatula handle and you have a sick reel for the price of a Citica. I fished them through a whole season and the only part that made me a bit bummed out was when you got into a big largemouth what bunch of weeds or a big smallie at the end of a 1oz+ Carolina rig. The 8:1 ratio made the reel seem stressed. Like everything else in this world, they will be the cat's meow for some and the cat's hair ball to others.