OnthePotomac

I have fourteen casting rigs and four spinning rigs on two tables: One table has columns which shows the model rod, rod length rod weight, line parameters, model reel mounted, line size/type, and the date it was spooled. The other has the same data with an additional column where I can record the lure on the rod. The second table is in a plastic sheet insert so I can record the lure with a white board pen and change it easily. I also have a maintenance log chart for the reels with a date purchased column and date serviced column with notes as required, i.e. ABEC 7 bearings installed, Carbontec installed, pinion polished, etc. Getting ready to start the January cleaning. One in the morning and one in the afternoon each day. The joy of retirement.

Did you say going to no brakes? Wow, that will create a nightmare for you. I know anglers far more experienced than I and they will not fish with no brakes on. I only have 18 years at it following my retirement and sure as heck will not cast with no brakes on.

Distance depended on how heavy the lure is so I could not tell since I never run a test with the same line and lure on both rods. Obviously heavy lures cast further on anything. Recommend you do not over think it, just fish with what you are comfortable fishing with and enjoy. As I said, I tried the fiberglass and then the graphite and I knew I did not like the way fiberglass fished at all. Following year I traded it in at the BPS Spring Classic sale and received money toward another rod.

I am a simple angler and love BPS Carbonlites, so I have one of my 70's on a 7' medium for cranks and top waters and it works well for me. Love those reels. I tried fiber glass for awhile and did not like the rod weight and whippy feel.

Oh yes, much lighter than my old Extreme by 1.5 oz. The old Extreme was a work horse though. I even used it for a frog rod for a while. Can you believe I paid $75 for it on sale 15 years ago.

Santa came through with BPS gift cards so I decided to try the new Carbonlite 2.0 you recommended. Call our store (65 miles South) to ensure they had them and bummer, all sold out already. Hopped on line and they have them with free shipping. The wife says what is the hurry it is 12 above. This will replace my last 15 year old Extreme, which now feels like it weighs a ton. The old rod will go to a kids fishing program. I am curious to see if they are lighter than the current 4.0 oz for the 7' MH bait caster.

I fish on gift cards from affluent daughters.LOL

"The only thing worse than not catching fish is buying expensive rods and reels you cannot afford and still not catching fish" Wise Angler

Crankin and jerken on a 7' Med fast tip Carbonlite with my oldy but goody Curado 100B 6.2:1 and 12 lb Flouro. Reel is 12 years old and performing like new.

Thank you. Interesting.

Thanks for the tip. Perhaps you can shed some light on what the heck happened to the Titanium 7' MH fast baitcaster, which have been gone from the inventory for six months.

Another Shimano fan here for the 17 years I have been bass fishing on the Potomac after I retired. I have the same reels I started with and never had to replace any parts. I would guess Daiwa is the same, I just happened to start buying Shimano. I have always liked the way so many parts within some reel models are interchangeable with other models.

I do not have one, but I have never read a bad word about them in the past. One of the few BPS rods that do not get grips. I am a Carbonlite fan, which seems to the most disliked BPS rod, but I have been using them for over 5 years and have never had a problem. They are really easy on the old wrists.

I do like to tinker.LOL

I only have four medium spinning rods ( two 6'6" and two 7') and all I have ever used is 2500 reels on all four and all four spooled with 8lb mono. It has worked for bass for 17 years anyway. My grandson bagged a 5lber one summer on one of the 7' rods and pulled it out of a huge grass bed with I swear as much grass on it.

Simple greasing is to use Shimano ACT 2, which is their drag grease, on gears (especially micro gears) and drags. If you send reels to Shimano they come back greased this week according to Bantam 1 at Shimano. I have not been doing that, but will begin doing so. I was using Yamaha Blue Marine and Super Lube on gears for years.

My Curado K 8.5:1 is on a BPS 7'Carbonlite (4oz) MH fast tip spooled with InvizX 15lb (.013dia) and I used it all summer with plastics. What a pleasure to throw this light set up all day and never get tired. Pure fun.

I also use a little Berkley line counter reversed, clamped on the rod. No guess work. Been using one for 15 years and actually wore one out.

When I retired 17 years ago and decided to get into bass fishing on the mighty tidal Potomac, I studied everything I could find on fishing the Potomac and resolved to keep it as simple as possible since I am only a day a week pleasure angler, so I put the money into nice reels and decent, but not expensive rods (14) ($100 limit and thank you Lord for the sales)and have ended up with a mix of 7' Med and MH and 6'6 Med and MH and use them for everything from soup to nuts. In other words, I fish a lot without "technique specific" rods and it works. My initial three spinning rigs still in the rack are rarely used except by my daughter and grandson. My rod variety goes to accommodate the bait variety.

DVT, amen to that. Seems like it would be like fishing with heavy sewing thread.

I have my Curado 70XG on a BPS 7' MH fast tip Carbonlite spooled with 15lb InVizX and throw mostly plastics with it. My other XG is spooled with the same line on a Carbonlite 7' Medium and works very well for cranks. The 15lb InvizX is the same diameter as most other makers 12lb. Yes, in spite of all the bad mouthing about Carbonlites I have found them to be great rods for ridiculous low prices. No, I have never broken one or lost eyes. I am just a user (eight now) in addition to seven other various inexpensive, but excellent rods. They are not even made anymore.

This may be something to consider at Cabelas: http://www.cabelas.com/product/CABELAS-TOURNAMENT-ZX-LASER-MG-CASTING-COMBO/2218040.uts?slotId=6

I don't know what BPS is up to, but they drive me crazy trying to find some products on their site. Once you go into "fishing" then rods under the shopping category at the top of their web page there will be 11 pages of various manufacturers. You will find the Duckett Ghost for $99.99. I do not have one, but have handled them in Dicks and they are just like a Carbonlite, really, really light. I cannot comment on the rod, but you will probably find like many rods, some like them and some will find something wrong with them. In searching around I find far more like the Ghost then dislike it. In this regard, BPS had their Titanium baitcasters in MH, but they have disappeared for 6 months and customer service will say they are awaiting shipment.

Here is what the makers of KVD say about it: "Line & Lure is a special polymer blend that becomes part of the fishing line it is applied to. Other line treatments you find on the market are primarily silicone oil and solvents. Silicone oil only temporarily coats the line and solvents can damage line. Silicone oil rapidly comes off the line (on your hands and in the water), requiring re-treatment of the line after just a few casts. The special polymers in Line & Lure are hydrophobic (water repelling) and very slippery. It doesn't allow water to draw back on to the reel spool, which eliminates the line drag that a "wet" spool has. It also protects the line from wearing out as quickly as un-treated line because it resists the abrasion that wears line out. It contains no oils or solvents as in Reel Magic that can build up and collect dirt like silicone/oil treatments will."

You are fishing the same size I use and in the same environment. a 7'MH fast tip works for me. I use BPS Carbonlites.